While a popular choice amongst professionals, reflex bags are also phenomenal for boxers of all abilities. This punch bag allows you to learn the fundamentals of boxing such as accuracy, speed, and movement.

Remember, sparring is not fighting, but a tool to help the both of you practice your fighting techniques in real situations. Valdez has never lost, but he has been dropped. If Stevenson can finish him off inside the distance, it would be a big statement and a warning to the rest of the division as well as the elite fighters one division up, at lightweight. It is not that one is better than the other, they both serve very different purposes in boxing training. A reflex bag has far more movement than a heavy bag and is more focused on the movement and defence of a fighter. A heavy bag on the other hand is amazing for working things like combinations and power. This particular piece of equipment was made particularly popular as world lightweight contender Ryan Garcia shared videos of himself training with the reflex cobra bag on social media. However, boxing greats have been using reflex bags to develop and train for years. Stevenson is one of the most talented young fighters in boxing, and he has another chance to showcase his skills on the big stage against Valdez. Following a breakout performance against Jamel Herring in a TKO victory in October, Stevenson will look to grab a second 130-pound title.You will want to focus on applying the techniques and strategies you’ve learned in training, and not try to “win” sparring matches. You’re also not supposed to be throwing punches with a hundred percent sparring and speed Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano Katie Taylor, left, and Amanda Serrano will meet for the undisputed lightweight championship at New York's Madison Square Garden on April 30. Warren Little/Getty Images Bivol is long, possesses an excellent jab and knows how to place his shots. He's also bigger. ESPN ranks him the No. 2 boxer at 175 pounds. The Russian likes to play it safe from the outside, so Alvarez will have to use pressure to outwork Bivol on the inside. Usyk even seemed on the verge of stopping Joshua late in the fight. This time around, AJ will have to fight far more aggressively and use his superior size to his advantage. If he can't, Usyk will be the one fighting for heavyweight supremacy in the near future. As it should be with everything, always come prepared both mentally and physically before every sparring session. This means you should have had ample rest the night before. Getting enough sleep is crucial to your sharpness, which in turn has a direct effect on your performance.

If you are looking to improve your hand speed and endurance then look no further than a speedball. Speedballs have been a favourite of professional fights for hundreds of years. This is because their complexity and technicality help fighters to improve their hand speed, hand-eye coordination, reaction time and so many other hugely important skills.Sure, it's disappointing that we won't see the trilogy fight between "Chocolatito" and Juan Francisco Estrada on March 5, but what a consolation prize this is. And if we think about the matter of convenience, this is a great way to have sparring sessions by yourself. You don’t have to rely on anyone else to sharpen the skills that you want and you can do it any old time you want. You also want your mind to be clear of distractions. Mental preparation is key to having a good sparring session. You don’t want to step into the ring with other matters clouding your mind. May 7, for Bivol's WBA "super" light heavyweight title -- (Fight hasn't been officially announced but closing in on deal)