Technical–tactical and pacing profiles in European and Pan-American Pre-Olympic boxing qualification tournaments: influence of sex, weight category, and round dynamics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v82.119055Keywords:
Martial Arts, Sports Performance, Olympic games, Combat SportsAbstract
Objective: This study compared the technical–tactical profiles of male and female boxers competing in the European (2021) and Pan-American (2023) Pre-Olympic qualification tournaments, examining differences according to continent, bout outcome, grouped weight categories, and round dynamics.
Methods: A total of 138 bouts (414 rounds; 77 men's and 61 women's) were analyzed using a validated time–motion protocol (Frami®).
Results: Pan-American boxers of both sexes displayed significantly greater offensive and defensive activity than their European counterparts (all p ≤ 0.001), whereas European men spent more time in clinch situations (p = 0.012). Winning male boxers exhibited greater attacking activity than losing athletes (p = 0.034). Analyses by grouped weight categories revealed continent-specific competitive patterns, with Pan-American middle- and heavyweight boxers demonstrating higher offensive and defensive outputs, while European heavyweights engaged in longer clinch durations (p ≤ 0.05). Across rounds, athletes adjusted their pacing strategy, characterized by reduced attacking activity and increased pause and clinch durations in the final round (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: Technical–tactical performance varied according to continent, sex, weight category, bout outcome, and round progression, highlighting distinct competitive profiles in Olympic qualification events. These findings provide practical evidence to support the development of sex- and weight-specific conditioning and tactical strategies for high-level boxing.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mateus Henrique dos Santos, Naiara Ribeiro Almeida, José Raimundo Fernandes, Aparecido Pimentel Ferreira, Einstein Francisco Camargos, Otávio de Toledo Nóbrega, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz, Ciro José Brito
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