Thursday afternoon I sparred for the first time and the whole frame of reference I'd put together in training altered slightly and permanently. I was supposed to work out with Fred Degand, one of the trainers at Go Time. He would throw punches at me while Ray directed both of us. But Fred's schedule changed and so Ray decided to lace em up and just do it himself. I jumped rope for two rounds and then shadowed for two more to get a good sweat going and then Ray called me in. You got your mouth guard?