I lost the fight... But I'm glad I was finally given an opportunity to experience what it's like to be a fighter. I was often told by the other fighters at the gym it's a whole different world stepping into the ring. I guess I never really understood what they meant until last Sunday night.

I don't mean to be all melodramatic but as soon as the ref pronounced fight on the first round, it felt like all that mattered in the world was myself and my opponent. Come to think of it, it didn't even feel like the ref was there in the ring. I forgot about the audience, the ring girl (whose foot I stepped on later in the night), or anyone else in the fight venue. Or may be it was because I wasn't wearing my lenses and so all I could see was my opponent.

Post-fight, I now have better directions for my training. I now know what I need to work on and how I can prepare better for the next fight (eg. not lose too much weight for the weigh-in).

Regardless of the outcome of this bout, I genuinely appreciate all the support I got from my friends and fellow fighters at the gym. And also my trainer... eventhough he doesn't say much. Everyone did a great deal to help me prepare physically and more importantly, mentally leading up to the fight.

I know training will now feel different after I've had the fight. Sparring will be much more fun...