Amateur Boxing: Activity Profile of Winners and Losers

Abstract

An activity profile of competitive 3 × 2-min novice-level amateur boxing was created based on video footage and postbout blood [La] in 32 male boxers (mean ± SD) age 19.3 ± 1.4 y, body mass 62.6 ± 4.1 kg. Winners landed 18 ± 11 more punches than losers by applying more lead-hand punches in round 1 (34.2 ± 10.9 vs 26.5 ± 9.4), total punches to the head (121.3 ± 10.2 vs 96.0 ± 9.8), and block and counterpunch combinations (2.8 ± 1.1 vs. 0.1 ± 0.2) over all 3 rounds and punching combinations (44.3 ± 6.4 vs 28.8 ± 6.7) in rounds 1 and 3 (all P < .05). In 16 boxers, peak postbout blood [La] was 11.8 ± 1.6 mmol/L irrespective of winning or losing. The results suggest that landing punches requires the ability to maintain a high frequency of attacking movements, in particular the lead-hand straight punch to the head together with punching combinations. Defensive movements must initiate a counterattack. Postbout blood [La] suggests that boxers must be able to tolerate a lactate production rate of 1.8 mmol · L−1 · min−1 and maintain skillful techniques at a sufficient activity rate.

Warm-up Practices in Elite Boxing Athletes: Impact on Power Output

“…These data 21 support previous findings that warm-ups might improve PO acutely, possibly as a result of both increases in 22 blood flow to target muscles tissues and elevated rate of ATP turnover as a consequence of the higher muscle 23 temperature (15). It is suggested that punch power and frequency represent key aspects of physical 24 performance that contribute towards overall bout success in amateur boxing (11) Although all of these 25 movements are carried out from the upper body, use of lower body musculature in amateur boxing should 26 not be discounted, particularly in terms of contribution to punch power, body balance and evasion of 27 opponent shots through appropriate ring position as well as the ability to transfer energy more effectively 28 from the lower limbs through the arm and fist (22). Given that these movements need to be carried out within 29…”

“…In previous studies, athletes have been shown to exercise between 85-90% HR max 23 during simulated competition while blood lactate values of ~9-12 mmol have been reported following 3 24 rounds of sparring (1,11). In amateur boxing, upper-body power output (PO) is important as fast punches are 25 more likely to score points, in particular during the early stages of a fight (8).…”

Quantifying the Physical Response to a Contemporary Amateur Boxing Simulation

“…The activity profile of amateur boxing is characterised by multi-directional, intermittent bouts of high intensity activity, interspersed by periods of active and passive recovery over a specific number of rounds (11,13). This intermittent and multi-directional activity profile will inherently increase the complexity of both the physiological and biomechanical response;…”

The technical demands of amateur boxing: Effect of contest outcome, weight and ability

“…These punches are typically thrown to cause injury and/or affect judging decisions and are known to generate higher peak forces at impact than the jab (Hickey, 2006;Smith et al, 2000). As observed in previous research (El-Ashker, 2011;Davis et al, 2013Davis et al, , 2015aDavis et al, , 2015b, the lead and rear uppercuts were performed the least frequently, possibly because they necessitate the shortest distance between a boxer and the target (Hristovski et al, 2006) and throwing an uppercut might therefore afford the opponent more opportunities to counter-attack given the boxer performing the punch would be within his/her range (arm length). With respect to defensive actions, a preference for using the arms was established, followed by trunk and foot defences.…”

“…Whilst such changes have likely affected the physical and physiological demands of the sport, our understanding of what characterises successful boxing remains rudimentary (Chaabène et al, 2015). Some previous research has attended to the numerous technical differences between winning and losing boxers (El-Ashker, 2011; Davis et al, 2013;Davis et al, 2015a;Davis et al, 2015b), but the studies appraised either novice or elite performances alone and there were clear concerns over the reliability and objectivity of their analysis procedures (O'Donoghue, 2007). Moreover, the designated 'winners' and 'losers' in these studies were not necessarily the same as those determined by the real-time judges, as victory was assigned by the analyst on the basis of the number of successful punches landed by each contestant.…”