A Primer on Sparring Intensity
How to use sounds to explain and regulate intensity
[Note: If you wear cloth hand wraps rather than glove liners, your fist becomes a cast, and you lose haptic perception (your shots will automatically land hard, and you won't be able to tell). Adjust your shots accordingly. Also, roughly every 4 lb. is a new weight division in boxing, so the bigger person must always scale to the smaller person.]
Light
You can hear intensity. Not just from the sound of the contact but also from the breath and movements. Light intensity should be accompanied by light, smooth, and continuous breathing. Footwork should be quiet and light rather than heavy stomps. Movements shouldn't sound explosive.
You can also tell the intensity by listening to the recovery breathing between rounds. You should be able to talk while recovering.