Anthony Joshua revealed that he abstains from sex during training camps, explaining the effect it has during and after a fight. AJ is set to face fellow Brit Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title as he vies to return to the top of the heavyweight scene.
Joshua’s training camps would no doubt have been thoroughly and meticulously planned down to the finest details to avoid any upset against a dangerous Dubois. But one part of his and other boxers’ preparations has been heavily debated.
While some boxers don’t buy into the science or even psychology behind the ploy, others, including Joshua, are known to have abstained from sexual activity during training camps and building up to a fight.
Joshua has been open about abstaining and was talking to Fight Hub TV, where he was asked about his crotch-thrusting celebration after knocking out Robert Helenius in August last year, his second fight and victory since losing the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.
AJ was asked whether the celebration was out of anger towards his critics, but he gave a direct answer to his outburst. “When you’re in training camp you haven’t had sex for a while… testosterone is on a high and stuff, it’s just emotion,” Joshua said while laughing.
Joshua previously discussed with James Cordon on the Late Late Show the reason why he abstains. “It’s all testosterone levels, you know what, there’s no facts on it, it’s just one those old school myths that haven’t left boxing for so many years.
“It’s the weakening of the leg I think as much as the late nights,” he added. “I’m not doing yoga, I’m not doing no stretching. I need to stay flexible. I’m stiff as a board.”
AJ also admitted that his vigorous training camps mean if he wanted to, his isolation during preparations occasionally forced the decision upon him. “It’s not even because I want to, it’s because I’m on lockdown for training,” he said.
The main benefit boxers hope to achieve from abstaining is a higher level of testosterone, which in turn, is known to increase muscle mass, increase energy and help to control weight. However, the effects that abstaining can have on testosterone are yet to be proven.
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An article by Stefan Lovgren for National Geographic News saw two doctors – Ian Shrier, a sports medicine specialist, and Emmanuel A. Jannini, a professor of endocrinology, agree there is no actual proof that sex before an athletic event has any diminishing effect on an athlete physically.
Former heavyweight world champion David Haye, previously said that he twice abstained over a six-week period before fights against Enzo Maccarinelli and Nikolai Valuev, which he won, beating the latter to claim the WBA heavyweight title.
He told the Daily Star his reason for abstaining was merely psychological: “I had a six-week no ejaculation rule. It was something I’ve always stuck with. In the ring it’s all mind games, it’s all looking at the psychological advantage.
“So when you’re standing across the ring you know you’ve sacrificed something, you’ve given yourself the best opportunity. Even if it doesn’t scientifically make a difference, mentally it does, psychologically it gives a fighter or any sportsman an edge.
“I’ve made the ultimate sacrifice, I’ve trained super-hard, I’ve eaten clean, and I haven’t been ejaculating before this, I’ve turned up with a full load, and I’m going to win this fight,” Haye added.
