The Boxing Scene Mentoring Program

[GhostofDempsey]

- - Not many ran on city streets then where most running injuries occur. In that regard, running in fresh country air on soft country dirt roads and paths through woods is preferable as long as no bears are around. I never did any city streets running inhaling tailpipe emissions like modern day idiots.

Running with footwear that has no arch support and hard soles puts more wear and tear on the joints. Not all running was done on soft ground. Many of those dirt roads were hard, and there were no jacuzzis or sauna's to heal your soreness afterwards. No supplements to take for quicker recovery. A lot of the old timers stayed in shape year round because they fought more often. That meant more road work, more sparring, more trauma to the body. 5-ounce gloves with horsehair for padding didn't offer nearly as much protection for hands, wrists and would produce more trauma to opponents. Some of the techniques used back then were very questionable and likely did more harm than good.

[them_apples]

Running with footwear that has no arch support and hard soles puts more wear and tear on the joints. Not all running was done on soft ground. Many of those dirt roads were hard, and there were no jacuzzis or sauna's to heal your soreness afterwards. No supplements to take for quicker recovery. A lot of the old timers stayed in shape year round because they fought more often. That meant more road work, more sparring, more trauma to the body. 5-ounce gloves with horsehair for padding didn't offer nearly as much protection for hands, wrists and would produce more trauma to opponents. Some of the techniques used back then were very questionable and likely did more harm than good.

When the fighter retires thats when the damage starts adding up. I think while they were active it served them well though.

when a fighter stays in shape they don’t have to push themselves as hard all year around, I think its worse to get in shape then out of shape all over again - since the body “calluses” itself to take punishment better. Guys that weren't getting hit much in camp that receive hard blows in a fight end up with serious damage from going soft.

I also think fighters got punchy by fighting too soon after being in a brutal fight, or even just sparring too soon. Machismo tended to get the better of these guys. Its not always accumulated damage, because sometimes a fighter is hit 100 times but never hurt once.

[Willie Pep 229]

When the fighter retires thats when the damage starts adding up. I think while they were active it served them well though.

when a fighter stays in shape they don’t have to push themselves as hard all year around, I think its worse to get in shape then out of shape all over again - since the body “calluses” itself to take punishment better. Guys that weren't getting hit much in camp that receive hard blows in a fight end up with serious damage from going soft.

I also think fighters got punchy by fighting too soon after being in a brutal fight, or even just sparring too soon. Machismo tended to get the better of these guys. Its not always accumulated damage, because sometimes a fighter is hit 100 times but never hurt once.

No such thing. They may get hit a 100 times and never get groggy ("hurt") but every single punch does micro damage to the blood vessel in the brain.

It's why football linemen show the most damage at the end not wide receivers. In the one yard explosions the plastic helmet to helmet smashes helps stop full blown concussions but only opens the door to more hits and more micro brain damage.

Paradoxically it is better to be hit a few times really hard and suffer a handful of concussions over a career (WR) than to be hit 3000 times not so hard (Linemen).

I have a su****ion that daily sparing with big gloves and leather helmets does more damage than suffering a few KOs. Same problem as football, the protective gear allows for too many shots to the head, too much micro damage to the brain.

Best yet don't get hit in the head with anything.

[The Old LefHook]

Well, I have a su****ion that certain boxers who started really young get concussions early on they are not aware of. They keep right on training and sparring. Terry Norris might be a great example. He had a brother who was a heavyweight he probably sparred with more than a few times, adding each time to the micro damage. Roy Jones could very well be a fine example. We know his daddy was a harsh master and gave no time off for pansies. Others?

[them_apples]

No such thing. They may get hit a 100 times and never get groggy ("hurt") but every single punch does micro damage to the blood vessel in the brain.

It's why football linemen show the most damage at the end not wide receivers. In the one yard explosions the plastic helmet to helmet smashes helps stop full blown concussions but only opens the door to more hits and more micro brain damage.

Paradoxically it is better to be hit a few times really hard and suffer a handful of concussions over a career (WR) than to be hit 3000 times not so hard (Linemen).

I have a su****ion that daily sparing with big gloves and leather helmets does more damage than suffering a few KOs. Same problem as football, the protective gear allows for too many shots to the head, too much micro damage to the brain.

Best yet don't get hit in the head with anything.

Honestly Ive heard the opposite. The guys that sufferred major league concussions seemed the most ****ed up. I think its when someone has recieved constant micro damage in addition to major league concussions that it adds up.

those “micro concussions” are nullified by the brain jelly that builds up from sparring. Not sayings its good for you, but this is the bodys way of toughening up.

at what point in time could they do an accurate study on this, theres likely very few retired boxers worth mentioning who never suffered a bad concussion at some point. Even hagler said he was suckered on the street blacked out and rolled under a car instinctively. Met the guy who did it years later in an ammy tournament and “held him up” to beat on him extra

[them_apples]

Well, I have a su****ion that certain boxers who started really young get concussions early on they are not aware of. They keep right on training and sparring. Terry Norris might be a great example. He had a brother who was a heavyweight he probably sparred with more than a few times, adding each time to the micro damage. Roy Jones could very well be a fine example. We know his daddy was a harsh master and gave no time off for pansies. Others?

this is exactly true. Nobody talks about what happens outside the ring or how they deal with it. Im positive Toney has had concussions and would have just kept on sparring living in denial. Then ad any street beef he might have had

[QueensburyRules]

Running with footwear that has no arch support and hard soles puts more wear and tear on the joints. Not all running was done on soft ground. Many of those dirt roads were hard, and there were no jacuzzis or sauna's to heal your soreness afterwards. No supplements to take for quicker recovery. A lot of the old timers stayed in shape year round because they fought more often. That meant more road work, more sparring, more trauma to the body. 5-ounce gloves with horsehair for padding didn't offer nearly as much protection for hands, wrists and would produce more trauma to opponents. Some of the techniques used back then were very questionable and likely did more harm than good.

- - Ali was running in high quality dress shoes at the start of his career even if they had crude running shoes then that we used for gym duty. When we played tackle football in shorts with most sans those running shoes, ie shirtless and barefoot, we injured enough guys on the football team to have our games declared off limits for them if they wanted to stay on the team.

By the time of Berbick, Ali must've had some updated running shoes, but in a run with an out of shape reporter, well, that was the Ali level by then.

[Nash out]

Checking in on the progress of the mentorship program? Nash out - His Excellency

[Marchegiano]

them_apples was a good poster

[Biledriver]

them_apples was a good poster

He's still here and active.