Quantifying the Physical Response to a Contemporary Amateur Boxing Simulation

Abstract

This study examined the physical response to a contemporary Boxing Specific Exercise Protocol (BSEP), based on notational analysis of amateur boxing. Nine male senior elite amateur boxers completed a 3x3 minute BSEP, with 1minute passive recovery period interspersing each round. Average (HR ave ) and peak (HR peak ) heart rate, average (VO 2ave ) and peak oxygen consumption (VO 2peak response across rounds, confirming its validity. The BSEP can be used as a training tool for boxing specific conditioning with implications for reduced injury risk, and to assess the physical response to boxing-specific interventions. Moreover, the BSEP can also be manipulated to suit all levels of participants or training phases, with practical applications in performance monitoring and micro-cycle periodization.

Cardio-Respiratory Endurance Responses Following a Simulated 3 × 3 Minutes Amateur Boxing Contest in Elite Level Boxers

“…The simulated amateur boxing contest undertaken in the present study showed VO 2 values of 55.3, 53.8, and 50.4 mL·min −1 ·kg −1 for the 1st and 2nd, and 3rd round, respectively. These VO 2 outcomes are higher than the outcomes recorded during punching routine activities in the previous study [12] where values of 44, 43, and 44 mL·min −1 ·kg −1 were recorded for the 1st and 2nd, and 3rd round, respectively. It is noteworthy that more detailed physiological analyses were not performed because of the rounds’ short duration (i.e., 3 min).…”

“…This is indicative of the high physiological stress of amateur boxing activity. Previous studies conducted on simulated amateur boxing contests reported lower HR responses across the three boxing rounds (162–174 beat·min −1 ) [4,12]. The higher HR values observed in the current study are likely to be due to the longer rounds duration compared, for instance, to the study of Davis et al [4] (3 min vs. 2 min, respectively).…”

“…The higher HR values observed in the current study are likely to be due to the longer rounds duration compared, for instance, to the study of Davis et al [4] (3 min vs. 2 min, respectively). It is noteworthy that HR peak showed a progressive increase throughout the whole amateur simulated boxing contest, with higher values recorded during the 2nd and the 3rd rounds in comparison with the 1st round [4,12]. This phenomenon was not evident for the other gathered physiological variables (i.e., VO 2 ).…”

“…With respect to pad-work, Morita et al [11] reported a mean VO 2max of 48.2 ± 3.8 mL·min −1 ·kg −1 in six college boxers aged 19 years. Additionally, Finlay et al [12] showed VO 2 values of 43.8, 43.3, and 43.5 mL·min −1 ·kg −1 for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round, respectively, using a breath-by-breath portable metabolic analyzer in male elite amateur boxers aged 21 ± 2 years. Concerning punching bag drills, Morita et al [11] reported VO 2peak values of 52.5 ± 7.1 mL·min −1 ·kg −1 using Douglas bags in male amateur boxers aged 19 ± 1 years.…”

“…In view of the different methodological approaches and the heterogeneous outcomes, it is imperative to re-assess VO 2 costs during amateur boxing. More specifically, only a few studies exist that have examined the metabolic demands of the 3 × 3-min bout format in elite amateur boxers [12,13]. The only study that looked at the energy cost of boxing [4] was conducted in a 3 × 2-min simulated bout format with novice male boxers.…”