Going the distance: Boxing Pa.’s most popular workout
Photos: Paul Paterra
Jeff Morganti, left, boxing trainer and coach at the Brownson House in Washington, is in a sparring pose with Matt Conway of Washington, International Boxing Association lightweight champion.
Paul Paterra
Among those who are testaments to the quality of a boxing workout are Teague Neelen, left, and Miguel Franciscon, who train at the Brownson House.
Photos: Paul Paterra
Teague Neelen works the speed bag.
Paul Paterra
George Galis, owner of G Force Athletic Club, poses for a picture with Kayden Irwin, left, and Cole Konek.
Paul Paterra
Jacie Lipari works at the speed bag at the G Force Athletic Club in Charleroi in this 2022 photo.
Pennsylvanians looking to punch up their physical fitness routines are getting hooked on one activity, according to a recent survey.
鈥淏oxing, if it鈥檚 done right, is probably the most cardiovascular, most insane, physically demanding sport of all time,鈥� said Jeff Morganti, who coaches and trains about 15 boxers at Brownson House in Washington. 鈥淭he physicality of boxing is so important because you have to survive three minutes at a time.鈥�
A survey conducted by online fitness resource Total Shape found that boxing is not only Pennsylvania鈥檚 most popular workout, but also takes the top spot in 42 other states. To determine which fitness regimes took top honors across the U.S., Total Shape analyzed the number of average monthly Google searches for workouts by state. Throughout the country, boxing checked in with an average monthly search volume of 402,077. Following boxing in the study were pilates, dance, yoga and high intensity interval training.
George Galis, who runs the G Force Athletic in Charleroi, said boxing is about far more than just having strong arms to throw a solid punch.
鈥淚t works the whole body,鈥� Galis said. 鈥淚f you train like a boxer, you work your core, your legs, your arms 鈥� everything.鈥�
Getting in the ring also torches a lot of calories.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen kids, 14-15 years old, who have been a little overweight. They don鈥檛 really change their diet, but after they train a month or so, you can see the difference in their bodies,鈥� noted Galis, who鈥檚 been boxing for more than 50 years.
Teague Neelen is a 14-year old who boxes at the Brownson House, and agreed that boxing is, indeed, a big calorie burner.
鈥淓verything you do involves every muscle,鈥� he said.
Matt Conway of Washington, the lightweight champion of the International Boxing Association, also concurred.
鈥淥n a good night, we鈥檒l burn off 1,500 to 2,000 calories easy in two hours. I wish more people would do it,鈥� he said.
Charles Thin Elk Johnston of Fairchance, a boxer since 1965, trains kids in the sport, and said its benefits extend beyond physical fitness.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just self-defense, it builds your stamina, your self-confidence,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t covers all the bases. A lot of kids don鈥檛 have self-confidence, but it builds their self-esteem after they learn to throw their hands and take care of themselves. The training and the conditioning makes them feel better about themselves because they can do things they couldn鈥檛 do before they started boxing.鈥�
Tommy Shaffer, of Uniontown, runs The Shaffer鈥檚 Boys Club, which is a place for kids to participate in a number of activities, including boxing.
鈥淵ou learn how to defend yourself if anyone tries to bully you or start a fight with you,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t teaches you sportsmanship, and it will teach you that you鈥檙e on stage, you cannot hide. You鈥檙e either ready or you鈥檙e not. It鈥檚 really hard to go those rounds. Boxing teaches you discipline. It teaches you not to be a quitter.鈥�
While it might be a challenging sport to get into, Conway said boxing 鈥済ives you something to strive for.鈥�
鈥淚t teaches you to reach for goals,鈥� he said.
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