FLOYD MAYWEATHER has, and always will, play by his own rules.
Throughout his career the boxing icon, 45, has adopted a unique style of working out in the early hours of the morning.
Floyd Mayweather training with his uncle Roger
The American shadow boxes with weights in his hands
He believes it gave him a psychological advantage over his rivals – they slept while he trained.
Mayweather, unbeaten in 50 pro fights, shunned the usually strict regime most boxers followed during training camp and instead would head to the gym whenever he felt like it.
On other occasions, his workout would be so spontaneous that a night out on the Las Vegas strip would turn into an opportunity to clock miles of road work – whether he’s dressed for it or not.
In a 2005 NBC documentary, uncle and former trainer Roger said: “He’s a freak to train. If he’s anywhere – be a restaurant, a nightclub – he’ll get up and start running.”
Mayweather added: “Fighters, they’ve got a regimen, they’ve got a schedule, that’s not me.
“I stay up late, I run with Timberlands on, with jeans on, T-shirt, whatever I’ve got on, I’ll run.”
DeMarcus Corley, who Mayweather beat in 2004, revealed: “You never know when Floyd’s ready to work.
“I mean, you can leave the house and go to the party, and after the party, he’ll go to his trunk, slip on some shoes and just start running.
“You’ll be like, ‘We just left the club!'”
Mayweather would sometimes run straight after leaving a nightclub
The boxer trains in an empty gym in the early hours of the morning
Mayweather would train up until 4am and would not wake until 2.30pm the next day, before returning to the gym for his boxing sessions which included sparring, pads and bag work.
Zab Judah was an opponent of Mayweather’s in 2006 but nine years later got brought in as a southpaw sparring partner before Floyd beat Manny Pacquiao.
Judah recalls training sessions lasting FIVE HOURS before then running up to ten miles, only to be woken up in the middle of the night by Mayweather to do it all again.
He told VladTV: “The way he works is different.
“He put the work ethic on top of being talented. I had a chance to work with him for the Pacquiao fight and got to see how he trained.
“We’d pull off four or five hour gym sessions, right from the gym session, leave there and then go for a run for ten miles. I was like ‘This motherf***er is crazy!’
“We’d go home and lay down and he’ll call you again, like two or three in the morning and say ‘Yo, what’s up, let’s go running’.
“He outworked everybody.”
The American chops down logs of trees with an axe
Zab Judah says Mayweather trains up to five hours straight
Even in retirement Mayweather puts in the work in the early hours of the morning, recently training alongside protege Devin Haney.
And the 21-year-old lightweight has opened up on how 40-minute long pad sessions keeps Mayweather in top shape – meaning the door is always open for a comeback.
Haney told iFL TV: “As of now we haven’t spoken about that. I mean is he in shape to come back? Of course!
“You know we trained for so long, we go 30, 40 minutes on the pads straight.
“Is Floyd ready to come back, could he come back? Of course. I think just because of his IQ and how much IQ he has I think he could come back.
Mayweather’s unorthodox training methods were documented in HBO’s 24/7 and Showtime’s ‘All Access’ pre-fight series, which gave fans an inside look into the boxer’s camp.
But his one restriction was there could be limited filming of his sparring sessions.
Mayweather’s former training partner Dmitriy Salita, now a promoter, has lifted the lid on what went on during these secret spars and revealed the black eye he was given by the ring legend was treated like a “trophy”.
Mayweather trains alongside his protege Devin Haney
Mayweather was pictured sparring at 4am in his gym
Mayweather is said to have sparred for four minutes a round with just 15 seconds break in between
Salita told EsNews: “It was four minute rounds with 15 seconds breaks in between. I didn’t know how tough it was until I got in the ring with him.
“Floyd gave me a bit of a black eye, and I fought ten days later and still had it a little bit but everyone said ‘Floyd did it’ so it was a bit of a trophy.”
Mayweather – who cut no weight when fighting at welterweight – also enjoyed a unique diet.
Before beating Marcos Maidana in 2014, he shouted in his gym: “I drink soda, I eat pizza, I hang out with chicks all day, and these fighters still can’t beat me.”
And true to his word, in an open workout before Mayweather fought UFC star Conor McGregor, he sipped Pepsi from a cup in between hitting the speed bag.
During the week of the fight, the UFC’s Embedded series showed the legendary counter puncher eating a Burger King, as Mayweather joked he had to beef up for the bout.
He said: “Burger King baby, what’s up? I’ve gotta eat Burger King, keep that weight on. I’m so scared of Conor McGregor.
“I just want to say thank you Dana White, for bringing that b**** to the table.”
After Mayweather stopped McGregor in seven rounds and officially retired, he was not seen in his Vegas gym for some time.
Even before his money-spinning exhibition bout against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, the multimillionaire insisted he did not train.
But in November last year, Mayweather sparked comeback rumours as he announced online that he was “coming out of retirement in 2020” and later named McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov as potential opponents.
Now the 45-year-old is regularly training again, ahead of a fight with YouTuber Deji on November 12.
Mayweather eats a Burger King before his fight against Conor McGregor
Mayweather sips Pepsi while training in his gym
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I learn boxing with only a partner?
You can also watch professional boxing matches live on TV if you don’t have a partner and want to learn boxing. Or you can find an amateur boxing club near you. Amateur boxing clubs hold regular training sessions. These sessions are often attended by sparring partners who share the same pads.
Boxing can also be practiced using punching bags. Before hitting the bag you should make sure you are wearing protective gear, such as gloves.
How much weight should I lift when working out?
If you are looking to increase your strength, weight lifting is a must. You should be aware of these guidelines when lifting weights. First, make sure that you don’t overdo it. Try to lift heavier weights every day. Third, complete each exercise 8 times. Fourth, you should rest for two minutes between sets. Fifth, you can do all the exercises without using momentum. And finally, focus on form rather than speed.
How to throw a jab:
Here’s a step-by, easy guide on how to throw a jab.
- Get up with both feet.
- Arrest your arm high above your shoulder.
- Bring your fist down towards your target.
- After hitting your target you should swing your arm up.
- Steps 1 through 4 can be repeated.
What is the difference between left hook and right cross?
A left-hand hook is thrown on the side of a body while a lateral cross is thrown on the front.
The opponent is facing the back of the left hook. The elbow is bent 90°. The wrist is turned 45° toward opponent.
With the palm facing the opponent, a right cross is performed. The elbow should be straight. The wrist is turned 45 degrees away from the opponent.
How long does it take to learn to box?
Boxing is one the oldest forms of martial arts. China recorded the first boxing match in 2200 BC. Since thousands of years, boxing is a well-known sport. Boxing is still a popular sport among celebrities and athletes. It takes around 10 months for a boxer to be proficient.
It is difficult to learn boxing because there are so many movements. To perform each movement properly, you need specific muscles. This is why it takes time for these muscles to grow.
However, once you know how to move your entire body, you can then start any type of boxing technique. Each technique will become easier over time.
How to defend yourself
When you’re being attacked, you must always protect your head. Your goal is to avoid getting punched in the first place. To avoid being punched, you must learn how to stop an incoming punch. Here’s what you need to do:
- Square your shoulders and stand tall.
- Keep your elbows in line with your sides.
- Block the incoming punch using your forearm.
- Counterattack immediately.
- Continue blocking the attacker until he runs away.
- Do not let up on your defense.
What can I do to improve my fighting defense?
By learning to fight smart, you can improve the defense of your combative skills. You need to know how defense against attacks from every angle is possible, as well how to counterattack in case of emergency.
If you don’t fight well, you will not be able to handle any situation. You’ll just get beaten up. However, if your fight skills are solid, you’ll be ready to face any challenge.
These are some tips that will help you improve your defense.
- Know where your opponent’s attack is coming from. This means you need to be attentive to your opponent’s body language. You should pay attention to his body language. If he seems nervous, that could be an indication of his next attack.
- Keep calm. Don’t panic. Instead, be calm and focussed.
- Block with your arms. Blocking with your arm is a simple, but effective, way to defend yourself against attackers.
- Counterattack. You must immediately counterattack if you see your enemy attacking you.
- Fight dirty. Fight dirty. If your opponent kicks you in the face, you can counter by kicking him back.
Statistics
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
External Links
expertboxing.com
en.wikipedia.org
How To
How do I setup a Boxing Gym in My House
People who are looking to start their own business often ask how to set up a boxing club. Many people ask how much money they should spend on equipment, what kind of space is needed, how many employees do you think you need etc. There are many factors that can affect the cost of starting your business. Some of these factors are location, type and number of employees, budget, competition, etc. The importance of having quality equipment is something that many people forget. You cannot start if there isn’t the equipment. Here are some suggestions to help you start a gym for boxing at home.
- You will need somewhere to train. It could be a garage, basement or spare room. Even the living room will work. The only requirement is that there must be enough space to set up the equipment.
- A punching bag is essential. This is important as you won’t learn how to punch without one. It can be anything, from a lightweight plastic bag to an expensive leather bag. It should be big enough that you can comfortably carry it. You should also ensure it is durable and strong so it can last many years.
- You will need a pad. Matting is used to protect floors or walls while practicing kicks. It is made mostly of foam rubber. These can be purchased online or in-store.
- You will need a bench. A bench is used for support while performing pushups. They can be purchased online or offline stores. Make sure you get the right size.
- A speedbag is required. Speedbags are used to develop fast hand movements. They can be purchased from online or offline stores. Buy quality products that will last a long time.
- Headgear is necessary. For sparring, you will need to use a headgear. It can be bought online or in-store. It is important to choose the right size and protection for your face.
- Gloves are essential. Gloves are needed to protect your hands during sparring sessions. You can purchase them online or in-store. Choose a pair that suits your needs and style.
- A mouthpiece is necessary. You can use mouthpieces to protect your teeth during sparring sessions. These can be purchased online and offline. Make sure you choose the pair that fits your style and meets your needs.
- Rings are essential. Rings are used to simulate real fights. These rings can be bought online or offline. Make sure that it has padding on both sides so that you aren’t injured during sparring sessions.
- You need a towel. You need a towel to remove sweat after a workout. They can be purchased in your local sporting goods stores or online. Make certain that they are soft and absorbent.
