How a bit of poker can improve your boxing

How a Bit of Poker Can Help Your Boxing


When you think of playing poker competitively, chances are you think first of big, professional events featuring millionaire players and gigantic prize pots. Even during the pandemic this past year, the World Series Of Poker boasted a $10,000 buy-in and prizes in the millions of dollars. It was contested between career professionals from around the world, who for years now have been the defining image of the game of poker for the public.

While the pros may provide the prevailing image of poker though, the truth is there are still untold millions of amateurs who play the games more casually. It’s still easy enough to play poker online with friends through any of a number of apps and websites that make it easy to set up games and tournaments, with or without real money. And many enjoy this as a regular hobby.

It can also be a useful hobby though, particularly for those who are competitive in other arenas. Poker teaches a number of skills and disciplines that can be of use a variety of sports — including boxing. Here, we want to look at a few specific ways in which this common hobby can help you out in the ring.

Learning Responsibility

The subject of personal responsibility was part of a post you may have read here previously. It was brought up with regard to the nature of sparring — both the understanding that you’re alone in the ring with nowhere to turn, and the agreement to push boundaries with opponents without ever going too far. Poker does not put you in a similar physical situation to boxing). But it does pit you against opponents, all by yourself and with nowhere to turn. Once you’re in the game you’re either going to keep winning hands or lose all of your chips, and that simple reality teaches personal responsibility and accountability quite well.

Understanding Strategic Patience

Any regular poker player will agree that to win, you have to wait for the right hand, or your best chance to strike. Impatient players quickly run out of chips (unless they simply get lucky), whereas more patient players allow opportunity to come to them. This is clearly another skill that is useful in boxing. While there are of course times to attack and press an advantage in the ring, the best fighters are able to exercise patience to create opportunity.

Developing Short Memory

Generally, it’s wise in any competition to remember both successes and failures with clarity, so that you can adjust and learn on the go. “Short memory” refers to letting go of what’s happened…not necessarily forgetting.  One uses short memory so mistakes do not dictate future actions. Poker players, like boxers learn this early on; dwelling on a poorly played hand or a bit of bad luck tends to be a recipe for disaster.

Building Mental Strength

Mental strength is mentioned so often in conversations about sports that it almost seems like a cliché. It really is particularly vital in boxing however — to the point that it’s been mentioned as one of the factors that made Muhammad Ali such a success. And like the other skills and behaviors discussed here, mental strength can be learned at the poker table. Good players know not to let their emotions get the better of them, and instead develop mental steadiness and fortitude that tends to lead to greater success. This can certainly translate to other walks of life, including the boxing ring.

Poker may look simple and tame, and certainly doesn’t resemble the exciting physicality of boxing; but it has many metaphorical likenesses that can help an athlete develop the mental skills that translate to sport. 

#boxon