Advice on adapting and adjusting to your opponent?

I want to be a more adaptive fighter. "When my opponent expands I contract, when they contract I expand," kind of thing.

So far, I've only had two moments of "I understand him now" but most of it was just for defense and that was it.

What are some tips and tricks for someone like me, who's been boxing for five months and training for their first amateur bout, on adapting to an opponent?