Lower-body power in boxers is related to activity during competitive matches

Variations in the Physical Performance of Olympic Boxers over a Four-Day National Qualifying Tournament

“…Super-elite combat athletes (e.g., a World Karate Champion and an Olympic Boxing Champion) usually present higher levels of JS and BP power than their National Team peers do (i.e., on average, 45 and 12% more power in JS and BP, respectively) [ 21 , 31 ]. Importantly, a recent study revealed that more powerful boxers (in CMJ and SJ tests) were more active and accumulated less stoppage time during matches, also demonstrating the higher effectiveness of head punches (i.e., % of punches that successfully reached the head in relation to total head punches) [ 7 ]. Furthermore, in that study, the authors detected a strong correlation between jump height and the total number of body punches ( r = 0.73) and rear-hand hooks ( r ~0.79) thrown over competitive bouts [ 7 ].…”

“…Importantly, a recent study revealed that more powerful boxers (in CMJ and SJ tests) were more active and accumulated less stoppage time during matches, also demonstrating the higher effectiveness of head punches (i.e., % of punches that successfully reached the head in relation to total head punches) [ 7 ]. Furthermore, in that study, the authors detected a strong correlation between jump height and the total number of body punches ( r = 0.73) and rear-hand hooks ( r ~0.79) thrown over competitive bouts [ 7 ]. In a more applied context, our results might suggest that Olympic boxers can maintain punching power, hand speed, and strike accuracy across consecutive daily matches, at least over short-term tournaments (i.e., 4–5 days).…”

“…Both upper- and lower-body power seem to be relevant contributors to punching impact [ 5 , 6 ]. In addition, force- and power-related variables have been shown to be strongly associated with distinct activities during international boxing matches, including the total number of rear-hand hooks ( r = 0.79 with squat jump height), punches thrown to the body ( r = 0.73 with countermovement jump height), and the effectiveness of straight rear-hand and head punches ( r = 0.75, with the rate of force development in the squat jump) [ 7 ]. Thus, the assessment of power output is a key element in understanding the relationship between recovery and performance throughout competitions.…”

World Heavyweight Championship boxing: The past 30+ years of the male division

“…Several performance analysis studies in amateur boxing [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] have allowed for the quantification of the external demands of the sport, and assisted in the development of boxing-specific simulations based on notational data [13][14][15][16][17]. Specifically, in a boxing context, the number of attacking and defensive maneuvers, as well as many other variables, can be quantified via slow-motion video analysis.…”

“…This can be useful for boxers and their coaches in devising tactical strategies and improving future performances. Such analysis has shown that elite amateur boxers typically throw between 55-78 punches per round [7][8][9]12]. However, in comparison to the amateur format, only a select few articles have been conducted in professional boxing [18,19], with a lack of data on punch activity available.…”