Lifting Weights and Boxing?

[mkmona04]

I use to lift weights 5 - 6 days per week. About 6 months ago, stopped lifting entirely and started boxing training (for the first time in my life). have been training 5 - 6 days per week about 90 minutes to two hours each of those days.

Good news is i fell like i am finally starting to get a little better with the boxing gym. fast twitch muscles are improving given that i used to exclusively lift weights with low reps.

Here is my dilema/question. Between all the calories i am burning from the boxing training and the fact i am no longer lifting weights, i have lost a good deal of that muscular look i used to have. i know i am definitely more healthy from all the boxing type cardio work. but that skinny/lean look is bothering me.

so i would like to start lifting in addition to boxing training. will the lifting mess up my boxing capability? i read so many different things about this on the net, it is confusing to me.

of course the other dilemma is that will mean i am spending 2 hours a day in the boxing gym and about one hour a day lifting, so i will basically have no life.

[juggernaut666]

I use to lift weights 5 - 6 days per week. About 6 months ago, stopped lifting entirely and started boxing training (for the first time in my life). have been training 5 - 6 days per week about 90 minutes to two hours each of those days.

Good news is i fell like i am finally starting to get a little better with the boxing gym. fast twitch muscles are improving given that i used to exclusively lift weights with low reps.

Here is my dilema/question. Between all the calories i am burning from the boxing training and the fact i am no longer lifting weights, i have lost a good deal of that muscular look i used to have. i know i am definitely more healthy from all the boxing type cardio work. but that skinny/lean look is bothering me.

so i would like to start lifting in addition to boxing training. will the lifting mess up my boxing capability? i read so many different things about this on the net, it is confusing to me.

of course the other dilemma is that will mean i am spending 2 hours a day in the boxing gym and about one hour a day lifting, so i will basically have no life.

training is life if you think an extra hour of training or whenever you implement weights doesn't give you a life well ...then you have to revaluate your training commitments...its NOT much...what other training will do like weights ,is make you stronger ( if you do it right ) but it requires more recovery time! you spread work outs,you dont have to cram everything into one session or overwork with 6 days a week boxing.

[Richard P]

I use to lift weights 5 - 6 days per week. About 6 months ago, stopped lifting entirely and started boxing training (for the first time in my life). have been training 5 - 6 days per week about 90 minutes to two hours each of those days.

Good news is i fell like i am finally starting to get a little better with the boxing gym. fast twitch muscles are improving given that i used to exclusively lift weights with low reps.

Here is my dilema/question. Between all the calories i am burning from the boxing training and the fact i am no longer lifting weights, i have lost a good deal of that muscular look i used to have. i know i am definitely more healthy from all the boxing type cardio work. but that skinny/lean look is bothering me.

so i would like to start lifting in addition to boxing training. will the lifting mess up my boxing capability? i read so many different things about this on the net, it is confusing to me.

of course the other dilemma is that will mean i am spending 2 hours a day in the boxing gym and about one hour a day lifting, so i will basically have no life.

Let's keep things basic as like you say, their is loads of conflicting information out there, and the average guy, gets confused by the science and what a pro, with their army of strength coaches and nutritionists etc do.

Look at boxers, the vast, vast, vast, majority are lean and defined and not bulk, their are exceptions to this in Anthony Joshua etc, but a lot of scientists say his size frame, build, athletism etc owes a lot to genetics, not his training. Boxers are lean due to the requirements needed to do the sport. In comparison to say power lifting where power/strength is needed and Olympic lifters are not necessarily defined and lean.

Boxing is anaerobic exercise, and big muscles sap oxygen from the blood, the bigger, the more oxygen - meaning fatigue

How tall are you? Most guys 6' plus fight super middle weight, light heavy and up most guys 5'8 - 6' are in the 140-160lb territory, so this will give you a guide as to a rough fighting weight to ascertain.

Keep it simple (like I say always exceptions to the rules) most average club level fighters can not be big 200lbs and also be able to have the stamina, flexibility agility and endurance of Lomachenko and gas after 2 rounds.

Lifting weights has its place, definitely, but you can't be usain bolt strength and a 1500 meter world record holder at the same time and if you are (witch could be possible) your one hell of an athlete and your genetics probably plays a big part of this.

As a beginner, Concentrate on fighting hard and strong, lasting 5 rounds where by the end of round 5 your pretty much spent. I find your body will naturally stabilise in its muscle and shape after about a year of boxing. If after a year you still struggle with 5 rounds, then I would focus on your stamina and maybe cut back on the lifting, if you can do 5 rounds easy, maybe start building more strength/mass but always able to fight 5 good rounds, you should then start finding the right balance.

[mkmona04]

Let's keep things basic as like you say, their is loads of conflicting information out there, and the average guy, gets confused by the science and what a pro, with their army of strength coaches and nutritionists etc do.

Look at boxers, the vast, vast, vast, majority are lean and defined and not bulk, their are exceptions to this in Anthony Joshua etc, but a lot of scientists say his size frame, build, athletism etc owes a lot to genetics, not his training. Boxers are lean due to the requirements needed to do the sport. In comparison to say power lifting where power/strength is needed and Olympic lifters are not necessarily defined and lean.

Boxing is anaerobic exercise, and big muscles sap oxygen from the blood, the bigger, the more oxygen - meaning fatigue

How tall are you? Most guys 6' plus fight super middle weight, light heavy and up most guys 5'8 - 6' are in the 140-160lb territory, so this will give you a guide as to a rough fighting weight to ascertain.

Keep it simple (like I say always exceptions to the rules) most average club level fighters can not be big 200lbs and also be able to have the stamina, flexibility agility and endurance of Lomachenko and gas after 2 rounds.

Lifting weights has its place, definitely, but you can't be usain bolt strength and a 1500 meter world record holder at the same time and if you are (witch could be possible) your one hell of an athlete and your genetics probably plays a big part of this.

As a beginner, Concentrate on fighting hard and strong, lasting 5 rounds where by the end of round 5 your pretty much spent. I find your body will naturally stabilise in its muscle and shape after about a year of boxing. If after a year you still struggle with 5 rounds, then I would focus on your stamina and maybe cut back on the lifting, if you can do 5 rounds easy, maybe start building more strength/mass but always able to fight 5 good rounds, you should then start finding the right balance.

thx so much Richard P - very insightful and helpful!

I am 6'. before boxing 6 months ago, i was 198 lbs and muscular. now i am down to 184 and lean.

[Rockin']

I had a weight training course in high school. I took the class 4 semesters in a row. I started out benching like 1oolbs squatting 160lb or so. e lifted for 3 days and then ran on the off days each bweek. I lifted heavy, ran on a few mornings on my own, worked after school and then went to the gym at night. When I started I was fighting at 132lbs. My senior year I was fighting 139, benching 220lb and squatting 320lbs. I was strong for my size. I ran the mile that year at 5:20. Weights can be great. zat night when I boxed I just made sure to loosen up properly before getting started. It all was in no way easy, but I just packed it all in and just did it. It was a great time back then when the fights came along, I was beating guys that should have beaten me.

[ManOManBoxing]

of course the other dilemma is that will mean i am spending 2 hours a day in the boxing gym and about one hour a day lifting, so i will basically have no life.

You dont have to do everything in one day. Just build a schedule and spread it out over the week. Ease yourself back to weight training and limit it to 2-3 times a week focus on no more than 2 muscle blocks.

[DinoCop]

"Lifting weights has about as much resemblance to punching as cheesecake"
Mike Tyson

[Brocklee]

Thats miserable you spent way too much time training stick to one thing Boxing or lifting

[Jovanny]

I'm no expert but I would say the question is in what ways are you going to lift weights. Some routines can slow you down but some can make you both stronger and faster which, I guess, is a win-win situation. When lifting, focus on things that are explosive and fast. As an example, I would say kettlebell swings are good for boxing.

[GelfSara]

I use to lift weights 5 - 6 days per week. About 6 months ago, stopped lifting entirely and started boxing training (for the first time in my life). have been training 5 - 6 days per week about 90 minutes to two hours each of those days.

Good news is i fell like i am finally starting to get a little better with the boxing gym. fast twitch muscles are improving given that i used to exclusively lift weights with low reps.

Here is my dilema/question. Between all the calories i am burning from the boxing training and the fact i am no longer lifting weights, i have lost a good deal of that muscular look i used to have. i know i am definitely more healthy from all the boxing type cardio work. but that skinny/lean look is bothering me.

so i would like to start lifting in addition to boxing training. will the lifting mess up my boxing capability? i read so many different things about this on the net, it is confusing to me.

of course the other dilemma is that will mean i am spending 2 hours a day in the boxing gym and about one hour a day lifting, so i will basically have no life.

The solution to your problem is to weight train more efficiently. One or two sessions per week lasting no more than 90 minutes total (and typically much less time) is all that is required to effectively train all your major muscle groups. Let me know if you want links to more information.