Strength and Power Qualities Are Highly Associated With Punching Impact in Elite Amateur Boxers

The review states that punch impact force is more related to ballistic upper-body qualities than to upper-body peak force or maximal-strength.

“Therefore, the present literature demonstrates that punch impact force is more related to the 'ballistic' qualities of the upper-body (i.e. bench throw) (26,27) rather than peak force or maximal-strength capabilities (i.e. isometric bench press [IBP]) (12,27).”

Lower-body maximal-strength is associated with punch impact force, whereas upper-body maximal-strength is not.

“To date, in elite boxers, the present literature suggests that punch impact force is only associated with maximal-strength of the lower-body, but not the upper-body (12,27).”

In the lower-body, elite amateur male boxers can produce peak forces of 2048 - 2626 N (32.0-33.8 N·kg -1 ).

“In the lower-body, elite amateur male boxers can produce peak forces of 2048 - 2626 N (32.0-33.8 N·kg -1 ) (12,27) (see Table 2).”

Elite amateur female boxers can produce peak forces of 1808 ± 315 N and 727 ± 95 N in the lower- and upper-body respectively.

“The researchers reported elite amateur female boxers can produce peak forces of 1808 ± 315 N and 727 ± 95 N in both the lower- and upper-body respectively (see Table 2).”

Previous researchers investigating the CMJ ability of elite male amateur boxers have reported mean values of 36.0 to 43.1 cm.

“Previous researchers investigating the CMJ ability of elite male amateur boxers have reported mean values of 36.0 to 43.1 cm (12,18,19,27,34,38) (see Table 3).”

The capabilities of the neuromuscular system may be a limiting factor in punch impact force, while technique likely plays a major role.

“Whilst technique is likely to play a major role in punch impact force, the capabilities of the neuromuscular system may also be a limiting factor.”

Loturco et al's group did not report the body mass (or relative peak force) of the participants, which may explain the differences in absolute maximum-strength between genders.

“However, it is important to note that Loturco et al's (27) group did not report the body mass (or relative peak force) of the participants, and therefore may explain the differences in absolute maximum-strength between genders.”

Even though there were large differences between male and female elite amateur boxers for both upper- and lower-body absolute maximal-strength, only lower-body maximal-strength was statistically different between genders.

“Interestingly, even though there were large differences between male and female elite amateur boxers for both upper- and lower-body absolute maximalstrength, it was only lower-body maximal-strength that was statistically different between genders.”

In the upper body, elite amateur male boxers can produce peak forces of 677 - 1018 N.

“In the upper body, elite amateur male boxers can produce peak forces of 677 - 1018 N (see Table 2) (12,27).”

Upper-body maximal-strength capabilities are not associated with punch impact force and do not differentiate between elite boxers who punch with high and low impact forces.

“However, the maximalstrength capabilities of the upper-body are not associated with punch impact force and does not differentiate between elite boxers who punch with 'high' and 'low' impact forces.”

In elite amateur boxers, lower-body maximal-strength qualities and upper- and lower-body explosive-strength qualities are largely associated with punch impact force.

“The maximal-strength qualities of the lower-body, as well as explosive-strength qualities of both the upper- and lower-body, are largely associated with punch impact force in elite amateur boxers.”

In elite male and female amateur boxers, CMJ height is strongly related to jab (r = 0.72) and cross (r = 0.80) punch impact forces.

“In elite male and female amateur male boxers, Loturco et al (27) found strong relationships between CMJ height and both jab ( r = 0.72) and cross ( r = 0.80) punch impact forces.”

Punch impact force is more related to ballistic upper-body qualities (e.g., bench throw) than to peak force or maximal-strength capabilities (e.g., IBP).

“Therefore, the present literature demonstrates that punch impact force is more related to the 'ballistic' qualities of the upper-body (i.e. bench throw) (26,27) rather than peak force or maximal-strength capabilities (i.e. isometric bench press [IBP]) (12,27).”

In boxers, punch impact force differentiates between performance level, gender, weight class, and punch type.

“In boxers, punch impact force differentiates between performance level (i.e. novice, intermediate and elite) (11,41), gender (27), weight class (32,49), and punch type (41).”

Explosive bench press variations are strongly related to jab (r = 0.75-0.76) and cross (r = 0.78-0.79) impact force.

“For upper-body explosive-strength, Loturco et al (27) observed a strong relationship between explosive bench press variations and both jab ( r = 0.75 - 0.76) and cross ( r = 0.78 - 0.79) impact force.”

In elite boxers, punch impact force is only associated with maximal strength of the lower body, not the upper body.

“To date, in elite boxers, the present literature suggests that punch impact force is only associated with maximal-strength of the lower-body, but not the upper-body (12,27).”