Not always...fast sparring might be very light...and speed might be insane because strikes are intended to point something rather than inflict damage. Therefore point fighters in TMAs might be damn fast.I'm really unclear what the op means, can they clarify?
Sparring exists in many different forms and you definitely need some hard sparring... actually gym fights to be more specific a step above hard sparring before you take an ameteur fight.
I would be highly irresponsible for any trainer to put someone he's responsible for into an actual fight to find out how the react to bring hit for real.
Hard sparring is also at a higher speed tha light sparring. Strikes come faster, its useful for that reason alone.
However, there are a load of dickhead "trainers " who take it way to far because rhey want to, I dunno, act hard. Once against, they are responsible for who they train (up to a point) and this is an example of an irresponsible trainer.
You need lesser time to take position, if don't plant feet and use body properly in order to deliver power.....you will be....faster....
While very light sparring isn't common tool ...it is used also by some pros to test/ train gas tank usage under stress...
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Movement will be more, vs suitable guy speed will be even higher than if full power punches had been attempted to deliver...considerably higher ....number of these light touching " punches " more and......
Good test for gas tank under stress .....
While for real fight other levels of sparring too are used....