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i know now a days trainers tell us that we should lift weights for boxing and im one of the novice boxers who is a weight lifter and have lifted for 18 years consistently. i realize science and physiology now tells that in theory lifting should aid in boxing performance. But i wonder if the all time greats like sugar ray robinson and leonard, muhaamed ali, roy jones jr, joe louis etc. i mean the best of their breed and weight classes. did these guys lift? it seems (and mike brewer may agree) that the old school trainers dont believe boxers should lift. is it one of the common traits of these champions? and are the old school trainers on to something? your thoughts please.........
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Muldoon, Greb, Villa, Genaro, Schmeling, Sharkey, Louis, Gudoy, etc. You look at these guys and they're all small guys. Built like the average man of the 40s and 50s. But things have changed. In the 40s and 50s, people were still in the shadow of the depression. There was not a lot of money to make off of boxing. There was a lot of intercontroversy and rules were still being made up. Boxing was not as public as it is today, the promoters werent there, and the controversys almost led to boxings demise. Couple that with the fact that WW1 had just ended and WW2 was going on, there were just not a lot of competitors.
That being said, if one of todays boxers were to go back to the 40s and compete in their weight class they would dominate. There is much more competition from all over the world; Cuba, russia, mexico, etc. Training is much more refined, judges are fair, and people make a living off of boxing.
Does lifing weights make you a better boxer? I dont know. It does make you better at lifing weights. In a boxing match the strongest guy will usually win, so lifting has its benefits. Mostly though I think its the sheer amount of time that todays athletes can afford to devote to the sport that makes them better boxers. -
but do you think if say a boxer like Ali lifted would he have the exceptional skills he possessed. im not sure i agree with you that the boxers today would dominate back then. yes there was a lot against them like the wars, the great depression and poverty but werent they tougher? they stop fights a lot earlier these days than back then and i think a roy jones of today would be in trouble with a sugar ray robinson of yesterday. but not getting off the subject i wanna know why the old school trainers think lifting is not a good idea for boxers. supposedly lifting can increase speed but i noticed when i dont lift for about 4 or 5 days i see a noticable difference in my speed and im quite flexible for my size. i just wonder if you take all the best of the best ....say top 3 of all time in every class would you find that ALL of these boxers have a non-lifting regimen in common. and if so would that support the old school trainers theory?Comment
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I dont know. I'm not sure if it could be know for sure.
Todays boxers have advantages over the boxers of old. There is a much larger talent pool to choose from. Boxers today can be from anywhere; Cuba, Mexico, Russia, England, etc. Also, because of the money involved boxers today are able to be much better "boxers" than at any time before. Of course this doesnt mean that they are better fighters. But being a better boxer, and having the experiences really makes a difference in the later rounds when experience counts most.
I can see where you're coming from and I really respect the fact that you've been at this for almost 20yrs. In a fight the strongest man usually wins. But this strength doesnt have to come from lifting weights...its a tool that CAN be used, but I think there are better ways. The only thing I know, for sure, that lifting weights does; is make you better at lifting weights. Personally I think the best is to have a mix of circuit and weight training and aerobic/anaerobic intervals. But when it comes down to it, the only way to be the best boxer is to fight the best boxers.
One thing for sure is the boxers of old were much better showman. They made good fights happen.Comment
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I was looking around to find the training methods of some of the best fighters of past times. I beleive a lot of them lifted weights, but I found this link which really makes some great arguments for this thread. It brings of different points to ponder...maybe it wasnt the training methods at all.
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that article definitely answered my question and convinced me that todays are no match for yesterdays boxers. very nice HT thanx for showing me that. it makes perfect sense that a boxer who fights 12 fights a year would be better than one who fights 2. maybe the trainers of old would rather see a boxer spar more than lift weights . thanx again for the book too bro , when i find the rest your the first to get a copy.Comment
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another interesting link on the subject http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/articles/scni23a3.htmComment
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the effect of weightlifting on speed is complicated and depends on what kind your doing, what weight/speed/reps/sets etc. heres an interesting article on new info that concludes that if you weightlift for a while then stop or reduce volume for a period of time you will actually develop more fasttwitch fibers then you ever had!
its interesting, here it is: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par2.htm
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