Boxing and Weightlifting

[Eric Holder]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/krisgethin42.htm

Ricky Hatton talks about weight training in this interview

[Danny Gunz]

bump...........

[Del Coqui]

I've seen very good am fighters who never run and finish their fights fresher than most who run, cant say I've ever seen a pro who never runs thou. The whole weight training thing is beneficial if you know what youre doing. Would be ****** to say otherwise, but hey, if some don't want to believe let them be. Nice article OP.

[Trick]

Stopped reading Ruby's posts after he said isolation exercises are what a boxer WANTS...

I don't know about you guys, but I've never concentration curled my way out of trouble in the ring. There are very few "useless" muscles for a fighter. In fact, I can't really think of any. The tongue I suppose...

[Danny Gunz]

Stopped reading Ruby's posts after he said isolation exercises are what a boxer WANTS...

I don't know about you guys, but I've never concentration curled my way out of trouble in the ring. There are very few "useless" muscles for a fighter. In fact, I can't really think of any. The tongue I suppose...

Yeah that is what completely threw me off of his post. There are no such things as "useless" muscles in the body. And contrary to what he says compound exercises are the best to do for boxing.

That is what bothers me on this site. Not only do so many people here believe weight lifting is counter effective for boxing; they spread around these myths to other guys.

[FM3O]

I've been boxing for about 4 years and box competitively, and I think that if weights are done correctly and not OVERDONE, that it would help. I always was against it, but recently I started a program where I lift 3 times a week, switching off between upper and lower body, and I think it will help. A way it would hurt would if you would gain a lot of weight and fight in a weight class you don't naturally belong in, and also if you don't stretch and become to rigid. I also believe it depends on the person.

[IronWolverine]

Well, you have to work on some advance bodyweight exercises.You dont have to lift weights.I have all type of bodyweight exercises you can do.

[SBleeder]

I don't know about you guys, but I've never concentration curled my way out of trouble in the ring.

Have you ever squatted your way out of trouble?

[Jim Tom]

Many people that just start out boxing are told by their trainers at the local gym not to lift weights. They say the only exercises that should be done for strength are bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, and dips. But are bodyweight exercises enough for the strength needed to compete in a boxing match? Wouldn't lifting weights be beneficial to your workout? Many old school trainers will say that lifting weights will pack on too much muscle and slow you down when you fight. But there are ways to lift weights that will benefit your body and improve your performance in the ring.

Weights should be incorporated into every boxer's workout. Seventy-percent of your power comes from your legs. To achieve powerful legs you must do exercises like squats, deadlifts, and leg presses. These exercises will give you strong calves which will help immensly in the ring. You also need a lot of leg strength to carry you around the ring. Having weak legs will make you more likely to be knocked down when hit by a hard punch. You should also do a lot of chest work and work on your arms especially your biceps and triceps. Your biceps and triceps are used to throw your punches out and pull them back in. They are also useful for clinches. Your abdominal muscles should also be worked with weights. Strong abdominal muscles are one of the most important things a fighter needs to win. Exercises like situps and crunches used with weights will make abs much stronger and your ability to take a punch will improve.

Strength is huge advantage in the ring and it allows to you to control the pace of the fight. Some trainers argue that packing on muscle from weightlifting will affect your coordination and reflexes because your body will be heavier and slower. This is incorrect because by dieting correctly and lifting light to moderate weights you can strip a couple of pounds of fat and tighten up your muscles which will increase your strength. However weightlifting should not be the core of a boxer's workout. The core of your workout should consist of cardio exercises like shadow boxing, jump roping, hittng the heavy bag, and jogging. If you do cardio in addition to the weightlifting then you will not become slower. All that cardio should keep you real lean with a low bodyfat percentage. Your speed and strength will improve and you will be a much tougher competitor in the ring.

Not using weights for boxing training comes from old school training method that many trainers today still follow. Most of the top professional fighters strength train with weights. However you should not train like a bodybuilder. Having big steroid type muscles are not going to do very much for you in the ring. You should lift moderate to light weight which will increase your strength but not bulk you up too much. All of your focus should go into what will help you win and not what looks good. The bottom line is that you should weightlift to increase strength and not weightlift to increase your bodyweight.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ng.html?cat=50

Just came across this article and felt it was a decent easy read for beginners with some questions.

Feel free to add things on, clear things up, or correct some mistakes or misconceptions in the post.

Go to the gym and see the leg exercises they do without weights then you will know there isnt really need for weights.Almost all the workout in a gym involves legs as well,you get to a point when your legs cant carry you anymore in the gym without weights which shows how challenging boxing training is.

Weights make you stronger no doubt but strength and fitness is specific.Boxers use muscles differently and while weight training can be manipulated to suit boxing training they are not necessary.Having said that I use weights but I just train boxing as a hobby

[Trick]

Have you ever squatted your way out of trouble?

Yes, if by that you mean have I used my various leg mucscles from my calves to hip flexors in unison in the ring to either get under a punch or develop a good power punch.