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Leather Boxing Gloves vs PU Boxing Gloves: A guide to choosing boxing gloves

Boxing gloves are the most important things to get when you are boxing. They not only protect your hands and wrist when punching, they also protect your sparring partner when sparring. Getting a pair of gloves that are flimsy are not worth it because they will cause injuries to you.

Boxing gloves are mainly made out of two materials. Yohttps://hotpcsoft.com/ukeysoft-spotify-music-converter/u can actually get leather boxing gloves and Polyurethane gloves which is commonly known as PU leather. You probably are wondering which one is better and what the actual difference is. 

leather boxing gloves

In this article we’ll go through the difference between the different types of leathers, which one is better and ultimately which one you should spend your hard earned money on.

We’ll take a look at PU boxing gloves first.

PU Boxing Gloves

PU boxing gloves are made from artificial leather. Artificial leather gloves are usually a lot cheaper to buy than full grain leather boxing gloves. They can be good for beginners however if you are intermediate or more advanced then we recommend getting proper leather gloves.

PU leather is created using split leather which is then overlaid with a polyurethane coating.

Some brands use PU Leather on their gloves but call it a different name. It’s all a marketing, truth is it’s synthetic leather.

Some PU boxing gloves do look good however they are not durable and if you use them a lot, chances are they will probably end up ripping on you.

That’s not to say gloves made from PU leather are completely rubbish and a waste of money. Some will last you a good while if you do not use them much and only use them for once a week.

However if you do use them more than once a week then we would highly recommend investing your hard earned cash into a pair of leather boxing gloves. Not only will they last much longer, but they will end up protecting your hands better and generally speaking are more comfortable.

Leather Boxing Gloves

These are what you want to be using. They are usually more comfortable to wear and look a lot better. When you buy a new pair of leather gloves they will have that distinct leather-y smell to them as well.

You can also tell the quality by just looking at them.

If you train more regularly then getting a pair of leather boxing gloves would be a very good investment. They are much better than PU gloves and last longer than them while also being much more durable.

Not only that but gloves made with real leather tend to be more comfortable to wear.

When looking at leather boxing gloves, there are different quality of leather you can get as well.

Let’s quickly take a look at the various quality of leather:

Full Grain Leather – This is the best leather you can get. It has a luxurious feel while also being smooth to touch. The grains are visible. We only use full grain leather when making our boxing gloves and equipment.

This type of leather is the highest quality and lasts the longest as well as it has a thin layer that protects it from any damage and aging. It looks great and performs even better.

Top Grain Leather – Top Grain Leather is the next best thing after full grain leather. The surface of the leather is sanded and a coating is applied to make it to make it shiny. This type of leather is more bendy and thinner as the layer is separated from it.

It is more affordable than full grain leather.

Genuine Leather – Many people are assume genuine leather is the best leather you can get because it has the word ‘genuine’ in it. This is not the case. Genuine leather is real leather however it is made from the lowest quality leather.

It is made from the waste left from the rest of the leather. You can see the difference when you compare genuine leather with the other qualities of leather. The quality is generally lower and will not last as long and will wear out a lot quicker compare to the higher quality leathers.

This quality of leather is more widely available and much more affordable. It may be more affordable but you would be compromising quality.

Now that you know more about the different qualities of leather lets check out the different types of leather available

Cowhide Leather

This type of leather is probably the most commonly used for boxing equipment. And with good reason as well. It’s super durable, flexible is comfortable and lasts along time.

leather boxing gloves
Fortis Elite Boxing Gloves made using cowhide leather

Many brands use cowhide leather to make their gloves including ourselves with our Elite Gloves.

Goatskin Leather

Goatskin Leather is a great leather because it is thin and water resistant. It is more flexible and softer than cowhide leather because of lanolin contained in the leather. This type of leather is actually more durable than cowhide leather and because of this we chose to make our Renegade Boxing Gloves out of goatskin leather.

leather boxing gloves
Fortis Renegade Gloves are made using goatskin leather

Goatskin leather has distinctive grains on the leather and just from looking at the leather you can tell it is top quality. As Goatskin leather is water resistant they are much easier to keep clean. If you want to learn how to keep gloves clean, check out this article.

Buffalo leather

This type of leather is more thicker than conventional cowhide leather is just as strong. Buffalo leather tends to be more durable than leather as well. Because of the strength and thickness of Buffalo leather it cannot be ripped so any boxing equipment made using buffalo leather will last a long time and will not wear out.

Vinyl Leather

If you are vegan or against using animal products then Vinyl leather would be the choice for you. Vinyl is usually made from plastic or resin. Vinyl is a versatile material and is waterproof.

Vinyl gloves are cheaper but the downside of them is they can rip easy and when sparring can cause cuts to your partner.

Conclusion

There are different types of leather’s you can go for when looking for a pair of boxing gloves. It all depends at what level you are and how often you plan to box for. If you are a beginner or don’t box often then go for a pair of PU boxing gloves. They will be cheaper and should be enough for your needs.

However if you use are boxing more and are at a more advanced level then it is paramount you get yourself some leather boxing gloves. Not only will they protect your hands better, they will last much longer.

Boxing gloves made using leather are also usually more comfortable than their PU counterpart.

Which boxing gloves do you get? The choice is yours!

Lace Up Boxing Gloves vs Hook & Loop Boxing Gloves: Which ones are better?

In boxing there are mainly two type of boxing gloves you can wear. They are either laced boxing gloves (sometimes referred to as lace up boxing gloves) or hook and loop boxing gloves (also known as velcro boxing gloves).

You might be asking ‘should I get lace up gloves or hook and loop boxing gloves’. It’s a good thing you found this post.

We are going to go through what the benefits are of wearing the different types of gloves are and what the drawbacks are of wearing each type.

First let’s take a look at hook and loop boxing gloves.

Hook and Loop Boxing Gloves

Hook and Loop Gloves or also known as velcro boxing gloves are gloves which you can put on easier and quicker. All you have to do is loop the strap around your gloves and fasten the straps. All in all it takes a few seconds to put both gloves on and tighten them.

Hook & Loop gloves have gotten immensely popular over the years and this is mainly because of the ease of use and how quick they are to take off compared to lace up gloves. 

hook & loop boxing gloves

Beginners love to use hook and loop gloves for the ease and quickness of them.

The straps can add a good level of protection to your wrists and can prevent any injuries as gloves do have single straps or double straps for added protection.

More brands are making hook & loop gloves because there is starting to be more of a demand for them. They are more versatile as they can be used for a variety of things including boxing fitness, MMA training, kickboxing training and much more. 

Pro boxers do not use hook & loop gloves more as you’ll probably find they were more lace up gloves but that’s not to say they weren’t wear them at all. They will training with both but probably end up using lace ups more.

Pros

  • Easy and quick to put on. Can be done in a few seconds
  • Can put on the gloves on your own
  • Straps can add fantastic amount of protection
  • Great for beginners

Cons

  • Tend to have less wrist protection than laced gloves
  • When the strap is left bare it may scratch your opponent
  • Cannot tighten as much as laced gloves

Lace Up Boxing Gloves

These gloves are secured and tightened using a single piece of lace which goes through both sides of the glove. 

Lace up boxing gloves are the classic gloves you see all professional boxers with. Most pro boxers wear laced gloves to train because of the fit and protection they offer. Whilst they are sparring it is rare they were anything other than laced gloves.

laced boxing gloves

Many boxers prefer to use laced gloves when sparring as they fit better and they can tighten them to their own preference.

They can take longer to wear and you may need help putting them on by a friend or sparring partner. You can use Lace & Loop strap which helps you put on laced gloves much quicker.

laced boxing gloves

Pros

  • They give a close and secure fit
  • They are more longer which makes them feel better when punching
  • You can tighten them however much you want.
  • Laced gloves tend to be well padded on the wrist area
  • Gloves of choice for pro boxers

Cons

  • They are difficult to put on your own. You will probably need the assistance of another person
  • They can take longer and put on and take off then hook and loop gloves 
  • The ends of laces can end up scratching or hurting your opponents eye.

Hybrid Gloves

Hybrid boxing gloves are a mix between hook & loop gloves and laced gloves. They provide the best of both worlds. Hybrid gloves are still relatively new and not really common. Many brands including ourselves do not make hybrid gloves.

With these kind of gloves you still need someone else to help you with tightening the laces up however you can just use the strap to tighten them up. 

You do get the best of both worlds with these however this won’t make them as tight or fit as good as laced gloves.  

They can be used for sparring, pad or bag work but most people still prefer to use either hook & loop or lace up boxing gloves.

Pros

  • Offer the best of both worlds

Cons

  • Not as good or tight fit as lace up gloves
  • Not as easy and quick to take off as hook & loop gloves

Which should you use?

The choice is all yours. But it depends on what you are comfortable with and what you want to use them for. 

Lace Up gloves are tend to have better wrist protection and fit better as you are able to tighten them to how you want. They do tend to offer better padding as well but they can be heavier because of the extra padding

As the laces need to be tightened you will need another person to help you with them or you can use Lace N Loop – which are essentially glove converters.

Besides that you’ll probably see many pro boxers use lace up gloves more simply because they are only allowed in professional matches. More people prefer to use lace up gloves over hook & loop gloves in sparring.

Hook & Loop gloves on the other hand are quicker to put on but they tend to have less wrist protection than there counterpart. You can use these gloves in sparring but more people tend to use lace up gloves for sparring.

A good thing about these though is you do not need another person to help you put these on so if you are training on your own or doing bag work then these are for you. 

Hook & Loop gloves are great for beginners or even those looking to do boxing for fitness.

Conclusion 

At the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference. Hook and Loop boxing gloves aren’t necessarily just for beginners and more advanced boxers do use them. If you feel more comfortable wearing hook and loop gloves then use them and vice versa.

Or better yet get a pair of both lace up gloves and hook and loop gloves. That way you’re ready for any occasion!

 

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Win a Pair of Custom Fortis Boxing Gloves

It’s giveaway time! You can win yourself a pair of beautiful custom Fortis boxing gloves (worth £210!). You can choose your own design, your colours and your own style.

custom boxing gloves

Whether you want a metallic finish or wanting to use some exotic leather like crocodile or snakeskin leather, we can do it!  We make something that is one of a kind, unique and something you can call your own.

It’s really easy to enter. To enter simply:

1. Follow us on either Instagram, Facebook or Twitter
2. Tag a friend. One tagged comment = one entry. Enter as many times as you like.
3. Sign up to the giveaway page (Bonus entry)

The giveaway ends on June 22nd and we will announce the winner shortly after.

Good luck to everyone!

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The 6 Best Female Boxers of all Time

 Boxing, a sport that has unsurprisingly been dominated by men, brings us some outstanding female role models.

Having only gotten into boxing at the age of 25 myself, it was only in the past few years that I became aware of some of the great names in boxing—and it took much longer to get acquainted with female boxers.

The first professional female boxer I heard about was Lucia Rijker, a Dutch celebrity. Though I lived in the Netherlands for much in my life, I didn’t learn about her until I came to the Philippines and started boxing myself.

I found Rijker’s story to be exceptionally inspirational and decided I wanted to learn about other remarkable women in boxing as well.

Whether fighter, female, both, or neither, chances are you stand to learn something from these boxing heroes. Before we get to know a few of these inspirational women though, let’s dip into a bit of boxing history.

A Brief History of Boxing

Boxing, as a sport, has a long history. Competitive amateur boxing goes all the way back to the 8th century BC when it was practiced by the Greeks. It became an Olympic event in 688 BC.

More recently, the first official boxing match it said to have taken place in 1681. Some sixty years later, an Englishman by the name of Jack Boughton—known by some as the father of boxing—published the first set of rules for the sport.

The first female boxing match came well over a hundred years after the sport became official, in 1876. The match between Nell Saunders and Rose Harland took place in New York City and is considered the first women’s boxing match to be held in the United States. Supposedly, the ladies competed for a silver butter dish.

Men’s boxing boomed at the start of the 20th century when a promoter discovered its business potential. Ironically, it was around the Great Depression that it became the big money sport it is today.

Joe Louis, the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949 and considered to be one of the greatest boxers in history, set the precedent by making over $5 million dollars throughout his career. Now, we have Mayweather taking home $275 million in one night, but that’s a story for another time.

In 1939, the first heavyweight boxing match was televised but it wasn’t until the 50s that the first nationally televised female fight took place. In the 70s, a popular fighter by the name of Cathy Davis appeared on television and was also the first female boxer to grace the cover of Ring Magazine.

It was in the 90s that women’s boxing boomed and the sport has come a long way since then: just last year, HBO aired its first female boxing match featuring Cecilia Braekhus, whom we’ll get to know shortly.

 

The Best Female Boxers of all Time

 

Let’s start by going back to the Olympics: the first Olympic boxing event for women was held in 2012, and it was a British fighter by the name of Nicola Adams who was the first lady to take home boxing gold.

 

1. Nicola Adams: Overcoming Obstacles

 

Country: United Kingdom

Age: 36

Boxing record: 5-0 (3 wins by KO)

Credentials:

    • first woman to win an Olympic boxing title
  • 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in women’s flyweight division

Nicola Adams fought and won her first match at the age of 13 and at 19 she became the first female boxer to represent England. She’s also been named the most influential LGBT person in Britain but these are not the only things that make her an inspiration.

Adams has had her fair share of setbacks, dealing with injuries and the struggle to fund her boxing career. She worked as an extra on British soap operas and as a builder until the International Olympic Committee decided to back funding for women’s boxing in 2009.

In 2012, Adams defeated Mary Kom from India and Ren Cancan from China to claim the first-ever Olympic women’s boxing gold medal. Between 2012 and 2016, she took home six gold medals. As the reigning Olympic, World, and European Games flyweight champion, she signed with a promoter and started her career as a professional boxer in 2017.

Though she faced another series of personal and professional setbacks last year, with her mother battling cancer and her trainer diagnosed with an illness, Adams hasn’t given up the fight. After a short hiatus on account of her mother’s condition, she returned and dominated her two most recent bouts for a perfect record of five professional wins and continues to fight for her first full world title as a pro boxer.

 

“Women boxers prefer to focus on the win rather than the bravado. We’ve come a long way. In the ’90s, you only ever saw women parading in heels and a bikini holding a scorecard. Now we’re owning it; we should get some male models in Speedos to do the ring walk.”

—Nicola Adams

 

best female boxers of all time

 

Having won the interim title in October, Nicola Adams will challenge the WBO World Flyweight champion for full honors in her sixth professional fight on March 8. Don’t miss it!

 

In the meantime, you can follow Nicola Adams on Instagram and Twitter @NicolaAdamsOBE.

 

2. Lucia Rijker: Boxer, Buddhist

Country: Netherlands

Age: 51

Boxing record: 17-0 (14 wins by KO)

Credentials:

    • undefeated in boxing and kickboxing
    • women’s boxing and kickboxing world champion
  • WIBF Welterweight Title

Lucia Rijker, known internationally as “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World”, is one hell of a fierce Dutch lady and certainly one of the most inspirational women in boxing.

 

“I don’t wanna say I punch like a man. I punch like a coordinated athlete.”

—Lucia Rijker

 

Her boxing dream started at the age of 7 when she watched Mohammed Ali on TV and said to her parents, “That’s what I’m going to do!” They, of course, told her it wasn’t for girls. By then she was already training in judo and a the age of 15 she began kickboxing—both popular sports in the Netherlands. Still, she held onto her ultimate dream.

As a kickboxer, she built a record of 36 wins, 0 losses, and 25 knockouts. Eventually, she moved to the United States to become a boxer. In the struggle to survive, she says exercise was her therapy. Rijker worked hard to build her career, without much reward, and eventually found a trainer who truly believed in her.

At the peak of her career, she was scheduled to fight Christie Martin—a match she had been calling for since the 90s. The fight was set for June of 2005, with the ladies slotted to take the main event of an otherwise all-male fight card. Each woman was guaranteed $250,000, with the winner taking home $1 million. Only eleven days before the big fight night, however, Rijker ruptured her Achilles tendon and with it her dream to fight in Las Vegas died.

Despite such an abrupt end to a brilliant and promising career, which came at the same time as the loss of both parents, Rijker entered a bright future as much more than a fighter.

Though she never got to fight Christie Martin or Laila Ali—daughter of the great Muhammad Ali—Lucia Rijker is known by many as the world’s greatest female boxer and carries the nicknames “Lady Tyson” and “Lady Ali”. She is a celebrity in her home country of the Netherlands, has appeared in Hollywood films, and currently teaches personal transformation to help people around the world discover confidence from within.

Rijker is a practicing Buddhist. When asked in an interview how she can be a Buddhist and a fighter at the same time, she says: “I would not know how to do one without the other.”

She explains that there are many kinds of Buddhism, just as there are many kinds of martial arts. Rijker follows Nichiren Buddhism, which was practiced by some of the samurai, and speaks of the importance of building self-esteem separate from the confidence that comes from performance.

Rijker stresses the importance of battling your own negativity as a fighter and being grateful to have an opponent bring out your fullest potential. Fighters must learn to trust themselves, as well as have the ability to be vulnerable. “Fighters are extreme,” she says, “monks are extreme too.”

 

“An open heart inspires the mind to take courageous action toward self mastery.”

—Lucia Rijker

best female boxers of all time

The Lucia Rijker story has been told in books and in films such as the 1999 film Shadow Boxers. You can follow Lucia on Twitter or on Instagram

3. Cecilia Braekhus: Staying at the Top

Country: Norway

Age: 37

Boxing Record: 35-0 (9 wins by KO)

Credentials:

    • undisputed women’s welterweight champion of the world since 2014;
    • first woman in any weight class to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles simultaneously;
  • three recognitions fro Guinness World Records:

     

      • the Longest Reigning Female Boxing Champion;
      • the Longest Reign as a Four-Belt Undisputed Boxing Champion;
    • and the Most Bouts Undefeated by a Female World Champion Boxer.

Cecilia Braekhus, born in Colombia and adopted by Norwegian parents at the age of 2, fell in love with kickboxing at the age of 14. She started boxing professionally in 2007 and won her first title two years later.

Before becoming a world-class boxer, however, she was made to feel like a criminal in her own country for practicing the sport she loved and had to circumvent the law in order to train.

Because professional boxing was banned in Norway, this inspirational boxer had to sneak out the fourth-floor window of her parents’ home and eventually leave her country in order to train and compete without being jailed. Years later, however, she would make history again by headlining the first boxing fight in Norway when the 33-year ban was lifted.

In 2017, Cecilia Braekhus successfully defended her world titles three times. She became the first BWAA Female Fighter of the Year and has continued to make history since.

HBO, which first started broadcasting boxing matches in 1973, aired its first ever female boxing bout on the 5th of May, 2018. In this groundbreaking fight, Cecilia Braekhus defended her title against Kali Reis.

Braekhus is now being coached by the legendary Lucia Rijker and continues to fight to hold onto her belts.

With an amateur record of 75-5-0, a professional career as the undisputed women’s welterweight champion for the past four years, and three recognitions from Guinness World Records, it’s no reason Braekhus is known as the First Lady of Boxing.

 

“Climbing to the top, that’s the easiest part. The hardest part is staying at the top.”

—Cecilia Braekhus

best boxers of all time

Caption: Cecilia Braekhus knows what it means to fight for the top

Alt Tag: The First Lady of Boxing, Cecilia Braekhus, poses gracefully with her six belts

 

Follow Cecilia Braekhus on Instagram @ceciliabraekhus and Twitter @1LadyCecilia.

 

4. Laila Ali: Making Her Own Name

Country: United States of America

Age: 41

Boxing Record: 24-0

Credentials:

    • WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA female super middleweight titles
  • IWBF light heavyweight title.

Laila Ali was not an athlete. When she decided to fight, she had to start by losing 30 pounds.

Being the daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali and the eighth of his nine children, it would be easy to imagine Laila living under her father’s shadow. However, as a female boxer, she made her own name. Laila Ali competed from 1999 to 2007 and retired with a perfect record

Laila says it wasn’t her father who inspired her to box: it was seeing women’s boxing on television for the first time. In fact, when Muhammad Ali find out his daughter had started training at a boxing gym, he tried to discourage her.

“I mean, they walked out of the ring with blood all over them and everything, and I was like, ‘That’s for me! I want to do that.'”

—Laila Ali

 

best female boxers of all time

Now a retired 4-time world champion, Laila Ali is a television host and fitness expert. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @TheRealLailaAli.

 

5. Mary Kom: From Grit to Gold

Country: India

Age: 35

Credentials:

    • the only woman to become World Amateur Boxing champion for a record six times
  • the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the seven world championships

Mary Kom was born to a poor family in rural Manipur, India. Having always been interested in sports and martial arts, Kom was inspired to become a boxer by Dingko Singh, who won Gold at the Asian Games in 1998.

The first challenge she faced on the road to boxing was convincing her parents that the sport was in fact not “too masculine for a young girl”. She began training regardless and was so dedicated to the sport that she would often practice until late at night when everyone else had left the gym.

Her career began in 2000 when she won the Best Boxer Award in Manipur and realized her potential in the sport. However, she continued to face many struggles.

Her troubles culminated in all of her belongings being stolen on a train. With her passport gone and her first international tournament coming up, she came to a point where she thought of ending her life.

The man who helped her through is now Kom’s husband. After getting married, Kom took a break from boxing. She now has three kids and is training for the 2020 Olympics.

 

“I had no support, no opportunity, no sponsors backing me for most of my career. (…) If I, being a mother of two, can win a medal, so can you all. Take me as an example and don’t give up.”

—Mary Kom

best female boxers of all time

Follow Mary Kom, a truly inspirational woman, on Instagram @mcmary.kom and Twitter @MangteC

 

6. Amanda Serrano: Babysitter to Heavy Hitter

Country: Puerto Rico

Age: 30

Record: ‎35-1 (26 wins by KO)

Credentials:

  • only boxer to win recognized world titles in seven weight classes

You could call Amanda Serrano the “Manny Pacquiao” of women’s boxing. Or perhaps we should now call Pacquiao the “Amanda Serrano” of men’s boxing. Indeed, Pacquiao has titles in eight classes if minor and lineal titles are acknowledged but only four are major world titles. Serrano, on the other hand, has recognized world titles in seven weight classes.

Serrano’s beginnings in boxing were quite humble: she started babysitting her niece while her sister trained and eventually got a job babysitting other fighters’ kids at the same gym. It wasn’t until the age of 18 that Serrano herself took up boxing.

This inspirational boxer perfectly exemplifies what it means to turn fear of losing into success. It was when she lost her first fight that Serrano realized boxing was the sport for her and she has never lost a fight since.

 

“Losing sparked a fire in me. I’m naturally competitive, and I knew that I never wanted to experience the feeling of losing ever again.”

—Amanda Serrano

best female boxers of all time

Amanda Serrano is certainly a boxer to watch in 2019. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @serranosisters.

 

Conclusion

Boxing isn’t a sport exclusively for men anymore. Female boxers are very talented, hard working and driven. They are driven to bring more exposure to female boxing and achieving just that.

These were the 6 best female boxers of all time. Do you agree with my list? Which other boxers do you think I should have added?

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What Equipment Do You Need For Boxing

Boxing is a beautiful sport. If you felt inspired to start boxing after watching professionals fight you need boxing equipment. You might be asking what equipment do you need for boxing. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article we are going to go through everything you need to get started in boxing.

Why Should You Do Boxing?

Boxing is one of the most challenging but rewarding sports to do. If you’re first starting out it can be really hard but once you carry on going, you build your fitness. It’s like Pringles. Once you pop, you can’t stop!

Not only that but boxing actually increases confidence and self esteem. As time goes on your skill will get better and you will become a better boxer and because of that you will your confidence will naturally increase. When your skill increases at something people tend to naturally become more confident at doing something.

As much as people think of boxing as a physical sport, there is a massive mental aspect to it.

The sport of boxing is probably one of the most physically demanding sports and helps improve overall athleticism and fitness. Tons of people have made phenomenal transformations by doing boxing training.

In fact this guy lost 96 pounds in 11 months doing just boxing training. Tyson Fury lost 130 pounds in just over 12 months preparing for his comeback to boxing. They are not the only ones, there’s tons of people who can credit give credit to boxing.

what equipment you need for boxing

Not only does boxing help physically but it’s also proven to deal with and help overcome depression.

Many people in the past have used boxing as a way to overcome depression. While you are doing boxing your mind is preoccupied and concentrating on boxing. Its focused on something else. As well as that while doing a boxing workout your brain releases endorphins which are hormones that basically make you feel good.

In fact Prince Harry used boxing as a way to overcome depression when his mother, Princess Diana, tragically passed away.

Research has also shown that boxing helps people with Parkinson’s and helps patients of Parkinson’s feel relief from the pain.

There are so many reasons you should do boxing, check out our article for more reasons why you should take up boxing.

What equipment do you need for boxing?

Some of the equipment you need is for the safety of your and your opponent. These are the things we recommend you get if you are serious about boxing.

Head guard 

If you are going to get started in boxing you need a good head guard. You want to protect that noggin so you need a top quality head guard. Good thing we do head guards. Amazing head guards at that as well. They offer full protection for your head, are super comfortable and we offer full customization.

If you are doing just bag work or mitt work then you won’t need a head guard.

Are you sparring? Then you will need a head guard. If you are a beginner, it is highly recommend that you wear a head guard.

Head guards protect your head and absorb any impact from punches to the head.

Gum shield 

If you are sparring you need a gum shield. If you get punched in the face (it doesn’t hurt as much as you would think), you want your teeth to be protected. A quality gum shield offers adequate protection that your teeth and gums will need.

Gum Shields are essential if you want to spar. You don’t want to lose all your teeth if someone hits you in the face do you? (that’s a joke by the way!)

Obviously you don’t need a gum shield when sparring but you definitely will want to wear one when you are sparring, otherwise you might be holding some of your teeth in your hand!

Hand wraps 

Boxers wear hand wraps underneath their boxing gloves so they get added support for their wrists and hands. Hands for a boxer are the tools of the trade for boxers. They use their hands the most. To punch, to defend and so much more. So it makes sense that you protect them the most.

If you injure your hands or something happens to them during training, you’ll be out of action for a little while until your hands recover.

Hand wraps act as a layer of protection and support before you actually wear your gloves. Pro boxers and amateurs always wear hand wraps underneath their gloves.

Hand wraps are pretty inexpensive and a good pair of hand wraps can be bought relatively cheap. However if you are serious about boxing then we recommend getting Fortress fast wraps. They offer unrivaled hand protection and are much quicker to put on. They can be a bit pricey but its definitely worth it if you do boxing regularly and are serious.

Boxing gloves

The main tools. Boxing without boxing gloves is like playing golf without a golf club or playing football (or soccer) without a football. It just doesn’t work.

Boxing gloves add a tremendous amount of protection to your hands. They’re there to give you the added protection so you don’t break any bones in your hands. Your hands are very fragile so you need to give it the proper protection it needs.

We have you fully covered when it comes to boxing gloves. Fortis Renegade boxing gloves offer exquisite protection and fully protect your hands and knuckles.

what equipment do you need for boxing
Beautiful gloves, unrivaled protection.

Renegade gloves have double straps so they add phenomenal protection for your wrists. Not only that but they are made using goat skin leather and are super durable.

You never want to use cheap, flimsy gloves as they could harm your hands when punching. They do more harm then they do good and they’ll rip in a month or two. But with the Renegade gloves we only use the very best leather.

If you prefer to have some boxing gloves custom made for you, we can design and manufacture them for you. They will be custom to how you want them and will have the design and style you prefer. Whatever size you want or if you want laced gloves or velcro, we have you covered.

what equipment do you need for boxing
However you want, we can do it.


Lace up vs Velcro

The two most common boxing gloves you can get are either lace up or velcro. There’s pros and cons to both glove styles. Lace up gloves are generally used more for sparring as they provide more of tighter fight and are slightly longer than velcro gloves.

With laced gloves you can tighten them up to how you want. They are mostly used by professional boxers and you probably won’t see many beginners wearing them. Lace up gloves do offer more padding in the wrist

Velcro gloves or hook and loop gloves are easier to put on and take off and are quicker to put on. You’re also able to put them on yourself without the aid of a friend. However with lace up gloves, it takes slightly longer to put them and you will need the help of someone else to tighten the second glove.

If you’re a beginner or just do boxing for fitness then it’s recommended you use Velcro/hook and loop gloves. If you’re more serious about boxing then get a lace up pair of gloves.

What size do I need?

Boxing gloves come in different weight sizes. The size of the glove is based on the boxers own weight. So the heavier the boxer is the bigger gloves they’ll need.

When sparring 16oz gloves are the standard. They have the right amount of padding and protection to protect you and your opponent properly. If you want to do bag work or mitt work then you can use whichever size you prefer.

Boxing gloves weight is measured in ounces (oz), if you’re wondering which size do I need check out the table below.

Boxer’s WeightHand Circumference Without WrapWeight
90-120 lbs.5.5″ – 6.5″12 oz
120-150 lbs.6.5″ – 7.5″14 oz
150-185 lbs.7.5″ – 8.5″16 oz
185 lbs & over8.5″ – 9.5″18 oz

Groin Protector

Groin guards are just that. To protect your lower area and help with mobility and flexibility. When you are sparring as well as a head guard, gum shield and boxing gloves we do recommend wearing a groin guard.

You’d be surprised to hear how many times a low blow happens in an intense sparring session. And if you’re a male, you definitely know how much it hurts when you get hit in the groin. Wouldn’t even wish that sort of pain on my worst enemy!

If you are sparring you’ll need a groin guard, if not then one won’t be required.

what equipment do you need for boxing

Boxing shoes

You might be asking yourself, why can’t I just wear running trainers? Aren’t they just good enough?

The answer to that is no. Running shoes are just that. They are designed for running, while boxing shoes are specifically designed for boxing. If you’re serious about boxing it’s good to invest in a pair of boxing shoes. Boxing shoes have the right amount of grip for you to be able to slip, pivot and do all your footwork.

Not only that but they are designed to be light so you can move around quickly and be nimble on your feet.

Looking for quality boxing shoes? Look no further! We can design and make your perfect boxing shoes. Fortis boxing shoes are made to be lightweight, comfortable and are designed specifically for boxing.

what equipment do you need for boxing
We can even add your name or logo on the shoes.

We can make your shoes in any colour of your choice and in your own style.

Skipping Rope

A skipping rope is not really required but its a fantastic way of conditioning your body and getting a cardio workout. Professional boxers past and present like Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and many more prefer to use the skipping rope.

Skipping can improve footwork, coordination, fitness and so much more. The benefits to skipping are almost endless. Just doing a couple of minutes of skipping can have you panting for your breath.

Boxers usually use jumping rope as a way to warm up. Usually they will do a few rounds of skipping to warm up properly before moving onto their actual boxing training.

If you don’t do skipping, you should. It’s pretty inexpensive to buy a rope and will be worth it.

Apparel

You need bad ass apparel to wear when you’re working out. And what better way of doing that then getting some Fortis apparel. We do t-shirts, hoodies and much more. Also if you’re looking for fight shorts or custom tops for your fight we also do them.

Conclusion

Boxing can be a great sport to do. Whether you are doing boxing just for fitness, self-defense or want to start competing, it will whip you into shape and improve your as a person.

We hope this post helped answer your question to what equipment do I need for boxing.

If you are a beginner in boxing then we recommend you join your local boxing gym. Not only will they teach you properly, they will correct you when you are going wrong and tell you where you can improve.

However if you are just doing boxing for fitness or want to train at home then just get a heavy bag, maybe some mitts and a pair of boxing gloves and start practicing at home.

Looking for training routines to do at home? Here’s Floyd Mayweathers, Muhammad Alis and Mike Tysons.

YouTube is also a great place to learn more about boxing, if you don’t have a boxing gym nearby.

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13 Mental Preparation Tips for Boxing

Fear. Whether you like it or not, it is one of the most propelling emotions on the planet. It causes us to act and to withhold action.

Fear is most commonly associated with what stops us from doing something. You back out of a social encounter because you are afraid it will be awkward and embarrassing. You don’t try because you are afraid of failure. You didn’t sign up for that competition, even though you had a solid shot at winning, because you have stage fright. You don’t climb the mountain because you have a fear of heights.

There is a reason fear is all around us in media and marketing: it works. It doesn’t have to be a negative thing: it can drive some very powerful positive behavior.

Fear doesn’t have to hold you back. Instead, it can be what makes you move forward. Indeed, you run your fastest when in fear for your life. In that way, overcoming fear can be a simple matter of using it your advantage.

Make Fear Your Alley through Learning How to Box

This year, you can turn your fears into strengths through learning how to fight.

Boxing will help you overcome your fears in a number of ways, both obvious and surprising, by teaching you some invaluable life lessons.

Here are 13 tips that apply in and out of the ring and will help you become the master of your fears and ultimately of your life.

Don’t Fear Failure; Fear Holding Back

In boxing, failure to block a punch means you get hit. In time, though, you will find that getting hit is not so bad just as in life you will learn that failure is not so bad.

The only thing worth fearing is holding back. If you go for it and you give everything you’ve got—even if you lose—you won’t regret having fought.

Bruce Lee, whose fighting style was shaped in many ways by boxing, is quoted for the following:

[bctt tweet=”Don’t fear failure. Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail. —Bruce Lee” username=”fortisfight”]

mental tips for boxing

 

This year, turn your fear of failure into a fear of not trying. Don’t sit on the sidelines anymore: get up and learn how to box—and count it a win even if you fail gloriously.

Face Danger with Open Eyes

One of the first things you will have to train your body to do when learning how to box is to keep your eyes open. When something flies at your face, shutting your eyes is an instinctive response. Unfortunately, in boxing, this habit is highly impractical and will take some time to break.

We close our eyes because we are afraid but that’s not handling the threat: it’s running away. Boxing will teach you to keep your eyes open when danger rushes at you—and that is the first step toward flying in the face of it.

Boxing will teach you to be more afraid of the hits you can’t see coming, which is a far more useful fear to have. Be more afraid of keeping your eyes shut than of what is coming at you.

If you stuff a bill into the bottom of your drawer because you are afraid of the amount inside, your dues will only increase. Instead of being crippled by a fear of a hard hit—whether physical or financial: let fear of ignorance be what motivates you to face every threat head-on.  

Become the Pursuer

The first time you spar, you will be reacting. Your opponent will throw a blow and you, in response, might try to block or counter it. If they are coming at you too hard, you will probably back away. You will be in survival mode.

Over time, however, boxing will teach you to take the offensive.

Through hard work and consistent training, you will soon find that you are not automatically the weaker of two opponents. You will start realizing that you don’t have to fear your opponent’s punches or back down every time they take a swing at you.

While you will begin by learning a solid defensive stance—shoulders hunched, head tucked, gloves pressed against your temples—you will eventually advance to a level at which you can stand taller and hold your gloves out in front of you for better vision and control.

Boxing will teach you that you can become the pursuer and eventually this can become your response to every challenge in life.

Be Tough

Boxing will teach you how to turn the fear of getting hurt into a fear of staying weak.

Part of how you learn that getting hurt is not so bad is by realizing that you are much tougher than you or others might think.

Boxing teaches you to be tough, in and out of the ring. It teaches resilience. This is what I have found, in my personal life, to be one of the most powerful benefits of boxing.

I complete a tough training session with two straight hours of sparring and walk out of the gym beaten, bruised, and entirely exhausted. But my step is light and my heart is soaring. If I can handle this, I tell myself, I can get through everything else too.

Believe in Yourself

Muhammed Ali, arguably the greatest boxers of all time, is a perfect example of how important it is to believe in yourself, yet he only got to the top by starting at the bottom:

[bctt tweet=””Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.” —Muhammad Ali” username=”fortisfight”]

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

—Muhammad Ali

mental tips for boxing

Ali teaches us that believing in yourself is crucial: believe you are great and you will be. Boxing will teach you how to turn defeat into faith. Instead of fearing defeat, use what you learn from it—that is how you will become great.

 

In his book, The Soul of a Butterfly, Muhammad Ali quoted Jesse Jackson:

[bctt tweet=”“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.” —Jesse Jackson” username=”fortisfight”]

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.”

—Jesse Jackson

Boxing will teach you to believe in yourself, so you can stand in front of the mirror and say with Muhammad Ali: “I am the greatest.”

[bctt tweet=”“I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was.” —Muhammad Ali” username=”fortisfight”]

“I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was.”

—Muhammad Ali

You can also wear the great Muhammad Ali’s words on this boxing tee .

Don’t Fear Criticism; Fear Stagnation

The people who will acknowledge what you do well while telling you openly and in a nonhostile manner what you are doing wrong are some of the most valuable individuals you will ever meet.

In boxing and in life, feedback is critical in order to improve. If you have a sparring partner who stops to point out how you can better block their punches or land yours, buy this man or woman a drink!

Positive feedback is important, too. Without it, you won’t know or be able to find confidence in your strengths. Without criticism, though, you won’t know or be able to target your weaknesses.

If you are the kind of person who is too arrogant to take criticism, people will probably stop giving it—at least in a constructive way, and that would be a sore loss. Instead, become the kind of person who is constantly improving by seeking out criticism.

 

Be Fueled by Your Indignation, Not Frustrated

Let your frustrations be what motivate you, not what make you quit. Quitting, along with not trying, is the thing to fear above all else.

Take it from Marvelous Marvin, the undisputed middleweight champion of the eighties, who let indignation fuel his fight to reach the top:

mental tips for boxing

[bctt tweet=””In order to be at the top and maintain your focus you have to have something that motivates you. For me, it was what I perceived as a lack of respect from the boxing world as well as the media, which made me want to work so hard and be great.” —Marvelous Marvin Hagler” username=”fortisfight”]

“In order to be at the top and maintain your focus you have to have something that motivates you. For me, it was what I perceived as a lack of respect from the boxing world as well as the media, which made me want to work so hard and be great.”

—Marvelous Marvin Hagler

He didn’t let the fear that he wouldn’t be respected stop him from fighting: he used it to propel himself forward and become one of the greatest boxers known today.

 

Don’t be Afraid of People

Fear of other people manifests itself in many ways, from social anxiety to fear of performing in front of a crowd. But there is no reason to be afraid of people—whether strangers or friends—nor of what they think.

Maybe you are one of those people who, like me, has preferred exercising in the comforts of your own home. Perhaps it’s because the idea that people are watching you at the gym makes you feel anxious. Maybe the pressure of social interactions gives you yet another reason to skip an exercise class.

If any of this sounds familiar, you need to face your fear head-on. What better way to get over a fear of strangers than through the close quarters and sometimes painfully awkward situations of a full-contact sport?

Again, you will learn that you are tough, even when a stranger is trying to hurt you. (Some sparring partners do more than others.) There is a silver lining here: if you can stand people trying to punch you in the face, you should be well equipped to handle it when they are simply looking at you.

More importantly, boxing will teach you how to understand yourself through others.

Observing, interacting with, learning from, and teaching other people is one of the best ways to understand yourself.

In that way, people are extraordinarily valuable. If you’ve read my article about 10 Types of Sparring Partners, you may have discovered a little bit of yourself in each one.

By watching others at the gym, you can learn about yourself and ultimately improve your game.

Don’t Fear What’s in Your Heart; Fight from it

What is in your heart—the things that make it flutter with excitement or causes your blood to boil in rage? Fight for that, and fight from there.

Don’t cower from or try to hide your innermost feelings: embrace them and use them. Make sure your heart is in rhythm and driving you forward.

mental tips in boxing

 

Everything comes from your heart, including your rhythm, and a boxer without rhythm is no more than a stumbling pair of shoes and gloves.

Generally regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinsons shares the following pivotal advice:

[bctt tweet=””Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that’s in rhythm or you’re in trouble.” —Sugar Ray Robinson ” username=”fortisfight”]

“Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that’s in rhythm or you’re in trouble.”

—Sugar Ray Robinson

 

Fight for Perfection

It doesn’t matter if you will never achieve it: perfection is still worth fighting for.

Mike Tyson, another one of the greatest boxers in history and an undeniable legend in the sport, is famous for saying: “I fight for perfection.”

[bctt tweet=” “I fight for perfection.” —Iron Mike Tyson” username=”fortisfight”]

“I fight for perfection.”

—Iron Mike Tyson

When asked by his interviewer, Charlie Rose, if he achieves it, Tyson replied: “No one does, but we aim for it.”

Once again, you must face your fear of failure. The aim is not to avoid failure at all costs: the aim is to succeed or do a damn good job trying.

Learn from the Greats

I’ve quoted a few great fighters in this article and there are many more from whom you can learn.

In boxing and just about any area of life, there are inspirational figures who can share what they have learned in their pursuits. While there is a lot we can learn from, for examples, the world’s greatest boxers, a great person doesn’t have to be a celebrity.

Find someone at your own gym whom you respect and who is willing to share what their experience has taught them. No one achieves success alone: we all need mentors.

Share What You Know

One of the greatest joys in life is being able to pass on what you have learned to someone else. If you have been a mentee, you can also become a mentor.

Another invaluable skill I have gained from boxing is learning by teaching. To that end, here is a final quote to conclude this post, not from the greatest boxers of all time but from one of my own trainers:

[bctt tweet=”“I’ve found when people rehash what they’ve learned by teaching somebody new it reinforces in their own head.” —Uro Pavi” username=”fortisfight”]

“I’ve found when people rehash what they’ve learned by teaching somebody new it reinforces in their own head.”

—Uro Pavi

So go on and share what you’ve learned and, if you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to share it too!

You can follow our blog here to get notified of new posts and if you have opinions to share or advice to add, feel very free do so in the comments below.

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10 Types of Sparring Partners

If you have been going to a gym to learn the art of boxing, sparring is probably one of your favorite parts of the training. It’s where you get to put what you’ve been learning into action and weigh yourself up against the rest of the would-be boxers in the ring.

Even if you’re just getting started and still learning the essential boxing principles, sparring can be lots of fun. After all those footwork drills and punching bag exercises, you finally get to go up against real-life humans and that’s where it gets interesting.

Ask anyone who trains in martial arts and they’ll tell you they’ve made some of their most priceless friendships in the ring or on the mats. Relationships built in combat sports take a huge amount of trust and respect.

Whether you’re training in boxing, Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, or MMA, you and your partner have to respect each other enough not to go too soft and trust each other not to go too hard. Something about this dynamic forms a quite remarkable bond between fellow fighters, likening them more to brothers and sisters than training partners or fellow gym-goers.

Why people show up at the gym to spend their lunch break getting hit in the head instead enjoying a deli sandwich is anyone’s guess. At the end of the day, everyone has their own reasons. Some are there to toughen up, others to beef up; some to learn and others to teach; some to socialize, others with their eyes on competing.

Once you get into training on a regular basis, you start becoming acquainted with the types who show up for sparring sessions. Each one helps you improve your game in some way and, for that, it’s definitely worth showing some appreciation.

Here’s a list of ten types of sparring partners you’re likely to find in any boxing gym, along with some Christmas gift ideas so you can surprise them at the gym’s holiday party.

Which sparring partner are you?

(1) The Chatterbox

One of the first people you’ll make friends with at the gym is the Chatterbox. This guy or girl is friendly and outgoing and quickly draws you into their company, which is great. It’s essential to make friends when you train, after all–it gives you all the more reason to show up every day.

On the other hand, the Chatterbox might not be your best friend in the ring. Instead of getting into an intense round of blows for blows, you might find that the two of you are loosely throwing jabs at each other on autopilot while talking about recent vacations to exotic islands.

(2) The One-Upper

Every gym has a one-upper: a contagiously competitive individual who is always trying to outdo you. When the coach says drop for ten pushups, they do eleven. When everyone is encouraged to go all out on the bags, the One-Upper will the one yelling the loudest with each punch.

sparring partners

Why you hate them: You don’t have to watch Saturday Night Live to understand that one-upping is pretty annoying. The One-Upper’s constant need to do better than everyone else certainly gets quite tiresome after awhile.

Why you love them: Though this guy or girl can be annoying, they also bring out the one-upper in you. There’s nothing quite like pride, annoyance, and competitive spirit to push you past what would otherwise be hard limits and make you expect more of yourself.

(3) The Gentle One

Another great friend you’ll make in the ring is the Gentle One. This lovable man or lady treats you with respect and that makes them an invaluable ally.

The gentle one is kind, considerate, and very much in control of their strength. They may be overly cautious when they’re in the ring with you but that can also give you a breather in between high-intensity rounds.

You might occasionally wish that the Gentle One didn’t take it so easy on you but don’t forget that they are still warriors. Perhaps all you need to do is ask them to go a little harder–if you dare.

(4) The Hesitant One

This sparring partner is always uncertain. Even when they have mastered a technique, they’ll keep asking the coach if they’re doing it right.

Often, when sparring with them, you’ll find that they seem to hold back. Maybe they are afraid of their own strength or feeling self-conscious about doing it wrong. Chances are you were a Hesitant One once too, and that might make you just the person to give this sparring partner a confidence boost.

(5) Lad or Lady Fierce

Unlike the Hesitant One, Lad or Lady Fierce (also known as the One Who Knows Not Their Own Strength) simply doesn’t know how to hold back. They are the #nofilter punchers in the ring.

sparring partner

Most sparring partners who are bigger or have more muscle mass than you will be mindful of their strength and control their blows to more or less match yours, but there is always that one person who doesn’t seem to know their own strength.

In my experience sparring, this person is often a woman. Perhaps it’s because men are more cautious, particularly when sparring with the opposite sex, whereas women don’t feel as much of a need to hold back.

Lad or Lady Fierce is the one who surprises you with an all-in punch during a light sparring session and leaves you with a bloody nose or lip. Still, you respect them: certainly, they force you to keep your guard up.

(6) The Cage Clown

Just as you had a class clown in high school, you’re likely to have a Cage Clown at the gym–these types never die. And it’s a good thing they don’t! This whimsical guy or girl is an essential element of the training ecosystem.

When you’re hitting the limits of what your mind and body can tolerate, the Cage Clown is just the person you want around to lighten the mood and remind you that you’re here to push but also to enjoy yourself.

And the Cage Clown might joke around off the mats, but don’t let him fool you. Chances are he or she is a formidable opponent in the ring.

(7) The Meat Head

If you’re a lady, this is the guy who’s pectoral muscles distract you during the sparring session (But hey, you are supposed to keep your eyes on your opponent’s chest right?) and if you’re a guy you probably turn to the Meat Head for advice on working out and beefing up.

sparring partners

The Meat Head is also the one with so much muscle mass that even a controlled blow can send you flying back against the ropes if it catches you off guard. If you have a Meat Head in your boxing gym, let’s all pray to God that he isn’t also the One Who Knows Not His Own Strength.

(8) The Mentor

The Mentor is invaluable. This person is much more than a sparring partner because he or she has taken you under their wing and taught you much of what you know. For that reason, you owe them a great deal.

You respect this person a great deal because they invest time and effort when sparring with you, even though their skill level is much higher than yours. They see potential in you, and that gives you the motivation and encouragement to reach the next level in your training.

(9) The Mentee

Training isn’t just about self-improvement; it’s also about paying it forward. Just as many of your sparring partners have helped you learn and improve, you will have the opportunity to take newbies under your wing and pass on the skills and insights you’ve been picking up.

The Mentee is the sparring partner who looks to and appreciates your advice. The truth is, taking time to share your knowledge doesn’t only help them; it has huge benefits for you as well. Often one of the best ways to solidify what you yourself have learned is to teach it to someone else.

(10) The Asshole

The Asshole knows their own strength alright, and they enjoy using it. The Asshole in the ring is the one you dread being paired up with because they hit you harder than anybody else and they can do some actual damage. Plus, you know they know what they’re doing.

sparring partners

They know how to target your weak spots and is full of bravado when he or she beats you. Secretly, though, this guy or girl is one of your all-time favorite sparring partners because no one challenges you to step up your game quite as much as they do.

When all is said and done, some of your best friends will be those you made in the ring. Even if some of them don’t seem very friendly at first, or at all, they are probably the ones who will help you the most. Such is the nature of the boxing and martial arts community.

If you enjoyed this article, feel free to share it using the social media buttons below. Don’t forget to tag your friends and let them know which type they are!

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How to Punch: Essential Boxing Principles

Congratulations! You’ve finally decided that it’s time to head over to a fighting gym and learn how to box so you can punch like a man (or, if you’re a woman, so you can punch men).

Good for you!

Boxing does seem pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? Step one: put on gloves; step two: start punching. You might even think you already know how to throw a pretty decent punch; maybe you’ve used it before and it worked out alright for you. How difficult can it be, anyway? Just make a fist and swing your arm at the target.

That is, unfortunately, a gross misconception. Worse yet, if swinging fists is any reflections of how you picture boxing, you’re seriously running the risk of making more than just a fool of yourself. Chances are, you’ll show up at the gym and think you’re doing a great job when, in reality, you probably look like an arm-flailing idiot who is somehow under the impression that they’re doing some actual damage.

Give yourself a head start by getting acquainted with these seven basic but sometimes counter-intuitive principles of boxing so you can put your best foot forward when you get into fighting stance.

(1) Make a fool of yourself sooner rather than later

To quote Uro Pavi, one of the finest boxing trainers I’ve had, “Every fighter has to walk in the gym at some stage as a fresh-faced beginner.”

Be humble. Don’t walk into the gym thinking you know exactly what you are doing just because you have biceps and you’ve thrown a punch or two at a party.

If you haven’t taken boxing classes from a proper trainer, it’s practically guaranteed you that you are making mistakes. If you act like you know what you’re doing when you don’t, you won’t learn. Besides, the worst fool is an ignorant one and the unforgivable fool is one who doesn’t learn.

Instead, walk in as a newbie. That way, you can walk out having learned something new with every session.

Don’t be afraid of looking stupid when you’re going through beginner drills, nor of having people who don’t look nearly as intimidating as you show you how to throw a proper jab. Everyone starts at the bottom.

(2) Start from the bottom up

In boxing, starting from the bottom doesn’t only apply when it comes to having a humble approach: it applies to your body, too.

At any good boxing gym, your training will begin with footwork. You might not even be allowed to wear gloves until you’ve started moving your feet properly. That’s because punching starts with your feet: if your footwork isn’t right, you will fail as a boxer.

Here are a few essential footwork tips to get you started.

Footwear

Before we talk about how to move your feet, let’s talk about what you wear on them. While Muay Thai and MMA fighters will go barefoot, boxers wear shoes. Proper boxing footwear is important for two big reasons. Firstly, boxing shoes allow you to pivot while preventing sliding. Secondly, boxing shoes allow more transfer of power.

how to punch

You may find it more difficult to move smoothly around the boxing ring on bare feet. On the other hand, trying to train in tennis shoes will give you even more of a disadvantage. Most sports shoes will have either too much or too little grip.

They also have thick soles that are built for shock absorption, which is exactly what you don’t want. Thick soles will decrease the amount of power you transfer from the ground and prevent you from being able to firmly plant your feet on the ground.

A good boxing shoe, on the other hand, will hug your feet like a glove, giving you a sense of agility in the ring even before starting your footwork drills.

Footwork Drills

Jumping rope is something you’ll see every boxer do as a part of their training routine, and it’s a great place to start if you want good footwork. It’s an excellent way to improve your foot coordination while also strengthening your legs.

After that, get into your shadow boxing stance, with your hands up in front of your jaw but don’t throw any punches yet. Simple move front to back and side to side until you feel both solid on your feet and agile. To that end, be sure you’re landing on and pushing off of the balls of your feet and that your stance is not too wide. Once you have a decent grasp of these movements, you can add pivoting and do all manner of useful drills.

Now that you’ve solidified a good stance, you’re ready to move up in the boxing-gym food chain and start finding your power.

(3) Punch with your body, not your arms

The power in your punch doesn’t come from your fist.

Most of the power in your punch will come from your legs and hips. A good drill to learn the importance of full-body movement is shadow boxing with your hands behind your back. This might sound awkward but it is a fundamentally effective exercise.

Doing drills such as this one will help you understand that a good punch comes from having your whole body in the right position.

Picture yourself as a spring that you need to load up. Get into that solid stance you’ve been working on. Bend your knees like you’re setting up to pounce. Imagine this sequence: slip to the left, slip to the right, and follow with a straight (reverse for southpaw).

After having slipped to the right, you’re ready with your strong arm loaded up and waiting to be unleashed.

When you throw the punch, imagine your whole body uncoiling: the energy in your legs is released up your body; your hips swing and your right shoulder comes along for the ride; your arm straightens, fist ready to transfer every pound of weight in your body into a jaw-crushing blow.

Fun fact: A study of Olympic boxers showed that they could generate 446 pounds to 1066 pounds of force. These boxers ranged from flyweight (108 to 112 pounds) to super heavyweight (over 200 pounds).

A few other helpful points to keep in mind when it comes to using your whole body advantageously are keeping a straight spine and a relaxed upper body. Remember, the power is coming from your legs. Keep those muscles tense but your arms and shoulders relaxed.

(4) Imagine your fist is a rock and hurl it

Along the same lines, you could think of your body as the canon and your fist as the ball. Or imagine your arm is a spear and your fist is the point: you use your whole body to throw a javelin, and you should do the same with your fist.

The idea here is simple: your fist is the final point of contact, through which the force your whole body has created transfers into your target.

In that light, there are some key principles to keep in mind.

First, straighten your arm as much as possible. If you keep your arm slightly bent at the elbow, you’ll be hindered the transfer of force. Sure, you’ll probably overextend your arm the first few times you try this and that won’t be pleasant. When you get the hang of it, though, your punches will have that much more impact.

Second, keep your fist as hard as possible. Again, it will take some trial and error to get the hang of this, and time to toughen up your knuckles but it will pay off in the end.

There are a couple of ways you can start conditioning your knuckles right off the bat, for example, by doing knuckle push-ups and performing hand exercises.

how to punch

(5) Don’t Discount Defense

In boxing, and just about any fight sport for that matter, defense is not something you want to learn the hard way. Unfortunately for certain stubborn individuals, it can end up being the only way.

Here’s the problem with–and something I learned the hard way about–punching first and learning the rest later: in addition to overlooking the foundation of your punches, as we discussed earlier in starting from the bottom up, you’re shooting yourself in the foot by not learning how to block, slip, duck, and weave.

It’s easy to punch a bag that doesn’t fight back. Though it might seem silly to practice defending yourself from one, focusing on defensive sequences in your bag work will help make it second nature when you face off against an actual opponent–even if he or she is just your sparring partner.

(6) Understand Basic Boxing Combinations

Punching sequences were not designed to be mindless drills. Each progression serves a purpose, and if you ever want to be able to use them effectively, you have to understand them.

Here are the six punches in boxing:
Jab (left)
Cross (right)
Hook (left)
Hook (right)
Uppercut (left)
Uppercut (right)

If you’re southpaw, the left and right will be reversed.

Let’s look at the 1-2 or jab-cross combo. Even if you’ve never boxed, you are probably familiar with this sequence. It’s where every boxing match begins and can be how they end. First, you throw a jab with your weaker hand to throw your opponent off, then you knock them out with your strong hand.

Taking that a step farther, you can use the 1-1-2 or jab-jab-cross. This is essentially a trick since your opponent will be expecting those jab-cross combos. This sequence can surprise them and help you find the right opening for your heavy cross.

While that covers basic jab-cross combos, it certainly doesn’t end there. In fact, there are five different jabs which can be used in different situations, so expect plenty more drills in that arena.

Moving on, you’ll start to incorporate hooks and uppercuts.

By adding a left hook (or a right hook if you’re southpaw), you can do 1-2-3 (jab-cross-hook) and 1-2-3-2 (jab-cross-hook-cross). The left hook is a big power shot: if your cross doesn’t land in the 1-2-3, the hook still has knockout potential.

The 1-2-3-2 is also known as the basic boxing sequence. It begins with the jab, which sets up the whole play. Then comes the cross, which should do a bit of damage. Next, the left hook comes from the side and has the potential to surprise. It also opens up the next angle, which is when you land the finishing blow with your cross.

In the 1-2-5-2, you replace the left hook with a left uppercut. This uppercut again has the advantage of surprise as it comes from below and you can again use it to catch your opponent off guard. If your opponent is guarding his head too well for you to land a left hook, go for the uppercut. It will force his head up and expose him to that finishing right hand.

(7) Change it up

Always adapt. Never fall into a pattern.

We’ve learned that there are different punches and combinations for different situations. As you drill these combos, you’ll probably develop a few favorites in which you’re particularly strong. You can absolutely use these strength to your advantage but make sure you’re not becoming predictable in how you apply them.

Are you countering every jab with a jab-slip-right cross? Be careful: your opponent will catch wind and use it against you.

how to punch

Also, don’t load up every punch. Why not? Because you’ll become predictable. Do load up the right punch. Why? If it’s set up right, it could be your knockout blow.

The same goes for your defense and stance in general. Don’t get into a pattern of bobbing up and down. Why not? Because it lets your opponent predict where your head will be and plan his or her shots accordingly. Variety is the space of life. Switch from a high stance to a low one, bob from left to right, but do so deliberately as you react to your opponent and plan your moves–not out of habit.

If you want an advantage in sparring, keep these two things in the front of your mind: obverse your opponent’s patterns while making sure you’re constantly changing up your own.

Getting started with boxing can feel overwhelming–there are countless important principles to keep in mind–but if you can wrap your head around these seven, you’ll be off to a flying start.

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November Boxing Roundup: Fury vs Wilder, Ortiz vs Kaufman & World Boxing Super Series

There’s been a lot of exciting boxing action across the globe over the past month, especially with the World Boxing Super Series back in the swing of things. Let’s recap the major bouts in case you missed anything. We’ll start off with last weekend’s tilts since they’re still fresh in fans’ minds.

After weeks of trash talking WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder of the USA and England’s Tyson Fury finally had the chance to settle their differences. The two squared off in front of over 17,600 fans in Los Angeles, California on Dec. 1st and battled to a dramatic 12-round draw.

The scores were 115-111 Wilder, 114-112 Fury and 113-113. Fury impressed many fans with his boxing skills, but he was dropped in the ninth and 12th rounds. Wilder’s record goes to 40-0-1 with 39 Ko’s while Fury stands at 27-0-1 with 19 Ko’s.

It looks like a rematch is in the cards and it will probably favour Wilder since he now knows what to expect. Fury doesn’t appear to have the power or chin to be classified as elite boxer, but does own remarkable recuperative powers as most men wouldn’t have made it to their feet after his 12th-round knockdown.

There were also some good bouts on the undercard as IBO/WBA/IBF Junior Middleweight Titleholder Jarrett Hurd improved to 23-0 with 16 Ko’s by stopping Jason Welborn of England who’s now 24-7 with 7 Ko’s. Hurd dropped Welborn with a body shot in the fourth round of a pretty exciting affair up till then.

Fans may see Hurd tangle with WBC Champ Jermell Charlo in the future if Charlo can get past Tony Harrison on December 22nd.

Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz of Cuba moved to 30-1 with 26 Ko’s after stopping American journeyman Travis Kauffman in the 10th and final stanza. It was the second straight victory for the hard-hitting Ortiz after Wilder stopped him in 10 thrilling rounds back in March.

Ortiz is hoping to land a rematch with Wilder or a shot at WBA/IBF/WBO Heavyweight Champ Anthony Joshua of England while Kauffman slips to 32-3 with 23 Ko’s.

Heavyweight Joe Joyce of England remains perfect at 7-0 with 7 Ko’s demolishing American Joe Hanks with a left hook in the first round of their bout to send Hanks to 23-3 with 15 Ko’s.

Joyce won the silver medal as a super heavyweight at the 2016 Olympics and is trying to climb the ratings. He’ll need to do it quickly though as he’s 33 years old.

Robert Guerrero improved to 34-6-1 with 19 Ko’s when he stopped Adam Mate of Hungary in the second round. Mate falls to 28-13 with 9 Ko’s. Guerrero also dropped him in the first round for his first win in his past four contests.

On a sad note, former WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis Stevenson of Haiti was rushed to hospital after being knocked out by mandatory challenger Oleksandr Gvozdyk of Ukraine in the 11th round of their title bout in Quebec City, Canada. Hopefully all is well with him.

Gvozdyk caught Stevenson with several unanswered blows to take the crown and remain undefeated at 16-0 with 13 Ko’s. The 41-year-old Stevenson’s career is now over at 29-2-1 with 24 Ko’s and will hopefully fully recover from his injuries.

There was a big domestic showdown in Brisbane, Australia on Nov. 30th when former WBO Welterweight Champ Jeff Horn (19-1-1 with 13 Ko’s ) knocked out former junior middleweight and super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine in just 96 seconds with a left hook.

It was Horn’s first fight since being stopped by Terence Crawford and losing his title in nine rounds earlier this year. The 43-year-old Mundine is 48-9 with 28 Ko’s and announced his retirement after the fight.

boxing roundup

On Nov. 29th WBA Minimumweight Titleholder Knockout CP Freshmart of Thailand remained unbeaten at 19-0 with 7 Ko’s with a unanimous decision against former champion Byron Rojas, who falls to 25-4-3 with 11 Ko’s. It was the sixth defence for Freshmart.

WBA Light Heavyweight boss Dmitry Bivol is now 15-0 with 11 Ko’s following his unanimous decision victory over 36-year-old former champion Jean Pascal of Haiti in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Nov. 24th. Pascal falls to 33-6-1 with 20 Ko’s.

Bivol could try to unify the titles against the other 175 lb champions; WBC champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk, IBF boss Artur Beterbiev and WBO king Eleider Alvarez.

Thirty-nine-year-old WBA Cruiserweight Champion Denis Lebedev upped his record to 32-2 with 23 Ko’s with a 12-round unanimous decision over American Mike Wilson in Monte Carlo.

Wilson is now 19-1 with 8 Ko’s following his first defeat. On the undercard, WBA Super Flyweight Champion and former 2008 Olympian Khalid Yafai of England remained unbeaten at 25-0 with 15 Ko’s by scoring a unanimous decision against Israel Gonzalez, who falls to 23-3 with 10 Ko’s.

On Nov. 17th Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller of America entered the ring weighing 315 lbs and improved to 23-0-1 with 20 Ko’s by stopping Bogdan Dinu in the fourth round in Mulvane, Kansas. It was Dinu’s first loss and he’s now 18-1 with 14 Ko’s.

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, WBO Junior Welterweight Champ Maurice Hooker stopped hometown boxer Alex Saucedo in the seventh round. Hooker had to get up from the canvas in the second round and he’s now 25-0-3 with 17 Ko’s while Saucedo lost for the first time and falls to 28-1 with 18 Ko’s. Hooker had won the crown in his previous bout with a decision over former champ Terry Flanagan.

On the same card, former IBF Super Bantamweight champ Jonathan Guzman went the distance for the first time in his career with a 10-round unanimous decision against Roberto Castaneda on Nov. 16th. It was Guzman’s first fight in two years and he’s now 23-1 with 22 Ko’s while Castaneda falls to 23-11-1 with 16 Ko’s.

Over in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 12th local hero Tomoki Kameda went to 36-2 with 20 Ko’s and won the vacant interim WBC Super Bantamweight Title with a unanimous decision over Abigail Medina of Spain, who’s now 19-4-2 with 10 KO’s.

A couple of former world champions were in action in Miami Beach, Florida on Nov. 10th when former Olympic Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba raised his record to 29–2 with 17 Ko’s with a 10-round unanimous decision against Miguel Beltran Jr of Mexico in a lightweight tilt. Beltran is now 33-7 with 22 Ko’s. Gamboa decked Beltran at the end of the first round, but couldn’t finish him.

On the same card, former world champ Juan Lopez moved to 36-6 with 32 Ko’s after a 10-round unanimous decision against Cristian Mino, who drops to 19-3 with 12 Ko’s. Lopez decked Mino twice during the third round and once in the fourth and sixth. There’s now word that Gamboa and Lopez will meet in March of 2019.

In the World Boxing Super Series on Nov. 10Th, the WBO Interim Cruiserweight Title was on the line and former world champ Krzysztof Glowacki of Poland took it with a unanimous decision over Maksim Vlasov of Russia.

Glowacki, who decked his opponent in round three, goes to 31-1 with 19 Ko’s while Vlasov is now 44-3 with 25 Ko’s. On the same card in Chicago, former WBC Cruiserweight Champ Mairis Briedis upped his mark to 26-1 with 18 Ko’s after a 12-round unanimous decision against Noel Mikaelian of Armenia, who falls to 24-2 with 10 Ko’s. Mikaelian may be known to some fans as Noel Gevor. Briedis captured the vacant WBC Diamond Championship with the win and advances to the semifinals of the tournament along with Glowacki.

On the same day in Manchester, England, undisputed Cruiserweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine remained unbeaten at 16-0 with 12 Ko’s when he knocked former champion Tony Bellew of Liverpool out in the seventh round. Usyk is the WBA/WBO/WBC and IBF Champion who may eventually move up to the heavyweight division.

However, he could stay where he is for the time being if former light heavyweight champ Andre Ward comes out of retirement to meet him. Bellew started the fight well, but ran out of gas and retired after the contest with a record of 30-3-1 along with 20 Ko’s.


In one of the year’s most exciting bouts, 36-year-old veteran veteran Jesus Soto Karass improved to 29-13-4 with 18 Ko’s and won for the first time since 2013 when he handed Neeco Macias of California his first defeat. Karass won a majority decision to send send Macias’ record to 17-1 with 10 Ko’s.

The fight could have been held in a phone booth as all of the action took place in the corner of the ring. The boxers combined to throw a world record 3,353 punches in the bout over just 10 rounds in the fight which was held in Indio, California on Nov. 8th

Another candidate for fight of the year took place in El Paso, Texas on Nov. 3rd when WBC Super Featherweight Titleholder Miguel Berchelt of Mexico knocked out his fellow countryman Miguel Roman in the ninth round.

Berchelt upped his record to 35-1 with 31 Ko’s after the slugfest while Roman fell to 60-13 with 47 Ko’s. Berchelt also dropped Roman two times in the sixth round and has now defended his title four times. Also in El Paso, Miguel Marriaga of Colombia improved to 27-3 with 23 Ko’s by stopping Mexico’s Jose Estrella in the fourth round with a body shot after also decking him a round earlier. Estrella now falls to 20-15-1 with 14 Ko’s.

boxing roundup

Also on Nov. 3rd, light heavyweight contenders Sullivan Barrera of Cuba and Sean Monaghan of the USA met in Brooklyn, New York. Barrera took a 10-round unanimous decision to improve to 22-2 with 14 Ko’s while Monaghan fell to 29-2 with 17 Ko’s.

On the same card, super middleweight Denis Douglin stopped Saul Roman in the sixth round to move to 22-6 with 13 Ko’s while Saul Roman drops to 43-12 with 35 Ko’s. Douglin floored Roman in the third and fifth rounds before stopping him in the sixth.

The World Boxing Super Series was also in action in Glasgow, Scotland on Nov. 3rd when former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire of the Philippines rose to 39-5 with 25 Ko’s by stopping WBA Bantamweight Super Titleholder Ryan Burnett of Northern Ireland. Donaire seemed to have the upper hand in the bout, but Burnett couldn’t continue after he suffered a back injury in the fourth round.

With the loss, the former champ Burnett falls to 19-1 with 9 Ko’s while Donaire advances to the semifinals against WBO Bantamweight Champion Zolani Tete of South Africa. Super Lightweight Josh Taylor of Scotland also advanced to the final four after stopping American Ryan Martin in the seventh round to hand him his first loss.

Taylor will now meet IBF Champion Ivan Baranchyk of Russia. Taylor improved to 14-0 with 12 Ko’s while Martin fell to 22-1 with 12 Ko’s.

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Michael B. Jordan’s Training Routine for Creed II

Michael B. Jordan sure got into shape to play Adonis Creed. He put on 20 pounds of muscle.

Just in case you don’t know Creed is a spin off to the award winning Rocky movies in which Apollo Creed (Adonis’ father) gets killed in the ring by the big, bad Russian Ivan Drago.

Creed II follows the story of Adonis Creed (played by Michael B. Jordan) as he fights Ivan Drago’s son, Viktor Drago – while getting trained by Rocky Balboa.

[bctt tweet=”Michael B. Jordan’s Training Routine for Creed II – https://www.fortisfight.com/michael-b-jordan-creed-training” username=”fortisfight”]

The movie marks more than 30 years since Rocky Balboa (played by Slyvestor Stallone) beat Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV. For fans of the original Rocky movies, this is a must watch.

What’s impressive is the physique Michael B. Jordan achieved when preparing for the movie Creed II. Just take a look at the trailer below to see what we mean.

Michael B Jordan had just come off playing Erik Killmonger in Marvel’s critically acclaimed Black Panther. For Black Panther Jordan had gained muscle and bulked up.

However for Creed 2 he was required to have more of a lean yet muscular physique. A more of a boxer’s physique.

Corey Calliet was the man tasked of getting Jordan ready for Creed 2. He told Men’s Health “My goal with him is to always look better than the last time he was on-[screen],” Calliet said. “We always go until we can’t go anymore.”

He wanted to make him look the part.

An important thing to note is that none of this happens overnight and none of this happens without discipline, dedication and direction. Jordan knew what he wanted and with his team built a physique most boxers would be envious of.

[bctt tweet=”Micheal reportedly would train 2 to 3 times a day in preparation for Creed 2. He would eat 5-6 small meals a day that focused on him getting protein and carbohydrates.” username=”fortisfight”]

Micheal reportedly would train 2 to 3 times a day in preparation for Creed 2. He would eat 5-6 small meals a day that focused on him getting protein and carbohydrates.

So he would eat foods like chicken, pasta, rice, avocado and beef. Nothing new, just the tried and tested foods that are high in protein and carbs.

Calliet said “We knew how to box already, we knew how that felt. This was about actually getting him to look better than the last time.”

They had worked together for the first Creed movie so Michael B Jordan already knew how to box. The training they undertook for Creed 2 involved making him look more muscular yet lean. They focused more on body weight training, calisthenics and light weight training.

Although his official workout routine has not been released we’ve put together a routine of what we think his workout would be based on social media posts made by Michael B Jordan, interviews and other articles.

Michael B. Jordan’s Training Routine

During the filming of Creed 2, Michael B. Jordan had got down to a weight of about 190 pounds (86 kg) and was insanely ripped.

Jordan would train 2-3 times a day for 6 days a week reportedly. And he carried this on for a while.

Some dedication from Michael B. Jordan’s part.

He would usually switch up between boxing workouts and body weight training and cardio. Usually he didn’t do boxing training with weight training sessions, he would have separate days for them.

Each round lasts 3 minutes. Here is an example routine of something Michael B Jordan might’ve done:

One Mile Run

This would build cardio up for Jordan and help tone up his body for that all important boxers physique. It would also get his body warmed up for his workout. You can do this either on the road or on the treadmill. Michael B Jordan would usually go for the latter option.

Skipping (2 rounds)

Skipping not only increases the heart rate but is fantastic cardio as well. There are so many benefits to skipping such as improving timing, hand eye coordination, stamina and endurance. The list can go on and on.

 

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Michael B Jordan would warm up with skipping to get his blood flowing and to warm his body up. Skipping is a great cardiovascular exercise and can do wonders for your stamina and endurance.

It’s no doubt why boxers do skipping!

Shadow boxing (3 rounds)

This improves your technique and you can focus on where you are going wrong and correct it. Jordan’s trainer would make him do a few rounds of shadow boxing so he can warm up his muscles and see what he is doing right and wrong and give him feedback on where he can improve.

If you don’t have a trainer or someone to give you feedback, try shadow boxing in front of a mirror or recording yourself on your phone or camera. This way not only will you be able to see where you are going wrong but you’ll also be able to see how other people see you. You can look at improving your form and technique this way.

Professional boxers usually do shadow boxing to not only warm up but to improve on their technique. If they have some flaws in an area, they can improve.

Calisthenics (10 reps each x 3 rounds)

Push-ups, dips and pull-ups. Body weight exercises improve muscle tone and can increase muscle mass. Switch between doing 10 push-ups, 10 dips and 10 pull-ups and do as many as you can for 3 rounds.

Push-ups should be the staple exercise to any workout. It works so many different muscles including the chest, shoulders, and triceps. And there’s so many different variations you can do of the push-up that works other parts of the body more such as wide-arm push-ups and diamond push-ups.

Legs (10 reps each x 2 rounds)

Switch between doing box jumps, squats, jump squats and bupees. Do 10 reps of each exercise. Performing these exercises tone your legs and build muscle.

Mitt Work (4 rounds)

Doing mitt work improves your reflexes, reactions and speed. It also gives you a chance to practice your combinations. Many pro boxers do a lot of mitt work with there coaches and there. Michael B Jordan would practice some combinations on the focus pads with his trainer.

Heavy Bag (4 rounds)

Jordan used to do this to get his punching technique right and power right. His trainer and him preferred to do bag work over sparring. He had a different goal so this makes sense. His goal was to look as good as he possibly could.

He would practice his combinations and movement. A great exercise to not only hone your craft but also serves as a killer workout.

Speed Bag (5 rounds)

michael b jordan

The speed bag not only increases endurance and but also tones your muscles. Not only does it increase them but it also improves your hand eye coordination, focus and overall punching power.

He would also do a weight training workout which was a normal body split routine.

Situps (1 round)

As a cool down down as many situps as you can do for a full round. Your abs should feel sore as hell when you’ve finished but it’ll be worth it in the end.

Diet

Diet is just as important as training if not even more. While your training breaks down the muscle, what you eat builds it up.

Before the first Creed movie, Jordan weight around about 150 pounds, which is pretty skinny for someone his height. In order to look bigger he had to eat more and bulk up.

This included eating a lot of food such as chicken and beef to bulk him up.

When it came to Creed II he need more of a lean, boxers physique. So he would eat around about 5-6 small meals that were spread out throughout the day.

He would eat highly nutritious food and would include foods high in protein and carbs in his diet. As well as that he would drink a lot of water as well.

An example daily diet plan similar to Michael B. Jordan’s would be:

Meal 1 – Breakfast: Porridge, eggs, milk and water

Meal 2 : Tuna, pasta and fruit with water

Meal 3 – Lunch: Beef/chicken with rice and water

Meal 4 – Pre-workout: Protein shake and banana

Meal 5 – Dinner: Grilled chicken, sweet potatoes and vegetables with water

Conclusion

If you’re looking to get in fighting shape then follow this workout routine and do this for 5 days a week for at least a couple of months. In a couple of months you will definitely see results.

Nothing happens overnight and neither did it for Jordan. He worked hard to get the physique he desired while staying committed, focused and disciplined. At times he was training 3 times a day for 6 days a week.

It’s not necessary to train that much, you just have to stay committed, focused and disciplined on your goals.

We hope this helps you and if you require any assistance let us know in the comments below and we try out best to help you out.

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