title: The energetics of semicontact 3 x 2-min amateur boxing.
abstract: The energy expenditure of amateur boxing is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Total metabolic cost (Wtot) as an aggregate of aerobic (Waer), anaerobic lactic (W[lactate]), and anaerobic alactic (WPCr) energy of a 3 × 2-min semicontact amateur boxing bout was analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten boxers (mean ± SD [lower/upper 95% confidence intervals]) age 23.7 ± 4.1 (20.8/26.6) y, height 180.2 ± 7.0 (175.2/185.2) cm, body mass 70.6 ± 5.7 (66.5/74.7) kg performed a semicontact bout against handheld pads created from previously analyzed video footage of competitive bouts. Net metabolic energy was calculated using respiratory gases and blood [lactate].
  
  
  RESULTS
  Waer, 526.0 ± 57.1 (485.1/566.9) kJ, was higher (P < .001) than WPCr, 58.1 ± 13.6 (48.4/67.8) kJ. W[lactate], 26.2 ± 7.1 (21.1/31.3) kJ, was lower (P < .001) than Waer and WPCr. An ~70-kJ fraction of the aerobic energy expenditure reflects rephosphorylation of high-energy phosphates during the breaks between rounds, which elevated Wtot to ~680 kJ with relative contributions of 77% Waer, 19% WPCr, and 4% W[lactate].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the metabolic profile of amateur boxing is predominantly aerobic. They also highlight the importance of a highly developed aerobic capacity as a prerequisite of a high activity rate during rounds and recovery of the high-energy phosphate system during breaks as interrelated requirements of successful boxing.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Renate M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Leithäuser
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beneke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001914:Boxing; D001944:Breath Tests; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010710:Phosphates; D019344:Lactic Acid