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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Physiol.

Sec. Exercise Physiology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1701045

This article is part of the Research TopicTraining Load in Sport: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives - Volume IIView all 9 articles

The effect of velocity-based resistance training (VBT) on lower-limb strength performance in male collegiate boxers: a randomized controlled trial

Provisionally accepted
  • 1Shanghai Sports School, Shanghai, China
  • 2Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
  • 3Universidad Catolica de la Santisima Concepcion, Concepción, Chile
  • 4Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Background: Boxing performance heavily relies on lower-limb strength and power. Velocity-based resistance training (VBT), which adjusts load and repetition volume using real-time velocity feedback, may provide a more individualized and effective approach compared to traditional percentage-based training (PBT). However, its long-term effect on boxing-specific performance outcomes remains underexplored. Methods: Twenty-eight male collegiate boxers were randomly assigned to a VBT group (n = 14) or a PBT group (n = 14) for an 8-week training program. Both groups performed four sets of each exercise (back squat, Bulgarian split-squat, and deadlift) at 70% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). The VBT group performed a flexible number of repetitions until their velocity dropped below a 10% threshold, whereas the PBT group consistently performed sets of 5 repetition. Pre-and post-intervention assessments included 1RM strength, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, standing long jump (SLJ) distance, and 30m sprint run time. Results: All dependent variables demonstrated significant main effects of "time" (p < 0.001; averaged Hedges' g = 0.44 for VBT group and 0.23 for PBT group). Notably, significant "time" × "group" interactions were observed for the CMJ, SLJ, and 30m sprint run (p ≤ 0.038), whereas no significant interactions were found for 1RM strength measures across exercises (p ≥ 0.163). Furthermore, when comparing the magnitude of changes between groups, the VBT group exhibited small effect size improvements in CMJ height (Hedges' g = 0.41), SLJ distance (Hedges' g = 0.56), and 30m sprint time (Hedges' g = 0.51). In contrast, all other variables only showed trivial (Hedges' g < 0.20) differences between groups. Conclusion: Both training programs led to comparable improvements in maximal strength (1RM) across exercises. However, VBT was more effective than PBT in enhancing performance in high-velocity tasks such as vertical and horizontal jumps and sprinting. These findings support the use of VBT to optimize neuromuscular adaptations relevant to explosive actions in male collegiate boxers.

Keywords: combat sports, strength training, velocity-based resistance training, velocity threshold, lower-limb strength performance

Received: 08 Sep 2025; Accepted: 22 Sep 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Han, Xie, Zhang and García Ramos. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence:
Yiqing Xie, y.xie4-23@student.lboro.ac.uk
Amador García Ramos, amagr@ugr.es

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