What's harder: Marathon running or 12 rounds in ring

[Szef]

With Floyd in the ring you get both.

[RVillegas]

12 Rounds of boxing cause in marathon, there's no one there to stop you from completing your goal, which is to finish

[bklynboy]

I was curious in the difference in levels of conditioning required for boxing 10 or 12 rounds vs running a marathon(26 miles or even the ultra marathons)... Obviously the marathon takes longer, but does that necessarily mean it requires greater endurance? Is there a different type of "conditioning" and "endurance" to be able to keep going as you're being hit(drained) of energy vs running where your only worry is just not to stop or to keep a demanding pace(but without any threats other than a lack of conditioning).

Also, from what I've heard/read about Tim Bradley he seems to be super conditioned, like he's doing more than Manny in terms of running at least, but in the ring Manny seems to have just as good conditioning.

For Bradley, is his extensive conditioning more necessary because he's not as fast and explosive as Pac, so it's a bit of "insurance" when he gets in the ring?

I've run cross-country; run a few marathons and have sparred. Sparring is much harder; much more taxing; it's not just about getting hit, it's missing punches; it's putting everything in and still having to keep going.

That being said interval training is also much harder than a marathon. Do a 440 in 70 seconds. Rest 90 seconds and do it again. The first 440 is a joke. The eighth is not much fun. The twentieth and you're dying.

You get into a groove when you're running; your mind can float away; the pain is "someone elses." That only happens in boxing when you're on your back and ref is counting over you.

[toshmurph]

With all due respect to runners, they don't get punched in the face whilst doing it.

Haha, exactly!! TS should ask Victor Ortiz the guys well known for doing Marathons and Triathlons! I think he'd rather run cross a desert than face Chino or Lopez again!

[CubanGuyNYC]

I've run cross-country; run a few marathons and have sparred. Sparring is much harder; much more taxing; it's not just about getting hit, it's missing punches; it's putting everything in and still having to keep going.

That being said interval training is also much harder than a marathon. Do a 440 in 70 seconds. Rest 90 seconds and do it again. The first 440 is a joke. The eighth is not much fun. The twentieth and you're dying.

You get into a groove when you're running; your mind can float away; the pain is "someone elses." That only happens in boxing when you're on your back and ref is counting over you.

How do you think running a marathon on a world level compares to twelve rounds of boxing?

[SthPaw]

A run for a long time is rarely going to tax your body more than fighting for 36 minutes...When you think about the minutes involved and the energy used per minute (marathons last a long time) it doesn't quite sound right, but to me thats the way it is.

I can run 6 miles in under an hour (not amazing, but still decent...) and I have sparred at a steady pace for 4x2 rounds and can easily say that while the long runs may take it out of you, the act of fighting is a LOT more tiring than running.

Just my opinion based off my experience, I have never attempted a marathon or fought for 12x3 rounds, but I have enough experience with running and sparring that I could take a guess that a full distance professional fight is harder on the body than a marathon.

[Unseen]

It depends on your build IMO. Plus who you fight.

I have ran 18 Miles and hitting 26.2 Miles is no joke. 18 Miles is when your body hits a wall and the sugars should be gone and you use fat as energy.

Unless anyone has run a marathon then it is completely hard to tell.

A top marathon runner is hitting around 13 MPH for 2 hours. That is no joke for so long.


Now if you fight a pro with 8 ounce gloves then you will feel pain and IMO KO'd well before. It's more of a beat down.

I am 96KG which is around 211 lbs so a marathon would be extremely hard.

[TGD]

I have ran 3 marathons. It does not compare to getting in the ring and have someone trying to punch your head off. Distance running is aerobic, whereas boxing leans towards anaerobic.

[Unseen]

A run for a long time is rarely going to tax your body more than fighting for 36 minutes...When you think about the minutes involved and the energy used per minute (marathons last a long time) it doesn't quite sound right, but to me thats the way it is.

I can run 6 miles in under an hour (not amazing, but still decent...) and I have sparred at a steady pace for 4x2 rounds and can easily say that while the long runs may take it out of you, the act of fighting is a LOT more tiring than running.

Just my opinion based off my experience, I have never attempted a marathon or fought for 12x3 rounds, but I have enough experience with running and sparring that I could take a guess that a full distance professional fight is harder on the body than a marathon.

Well if you say 12 round pro fight then try running your 6 miles in under 30 mins once.

If you can do the 6 miles in under 30 mins then that gives you an idea of the pace a pro marathon guy is doing, but of course for another 20 miles to go.

[Guest]

I do think the Badwater Ultramarathon, 135 miles in minimum 120 degree heat at times, is worse.

But a regular marathon. I think boxing is harder although can't imagine James Toney or Odlanier Solis completing one.