Constant movement, speed, explosiveness, power and resistance: boxing is one of the most complex sports on a technical but above all athletic level, with a prolonged high-intensity effort involving practically all muscle chains. Adequate preparation is therefore essential, especially at professional levels, and this is confirmed one of the main interpreters in Italy and in Europe or Matteo "the Jaguar" Signani: Romagna boxer, 39, was Italian Middleweight Champion, category in which he also obtained a title of European Union Champion, of WBA Intercontinental Champion need IBF Latin Champion, and is currently number 3 in Europe. In all of this, as well as Signani's grit and ability, a role was also played from functional training, which is an integral part of his athletic training together with coach Giorgio Campanella.
Matteo, how important is functional training and athletic preparation in a sport like boxing?
“Boxing is one of the toughest sports out there, and for this reason athletic and functional sessions are certainly essential for acquiring power, speed and resistance to then be converted into technical training. Personally, at the end of functional work I feel much stronger on a physical level and this, together with an athletic preparation focused on acquiring 'breath', is fundamental in the phase of approaching a match”.
What kind of exercises do you mainly do for your athletic training?
“The exercises vary a lot depending on the phase of approaching the match. In addition to bench presses and gym sessions with various machines, I perform many circuits with functional tools, among which the most used are the rocker, the dumbbells, the kettlebell, ropes and cords but also medicine balls, elastic and playbox. Obviously the closer you get to the match, the more you switch to technical training for boxing, therefore using punching bags of various types and ropes to jump”.
How are trainings structured before a match?
“It's like entering another world: two or even three sessions a day, for a total of 9-12 workouts a week. I usually start with high intensity cardio and pure strength workouts, with heavy loads and very long duration workouts, in order to build up as much breath and strength as possible. One month after the match, however, all the load is transformed into speed and explosiveness, with short workouts and light loads to support all the technical-tactical work for boxing in the ring with the coach and sparring partners. Recovery after a meeting? As a good Romagnolo, I go to my mum's house for a refill based on cappelletti and piadina with ham!”.
What prompted you to become a boxer and what are your next goals?
“Since I was a child I played sports such as swimming and soccer, but I wasn't very good at it: the only time they made me take a penalty, I even missed it! Then I was always grounded because I was very "lively": I always got into fights with a neighbor of mine, so much so that one day the father of this child told me that if I wanted to punch I would have to go boxing , and so I did. At the age of 14 I showed up, small and skinny, at the gym and told the coach that I wanted to become World Champion, and he started training me. From that day on I went to the gym every day with the desire to learn, work hard and win and, after 135 amateur fights, in 2007 I turned professional. Now, after so many satisfactions, I'm aiming for the title of European Champion, the boxing Champions League, for which I already fought in 2016 in Rome, and I could have another chance in spring 2019".
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