Lesnar: "I never learned just the basics in boxing"

UFC fighters often say they learn the most from their losses. In his latest fight, Brock Lesnar learned a lesson but didn’t have to suffer a defeat in the process.

After losing his UFC debut to Frank Mir in 2008, Lesnar steamrolled through his next three opponents - including a rematch with Mir - to become the heavyweight champion.

The lack of adversity was a good thing, but it allowed for some questions to remain unanswered. Lesnar wondered how he’d respond after he took an opponent’s best shot. In his fight against Shane Carwin in July, Lesnar found out.


Carwin unleashed a first-round attack on Lesnar unlike any the champion ever had endured. Carwin pounded Lesnar for most of the round, coming close to finishing the fight.

But Lesnar withstood the barrage, came out recharged in the second round and caught Carwin with an arm triangle choke submission.

The nature of the win revealed answers to some of Lesnar’s internal questions.

“I think it’s just a confidence thing,â€￾ Lesnar said. “You bang around in the gym and you’ve got 18, 20 ounce gloves on and you can take a punch in the gym, but up until the Carwin fight . . . there was always some question mark in my mind, I guess.â€￾

Lesnar’s preparation for the Carwin fight was complicated by a serious intestinal disorder, which caused a year layoff. With the illness behind him, Lesnar is better prepared for his title defense against Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 on Saturday in Anaheim, Calif.

“Everything’s in line,â€￾ Lesnar said. “I feel I’m right on. I’m as lean as I’ve ever been. Guys say they’ve had good camps, and I can go back and say every camp has been my best camp, but I really think so (this time). That’s the truth for everybody if they want to evolve in the camp. I’ve gotten better and better and better, and I really don’t think I’m still the best that I can be.

“But Oct. 23, on that night I’ll be the best.â€￾

A big part of Lesnar’s past two camps has been Peter Welch, a South Boston-based boxing trainer. Welch has helped round out Lesnar’s skills, complementing his wrestling ability.

“I never learned just the basics in boxing,â€￾ Lesnar said. “I wanted to go get a grassroots boxing coach to get my feet underneath me, to try to combine my wrestling positions and mold into a boxing stance, and just lower myself and learn to punch from my feet to my hands. And so he’s been a huge help - just being able to understand the fundamentals of punching.â€￾

Lesnar (5-1) will have his hands full with the undefeated Velasquez, who has won seven of his eight fights via knockout or TKO. But Lesnar isn’t putting any added pressure on himself.

“I’m doing what I love to do,â€￾ Lesnar said. “We’ve got a great fight coming up on Oct. 23. There’s a lot of story behind it. You’ve got a young lad whose family moved here from Mexico, and this guy wants to make a name for himself. And here I am. There’s a lot of roadblocks being the heavyweight champion, and people are trying to stand in front of my title reign. Come Oct. 23, the best man will have his hand raised.â€￾

 

Cain my not hit as hard, but he is more accurate. And maybe pin point accuracy will hurt brock.

 

I dont think Cain is a powerful striker. I think he has accurate shots.

 

You guys are crazy. Its not just about standing and Striking. Cain has great GNP. Which is striking IMO. And he didnt just land punches on Nog. He has landed punches on others. My point about his striking is his GNP. which he does well and is striking. Some of you guys are acting like the only cain fight you have seen was against Big Nog

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Again, you can have pin point accuracy and not be powerful. I never said powerful. And also, his striking from GNP is consider striking. It doesnt need to be standup to be considered striking. His GNP has never been in question.

 

This guy is 8-0 with 7 KOs all coming from punches. I think brock wins this fight, but lets be serious about what we are talking about here.

 

His last few fights, he had solid opponents. Nobody expected Cain to go through Rothwell or Nog like that. That shit was easy work for him. It means alot.

 

How does Rothwell suck? And Cain wasnt expected to win that way. If that was the case. While cain was a favorite, he wasnt a heavy fav

 

Who said that? Im just talking about his striking ability. Since when does who you fight determine your ability to strike? I have watched Cain. He has good striking. Look at this fights. How is this even up for debate? He puts his hands together well and when he is on the ground he uses GNP quickly and accurately. Brock lesner is not good on his back, so i dont see this as not an option.

 

You might be right. Doesnt change the fact that cain has good GNP.

 

Sure. Except Cain's last opponents werent heavybags. If they were, he wouldnt be getting a title shot right now.