Boxing is one of the most primal and intense sports on the planet — yet it’s also the most technologically advanced. Athletes can now analyze every punch down to the smallest detail and make informed adjustments to their training. Here are five impressive benefits of merging technology with boxing.
1. Optimizes the Punching Technique
Fighters are always looking to add more power to their punches. The current most powerful punch may go to Deontay Wilder, who currently holds the highest knockout-to-win percentage of any current boxer.
Wilder may be tough to beat in terms of knockouts, but rising technology in boxing is providing a more scientific approach to tracking who truly hits the hardest. Athletic technology companies such as Corner and Quiet Punch have created Bluetooth tracking devices that give athletes live data about their punches’ speed, strength and technique.
These advanced tracking kits come with two sensors, gloves, wristbands and a charging cable. Users simply have to create an account on the manufacturer’s mobile app, establish a Bluetooth connection and strap the sensors to their gloves or wristbands.
The sensors in the gloves can identify the different types of punches and combinations the user throws. The app’s on-screen display shows the number of hits and their varying power outputs with 98% accuracy, which is unprecedented for boxing technology. Each session gets a detailed breakdown so you can identify your weaknesses and track your improvements.
2. Intensifies Aerobic Workouts
Aside from punching ability, aerobic conditioning is the most critical aspect of boxing. Boxers must have elite conditioning to maintain their knockout power and survive a full 12-round fight. They can use tracking technology to determine when their punching power declines and estimate their conditioning levels in simulated matches.
Another unique fitness device could revolutionize aerobic workouts — elevation training masks. These masks simulate high-altitude training, making breathing harder and forcing athletes’ bodies to adapt to the conditions. When boxing closer to sea level, their conditioning becomes noticeably better because their bodies can process the oxygen more efficiently.
The masks aren’t practical for all training styles, but they have shown significant benefits for aerobic training. A 2016 study from the Journal of Sports Science Medicine found a group of 12 athletes who used elevation training masks showed improvements in respiration compared to 12 that didn’t.
Boxing star Anthony Joshua and other professional athletes have also given positive testimonials about elevation masks. Joshua says they helped him build up his lung capacity in preparation for his world heavyweight championship fight in 2018.
3. Improves At-Home Boxing Training
Many people started doing at-home workouts by necessity during the pandemic. This training environment has some obvious drawbacks, including a lack of equipment and limited space. Boxing tracking technology has solved the first problem, providing athletes with interactive tools to improve their punching techniques without punching bags or other expensive equipment.
Another disadvantage of at-home training is it doesn’t offer the same immersive experience as training at the gym. Fighters are notorious for living at the gym and participating in large group sparring sessions. Due to the rise in demand during COVID-19, virtual boxing classes have become much more advanced and accessible.
Users can participate in pre-recorded or live boxing classes that develop well-rounded skill sets. They teach the basics of punching, strength, mobility and cardio for an affordable price.
Artificial sparring partners have also emerged as viable training alternatives. Bot Boxer is the most advanced technology yet. It’s a robotic punching bag equipped with AI-operated sensors that can evade punches and learn the user’s fighting style. Users can access and review their fight history in the device’s cloud storage system from anywhere with an internet connection.
4. Eliminates Judging Errors
All combat sports matches end with three judges compiling their scores and deciding the victor. This flawed judging process inevitably fails sometimes due to human errors and biases. Boxing has a history of suspicious judging due to its historical association with gambling and organized crime. As more countries legalize sports betting, boxing’s corruption has room to grow.
Danish engineer and combat sports fan Allan Svejstrup Nielsen has sought to solve boxing’s judging problem with an AI system called DeepStrike. Nielsen and his team at AI development firm Jabbr claim DeepStrike can measure millions of data points and categorize them into 50 subsets. Some of the most relevant subsets include punches thrown, hits landed, force per blow, balance and footwork. It can even identify different punching techniques and measure their effectiveness throughout the fight.
Judges can use the insights from DeepStrike to make objective observations about the fights. This technology doesn’t account for gambling and bribery, but it does make sure judges have the information they need to make honest and fair conclusions. If DeepStrike is successful, boxing organizations no longer have any excuse for choosing the wrong winners.
5. Promotes Safety
Competitive boxing clearly brings its own dangers – concussions being chief among them. However, modern technology has ushered in new solutions to this issue.
The introduction of smart mouthguards has changed head and brain injury diagnoses. These mouthguards have built-in impact sensors that can determine the exact location and severity of head injuries, helping doctors make more accurate conclusions. The device also tracks the number of head collisions the user receives throughout the match, which gives them new insights into how brain damage develops over time.
6. Opens Up Water Training
In a typical boxing training regimen, athletes walk or run at least a few miles daily. This training style takes a toll on the joints, especially the knees. Some professional fighters have opted for a low-impact workout method — water training. Substituting running with water drills is less stressful on the joints but provides a similar aerobic intensity.
The concept of underwater training isn’t new, but boxers have started adding new technology to make it more productive. Breathing masks and buoyancy belts have enabled fighters like Deontay Wilder to perform running and boxing drills while totally submerged. The water provides natural resistance, which helps you perfect your punching form and develop your knockout power.
Boxing is Entering a New Tech-Centric Era
Boxing has a storied history that goes back to ancient times, but the sport’s rules and training methods haven’t changed much until the 21st century. Now, it enters a new tech-centric era where athletes can train and protect themselves with unprecedented precision.
At Spartan Boxing, we’re unveiling top-of-the line technology to help boxers become the very best they can be. Introducing Spartan Impact, In-Gym XP@Home and Spartan Flex::
- Spartan Impact: With innovative bag-tracking sensors that measure the metrics of your punches, boxers will now be able to compete against one another in a gamified setting during workouts. You can watch a live leaderboard and push yourself to come in the top spot or battle to beat your high score.
- In-Gym XP@Home: Boxers can now get access to training videos in their own house with Intelivideo. Browse from a variety of helpful videos at home or during open-gym hours and immediately start working on your skills.
- Spartans Flex: In a new and innovative program, Spartan Boxing is also offering a blended version of both Spartan Impact and In-GymXP. This program, offered as a new weekly membership, allows boxers to enter a completely technology-led boxing class, all without the assistance of coaches and trainers. It’s ideal for those looking for convenience and workout flexibility.
Spartan Boxing Club has embraced innovative technology to become a future-ready gym. We recognize that boxing is about more than just taking classes – it’s a journey of progression that slowly builds with experience and focus. Our new programs offer ways for boxers to go at their own pace and continue that journey as they see fit. Find your gym today!
Author Bio: Jack Shaw is the managing editor of fitness content at Modded.com. In his free time, he enjoys doing yoga, practicing mindfulness and boxing.