Whats all this talk about Modern training techniques for boxers?

Question

when comparing boxers from different eras I hear alot about modern training Dempsey trained the way Louis trained the way Marciano trained the way ALI trained the way Cus Damato trained a street thug named Tyson all same never changes roadwork ,gym work, ring work , jump rope ,spar ,heavybag, speedbag,medicine ball situps pushups eat steak every day Like ALI ,if you can afford it never changes so why bring it up?

wes they had saunas in ROME Im not talkin about little stuff like rocks I know all that

Answer 1

Men aren't the men they were 50 years ago. They are bigger, but don't have near the heart and dicipline that those guys did. Those old guys stayed in shape 365 a year and didn't have to crash 50 before a fight. They were DEDICATED!

Answer 2

Some changes of course but generally any comment that modern technology has taken over or provided new and better techniques does not hold for combat sports, as you would agree.

For simple straight line sports(swimming, spritning, wiehglifting) everyone is doing the same modern thing and trying anything new and improved to shave a few tenths of a second etc.

You get ten fighters together and they will have the same rough program, but a lot of different and possibly old fashioned wierd stuff they also like personally.That's combat sports.

For example throwing rocks is the same as a standing forward tricep pulldown on cable with pliometric emphasis.
But the rock throwing is just as good for some :)


One big difference is weight training which is a bigger deal now thanks to steroids,since boxers now have the capability to move up weight divisions more successfully.

Before if you bulked up to move up a class, generally the bulk did not represent a useful gain in natural strength or power for punching, and you ended up being slower and less fit AND fighting guys who were naturally stronger anyway.

Also technique training has changed of course but that was because techniques themselves changed in bosing.

In dempseys early years they were still into wrestling training, since there was still a lot of grabbing and hitting, and parrying with the hands, a left over from the bareknuckle days(when boxing actually allowed wrestling).

That's also where a lot of the rock throwing and strongman type training they did came into it for general grip and forearm stamina, same as a greco wrestler does.

This is not to say our training now would be better for them, since it would not.

Answer 3

There's not much difference really except that today weight training and all those modern training techniques e.g. plyometrics and core exercises are incorporated into the boxer's usual routine. The result, today's fighters are stronger, faster and quicker. As far as skills go, however, the old-school training is still very much effective and still the way to go.

Answer 4

the truth is as time passes technology gets stronger and so do training methods , Ali had his brother throw rocks at his head at a young age so he could improve his reaction time marciano used to hurl 100 lb rocks over his head long distances . You dont see these things today . Now you have jab mits for reaction time and weights for strength supplements saunas to cut weight things change very suttley and you may not notice but trust me things change

Answer 5

Modern techniques = steroids