No matter their pedigree, an accomplished amateur will always find that sparring a hardened professional is no walk in the park.
They might land a few flicky jabs and sharp counters but, eventually, there comes a point where the pro just simply drags them into the trenches.
It is then a case of displaying enough character to overcome such hardship, not wishing to bow down or show any hint of weakness.
Every prospect will encounter this test sooner or later but, thankfully, Olympic bronze medallist Charlie Senior did not have to go searching far and wide for a top-level pro.
In fact, it was at his gym in Bromley, where Senior is trained by the highly-regarded duo of Al Smith and Eddie Lam, that the 24-year-old discovered the “tougher side” of pro boxing.
He did so by sparring former world title challenger Sam Noakes, who took Abdullah Mason the distance in a titanic WBO title effort last November.
Speaking with Boxing News, Senior made no effort to downplay the quality and intensity of each round they share.
“We do a fair amount of rounds together. It’s definitely shown me the tougher side of professional boxing.
“Sam’s very fit, he’s strong, and, the more rounds I do with him, the more I pick up on things that he’s technically very good at.
“He’s also powerful in the sense that he might throw a nice, clean jab, but it feels like you’ve been hit by a big right hand.”
The good news is that, while Noakes boasts superior professional experience, Senior is able to hold his own by utilising the crafty footwork he developed as an amateur.
Even before Senior started boxing, the Bradford-born talent was no stranger to a two-step manoeuvre here and there.
“I did a bit of dancing when I was a kid, as well as gymnastics, acrobatics and trampolining – all the fun stuff.
“But I got to about 10 or 11 years old and felt that, as a young boy, dancing wasn’t really that cool.
“There was a boxing studio next to where I used to dance, so I walked over there and gave it a crack. My mum didn’t want me to do it at first, because I was young and small, but I just persisted and ended up boxing.
“When you’re dancing, and when you’re in the ring, it all corresponds. You always know where your feet are; you always find your balance, even in unusual situations.
“I feel like I never really come unstuck when it comes to my footwork.”
While born in Bradford, Senior spent the majority of his life in Australia – a place he considers home – before moving back to the UK.
The transition has been far from straightforward but, at the same time, the Olympian understands the importance of making sacrifices in a sport like boxing.
“It was hard. It’s still a bit difficult, sitting here in my apartment – you’ve got a lot of time to yourself, and a lot of time to think.
“But I always said that, once I go professional, I’ll move back to the UK. It can be a bit tricky at times, but I know why I’m here.
“Going out of your comfort zone, in general, will improve your mentality, let alone when you’re chasing your dream. I feel like I have to work even harder now, because I’ve sacrificed everything.
“I could just go back to Australia, get a job and be comfortable, but [being away from home] has just given me an extra push to chase my dream.”
Senior’s decision to move back to the UK was partly inspired by the fruitful opportunities for high-quality sparring and TV exposure.
After shopping around at a few different gyms, though, he ultimately stayed with coaches Smith and Lam for one specific reason.
“I feel like, with Al and Eddie, they let me be me. They didn’t try to change my footwork; they didn’t try to slow me down; it wasn’t “tighten up and walk forward” – they just let me box the way I box, while adding little things.
“I got to where I was [in the amateurs] by being me, so to not change what I was doing, and just add to it each time, was what sold me on [joining Smith and Lam].”
As a 4-0 (2 KOs) prospect signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Senior appreciates the value of taking incremental steps to refine his craft.
He therefore anticipates no encounters with King Kong any time soon, but nonetheless expects to produce another stylish performance, this time on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, on Saturday.
