Boxing Workout Advice

Good stuff from Kazama and MattJ, will just add some more if I may.

In regard to be coming more punch resistant, the first thing is... don't get hit! In terms of conditioning yourself to getting punched, you should could try incorportating medicine ball work into your upper body/abs workout. Get someone to gently drop the m. ball on you as you do a sit up or crunch, it will get you use to tensing your muscles on impact.

I would also ask you to reconsider weight training, unless you have very specific reasons for not doing it.

In regard to the "moves" you mentioned, they are still taught today, its just done so in a more uniform way. I was not familar with the term "Dempsey Roll" myself until recently, but really it is your basic bob and weave. Dempsey just used its momentum to attack, rather than as a defensive movement. There is not point in learning the Dempsey roll, as it teaches you that the B&W as an offensive component, instead of something that can be used for defensive purposes. It's like only learning to jab for offense. Better to learn the B&W, then use it as situation dictates. Gazelle punch...leaping left hook... it's all taught, but under more formal names. Don't be fooled by eye-catching titles, there are more straightforward names for the moves you mention.


Boxers don't mess around with weights???????? Are you mad!!!!!! Ever hear of Roy Jones, Marco Antonio Barrera, Evander Holyfield, Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson or Ricky Hatton!!! They regularly "mess around" with weights. They have all specific weight training regimes for them. Weight training can add size, speed, flexibility, strength, mass and do many more great things for atheltes, boxers included. Nearly all of the top pro's weight train. Who told you they don't weight train? They need to check their facts. I hope for your sake Cord or Dereck don't wander by this thread...

Requirements to obtain licenses vary from country to country, and in the USA, from state to state. So states in the USA are beyond a joke. Consider that Araon Pryor, aged 33, was granted a license to box by a state in the USA (I think it was Missourri) when he was medically blind in one eye! There are still countries like Puerto Rico & South Africa who are prepared to let Joe Mesi box, despite his appauling neurological condition.

Normal requirements require you to pass a medical, the quality of which varies greatly. That's about it. It is entirely possible in most countries to gain a pro liscense without having any amateur bouts. Consider that Jameel McCline, current heavyweight fringe contender, only had a single amateur bout.

Southpaw isn't a "style", its a stance. End of story. "Styles" are quasi-terms used to describe the boxers approach to fighting E.g. Ricky Hatton is a brawler, Floyd Mayweather is a slickster (superb defensive boxer). Stay away from so called styles, as they limit your range in boxing. Ricky Hatton has solid defensive skills, he as very good head movement. Floyd Mayweather can rough it up if he wants. Their respective "stylings" don't take that into account though, hence you don't get a full picture of a boxers capabilities. Plus when you start gettin into "stlyes" you limit your own development. If you set out to be a slugger, a good boxer will pick you apart. If you set out to be a boxer, a workhorse will grind you down. Every "style" can be beaten. Work on everything, and you will have strengths as a boxer no doubt, but have a good all round game. "Styles" give you a plan A, and that;s it. In boxing, you need Plan A, B, C, D.....J, K, L... you get the idea.

I have seen some of the toughest men who walked the face of the planet quit in a boxing ring. Robert Duran vs. Ray Leonard II, the imfamous "No Mas" event. Yet Duran was one of the hardest guys who ever laced up gloves. Boxing, like all other martial arts (and other endavours in life) can draw this the great qualities out of you. Some boxers, like some people in life, have no heart for the fight. Some do. Boxing doesn't teach you this kind of fortitude, but it requires it from time to time though. That's when you find out.

Basic foot position for a boxer is the boxer facing north on the face of a compass, while his feet point east. For all those MA's out there who are familar with the L-stance, boxers footing is like an L-Stance, but wil the lead foot pointing in the same direction as the back foot. Footwork in boxing is crucial, there are many excercises for this. PM me or post back if you want more info.

Does boxing make you afraid? No, it is the individual that has the fear, whether they box or not. Certainly though, boxing can help you over come this fear. You have to conquer fear. See my sig for more help re this

R.J. McCunney and P.K. Russo conducted an extensive report into the fatalities of professional boxing. They found that boxing ranked only 8th in their league of most dangerous sports, averaging 1.3 deaths per 100000 participants. However, the report also concluded that most pro boxers will suffer some sort of mental disorder in their life time (almost 3 out of every 4, in fact). But amateur boxing has a far superior safety record, with many people having successful amateur careers without suffering any long lasting damage. This is due to great medical and safety precautions that are standard across the world, and have been set out by the AIBA.

No doubt there are illegal fights taking place. But the key word is "ILLEGAL". It is against the law to box without regulation in pretty much every country in the world that has electricity.