Boxer Amir Khan Bio

Name: Amir Khan
Date of Birth: 8 December 1986
Born: England
Height: 1.78m
Weight: 63kg
Coach: Freddie Roach
Hero: Muhammad Ali
Boxing results
15 May 2010
Paulie Malignaggi
W TKO 11
5 Dec 2009
Dmitriy Salita
W TKO 1
18 Jul 2009 Andriy Kotelnik
W UD 12
14 Mar 2009
Marco Antonio Barrera
W TD 5
Biography
Catapulted into the limelight from the 2004 Silver medal Olympic podium Amir Khan has become Britain’s highest-profile boxer racking up an impressive professional fight record; having become the World Light Welterweight Champion in July 2009 after his life changing fight against Andreas Kotelnik.
Over the past four years Amir has ridden high at the top of his game to a rapturous reception in Britain, State-side and beyond. Sensationally losing for the first time in his professional career to Columbian bruiser Breidis Prescott in September 2008 – the tempest of conjecture and condemnation fuelled media frenzy was followed in quick succession by a grueling and inspirational new training regime with Coach Freddie Roach in L.A.
The boy from Bolton came back to the ring with brutal vengeance as he sent Oisin Fagan flailing to the floor in December 2008. Khan did not just convincingly put the boy down for a compelling victory – he exuded a fresh, calm, persona; a measured aggressor spearing his prey with a jab as he circled, finding his target and then unleashing a flurry of blows, taking him apart and sending him to the floor twice inside the first round… 97 seconds into the second it was all over.
Khan’s World Title Fight in July 2009 with Kotelnik was an extremely intense match. Both were on top form but it was Khan’s display of speed, stamina and boxing skill that saw him victorious.
Living to box has been a self proclaimed obsession for Amir Khan; one that has turned him from a talented streetwise boy, into a self assured man and not forgetting to mention, World Champion.
If you were to ask anyone about Amir Khan’s talent, they would undoubtedly say he was born to be a boxer. His calm exterior unnerving to his opponents; his craving to win making him faster and stronger than others; these are but a few reasons why he has become not only a winner, but an icon.
The fight between Amir Khan and Andreas Kotelnik did not start of as expected. Due to an unfortunate injury, Kotelnik had to postpone the fight until July 18th, subsequently delaying Amir Khan from holding the World Light Welterweight Champion title by just under a month.
There was a distinct buzz on the night of the match. Everyone who attended the fight or watched it on television could tell that this fight would be a defining moment for Khan. 12 rounds later and that moment arrived, propelling the Bolton Boxer to staggering new heights in his career.
Those who know and train with Khan have expressed their delight at the victory. Freddie Roach exclaimed “I love bringing the best out of people and he’s more of a complete fighter now. He feints better and goes to the body, like an old school fighter. People were saying Amir was done after getting knocked out by Prescott, but in three fights he is world champion.

WBA World Heavyweight Champion David Haye

David Deron Haye born 13 October 1980 in Lambeth, London is an English professional boxer, and current WBA World Heavyweight Champion.
Before joining the heavyweight division, Haye was the unified and lineal cruiserweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO and The Ring magazine cruiserweight titles after notable victories over Jean-Marc Mormeck and Enzo Maccarinelli. Haye’s only professional loss to date was against Carl Thompson in 2004.
Haye won the WBA Heavyweight title with a majority decision over Nikolai Valuev in November 2009, before defending the title against John Ruiz and Audley Harrison in 2010. After beating Harrison, Haye was expected to attempt to become the Undisputed Champion of the heavyweight division by fighting the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, and his brother Vitali Klitschko, the WBC world heavyweight champion, although he also has a long standing stated intention to retire from boxing by his 31st birthday in 2011, irrespective of whether these fights occur or not.

Boxing: The Most Intense Cardio Fitness Exercise

Boxing is one of the most intense cardiovascular activities for any athlete. Getting in a boxing ring and moving for three minutes without risk while throwing punches and avoiding them is a taxing activity that can lead to exhaustion or injury if the boxer isn't in proper condition. In order to prepare, boxers must engage in significant cardio training exercises.
Road Work
Boxers prepare for their fights by working inside and outside the ring. One of the most traditional and effective ways of preparing for a fight is road work. Road work is running three to five miles per morning when a fighter is in full preparation before a fight. Usually, a fighter does his most intense training for the six weeks before his scheduled fight, and the road work is normally done early in the morning before other exercise. Running three to five miles per day five times per week helps the fighter box for up to 12 three-minute rounds.
Rope Jumping
This is another traditional boxing cardio exercise. It's excellent for building stamina, coordination and timing. Go to any boxing gym and you'll see boxers jumping rope for three to six minutes before taking a break. They skip rope at a very fast pace, usually with fast music playing in the background in order to help them keep time. Do this every day you go into the gym--usually five times per week--in order to get in top cardiovascular shape.
Heavy Bag Workout
This exercise helps a boxer develop superior punching power, along with providing a top-level cardiovascular workout. Punching a 70-lb. to 90-lb. heavy bag that's hanging from a platform provides a maximum cardiovascular workout. The act of throwing punches while you move constantly for three-minute rounds helps you get in top shape. Boxers hit the heavy bag for three minutes--the same length as a professional round--and then take a one-minute break. They go back at it until they have done at least five sessions. This builds stamina, strength and power.

3 Powerful Boxing Drills

Don't just pummel the bag. "A great boxer has to have focus, coordination, power, speed, and endurance," says Michael Olajide Jr., a former championship middleweight boxer. To help you hone your skills, we've tapped the country's top fighters to act as your cornermen. Hit these workouts to improve your staying power.
The Workouts
1. UFC Power Punches
Your coach: Frank Mir, Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight
Whether you're facing Wanderlei Silva in a cage match or a 75-pound bag in your basement, the same rules apply: "Once you're warmed up, you should be throwing each punch at full blast," says Mir, a former UFC heavyweight champ. He uses this demanding six-round routine to build mental and physical tenacity.
Grow your intensity:  Clock each round at 3 minutes, resting 1 minute between rounds. With each round, you'll add one punch to your sequence.
Punches per round:
1. Warmup. Strike the bag at 50 percent with a variety of punches
2. Up your power to full strength and launch jabs
3. Jab, throw a cross, and repeat
4. Jab, cross, hook, repeat
5. Jab, cross, hook, uppercut, repeat
6. Jab, cross, hook, uppercut, body punch, repeat
2.  LAPD Precision Punch
Your coach: Tim Collins, trainer, Los Angeles Police Dept. Arrest and Control
The perfect pop is built on posture and bone alignment, not fist strength. Use this routine to refine your form.
Set the stance:  Leading with your nondominant leg, position your feet shoulder-width apart, with the toe of your dominant foot in line with the heel of your nondominant foot. Your head extends over your shoulders, and your shoulders over your hips. Your knees are slightly bent.
Throw the blow:  Step forward with your lead foot and extend your nondominant arm so that your shoulder, elbow, wrist, and front two knuckles are in alignment. Your punch and your foot should land at the same time. Follow up with a cross, regaining with your rear foot the distance you took in your first step. Then come back to your original stance.
Connect the punches:  Repeat the sequence, shadowboxing for 3 minutes. Then do another 3-minute round of the same sequence, this time on a heavy bag. That's 1 set. Complete 3 sets, building speed each time. "When you master the strike, it should feel like you're snapping your target with a wet towel," says Collins. Rest 1 minute between each exercise.
3.  Middleweight Lightning Hands
Your coach: Michael Olajide Jr.
Shadowboxing allows you to rack up high reps without the resistance of a bag to slow your punches. "You'll tone your shoulders, back, and core, which will help you throw faster punches," Olajide says.
Hit on beat  Play five songs that have strong rhythms and last 3 to 4 minutes each. On every fourth beat (count out loud to keep yourself on track), unleash one of the punch combinations below, and then bring your hands back to your starting stance before the next beat. The shifting tempo of some tracks may require you to punch continuously until the song slows.
Combos for each song:
1. Left jab, left jab, right cross
2. Right cross, left jab, right uppercut
3. Left body punch, right body punch, left uppercut
4. Right uppercut, right cross, left hook
5. Right cross, left hook, right hook

The Kickboxing Training Techniques

Kickboxing became a mainstream sport in the late 1990s; it has since captured the interest of men and women throughout the world. Competitive kickboxers train almost every day of the week; some fitness enthusiasts practice every other day of the week. The average kickboxer trains twice per week, according to Martial Arts Incorporated.
Identification
Kickboxing is rooted in Western boxing and Muay Thai; they share a strong emphasis on intense, regular training. Consistent practice leads to improved health and mastery of the art. In addition to being a fighting system based on combat drills and sparring, kickboxing is also a cardiovascular workout that employs the hands, feet, knees and elbows, says Tony Ordas in "Kickboxing Fitness."
Training Schedule
An average kickboxing training schedule consisting of two sessions per week will lead to fitness benefits, including improved cardio-respitory health, toned muscles and weight loss. Aim for three sessions per week for greater results. Perform an alternative form of exercise on other days, especially if you wish to engage in kickboxing only once per week.
Duration of Training Sessions
According to a 1997 study by Bellinger, et al., a 60-minute intensive kickboxing training session is the approximate equivalent of 60 minutes of running on a treadmill at 5.6 miles per hour. The researchers established this time to be effective at improving and maintaining cardiovascular fitness. Additional benefits include increased flexibility and strength, as well as enhanced coordination and quicker reflexes. Moreover, in a study conducted by researchers from the University of Mississippi, tests concluded that the average kickboxer burns between 350 and 450 calories per hour of high-intensity kickboxing. Therefore, when practiced in conjunction with a balanced diet, training for one hour at least twice per week may also be highly beneficial for weight loss.
Kickboxing Class Structure
Competitive kickboxers often dedicate each session to a specific type of workout. Endurance, strength and technique training exercises are often performed. The average kickboxer that trains twice per week usually combines all three workouts into each training session. A typical kickboxing workout begins with warm-up exercises, such as air attack moves or skipping drills. Boxing, kicking, blocking and moving techniques are then practiced. Practitioners pair up and spar against each other. The session ends with strength training and stretching sequences.
Warning
As with any training program, it is crucial that you increase the frequency and intensity of your kickboxing workouts gradually, as over-training may lead to injury. Begin by training twice per week; add more days to the schedule as your fitness level increases. Always wear boxing gloves, shin and elbow pads, and a gum-guard when sparring; protect your hands with wraps or gloves when striking heavy bags.

Learning Kickboxing Styles

The term “kickboxing” is something of a misnomer these days since there are many popular combat sports that allow one fighter to kick another. Comparing American-style kickboxing, muay thai kickboxing and the uber-popular mixed martial arts is similar to comparing an apple, banana and orange--they’re all fruit, but they aren’t the same thing.
American Kickboxing
This style of competitive fighting is essentially boxing that allows you to kick your opponent. Major American kickboxing matches are sanctioned by governing bodies such as the International Kickboxing Federation, and they often require a pre-determined number of powerful kicks to be thrown per round. This style of fighting allows a competitor to knock his opponent down by sweeping his leg from under his, and allows for standing eight counts and the three-knockdown rule familiar to boxing fans. Throwing elbows or attacking your opponent with your knees is not allowed in American-style kickboxing.
Muay Thai
This style of kickboxing originated in Thailand and is generally considered one of the most brutal forms of competitive fighting since it allows competitors to strike each other with punches, kicks, knees and elbows. In Muay Thai, fighters are expected to use proper technique, but they are not allowed to grapple with their opponent. Other techniques not permitted in a Muay Thai match, and all other styles of kickboxing as well, include gouging an opponent’s eyes or biting. Fighters can win by points or by knockout.
Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts, or MMA, matches allow fighters to combine boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, judo and traditional wrestling techniques. This extremely popular sport begins with both fighters on their feet but rarely ends that way. Grappling techniques, throws, punches, kicks, joint locks and submission holds are all routine in this style of fighting. Fighters can win by submission if their opponent taps out, by decision, by knockout or by doctor stoppage. Attacks to the groin, head butting and other similar techniques are not allowed in MMA bouts.

The Best Selection of Women Boxing Shoes

To "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," like Laila Ali -- former women's Super Middleweight Boxing Champion and daughter of The Champ -- you need shoes that provide safety and style with superior shock absorbency. The beginning boxer can learn on a pair of athletic cross-trainer sneakers, but once you make the commitment to the sport, it's time to invest in a pair of professional women's boxing shoes. You can evaluate different shoes by comparing features, such as cushion, cooling and comfort.
Step 1
Lace up the shoes to ensure the laces tighten easily and stay tied, and out of sight when you move. Test the action on the fabric fastener over the laces, if applicable.
Step 2
Test the rubber tread on the bottom of the sole to ensure good traction on a sweat-soaked floor.
Step 3
Look for breathable-mesh fabric that will help aerate your feet.
Step 4
Feel the cushioning of the sole to ensure it is thick enough to absorb your bouncing impact, especially when training with a jump rope. Feel the cushion of the tongue for comfort.
Step 5
Bounce around in the shoes. The shoes should be lightweight, yet form-fitting to your feet, with side-to-side and ankle support.
Step 6
Compare the comfort of different leathers -- real, split suede leather or synthetic.
Step 7
Try on low-top and high-top shoes to feel which type feels more comfortable and secure. Measure the height of the shoe to ensure it meets your boxing organization's requirements for competitive matches.