is conditioning really that important??

[Light_Speed]

I know Toney doesn't run he's easily a 15 round fighter.

Toney spars like a mother****a though. That's pretty much all he does, he doesn't even hit the bag. He just spars all day and hits the speed bag. That's probably why he's slurring his speech today.

Sparring/boxing and running are two completely different animals.

There was a crosscountry runner in my gym who wanted to try sparring for the very first time, after 3 rounds he was gassed. He said he never felt so tired in his life. This guy was in tip top shape too. Getting hit and trying to avoid it can really gas someone out if theyre not in "boxing shape". I still run, and I think it helps me over boxers who dont.

That's because long distance runners have great aerobic stamina but lack anaerobic stamina. In boxing you need both.

[The_Sandman]

Running will help. Not in terms of fight conditioning. I think enough sparring and bag work will do that. But running 5-8 miles everyday will help your focus. A lot of fighters think about strategies or game plans while they run. And at the same time it keeps them in shape and active. Running can be done anywhere and anytime. So it's convenient. And it's that something extra on top of all your training. A lot of fighters will run at odd hours because they feel like they haven't done enough during the day, so they just finish it off with a run just to feel satisfied. And plus the fact that it helps them make weight.

[Frank Ducketts]

if you are able to do all the gym work + sparring at a solid pace

without having to do your runs and ground work...

does it really matter??

can a fighter just put in their gym work, bag,pads, shadowboxing, skipping etc

Sure. Any fighter can train like that...just as long as they are fighting in a policemen and firemens league where they box six, 30 second rounds.

[sdcluser]

if you are able to do all the gym work + sparring at a solid pace

without having to do your runs and ground work...

does it really matter??

can a fighter just put in their gym work, bag,pads, shadowboxing, skipping etc

Ask hagler (a la mugabu), holytield ( a la bowe), and Sergio Martinez if it matters.