How Do Boxers Lose Weight So Fast and the dangers?

How Do Boxers Lose Weight So Fast

Rapid weight loss is common in boxers as they train to make stringent weight limits for fights. Boxers have been known to shed between 20 and 40 pounds for the weigh-in, sometimes even gaining 10 pounds back by fight time. A strict training and diet regime is at the core of a boxer making weight.

Types

Diet and training are the key factors in rapid weight loss for a boxer. The Talk Boxing website recommends that when making weight a boxer should consume a diet containing 45 to 55 percent carbohydrates. A boxer's diet should also include 30 to 40 percent protein, with the remaining 5 to 15 percent comprised of fats. Regular hydration is crucial to a boxer who is making weight. Boxers should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day, with the amount increasing during a fight. Boxers will perform daily physical and technical training, with weight constantly monitored.

Significance

Rapid weight loss is essential for a boxer. Each fight in which they participate will have a designated weigh-in date. If the boxer does not reach the weight limit during the weigh-in, he will not be allowed to compete. In the professional game, this can result in millions of dollars being lost at the world-class level.

Time Frame

Boxers will begin monitoring their weight at the beginning of training camp. A boxer can train for six to eight weeks before a fight, with training and diet constantly tailored to meet target weight. Former World Champion Wayne McCullough dropped nine pounds in three days before a title fight while making weight. McCullough won the fight but later explained he remembered nothing from after the third round. Former British World Champion Ricky Hatton was renowned for losing up to 40 pounds to make the weight limit in six to eight weeks.

Expert Insight

Professional boxing trainer Ross Enamait explains that boxers achieve rapid weight loss through eating frequent, moderately sized meals throughout the day. Daily exercise under this diet leads to high metabolism and a negative energy balance, resulting in weight loss. Enamait also describes some of the more drastic measures used to speed up weight loss. These include skipping rope in a sweat suit and eating only egg whites.

Risks

Enamait describes rapid weight loss as the most dangerous aspect of boxing. The resulting dehydration leading to increased fatigue, and in extreme cases, the brain can be more vulnerable due to a lack of fluid surrounding it. Research conducted by C.J. Hall and A.M. Lane in the 2001 British Journal of Sports Medicine studied rapid weight loss in boxers, which was found to cause poor performance and increased fatigue.