There are certain exercises that simply cannot be avoided when you're training in boxing. There are always ways to alternate these basic exercises to change things up and see more success. But they cannot be avoided, no matter how much you might hate doing them. Here are the most essential physical fitness exercises that you absolutely have to do when you're training for boxing.

Push ups: Yes, the push up might be the most basic of them all. Ever since elementary school you've been taught how to do push ups, and ridiculed if you couldn't do them properly. Maybe the method behind that madness is that push ups can be vital and powerful as a strength builder. You can really add strength to your chest, as well as your triceps, shoulders, back and core muscles. You can do push ups in the beginning of your normal boxing routine, or you can spend just 10-15 minutes in the morning or evening to get them out of the way.

Add variation: Do one set of push ups until exhaustion. Rest 2 minutes and do another set until exhaustion. Do three to five sets all together.

Crunches/Sit ups: Another basic training exercise here. I didn't say I was going to reinvent the wheel, only that I'd highlight some important aspects. The standard sit up isn't in style anymore. Perhaps the best type suited for boxing training is the incline sit up done on an incline ab board. This really stretches all parts of your abdominal muscles.

Add variation: Cycle through different ab exercises each workout. One time do bicycle crunches and leg lifts, the next time do incline sit ups using a medicine ball and regular crunches.

Jumping rope: When I was younger and training in a serious boxing gym, I completely hated jumping rope. I had no problem powering through the 100 push ups and 300 sit ups we had to do before each and every workout, every day, but those 2 rounds of jumping rope at the end of a workout I couldn't handle. But jumping rope is a great physical fitness exercise for boxing training. For starters, it improves your footwork and your coordination. It adds explosive strength and stamina to your leg muscles, particularly your calves which can be harnessed and used with your power punches. And it adds unparalleled cardio strength when you need it for the end of a fight or sparring session.

Add variation: Jump rump for one minute, then rest. Move up to two minutes and rest, eventually moving up to 5 full minutes. Alternatively, in a 3 minute round of jumping rope, spend one minute normally jumping, another minute switching feet and another minute high jumping with two quick rope revolutions per each jump.

One thing you will notice is that none of these boxing training exercises have anything to do with lifting weights. Weightlifting can be detrimental to a boxer by adding to much bulk and slowing you down. I'll get more into that at a later date, and I'll talk about how to properly weight train for boxing. But in the mean time, these bodyweight exercises absolutely build the strength you need to compete. They give you cardio power and improve your overall fitness. And they are proven to work in the boxing ring. Stay tuned for more boxing training tips in the future.