WBO fitness: Pacquiao Cotto fight shows how boxing fitness training is evolving

Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Miguel Cotto, of Puerto Rico,
pose during the weigh-in for their WBO boxing welterweight title fight 
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The November 13 Los Angeles Times contained an article about Miguel Cotto that may be a hint of a new layer of fitness jargon being added to the boxing world.

See video below or go to the photo gallery of Pacquiao and Cotto

In what some people saw as a nice filler article, others are seeing as a shift in how boxers will be training in the future.

See fight photos

The article titled, Miguel Cotto's strengths include Phil Landman.  quotes fitness/nutrition coach Phil Landman, as he talked about the fitness routine he's observed over the three years he has worked with Cotto: 

Boxing is just very much back as it was maybe 10, 15, 20, even 50 years ago," Landman says. "With the same training and the same techniques. And hopefully what I'm doing with Miguel so far, I've been able to kind of influence the sport in some way."

In addition to the standard (grueling) training of a top-notch boxer, diet, focus and flexibility are part of Cotto's routine..

Of course it's not just fitness jargon that's creating excitement.  The fight is being touted as the biggest boxing event to hit Las Vegas this year,  (and by Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Promotions represents both fighters, as the "best fight of the year,").  The WBO welterweight event between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is one of those defining fights that captures the imagination of more than just the fighting faithful.

But it's nice to see the fitness community begin to embrace and influence the extended fitness cross-training that is still in its early stages.  Until recently, fitness professionals pretty much considered fighting an entirely different hemisphere than the world in which they are comfortable..

No more. Boxers are increasingly beginning to employ the jargon and the cross-training techniques that have created superstars in so many other sports, from golf and tennis to football and basketball. Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and superstars from every sport are learning that it takes more than specific-sport preparation to excel. 

What exactly that means in terms of workouts is yet to be determined. It's sure that whatever it is will be in addition to - rather than replacement of - shadow boxing, footwork,  bag work, jump rope, and sparring.

There's no word yet that the fighters have adopted yoga and pilates, but the general talk is coming to include more standard fitness talk.  Core work, for instance, used to be about being able to take a punch.  Now it's about working the entire abdominal region to create strength, speed, fluidity and movement. In  2007 Landman was quoted as saying they were incorporating a lot more core work in Cotto's workout.  Earlier this year, Pacquiao's trainer also went on the record talking about the emphasis needed on the core.

If the pattern that evolved in other sports  catches on, Landman (who is certified through NCCPT and does continuing education with  the International Sports Science Association). is probably right on target.  The bar has been raised. 

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