Abstract - Proposal and reproducibility of a specific test for amateur boxing
Background and Aim. Based on the assumption that a specific test for boxing would assist in the evaluation of athletes and in the selection of training based on actions within the ring, this study intends to propose a test and evaluate its reproducibility, intending to be physiologically alike an official fight, and providing estimates of performance.
Methods. 12 boxers were evaluated on two different days with an interval of 48 hours between the test and retest. The evaluation consisted of a specific test where the evaluator guided the athletes for three rounds in repeated actions of attack, defense, and movement. During the test, variables of maximum heart rate (HR), lactate concentration (LA), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and fatigue (ROF) at rest were evaluated at the end of rounds, and at five and ten minutes after the test; in addition, the test was filmed for performance analysis (number of actions). The reproducibility of the test was verified by scientifically rigorous methods.
Results. The specific test was proven to be alike an official fight with Mean Action/seg between 1.69±0.2 – 1.87±0.2 and mean values of HR of 190 bpm, RPE of 17.92 points and LA of 8.42 mmol/L, at third round). There was reproducibility of the physiological and performance variables, except for HR and Mean Evaluator Error.
Conclusion. The proposed specific test for amateur boxing has characteristics and physiological responses similar to an official fight and presents reproducibility in the analyzed variables, providing an estimate of performance; however, HR and Mean Evaluator Error did not prove to be reproducible.