Boxing: Jack Bateson explains how he stays in peak condition ahead of a fight
Thursday 22 January 2015 11:25, UK
As many across Britain struggle to keep up their New Year’s resolutions to get in shape, GB boxer Jack Bateson revealed how he keeps the weight off in the run up to a fight.
The Sky Academy Sports Scholar is part of the British Lionhearts team who began their World Series of Boxing campaign with a 3-2 victory over China last week and although he was not in action, Bateson knows he has to be ready for action when called upon.
With the Lionhearts in regular action over the next few months Bateson needs to be prepared to step in at short notice, meaning he has to take a slightly different approach than he usually would before a bout.
I’d say that boxing is a brilliant way to get fit or just stay active
“I tend to work at about 5% over my weight category (52kg) which is 54.6 kilos so every week (in the lead up to a fight) I’ll bring it down maybe half a kilo, so five weeks before I’ll start bringing it down,” Bateson told Sky Sports.
“But when you’re not sure when you’ll be boxing, for example (GB team-mate, Andrew) Selby could pull out of his fight against Ukraine and I could go, so I’m walking round now at around 53 kilos so that if something was to happen then I’m ready to step in.
“I don’t mind, I met the weight comfortably and I’m training hard and the weight is staying off through all the hard training that we’re doing so it’s good.”
So how exactly do boxers like Bateson ensure that they lose that extra weight before a fight?
“We weigh ourselves every morning at around 7am so that we know where we’re at,” explained Bateson. “After each meal I tend to know how much I’m going to put on, so after breakfast I know that I’m going to put on maybe .6 of a kilo and that is just from getting weighed all the time.
“The sessions that we do, if we need to lose more weight after our speed runs we might just do a steady run to lose a bit more fat. Most of the lads in the squad are usually good but if you do need to lose that bit more weight you just have to do a bit more training. It’s not even that intense training, it’s just keeping yourself active and busy so that your body is working and obviously the more it works, the more you’re going to lose.
Difficult
“Your portions sizes have got to cut down a lot, you have an intake of carbs in the morning and then as you get to your lunch and your dinner you take less carbs as it goes on until eventually dinner is no carbs. It’s difficult but it’s effective.”
Indeed, for those keen to stick with their resolution to boost their fitness Bateson believes boxing can provide a rewarding alternative to those tedious treadmill sessions.
“I’d say that boxing is a brilliant way to get fit or just stay active,” he added. “Go down to your local boxing club, you can find out where it is through the amateur boxing association office at England Boxing and they’ll guide anyone to their nearest boxing gym.
“There are usually sessions three times a week for anyone, any age, male or female and boxing gyms are always quite welcoming. It’s a great way for someone to go in, get active and have fun at the same time and maybe shift a few pounds.
“A lot of people make New Year’s resolutions to lose a bit of weight or get more active and I’d say boxing is a great way to do that. There are lots of exercises you can do whether its boxercise or just following a regular boxing programme, either way it’s really good.”
While many are just getting started though, Bateson will be readying himself for action with a World Series of Boxing debut just a matter of weeks away.
“I’m really enjoying it at the minute. It’s brilliant that the British Lionhearts have signed back up to the World Series of Boxing and I’m really looking forward to taking part,” he said.
“Obviously I watched my teammates box against China and it was brilliant to get the win. I can’t wait until it’s my turn to get in there. It’s looking like it will be next month sometime but I’m just looking forward to it. I’m starting to do a lot more rounds of sparring and training, it’s exciting times.”
