CASE REPORT article
Front. Sports Act. Living
Sec. Elite Sports and Performance Enhancement
Volume 7 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1606856
This article is part of the Research TopicComprehensive Boxer Profile: Performance, Training, and Health in BoxingView all articles
Anthropometric Profile and Body Mass Management of a World Boxing Organization Featherweight Champion: A Case Study
Provisionally accepted- 1Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Andrés Bello University, Santiago, Chile
- 2Subdirectorate of Teaching and Research, Institute of Sports Medicine (IMD), Havana, Cuba, Havana, Cuba
- 3Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Tonalá 45425, Mexico., Guadalajara, Mexico
- 4Research Division, Dynamical Business & Science Society – DBSS International SAS, Bogotá, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- 5Universidad Viña del Mar, Faculty Education, Sports Coach Career, Master’s Program in Sports Training Evaluation and Planning, Viña del Mar, Chile., Viña del Mar, V Valparaíso Region, Chile
- 6Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Curicó, Chile, Curicó, Chile
- 7One Health Research Group, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
- 8Nutritional Assessment and Nutritional Care Laboratory (LECEN), Division of Health Sciences, Tonal University Center, University of Guadalajara, Tonalá, México., Guadalajara, Mexico
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This case study aims to examine the anthropometric profile and body composition management of a Mexican featherweight world champion during key preparatory periods leading up to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title fight. Special emphasis is placed on the strategic role of nutritional periodization in achieving optimal body composition while preserving performance capacity in a body mass-restricted, high-performance setting. Methods: Anthropometric evaluations and octopolar bioelectrical impedance (BIA) measurements were conducted to assess body composition. The Heath and Carter somatotypes were calculated, complemented by proportionality analysis via the Phantom model of Ross and Wilson. Energy availability (EA) was estimated on the basis of fat-free mass (FFM) obtained via BIA, energy intake was recorded with the ASA24® Dietary Assessment Tool, and exercise energy expenditure was estimated through heart rate monitoring via the Hilloskorpi method. Results: The boxer presented low body fat levels (7.0% by BIA, sum of eight skinfolds = 45.0 mm) and high muscle mass percentages (53.1% by BIA and 46.6% by anthropometry). His somatotype was mesomorphic ectomorphic (1.5-2.8-5.2), with favorable body proportions, including a high relative span and ponderal index, alongside low cormic and adipose/muscular indices. Through nutritional periodization, a total body mass reduction of 6.85 kg was observed, including an acute loss of 5.35 kg (8.56%) during the final 10 days. Energy availability ranged from 35.7 kcal/kg FFM/d at the start of the preparation to 8.8 kcal/kg FFM/d in the final week before the fight. Conclusion: This case study highlights the relevance of regular monitoring of body composition through anthropometry and BIA assessment, combined with nutritional periodization, in supporting athlete preparation. Although very low energy availability was estimated during the final weeks, which should be carefully considered, the findings offer practical insights for body mass management strategies in elite boxing.
Keywords: Boxing, combat sports, Anthropometry, Body Composition, Somatotypes, sports nutritional sciences
Received: 06 Apr 2025; Accepted: 01 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Carvajal Veitia, Aarón Quiroga-Morales, Bonilla, Cortés-Roco, Aguilera-Martínez, López-Gil and Herrera-Amante. 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: José Francisco López-Gil, One Health Research Group, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
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