I've been watching boxing for the better part of 35 years now. The one thing I've always heard and still hear to this day is, working the body slows down your opponent by sapping his energy and stamina. My question is, what happens physically to the body to promote these things to happen? For example, does the liver excrete some enzyme that slows blood flow to the legs or your heart beats slower? Can anyone give an educated reason why going to the body slows down and fatigues fighters?
It is like getting punched in the thigh or bicep. Boxing is based on the core. Hitting a guy in and around his core fatigues those muscles. Weaken the core muscles and you throw off balance, breathing, and punching power. Working the body is somewhat cliched though. A skilled Boxer's first line of attack is always to the head to disconnect his opponent from his consciousness. Body might be a plan B to further open up the head. The more skilled your opponent the more important body work becomes. Doubly so if he is better than you. Concentrating on body work can come at a very heavy price.
