One of the most common questions related to boxing training is should boxers lift weights? It's a question that many people have different opinions on, and it's an important subject to tackle whether you are looking for beginner boxing tips or you are a serious boxer looking to get to the next level.

Even professional fighters don't all agree. The classic example I always use is that Muhammad Ali never trained at all with weights, and many other fighters did not either. Meanwhile, today many fighters seem to incorporate at least some weight lifting into their boxing training. So should boxers weight lift?

So.... Should Boxers Lift Weights?

Unfortunately, there is not an easy yes and no answer to this. Old school trainers and fighters will typically say that no, a boxer should not be weightlifting at all. The theory behind this is simple and there are several reasons incorporated in it. To begin with, by adding extra muscle mass to your frame you can tighten up and slow down your punches and your all around boxing form.

Additionally, adding a lot of muscle mass can decrease your stamina, as muscles are major oxygen hogs in your body. The more muscle mass you have, the greater your oxygen requirements, and the greater the chance of running out of gas towards the end of a fight.

Finally, you can pack on enough muscle to effectively move yourself to a higher weight class where you don't wish to be campaigning at.

However, boxers can weight train and incorporate weightlifting into their boxing training. The key is separating weightlifting for bodybuilders or those in other sports for weightlifting for boxing. When people ask should boxers lift weights, they don't separate the question into the different styles of weight training that a person can use.

Weightlifting for Boxing

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Boxers want to have solid, lean frames, but not be overly muscle bound. Lifting weights as if you were a football player, bodybuilder or regular gym-head can result in changes to your physique and your abilities that detract from your boxing game. But weightlifting correctly can and will make you stronger while leaving you better prepared for tough challenges inside the ring.

The first key for weightlifting for boxing training is that you should avoid heavy weight, low repetition sets. This kind of weight training is designed for packing on a maximum amount of muscle mass, which is not what you want to do. Instead, you should focus on weight training with lighter weights and more reps, ideally between 12 and 15 per set.

Additionally, when weightlifting for boxing, you should focus on your core strength. Your core is where your real power comes from, and it involves your abdominals, oblique muscles, lower back muscles and upper leg muscles. Don't waste your time with bicep curls, focus on compound exercises that will help increase your functional strength, not just make your body look more muscular.

Weightlifting Alternatives for Boxers

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There are several weightlifting alternatives for boxers.

• Bodyweight exercises: Bodyweight exercises will add real strength to your body without adding excess muscle mass. Pull-ups and chin-ups are great bodyweight exercises, as are pushups, all sit-ups variations and dips.
• Medicine ball exercises: Using a medicine ball can help you gain strength and mimic actual boxing movements while avoiding too much muscle gain.
• Circuit training: Circuit training is technically weight lifting, but with a focus on the cardio aspects involved. Use only machines, and use a weight light enough to continually blast out reps for 30 seconds. Without resting, switch to another machine and incorporate 10 total machines in the workout, completing 2 circuits.

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You asked should boxers weight lift or incorporate any weight training into their boxing training. The choice is yours, but you don't have to completely avoid weight training when boxing. Just change your approach towards weightlifting to achieve maximum results for boxing.