Is "Roadwork" in boxing overrated?

Depends on how its done.


Jogging roadwork is absolutely overrated

 

I am actually, not something I advertise though.


Its the reason I admire certain boxers so much, such as Wlad. Im always impressed when boxers utilize the most effective and studied training and conditioning methods.

Boxing lags behind other professional sports in terms of conditioning methods and modalities.

In simple terms, training must be viewed in terms of effectiveness.

"Old School" methods are effective, but they are not the most
effective

My hope is that in boxing will began to adopt the more scientific principles of performance conditioning. The few boxers that use such methods now use them to great success

 

Scientific principles and studies applied to sports training have its drawbacks too.

Very often written under and with underlying limiting beliefs/ rigid presentation using rationalization and data and statistics to back up the bias of authors who experientially can not relate.

The best use is common sense as well as experimenting with things yourself.

 

floyd does lots of roadwork - (has he ever broke a sweat in the ring???)

hatton - lots of roadwork (awesome workrate in ring)

Pacquiao - (never gets tired )

khan - ( apparantly only person who can keep up with manny on road)

Mosley - (still smashing people to pieces at 38)

Malignaggi - (the energiser bunny ) (boxes faster than he talks )

YES ROADWORK IS VERY IMPORTANT :deal

 

Nothing is foolproof, but the human body can be studied like anything else, and a qualified and experienced athletic trainer could do wonders for a boxer.

An athletic trainer that has trained elite level athletes can do a far better job conditioning a boxer than the boxer could do himself.

There are fighters that know exactly what works for their body and what they need to do to keep themselves fit (Hopkins for example), but even then, a person with a true fitness pedigree can still help

 

calzaghe does lots of roadwork - (has relentless energey every round )

 

What kind of Roadwork?


Because running 12 miles at 65% MHR is road work. And it wont do anything by burn calories



Running 4 miles and doing sprint intervals every 3 minutes and racing against a clock each and every time or working towards being able to maitain 85% MHR for 15 minutes+, that is is also roadwork.


You see the fallacy. Roadwork can be effective, but for most boxers, its simply running. And the average fan equates running long distances with superior conditioning. Thats not the case

 

Is the Roadwork being done over hills and is the boxer doing sprints on each hill he comes across?

Is he working at high altitudes in order to boost his VO2 max?

Roadwork is too broad a term.

I would venture that all the boxers you mention have defined running programs that involve far more than simply "Run 10 miles"

 

Swimming is a good alternative. Marciano actually loved punching in the water in pools too. However, he also ran 10+ or so miles. I still stand by my statement - I would rather have his brother stamina's.

 

Im a Marathon Runner i run 50 miles a week
i NEVER get tired even in the late miles !
i can only give my opinion as a runner but i alternate
my runs for speed and distance -
i run two speedy 8 milers at 80/90% workrate
one half marathon run 12-13 miles at 70% workrate
and a Long run at the weekend 15-18 miles at 60% workrate

i would imagine a boxer would do 45-60 min bursts/fartleks
as he his in the ring for 12 rds approx 40 mins
of changing rhythm /pace

:thumbsup

 

great post, thats exactly what my old trainer stressed, we had a very similiar work out routine, but he always emphasized it doent matter how many miles you can run how much you can lift or how fast and quick you look on the bags, sparring is the most important and matters more than everything else,nothing replaces sparring

 

My pardons, I did not know you had such a background. My commendations on your marathon running. :good

 

This is not a wise-ass question, MJ, genuinely would like your opinion. Could ATG's like SRR 'n Pep have been appreciably better using your approach?

 

thanks mate
i would imagine having strong legs would be import for a boxer
if his legs tire in the late rounds he will loose power and impact
from his hips and his footwork will slow due to fatigue
which means he has more chance of getting hit
athletes in most sports also run it cant hurt only help :good

 

Now that is a loaded question.


I will say this.

My approach isnt anything particular unique, at least not in the field of athletic training and study. Any qualified athletic trainer would recommend similar things

As to the application of boxers, I do believe that old school era and classic era boxers would have benefited noticeably from such methods as the ones I mentioned above

ATG's, I would say some, but not all. Many ATG's were by most accounts exceptional athletic specimens as far as boxing is concerned. They likely would respond well to a variety of training practices

One thing I have found that has been fairly common with ATG fighters, is that they unknowingly utilized very effective and (by today's standards of study) cutting edge training methods without really knowing it. Doing wind sprints up and down hills, employing circuits, practicing total body power exercises for as long as possible

Another thing that is common with classic era boxers, is that there was a much much greater emphasis on sparring rounds. Sparring comprised a much greater component of training than today.


On the other hand though, the methods for strength and power were often archaic, and a one-size-fits-all approach was often used.


Its difficult to say.