Sport Science Testing for Boxing

1. Physiological Testing Battery for
Amateur Boxing
Danny Wilson MSc BSc ASCC
Alan Ruddock Csci
2014

2. Sport and Exercise
Science
The scientific study of factors that influence
our ability to perform exercise or physical
activity

3. Physiology of Sport and Exercise
The scientific study of
how the body responds
and adapts to exercise
To adapt practice to a specific
sport, a sport scientist has to
perform a Needs Analysis.

4. Needs Analysis
Boxing Example

5. Physical Characteristics can be
Monitored and Assessed by
Physiological Testing...
MSc Project Title:
Physiological Testing Battery for Amateur Boxing

6. The Importance of Physiological Testing
Identify strengths and
areas for improvement
Assist Talent ID and
selection
Evaluate and prescribe
training interventions

7. Appropriate
Tests..
Repeated
Sprint Test
Yo Yo Intermittent
Recovery

8. Appropriate
Tests..
Medicine Ball
Vertical Jumps Throw

9. Appropriate
Tests..
Body Fat
Percentage
Anthropometric
Assessments

10. Appropriate Tests..
10-m Sprint Push Up Test

14. Main Findings – Juniors vs Seniors
• 0.7-0.9 ICC means that the testing
battery had moderate to excellent
test-retest reliability scores (0.7 to
0.9)
• Large differences (0.8) between
seniors and juniors during press ups,
MB throws and Yo-Yo.
• Moderate differences (0.2) between
seniors and juniors following vertical
jump height and sprint times.
This means..
That the between senior and junior boxers show that the
tests are valid for physical performance in boxing

15. Main Findings – Age vs. Competitive Experience
• Majority of the tests correlated with
age
• Only MB backhand throw distance
and Yo-Yo final level strongly
correlated with both age and
competitive experience
• There were only small correlations
between competitive experience and
impulse, acceleration and upper
body strength.
This means..
Traditional Boxing Training Methods only Develop
Endurance and Punching Force. Acceleration and Impulse is
only developed by maturation

16. Main Findings – Punch Force Predictors
• Large correlations were found for
MB backhand throw distance with
vertical
• When scaled to body mass, relative
lean mass of the trunk was the main
contributor to MB backhand
throwing distance, in turn, estimated
pound for pound punching force.
This means..
Developing core musculature and strength is important for
pound for pound punching force. Furthermore, the higher
you jump the harder you can punch

17. Training
Resistance /
Olympic lifting
Three Dimensional
Movement
Recommendations
High Intensity Punch Specific
Interval Training

18. What’s Next?

19. Future Research
• Future research should extend
study by recruitment of elite
amateur and professional boxers.
• Finding appropriate technology to
incorporate punch force
• Defining an appropriate
assessment for anaerobic
performance.
This means..
Developing core musculature and strength is important for
Boxing. Furthermore, the higher you jump the harder you
can punch

20. Influencing the
Next Generation of Boxing

21. THANK YOU