Cardio-Respiratory Endurance Responses Following a Simulated 3 × 3 Minutes Amateur Boxing Contest in Elite Level Boxers

This study aimed at examining physiological responses (i.e., oxygen uptake [VO₂] and heart rate [HR]) to a semi-contact 3 × 3-min format, amateur boxing combat simulation in elite level male boxers. Eleven boxers aged 21.4 ± 2.1 years (body height 173.4 ± 3.7, body mass 74.9 ± 8.6 kg, body fat 12.1 ± 1.9, training experience 5.7 ± 1.3 years) volunteered to participate in this study. They performed a maximal graded aerobic test on a motor-driven treadmill to determine maximum oxygen uptake (VO_2max), oxygen uptake (VO_2AT) and heart rate (HR_AT) at the anaerobic threshold, and maximal heart rate (HR_max). Additionally, VO₂ and peak HR (HR_peak) were recorded following each boxing round. Results showed no significant differences between VO_2max values derived from the treadmill running test and VO₂ outcomes of the simulated boxing contest (p > 0.05, d = 0.02 to 0.39). However, HR_max and HR_peak recorded from the treadmill running test and the simulated amateur boxing contest, respectively, displayed significant differences regardless of the boxing round (p < 0.01, d = 1.60 to 3.00). In terms of VO₂ outcomes during the simulated contest, no significant between-round differences were observed (p = 0.19, d = 0.17 to 0.73). Irrespective of the boxing round, the recorded VO₂ was >90% of the VO_2max. Likewise, HR_peak observed across the three boxing rounds were ≥90% of the HR_max. In summary, the simulated 3 × 3-min amateur boxing contest is highly demanding from a physiological standpoint. Thus, coaches are advised to systematically monitor internal training load for instance through rating of perceived exertion to optimize training-related adaptations and to prevent boxers from overreaching and/or overtraining. View Full-Text