Sex And Training: Tips From Boxing

Why Don't Boxers Have Sex Before A Fight?

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As Rocky once so eloquently put it:

“Hey, Adrian, I’m serious now. There’s no foolin’ around during training, understand? I wanna stay strong.”

The myth that a great performance in bed the night before a big bout will translate into a poor performance in the ring is probably as old as competition itself. The idea behind the abstinence comes from the notion that the act of ejaculation reduces testosterone, the hormone of both sexual desire and aggression in male athletes. Coaches and supporters of the belief will say that a man looses his vital energy and decreases his pugnacity every time he ejaculates.

The tradition of abstinence is particularly strong in power sports, such as boxing, where aggression is considered a valuable trait. Many contemporary boxers, from Oscar De La Hoya to Manny Pacquiao, continue to practice the no sex clause before a fight.

This idea has become so popular that athletes in other sports have also opted to stay away from “scoring” the night before of a big game. Mike Ditka, former coach of the Chicago Bears, told his players on the eve of the 1986 Superbowl: "You can only play this game once. If wives and girlfriends can't wait, tell them to take a cold shower." Most recently, soccer coach Fabio Capello limited the access his players had to their wives and girlfriends (aka, WAGS) during the World Cup to one day after each game.

Even current UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has a strong perspective on sex and training:





Genesis of sex and training idea



Greg Whyte, professor of applied sport and exercise science at Liverpool John Moores University, says that Ancient Greeks came up with this idea. According to Whyte, Ancient Greeks were fervent believers that sexual activity would sap energy, lower testosterone and reduce aggression in men. The famous Greek philosopher, Plato, was the first to tackle the issue when he wrote about Olympic champion, Ikkos of Tarentum. According to the literature, Ikkos prepared for the 84th Olympiad in 444 B.C. by eating large quantities of wild boar, cheese and goat meat, but restrained from sexual activity, fearing it could diminish his strength.

According to a Newsweek article, the Romans disagreed with the notion. In A.D. 77, Pliny the Elder wrote that sluggish athletes were revitalized by love-making. Since then, the idea that sex can impair physical performance has gripped the minds of athletes for centuries.

In the early part of the 1900s, iconic fighter Rocky Marciano excused himself from the marital bed for months before a bout. Marciano was the only heavyweight boxer to retire undefeated.

In the middle of the 20th century, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali reportedly went two months without sex before a big fight, claiming it made him unbeatable in the ring. Ali is considered one of the best fighters of all time; his record stands at an impressive 56 wins in 61 fights, with 37 knockouts.

Most recently, Manny Pacquiao has stated publicly that he separates himself from his wife when he trains for a fight. He only has contact with his wife during chaperoned visits. Pacquiao is considered by many in the sport as the best welterweight fighter of all time.

Throughout the centuries athletes have been disciplined to give up sex and have an early night before a competition. But is there any critical evidence to suggest that sex has any repercussion on athletic ability?

Read on to find out what the scientists have discovered about sex and training...