title: Amateur boxing: physical and physiological attributes.
abstract: Boxing is one of the oldest combat sports. The aim of the current review is to critically analyze the amateur boxer's physical and physiological characteristics and to provide practical recommendations for training as well as new areas of scientific research. High-level male and female boxers show a propensity for low body fat levels. Although studies on boxer somatotypes are limited, the available information shows that elite-level male boxers are characterized by a higher proportion of mesomorphy with a well-developed muscle mass and a low body fat level. To help support the overall metabolic demands of a boxing match and to accelerate the recovery process between rounds, athletes of both sexes require a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness. International boxers show a high peak and mean anaerobic power output. Muscle strength in both the upper and lower limbs is paramount for a fighter's victory and is one of the keys to success in boxing. As boxing punches are brief actions and very dynamic, high-level boxing performance requires well-developed muscle power in both the upper and lower limbs. Albeit limited, the available studies reveal that isometric strength is linked to high-level boxing performance. Future investigations into the physical and physiological attributes of boxers are required to enrich the current data set and to help create a suitable training program.
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sports Performance Optimization", National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia, chaabanehelmi@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaabène
authors.forename: Montassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabben
authors.forename: Bessem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mkaouer
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.forename: Yassine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Negra
authors.forename: Mehrez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: Samiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amara
authors.forename: Raja Bouguezzi
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Chaabène
authors.forename: Younés
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hachana
mesh_terms: D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001914:Boxing / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013008:Somatotypes