Can someone tell educate me on some of the training that Battling Nelson did? I've heard that he had some of the most insane work ethic, up there with Marciano and Hagler, but I've been struggling to find anything about it. So far I've only seen two things: 1. He'd shadowbox for ludicrous amounts of rounds with 10 pound weights in his hands 2. He ran 2 miles in a blizzard (which isn't training, more of just a ridiculous feat) Both of these have no real standing, the first one is just a widely accepted rumor as far as I've seen, and the other one I read about in a biography
According to Mike Casey's article he'd clamber up steep mountains and practice hurdling. I'll have a look in newspapers and see what I find.
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 It mentions him doing Gymnasium work (though doesn't specify what), which he was taking a break from to prevent overtraining. I mentions roadwork, and him shadowboxing and swining his arms in the process
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Mentions him running 10 miles a day. This was a few days before the fight, so this is them taking it easier, he only does a couple light rounds of sparring, and playing "roko" for half an hour.
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Says a bit about the training of Gans and Nelson. This was a few months away from the fight and says Nelson was just starting training. Says he had been doing a lot of hiking before starting training. Mentions he's going to spar a few people. Not much detail. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Says he went to El Paso to train in 1915 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Training in Sheehan's Beach Tavern in 1904
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 This shows what Roko is, I think. Mentions him doing some sparring and wrestling https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Mentions he taking it easy to avoid becoming stale. Mentions him practing sparring under electric lights to simulate fighting conditions
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Mentions him training with George Gardner and Jack Clifford in 1906. Says more will join the camp later "The first week will consist of slow work, just enough to acclimate him, Boxing will not begin until the second week"
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Says he was in the mountains at Blue Sulphur Springs but was going to Philidelphia to train. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 In 1905 it said he had a training camp in Millet's, with fans going to watch him https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Said he was doing his Gymnasium work at the Sanitarium Baths, with so many people going to watch him they had to turn people away. Also said he had 3 sparring partners. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 Says he went from El Paso to LA to train at Catalina Island (damn he moved about a lot) https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...-1--txt-txIN-battling+nelson+training-------1 1904 mentions him sparring in front of a crowd and also playing Baseball
My man that's impossible. I trained very hard as a younger man and I was naturally pretty strong and that's impossible. I was a strong 175 pounder when I training hard around 16 yrs old so considering Bat was in the 135 lb area is even more unbelievable. Pick up a set of ten pounders rt now and you'll see what I mean
I train my ass off as well. The oldschool guys trained for alot of endurance work, so it's not unfeasable, especially since Nelson didn't seem to have a guard, so I'm sure it was alot of hands-down activity Don't forget Nelson fought 42 brutal rounds in his prime against Joe Gans, one of the greats. I understand your skepticism though, I still have trouble imagining a feat like that
They seem not to move their hands much to "punch" when shadow boxing in the old footage. I wonder if that helped him manage with the heavier weights. But I'm not even sure where the claim comes from.
