Last weekends fight between Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito lived up to all the hype and then some. It was another classic Puerto Rican vs Mexican war.
For the first five rounds Cotto was the better fighter. He was fighting a brilliant fight doing everything right except moving to his left. It looked like Cotto would win another big fight. He was snapping Margarito's head back and sideways YET Antonio KEPT coming.... Despite all the momentum Cotto built and the power shots landed Antonio kept the pressure on when other fighters would have packed it in.
Margarito might not have been as polished as Cotto coming in but he proved he was tougher and wanted it more. His heart and will over came Miguel taking the fight out of him. That is a very special fighter to do that. Heart, will and toughness were the special ingredients that made the not so skilled Carmen Basillio, Rocky Graziano, and Gene Fullmer champions.
Despite their lack of athleticism and skill they achieved what they wanted through shear will. Fights like Cotto-Margarito prove that you can never count a fighter out no matter how he looks early in the fight. It proved that a fighter like Margarito that who possess super human will is very dangerous to the end. This fight made you say wow and if you weren't a Margarito fan you are now or at lest have a lot of admiration for him.
I picked Cotto to win for the reasons he displayed early on. I'll admit, I took Margarito's toughness, heart and will for granted. He proved me and many wrong. Both fighters were in outstanding condition and that wasn't a factor in Cotto loosing. This was again a lesson on how will can change and crush a fighter when he appears to have all the physical advantages. It doesn't matter, we learned again, what's inside matters most.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Leaving the fight in the gym.
I've read how team Margarito's approach to training has changed for the better. In the past Margarito trained far too hard and brutal often leaving the fight in the gym. While still being victorious he didn't perform as he should have because of his early peaking. This is one of the biggest problems I see with fighters. In the past it was a question of not training enough, now the pendulum has swayed to over training.
Ricky Hatton and many others do it as a way of just making weight. The victory on the scale is often more impressive than their victory in the ring. ( Provided they win at all. )
Recovery in boxing camps is often an after though or a sign of weakness or seen as not training hard enough. It's great to see that some teams have finally seen the light and are realizing that recovery and monitoring training intensity are often the missing ingredients to a brilliant and dominating performance in the ring.
Both Cotto and Magarito seem to be well prepared and ready to peak at fight night this Saturday night. I think there's going to be a helluva war this weekend in that ring!
Click here http://boxingperformance.com/ for easily applicable recovery methods.
Ricky Hatton and many others do it as a way of just making weight. The victory on the scale is often more impressive than their victory in the ring. ( Provided they win at all. )
Recovery in boxing camps is often an after though or a sign of weakness or seen as not training hard enough. It's great to see that some teams have finally seen the light and are realizing that recovery and monitoring training intensity are often the missing ingredients to a brilliant and dominating performance in the ring.
Both Cotto and Magarito seem to be well prepared and ready to peak at fight night this Saturday night. I think there's going to be a helluva war this weekend in that ring!
Click here http://boxingperformance.com/ for easily applicable recovery methods.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Q/A: Boxing Strength Training Program Design.
Hey Rob,
Planning a solid strength and conditioning for the summer, here's an outline:
1 - de lower, core stability and rotation (bands, medicine ball)
2 - me upper, neck stability, flexion, extension
3 - gpp , restoration/recovery
4 - me lower, core flexion and extension, grip
5 - de upper, neck stability, flexion, extension
6 - upper power conditioning, sprints, grip
7 - strength endurance(burpees, slams, deck of cards, warrior challenges, bodyweight circuits), static stretching
What sort of recovery work do you do on that gpp day? What do you think of mobility drills stretches, activation, all that jazz? I have never looked into it. Injury prevention is obviously important to a boxer, rotator cuff work. What else should I do? Really this day is a good chance to cool my body down and get myself rested up, I want to make the most of it and add anything small that will help me in the long run.
This programme will probably go 3 weeks on, 1 week deload where volume in the weights and actual weight is halved, conditioning and other days will remain the same.
Thanks in advance,
Charis
You got a lot going on Charis. Too much in my opinion. Are you training to be a fighter with skill training on top of this? You're better doing less than too much. Try a 2-3 day strength training template. Add some plyometrics before the strength exercises on ME Upper and ME Lower.
I don't use a templet like this Charis. So for recovery we rest, get some deep tissue work done, soak in some mineral baths etc.
Mobility drills, activation exercises should be part of your program. Mobility is extremely important and overlooked. Focus on it to improve your performance and to stay healthy.
I would add some reverse wd chops and some reverse crunches also.
Charis, I have no idea what you need without knowing your weaknesses, needs/goals but I will say that prone cobras are great, forward ball rolls, face pulls, wall leans, are all very good to use.
To recover you have to manage your high training stressors, the high ones in life too.
Monitor your lifestyle habits as a solid strength/conditioning program will flow off of that. With poor habits you screw yourself. Sleep well, drink plenty of water, eat whole foods, limit stimulants.
Remember less is more. Focus on getting more done with less. You strength/conditioning program should focus on your needs and weaknesses, and supplement what you don't get from your skill training.
Click here http://boxingperformance.com/ for boxing performance strength/conditioning programs.
Planning a solid strength and conditioning for the summer, here's an outline:
1 - de lower, core stability and rotation (bands, medicine ball)
2 - me upper, neck stability, flexion, extension
3 - gpp , restoration/recovery
4 - me lower, core flexion and extension, grip
5 - de upper, neck stability, flexion, extension
6 - upper power conditioning, sprints, grip
7 - strength endurance(burpees, slams, deck of cards, warrior challenges, bodyweight circuits), static stretching
What sort of recovery work do you do on that gpp day? What do you think of mobility drills stretches, activation, all that jazz? I have never looked into it. Injury prevention is obviously important to a boxer, rotator cuff work. What else should I do? Really this day is a good chance to cool my body down and get myself rested up, I want to make the most of it and add anything small that will help me in the long run.
This programme will probably go 3 weeks on, 1 week deload where volume in the weights and actual weight is halved, conditioning and other days will remain the same.
Thanks in advance,
Charis
You got a lot going on Charis. Too much in my opinion. Are you training to be a fighter with skill training on top of this? You're better doing less than too much. Try a 2-3 day strength training template. Add some plyometrics before the strength exercises on ME Upper and ME Lower.
I don't use a templet like this Charis. So for recovery we rest, get some deep tissue work done, soak in some mineral baths etc.
Mobility drills, activation exercises should be part of your program. Mobility is extremely important and overlooked. Focus on it to improve your performance and to stay healthy.
I would add some reverse wd chops and some reverse crunches also.
Charis, I have no idea what you need without knowing your weaknesses, needs/goals but I will say that prone cobras are great, forward ball rolls, face pulls, wall leans, are all very good to use.
To recover you have to manage your high training stressors, the high ones in life too.
Monitor your lifestyle habits as a solid strength/conditioning program will flow off of that. With poor habits you screw yourself. Sleep well, drink plenty of water, eat whole foods, limit stimulants.
Remember less is more. Focus on getting more done with less. You strength/conditioning program should focus on your needs and weaknesses, and supplement what you don't get from your skill training.
Click here http://boxingperformance.com/ for boxing performance strength/conditioning programs.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Manny is the man.
It's safe to say that Manny Paq. is the best p4p fighter today. He was more than impressive in the way he busted up Diaz. I'll admit, I doubted him going into the fight. I though he would be a bit slower and not carry the power as well with him.
Damn was I wrong, Manny proved many people wrong and enjoyed it whole heartedly. You don't see to many fighters smiling like Manny in the ring enjoying themselves like a kid at play as Manny does. The class that he shows after words is also rare.
The knock on Manny is that he relies on his left hand to much, although he showed a good right hook in the Diaz fight. So what, he has been getting the job done in exciting fights. He doesn't pop shot and run the whole fight. Talking shit at the press conference before and after the fight. The left hand he throws is hard, fast and gets the job done. That's all that matters and that's why he's so exciting to watch and a class act to listen to after words.
What Manny accomplishes in the ring stays in peoples minds, he doesn't need to make a bullshit public statement accusing certain parties of wrong doing. Shut the fuck up and get in the ring if you don't think you were appreciated enough.
There's more than enough talented fighters today like Manny Paq. letting their fists do the talking for their great achievements to allow any knowledgeable fan to miss you.
Manny is the man and I though he peaked. It appears the best is yet to come.
Damn was I wrong, Manny proved many people wrong and enjoyed it whole heartedly. You don't see to many fighters smiling like Manny in the ring enjoying themselves like a kid at play as Manny does. The class that he shows after words is also rare.
The knock on Manny is that he relies on his left hand to much, although he showed a good right hook in the Diaz fight. So what, he has been getting the job done in exciting fights. He doesn't pop shot and run the whole fight. Talking shit at the press conference before and after the fight. The left hand he throws is hard, fast and gets the job done. That's all that matters and that's why he's so exciting to watch and a class act to listen to after words.
What Manny accomplishes in the ring stays in peoples minds, he doesn't need to make a bullshit public statement accusing certain parties of wrong doing. Shut the fuck up and get in the ring if you don't think you were appreciated enough.
There's more than enough talented fighters today like Manny Paq. letting their fists do the talking for their great achievements to allow any knowledgeable fan to miss you.
Manny is the man and I though he peaked. It appears the best is yet to come.
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