How has the training of elite boxers changed over time?

Honestly, a lot of trainers have returned, in part, to the old ways, a mix of old and new.

 

As you say most boxers lift weights now, and that was a no-no for years. Whether that makes them better fighters or not I don't know. I'm not sure when pad work became common, but it seems to have increased over the last 20 years or so?

Some of the changes might be beneficial, some may be faddy.

 

That's what I meant by "faddy", Seamus. I still think a fighter could get by just fine with the traditional fighter's routine. No one can tell me Monzon, Hagler and Briscoe would be left behind today.

 

Strength and conditioning methods have changed which involve the use of more weight exercises, plyometrics and explosive power developing techniques whereas before training was far more aerobic. Some fighters actually incorporate yoga and pilates into their regimens for flexiblity and core strength. Sounds gay I know, but it actually works. Sports nutritionists have got the science of what the ratio of carbs to protein should be depending on the fighter's needs and goals pretty down pat. There are other differences as well but I'm not familiar enough with them to go into detail.. Kovalev's training involves some components of alternative sports medicine but I don't know specifically what it is.

 

No, that wouldn't make sense. There's no such thing as "training like a world class athlete", since obviously "world class athlete" covers hundreds of different sports/events/disciplines.

My comment wasn't actually serious. But ... I do see girls and *****s in the park hitting the pads all the time.
They'd probably break their skinny arms if they tried doing 3 rounds on a heavy bag.

 

Read some of the manuals from modern strength trainers, guys like Ross Emamait... Little to no weight training involved, mostly just old school, full-body excercises. A lot of aerobic based stuff. On the roadwork, it's a lot like what Jeffries and Fitzsimmons did, interval-based training, not the long slogs of roadwork that become fashionable mid-century.

There seems to be a misconception on this board that all the modern giants are power lifting everyday and doing nautilus machines to improve their biceps. In fact, most have returned to the old ways with a few new twists. It really deflates the "modern training" argument we see in every thread. The fact is that, like all other sports, the general level of athlete has improved.

 

All of you are saying the same thing in different words lol. Now days, we have a better understanding of Kinesiology. Back in the 40s and era's before that, muscle was seen as the same thing. Strength training, bodybuilding, all of that was the same. Low reps high sets for strength and high reps low sets for size didn't exist or if it did, it wasn't well known. Fighters didn't change their routines every couple weeks, they stuck with it throughout their careers. That's why they had **** physiques and since the 80's fighters have strength coaches. Push ups, Pull ups, and sit ups were the only exercises they did for strength.

 

Peds?

 

Oh definitely. They're incorporating things like kettle bells, med *****, TRX bands and plenty of other things.

 

And again, these are the most popular and reputable strength exercises for boxers and MMA fighters. It is back to push-ups, pull-ups, bar dips, planks and the like.

 

They didn't do bar dips, planks, or "the like". It was solely push ups, pull ups and sit ups. The Push ups were non variated. They didn't do close grip, diamond, any other form of push up. All they did were normal push ups. Anyone who does push ups and other calisthenics only will tell you that you will plateau over time.

 

Like how?

Boxers are the most stubborn and clueless of all athletes when it comes to training methods.

Running 10 miles a day? What for? That's what RUNNERS do.

Hundreds of sit-ups and crunches a day? Yeah, good luck with the imbalances.

Modern methods are awesome, period.

Typical response "But it's worked for years". Maybe so, but you put ANY Boxer who uses solely old methods and have him use modern methods and he will be a better athlete, period.