How does weight training help boxers?

Depends on the weight training Mark.

If boxers are doing weights, it is probably most beneficial to lift near their one rep max in order to develop their strength, and not grow the muscles as such (hypertrophy), as doing this strengthens the CNS.

It may also benefit them to develop endurance and explosive power, but weights aren't necessarily needed.

 

Weight training in itself isn’t necessarily bad for boxers, but too many isolation lifts and moving too much weight does start to effect mobility and make the fighters less loose.

Even back in the 50’s it wasn’t really uncommon for boxers to lift weights, but they kept the weight light.
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My trainer, who was a sparring partner of Ron Lyle back in the early 70’s mentioned that Lyle did lots of weight lifting, but still got in 5 miles of early morning road work and boxing drills. However, to keep Lyle as loose as possible they had him sparring a lot of 175’s and 160’s as a way to make him move his head.

Drills using weights also go way back even to Jack Johnson’s time and are still used today.

 

Help you put on weight if you are moving up but def won’t help you with anything other then size or strength.
Your punches won’t have the same fluidity or snap. Won’t be able to throw combinations aswell. Timing might be off.

 

I don’t even recommend swimming, pushups, pull-ups, or dips.

 

I'll echo roughdiamond's comments - depends on what the fighter is doing - and throw in the concepts of using weights to prevent injury; that would include rotator cuff work to keep the shoulder stable and strong, and core training to help reduce fatigue in later rounds, as well as keeping the back strong. A balanced, intelligent program will make a better athlete, and theoretically here, a better boxer; but I just think boxing has so many biomechanical variables, it's hard to create an ideal program that wouldn't impede the natural flow that is a boxer's bread and butter.

Just my .02 ...

 

Heavy compound lifts twice a week and fast twitch explosive lifts once a week, heavy bench, squat, Deadlift, Military press and bent over rows, and medium weight cleans, snatches kettlebell work ect

 

As a novice amateur with a job, kids limited time etc i didnt personally like to use the precious time i had to do weights or specific strength training session. One trainer got me to do it for a bit of extra power, but i found i had to substitute either road work or boxing session to do it. Another trainer improved my power by just getting me to sit down a little and punch more correctly.

If your a pro though or have all the time in the world i can imagine its beneficial

 

it takes time to recover from heavy compound lifting

 

Your better off just doing some pullups and pushups.....most pros who lift weights do it for looks

 

One of the most notable examples of weight training benefitting a boxer is also one of the earliest - Randolph Turpin.

I remember reading in 'Fighters: The Lives and Sad Deaths of Freddie Mills and Randolph Turpin' that a wrestler who worked with Turpin after his boxing career was over said that Turpin had tremendous sinew strength and if Turpin held his arm out parallel to the ground it was impossible to push his arm up or pull it down.

That combined with his weight training made him unbelievably strong and you can see him using that strength in the clinches throughout his first fight with Robinson.

I also remember reading somewhere that Robinson said 'I never fought a man stronger in the clinches than Turpin. He was so strong he could break both your arms.'

Unfortunately, I can't remember the title of the book. I found it while browsing in a library and would love to know the title so I could get hold of it.

 

You know I watched a amatuer fight between a bodybuilder fight a fat guy once, the fat guy looked pretty sharp and had good understanding of punching mechanics while the body builder threw weightless punches as if he never threw a punch before and was punching like he was bench pressing with one arm, it was over pretty quick.

I think that certain weight lifting can **** with your muscle memory, but most lower body lifting couldnt hurt.

I dont lift much anymore since I got a back injury lifting weights when I was 18, i still do bicept curls just to keep my fiance complimenting my arms but that's it, I've been thinking about getting a weighted vest for when i do one arm push ups, fingertip or plyometric push ups tho, or some ancle weights if I'm running or doing jumping jacks.

Overall I feel like I'm stronger now than when I did lift weights but that's also years ago.

 

How can a heavyweight weigh 240lbs without weight training?

 

I was once told that a boxer needs to build his triceps, not his biceps to be a stronger fighter.