Metabolic and physiological demands of 3×3-min-round boxing fights in highly trained amateur boxers.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the energy requirements of the aerobic oxidative, anaerobic lactic (glycolytic), or anaerobic alactic systems in highly trained amateur boxers during a 3×3-min-round boxing fight. METHODS: On three separate occasions, 10 highly trained male amateur boxers undertook a progressive treadmill run, a progressive bag-punching exercise, and a full-contact competitive boxing fight of the 3×3-min format. Expired gas and heart rate (HR) were recorded throughout all exercise tasks, with the exception of a gas analysis during the competitive fight. Total energy expenditure and the contribution of the three major energy-supply systems were calculated based on oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and HR during exercise, blood lactate accumulation, and excess V̇O2 during the fast phase of the recovery. RESULTS: The blood lactate concentration was >15 (range: 12-18) mmol·L-1 after the fight. The HR reached >93% of the maximal (HRmax) in rounds 1 and 2 and >97% in the final round and was strongly correlated with HRmax (r=0.885). The average calculated O2 uptake during the boxing fight was 89% of V̇O2max, whereas O2 uptake equivalent calculated from the involvement of all three major energy supply systems was 122% of V̇O2max. The calculated energy provision during the fight was 73% aerobic, 19% anaerobic alactic and 8% anaerobic glycolytic. CONCLUSIONS: In highly trained male amateur boxers, 3×3-min boxing match elicits very high HR and blood lactate levels with predominant involvement of aerobic and substantial contribution of anaerobic alactic energy systems.

Cardiorespiratory Responses to Specific and Nonspecific Exercise in High-Profile Amateur Boxers.

ABSTRACT: Venckunas, T, Bruzas, V, Stasiulis, A, Snieckus, A, Mockus, P, and Kamandulis, S. Cardiorespiratory responses to specific and non-specific exercise in high-profile amateur boxers. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 717-722, 2022-Our aim was to compare cardiorespiratory responses in 3 types of all-out exercises (upper body, lower body, and punching) in well-trained boxers and peak heart rate (HR) in these tests with HR response to competitive Olympic boxing. On 4 separate occasions, 11 male amateur boxers performed: (a) progressive treadmill running to exhaustion; (b) progressive arm cranking to failure; (c) progressive bag punching to maximal exertion; and (d) competitive boxing fight (3 × 3 minutes format). Expired gas and HR were measured in all tasks except in the full-contact competitive fight where only HR was recorded. Peak oxygen uptake (55.3 ± 5.9 ml·kg-1·min-1) was highest during treadmill running. Peak respiratory exchange ratio was highest during bag punching (1.26 ± 0.09), but did not differ between arm cranking and running. Peak HR of the boxing fight (197.7 ± 5.9 b·min-1) did not differ from that of running (196.5 ± 8.7 b·min-1), but was smaller in arm cranking (179.8 ± 9.2) and bag punching (184.1 ± 12.2 b·min-1). The correlation coefficients between peak HR achieved during competitive fighting and that achieved during running, arm cranking and bag punching were 0.720 (p = 0.013), 0.597 (p = 0.052), and 0.702 (p = 0.035), respectively. In conclusion, in high-profile amateur boxers, running evoked a higher cardiorespiratory activation than arm cranking or bag punching, whereas punching elicited the highest input of anaerobic glycolysis. Peak HR of competitive fighting was the same as during running and much higher than during arm cranking or bag punching.

Acute effects of high-intensity interval training on cognition and retinal microcirculation in experienced amateur boxers.

BACKGROUND: Limited and contradictory data are available regarding the acute effects of endurance exercises on cognition and retinal microcirculation. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the acute effects of sport-specific high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cognition and retinal vessel diameters in experienced amateur boxers. METHODS: Eleven young (age 22.8±2.9 years) men with 10.7±4.8 years of boxing experience completed two sessions in random order: high-intensity intermittent punching load and passive rest. Cardiovascular response, retinal vessel diameters, and cognitive performance were evaluated at baseline, during exercise, and immediately after each session. RESULTS: Increased heart rate during intermittent punching load (P<0.05) reaching 91.2±3.7% of the maximal heart rate was observed. The HIIT improved cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control (P<0.05), while the working memory and motor speed were not affected. Significant dilatation of temporal retinal venules (P<0.05) was observed after the HIIT compared with the values before the HIIT, resulting in a decreased arteriolar-to-venular diameter ratio (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: At the functional level, an improvement in executive function due to intermittent high intensity punching load was observed, while at the physiological level, retinal venular dilatation was observed in experienced amateur boxers.

Sport-Specific Repeated Sprint Training Improves Punching Ability and Upper-Body Aerobic Power in Experienced Amateur Boxers.

Kamandulis, S, Bruzas, V, Mockus, P, Stasiulis, A, Snieckus, A, and Venckunas, T. Sport-specific repeated sprint training improves punching ability and upper-body aerobic power in experienced amateur boxers. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1214-1221, 2018-High-intensity interval training improves endurance and performance, but it is unclear whether sprint-type upper-body interval training is similarly effective. This study explored the effects of 4-week sport-specific sprint interval training on punch characteristics and endurance capacity in boxers. Experienced male amateur boxers (n = 18) participated in this 4-week training study and were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) (n = 9 per group). Both groups completed standard low-intensity training. The EG also completed 3 rounds (14 sets of 3-second all-out punching with a 10-second rest) of a simulated fight using a punching bag with a 1-minute rest between rounds 3 times per week, whereas the CG performed the same 3 rounds of a simulated fight at low intensity. Three rounds of 14 sets of 3-second all-out punching of a bag ergometer with a 10-second rest were performed to measure punching abilities. Peak oxygen consumption and peak power were measured during progressive arm cranking before and after training. In response to training peak oxygen consumption and peak power in arm-cranking test increased in EG, also punching force increased and maintenance of punching frequency and punch force improved during the simulated fight, which resulted in greater cumulative force throughout the 3 rounds. There were no changes in the CG. The study shows that 1 month of all-out punching training (3 sessions per week with ∼2 minutes of all-out punching per session) improved both upper-body aerobic power and punching abilities in experienced amateur boxers.

Effects of plyometric exercise training with external weights on punching ability of experienced amateur boxers.

BACKGROUND: During competition, a boxer must continue to deliver high-impact punches despite increasing fatigue. It is unclear whether the effects of plyometric training using external weights are transferred to sport-specific movements such as punching. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a 4-week cycle of plyometric training with external weights on punching ability. METHODS: The study involved eight male amateur boxers aged 22.3±2.5 years with at least 7 years of competitive experience. They performed 12 plyometric training sessions, each comprising eight exercises of various muscle groups performed at maximum movement velocity. Six drills were performed with external weights, and two drills were performed using the body weight as resistance. All exercises required coordination. The punching ability was tested at baseline and after the 4 weeks of training using the Kiktest-100 boxing bag. RESULTS: The force of single punches and the frequency of punches within a series did not change from before to after the 4 weeks, except for increased power in the rear-hand low punch (P<0.05). However, there was an increase in summative force and energy output within 3 s and 8 s, and in a series of eight 8-s tests (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Four weeks of plyometric training with external weights did not change the maximum punching power or movement frequency significantly, but had a beneficial effect on punching power endurance in boxers.

Aerobic capacity is correlated with the ranking of boxers.

The goal was to assess the aerobic capacity of boxers and its relation with sport mastery. Participants were 12 boxers from the Lithuanian national team (VO2max - 58.03 ± 3.00 ml/kg/min) of different weight classes. Their sport mastery ranking was established according to their achieved results during the last years of participation in amateur boxing contests. In a graduated treadmill running test, the boxers' aerobic capacity indices were established. Running speed at first and second ventilatory thresholds, VO2max, and maximal oxygen pulse had moderate to strong correlations with the boxers' sport mastery ranking. Aerobic capacity is an important fitness component of boxers in all weight categories. Special attention should be paid to development of cardiac capacity in the boxers' training processes, as with aerobic power and anaerobic threshold training.