How important is running?

[Dorsey_Wittmann]

I prefer a combination of 3x/week sprint intervals and 2x/week hardcore long-distance cardio - over 5-10miles. The combination allows me to get great results.

[KillaMANE704]

last time i was training...i never ran and i was n good shape. but if u finna fight u wud be ****** not 2 run

[itsafight]

last time i was training...i never ran and i was n good shape. but if u finna fight u wud be ****** not 2 run

Why is that?

[Ray Corso]

When you work with "rounds" their 3 mins, 1 min rest! Rest means rest, get some slow deep breaths in you!!!
Your routine is over taxing your body, you road work to strengthen your legs and increase stamina both hold you up when your jaw or chin take one that cracks your mind!!!! There are NO quality boxers that negate road work!!!
Never was never will be!!! Obviously no ones ever rocked you in the gym to let you know your legs aren't in top condition!!!
Dump the late session and find a beach/hills/track whatever is avalible and start out with 2 miles and get it down to less than 12 minutes. Then add a mile during the 3 mile run add 50 yard sprints and go back to jogging for a 440yd (1/4) once your comfortable increase your load to hills every other day.
Once your in shape you shouldn't need to run more than 3 miles but once a week a nice 6 miles at an even pace to clear your mind and think about your techniques is a wise choice!!! As a bout nears less time is spent but you need to become more intense with the shorter sessions!!

to much to write out, find a real trainer who could teach you how to train correctly!!!

[mconstantine]

The one time I fought, I felt like I was in pretty good shape. I trained pretty hard but I did most of my cardio on the heavy bag and some jump roping. I could go 10 mins straight on heavy bag with continuous punching but I didn't really run much. I only did three two minute rounds. I had sparred that amount several times with no real issues.

However, during the fight, I got much more tired quicker than I anticipated. I felt like I could have my way early in the rounds, but then I gassed and had to pace myself a LOT more than I wanted to.

In my defense, I had been training in the Winter in a gym with no heat. I had also lost 20lbs in the 3 months working up to the fight. My fight was indoors under the lights (much hotter). It was also in front of over 1,100 people. I felt and looked pretty relaxed before and during the fight, but the fight STILL felt 10x more exhausting than my training. I don't know if my gassing was attributed to the fact I hadn't been training in the heat, the fact that I was jacked up due to my first fight, or from the lack of running. But if I ever decide to fight again, I will definitely run. There is something to be said for feeling confident that you've pushed youself to the absolute limit in training. Taking the confidence into the fight matters more than you may think. I've always known Boxing was a mental game but I didn't learn just how much of a mental game it is until actually competing.

[Bullet Charley]

My brothas, I had my first fight Saturday, backyard boxing, no ring, dirt floor. I lost. Yes, you all are right. RUNNING IS A MUST.

We went 3 rounds. No work out is as intense as what I felt all throughout. I didn't have a problem with my legs, but I was very winded by the end of each round. This was just going to be my first sparring session, but here in Tijuana where I live at, it became something more in a very short time. I did not have a problem with my legs, but my condition is far from anything impressive. Even though I'm over weight, I was a bit surprised that it didn't bother me so much though, but that's only because my opponent's condition was equal to mine, and that isn't something good, lol. While I was jumping around+resetting myself, it wasn't a lot due to him being a sitting duck and just waiting for me to come in.

Stats: I'm 5'7, 210 (A lot of muscle under fat), haven't measured my reach yet. I've basically wanted to change my life for the better, and it's been a very very long battle with myself and my vices, but I'm finally where I want to be, and this will be something great in my life. I have awaken this passion for boxing. I have learned by reading, watching training videos and fights, it's history, and anything else that's boxing related.. I have been training for a lot of years, but on and off (A lot of weight training), and till 4 months ago I have been hitting it medium-hard, and not till 6 weeks training boxing. I work as a graphics designer and audio engineer from home, so I have all the time in the world. I will be joining a boxing gym soon, but so far I've educated myself pretty well.

My opponent's 5'11, 180 (Pretty lean, not cut up), and he has been training boxing for almost a year, but I think he's lying and really has been training for a few months. I'm 25, he's 19.

First round: Found out right away his reach was going to **** me up. We both went in swinging. I also found out that after getting rocked, you are immediately intimidated to some extent. I have heart, and while I knew going in was a bad idea, I felt like I couldn't back away, especially with how much pride was riding on this, and even when I threw my jab, and I took advantage that for the most part when he moved, I would go in with a left+right, even though I got him a few times, he was just so much faster to counterattack. He rocked me every time I went in with a combo, I bled a bit from the left nostril, automatically started breathing through the mouth, in the heat of the moment, I had to remind myself of everything, and for the most part I was moving, resetting myself, throwing the jab, but way too slow, even though I threw combos, they just had no effect. Towards the end of the round, while we traded punches, I caught him clean in one of em to the jaw and he almost dropped, he backed away and in that split second when he was hurt I didn't go in for the kill because I was winded. Running is now a must. After a long second, I went in and we traded punches again and he stepped too close and I tripped on his shoe, got up. We moved around a bit, threw some jabs, moved away, round ended.

Second round: It was me following him, allll throughout, that punch I rocked him with made some damage, he was super careful, plus me being slow allowed him to just wait in place for me to make a mistake. I didn't let off the pressure, and kept going in, even though I was getting rocked. We moved around, jabs thrown, more moving, I initiated a jab, straight right, he counterattacked, rocked me, saw stars, he came in and dropped me with a right hook. I bounced back up, and he asked if I was fine, and I just said, "Yeah, let's go", by this time I was used to how hard he was hitting and I kept on going in.. again.. and again.. Every time I clipped him, he would take a deep breath and puff himself up, he automatically went in with a combo after that, and after the first time he did that I caught up on it and just moved back, knocking his jabs outta the way but not going in. He got me good when I went in in the last 10 seconds. All this time everyone was yelling for me to go to his body, but I knew was too slow for that, If I jabbed to his lower body, he could have dropped me quicker.

Third round: I felt better than the other 2 rounds, and I did a lot of moving, resetting, and caught most of what he threw with my gloves. I had to remind myself to put my hands up higher and by this time, everyone was telling to go in for the body, and while I tried, I just didn't want to risk it, so again, I would go in with the jab, always with the jab. We traded a few more times, moved a lot around, pretty technical/lazy round. Once again as I went in with a jab, we were close to the neighbor's wall and I tripped on top of him. Re-positioned ourselves, few more jabs, some straight rights missed, round was over.

The fight was so fast paced, it's crazy. I have never sparred before, and even though I have done a lot of crazy **** in my life, to have your adrenaline pushed that hard and long, it felt like an instant. I could see intimidation in his eyes, and I know that if he got rid of that, he woulda probably knocked me out in the first round.

I have never felt so great. Even though I looked horrible, and forgot a lot of ****, I have never felt like this before. I lost, and I don't even care. I feel like this experience can not be topped, not for a long time. I went in with a cat who had training, and I held my ground. I want this discipline, I want this respect. In front of so many people, most of them congratulated me on the pure fact that I had heart like a mother****er and wouldn't let up or give up. I felt bad a bit for my opponent who's a good friend of mine because even though he won, no one treated him with the respect. I have gained so much more by losing. I pushed myself to the best of my abilities, and even though I am no where near where I want to be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, I see nothing but a bright future for me and my family. I will not stop. Not ever.

Just wanted to update ya'll.

[itsafight]

There's better ways to improve your stamina than running.

[Sugarj]

There's better ways to improve your stamina than running.

There may be equals such as cycling/swimming/rowing. But neither replicate as closely the muscles/movements that you would use in the ring.

I'd say that hard speed skipping would be as good as running to a boxer.

[mconstantine]

My brothas, I had my first fight Saturday, backyard boxing, no ring, dirt floor. I lost. Yes, you all are right. RUNNING IS A MUST.

...here in Tijuana where I live at,

No offense, but backyard boxing huh? Was there even a ref? lol. I bet they'd count it as an official fight. This is why guys who pad their records in Mexico don't get taken seriously.

[Bullet Charley]

No, just straight training.