Training Regimens of boxers throughout the ages

[Max Power]

One of the things that has lifted the game of the modern era of boxers far beyond what any of their predecessors could achieve is the far more intricate and thorough use of the focus mitt.

The mitt was not really even used widespread until not THAT long ago, I forget exactly when.

And today we see how trainers with mitts and targets over their body form the core of all skills training of boxers.

Although there is no substitute for sparring for performance under fighting conditions, the focus mitt has an advantage for pure skills development in actual fact. It allows the boxer to fine tune his shots without having to worry about getting hurt with much more repetition than possible in sparring, clearly being the next most important tool in the boxers arsenal.

[Max Power]

Whilst Holyfield was the first to incorporate periodisation of training into his regime, he was not the first to adopt weight training as a major part of his routine. It was in fact Michael Spinks to the best of my knowledge when he against the established beliefs of the time used them to transform him from a light HW into a HW in order for him to conquer LArry Holmes and ruin his undefeated streak.

Now days there is barely a boxer in any weight range who does not incorporate some form of strength training into their routines.

Some other major evolutions in training are the recognition that the speed ball is useless as a training tool contributing little to any aspect of boxing performance and is now a show off tool on media day, interval training completely superceding distance work with duration and intensities geared to the development of the energy systems we now know contribute. And recovery. Our warm up, cool down and preparatory work to avoid injuries are different across the eras.

[ross]

Stuff iv just read...

The speed ball is not useless. Hang it high and use it. It focusses your mind amd knackers your front deltoids holding up your arms.

"Focus mitts" not just for skills. I used to love the pads because you were forced to work at a high tempo, not your own on the bags. This is where good fitness came from for me, theowing lots of punches.

I see alot of pad holders and not trainers now everyone has watched Mayweather on the pads.

Its pathetic. That stuff on the pads, his trainer is doing as much work as he is meeting his gloves. What is the point in the pad work at all? Hes not sharpening up his distance and timing because someone is meeting the glove for him. It bugs me when I see that shit and then they look at the camera and make you cringe because they really believe you should be impressed!

Drinking blood?..... Your are eating it, your body would digest it, you arent injecting it in to your own blood stream.....

Thats the same logic as iv seen body builders talk about eating bulls testicals to get all the testosterone!

[cambay411]

Whilst Holyfield was the first to incorporate periodisation of training into his regime, he was not the first to adopt weight training as a major part of his routine. It was in fact Michael Spinks to the best of my knowledge when he against the established beliefs of the time used them to transform him from a light HW into a HW in order for him to conquer LArry Holmes and ruin his undefeated streak.

Now days there is barely a boxer in any weight range who does not incorporate some form of strength training into their routines.

Some other major evolutions in training are the recognition that the speed ball is useless as a training tool contributing little to any aspect of boxing performance and is now a show off tool on media day, interval training completely superceding distance work with duration and intensities geared to the development of the energy systems we now know contribute. And recovery. Our warm up, cool down and preparatory work to avoid injuries are different across the eras.

Got to disagree about the speed bag (speed ball). Surely no one sees the speed bag as a useless tool for boxing training. That's big time shoulder conditioning, timing and helps coordinate your lower body with your punches.


Technique wise it doesn't do much but it definately contribute to boxing performance.

[cambay411]

One of the things that has lifted the game of the modern era of boxers far beyond what any of their predecessors could achieve is the far more intricate and thorough use of the focus mitt.

The mitt was not really even used widespread until not THAT long ago, I forget exactly when.

And today we see how trainers with mitts and targets over their body form the core of all skills training of boxers.

Although there is no substitute for sparring for performance under fighting conditions, the focus mitt has an advantage for pure skills development in actual fact. It allows the boxer to fine tune his shots without having to worry about getting hurt with much more repetition than possible in sparring, clearly being the next most important tool in the boxers arsenal.

Good post. As far as practice for putting combos together and mixing defense with punches I don't think even sparring can compare to mitt work.

[ross]

One of the things that has lifted the game of the modern era of boxers far beyond what any of their predecessors could achieve is the far more intricate and thorough use of the focus mitt.

The mitt was not really even used widespread until not THAT long ago, I forget exactly when.

And today we see how trainers with mitts and targets over their body form the core of all skills training of boxers.

Although there is no substitute for sparring for performance under fighting conditions, the focus mitt has an advantage for pure skills development in actual fact. It allows the boxer to fine tune his shots without having to worry about getting hurt with much more repetition than possible in sparring, clearly being the next most important tool in the boxers arsenal.

Good post. As far as practice for putting combos together and mixing defense with punches I don't think even sparring can compare to mitt work.

You can look like Ray Leonard on the pads but then look like Ray Charles against an opponent!

You will learn far more about what works when someones fighting back than you will just throwing punches against pads.

[cambay411]

One of the things that has lifted the game of the modern era of boxers far beyond what any of their predecessors could achieve is the far more intricate and thorough use of the focus mitt.

The mitt was not really even used widespread until not THAT long ago, I forget exactly when.

And today we see how trainers with mitts and targets over their body form the core of all skills training of boxers.

Although there is no substitute for sparring for performance under fighting conditions, the focus mitt has an advantage for pure skills development in actual fact. It allows the boxer to fine tune his shots without having to worry about getting hurt with much more repetition than possible in sparring, clearly being the next most important tool in the boxers arsenal.

Good post. As far as practice for putting combos together and mixing defense with punches I don't think even sparring can compare to mitt work.

You can look like Ray Leonard on the pads but then look like Ray Charles against an opponent!

You will learn far more about what works when someones fighting back than you will just throwing punches against pads.

The mechanics are built outside the ring (Pads, heavy bag, speed bag, double end bag). Sparring is where you put it all together. You build the muscle memory of throwing combos and etc then you practice in the ring.


If you just jump straight into sparring the mechanics wont be there. Even when the mechanics are there you have to keep them sharp.


You cant look like Ray Leonard in the ring without looking like him outside the ring.


Edit


Don't get me wrong, your right. Sparring is where you learn what works for you. Without the work outside the ring you will have very limited mechanics to work with when you jump in the ring to spar.

[Max Power]

One of the things that has lifted the game of the modern era of boxers far beyond what any of their predecessors could achieve is the far more intricate and thorough use of the focus mitt.

The mitt was not really even used widespread until not THAT long ago, I forget exactly when.

And today we see how trainers with mitts and targets over their body form the core of all skills training of boxers.

Although there is no substitute for sparring for performance under fighting conditions, the focus mitt has an advantage for pure skills development in actual fact. It allows the boxer to fine tune his shots without having to worry about getting hurt with much more repetition than possible in sparring, clearly being the next most important tool in the boxers arsenal.

Good post. As far as practice for putting combos together and mixing defense with punches I don't think even sparring can compare to mitt work.

You can look like Ray Leonard on the pads but then look like Ray Charles against an opponent!

You will learn far more about what works when someones fighting back than you will just throwing punches against pads.

The mechanics are built outside the ring (Pads, heavy bag, speed bag, double end bag). Sparring is where you put it all together. You build the muscle memory of throwing combos and etc then you practice in the ring.


If you just jump straight into sparring the mechanics wont be there. Even when the mechanics are there you have to keep them sharp.


You cant look like Ray Leonard in the ring without looking like him outside the ring.


Edit


Don't get me wrong, your right. Sparring is where you learn what works for you. Without the work outside the ring you will have very limited mechanics to work with when you jump in the ring to spar.

Spot on!!

[Dia bando]

Fighters now fight 12 rounds, in the past 15 or even 20 rounds , so much for modern training
regimens, better nutrition supplements etc, strength and fitness coach.
Were the old regimens of boxing training bad, it seems not yes you have to be fit, but all in
all you need that will to win.!

[Max Power]

Fighters now fight 12 rounds, in the past 15 or even 20 rounds , so much for modern training
regimens, better nutrition supplements etc, strength and fitness coach.
Were the old regimens of boxing training bad, it seems not yes you have to be fit, but all in
all you need that will to win.!

What a stupid comment!

The total energy expended today by boxers over 12 rounds far exceeds the total energy expended by the olden days boxers over 15 or more. Because current boxers are far more explosive and far more conditioned they consume far more energy and oxygen and produce much higher forces and much swifter movements. At HW the difference is even more striking since they are so much heftier and heftier bodies use more energy.

As for the old timers training? HA! Yeah a slow jog for miles is gonna produce a much fitter boxer isn't it? Have another mint julep mate and read the article..

"Past boxers were 15 rounders, Past boxers fought more often"