Regardless of background, a talented amateur will always find that sparring with a hardened professional is no basic feat.
They may throw in some quick jabs and acute counter-attacks, but eventually there comes a point where the professional simply drags them into the trenches.
It is then about showing enough character to overcome such difficulties, without being willing to give in or show any signs of weakness.
Every candidate will face this test sooner or later, but fortunately, Olympic bronze medalist Charlie Senior didn’t have to look far for a top-level professional.
In fact, it was at his gym in Bromley, where Senior trains under the supervision of the esteemed duo of Al Smith and Eddie Lam, that the 24-year-old discovered the “harder side” of professional boxing.
He did this by sparring with former world title challenger Sam Noakes, who defeated Abdullah Mason in a mammoth fight for the WBO title in November last year.
Speaking to Boxing News, Senior made no attempt to downplay the quality and intensity of each round they participated in.
“We do a lot of rounds together, it definitely showed me the tougher side of professional boxing.
“Sam is in great shape, mighty and the more rounds I play with him, the more I see the things he is very good at technically.
“He’s also powerful in the sense that he can throw a nice, neat jab, but you feel like you’re getting hit with a large right hand.”
The good news is that while Noakes boasts exceptional professional experience, Senior can hold his own using the deft footwork he developed as an amateur.
Even before Senior started boxing, the Bradford-born talent was no stranger to two-step moves here and there.
“I did a little dancing when I was a kid, as well as gymnastics, acrobatics and trampoline – all fun stuff.
“But I was about 10, 11 years vintage and I felt that dancing wasn’t that chilly as a adolescent boy.
“There was a boxing studio near where I was dancing, so I went there and tried it. My mother didn’t want me to do it at first because I was adolescent and little, but I insisted and ended up boxing.
“When you dance and when you are in the ring, everything fits together. You always know where your feet are, you always find your balance, even in unusual situations.
“I feel like I’ve never really let myself down when it comes to footwork.”
Born in Bradford, Senior spent most of his life in Australia – the place he considers home – before returning to the UK.
The transition wasn’t basic, but at the same time, the Olympian understands the importance of sacrifice in a sport like boxing.
“It’s been tough. Sitting here in my apartment is still a little tough – you have a lot of time to yourself and a lot of time to think.
“But I’ve always said that once I turn professional I’ll come back to the UK. It can be a bit challenging at times, but I know why I’m here.
“Overall, getting out of your comfort zone will improve your mentality, let alone chase your dreams. I feel like I have to work even harder now because I sacrificed everything.
“I could just go back to Australia, get a job and be comfortable, but [being away from home] It just gave me that extra push to chase my dreams.”
Senior’s decision to return to the UK was partly inspired by fruitful opportunities for high-quality sparring and television exposure.
However, after shopping at several different gyms, he ended up staying with Trainers Smith and Lam for one specific reason.
“I feel like with Al and Eddie, they let me be myself. They didn’t try to change my footwork, they didn’t try to snail-paced me down, it wasn’t ‘tense up and move forward’ – they just let me box the way I box, adding little things.”
“I got to where I was [in the amateurs] being myself, so not changing what I was doing, just adding to it every time, convinced me [joining Smith and Lam]”
As a 4-0 (2 KO) prospect signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Senior appreciates the value of taking incremental steps to refine his craft.
Therefore, he does not expect any meetings with King Kong in the near future, but nevertheless he expects another stylish performance, this time in Saturday’s match between Ryan Garner and Michael Magnesi at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
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