Exercise Scientist Rubbishes Floyd Mayweather’s Insane 1308 Pushups a Day Claim, Strictly Advises Against It

Mar 6, 2024 | 1:45 PM EST

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Renowned exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel has cast doubt on boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s jaw-dropping assertion that he does a staggering 1308 push-ups per day. Israetel reviewed a video in which Mayweather casually tossed around numbers like 141 and 436 and eventually moved on to the mind-boggling 1308 push-ups.

Israetel, unimpressed by Mayweather’s claims, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such high numbers, especially considering the stringent standards for proper push-up form.

In the YouTube video shared by the Renaissance Periodization, he emphasized, “I haven’t seen too many very fit, very jacked people actually get there and do the real push-ups with eccentric control, with a touch of the chest at the bottom, and with a full lockout at the top.”

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Israetel advised against such extreme numbers, stating, “1308 push-ups per day; don’t do that. That’s probably just really unkind to your joints. I would say do less pushing up if you want to be the best boxer you can be.”

Israetel offered a more reasonable approach for aspiring boxers, recommending a focus on weightlifting in the 5 to 10-repetition range, emphasizing close-grip incline and flat presses. He suggested incorporating ballistic movements to mimic the throwing motion of a punch, promoting both strength and skill development.

Regarding the broader topic of using push-ups for muscular endurance, Israetel acknowledged their effectiveness but urged individuals to prioritize boxing-specific training for endurance related to punching and defensive maneuvers.

Focus on core sports instead of attempting 13 trillion push-ups, says Dr. Mike Israetel

He emphasized that fundamental strength is essential, but technical and tactical abilities acquired through boxing drills are paramount for success in the sport. Israetel’s statement is quite clear: “I’m just telling you guys to train your sport more and do less lifting. The lifting should be good; it should be hard, but we just don’t need to be doing 13 trillion push-ups in most cases.”

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While critiquing Mayweather’s training regimen, Israetel addressed the hype around the boxer’s unique pull-up routine, showcasing a video where Mayweather performed a pull-up with slow, concentric, and eccentric movements.

Israetel dismissed it as a simple trick appealing to a specific demographic, highlighting the disparity between the perceived difficulty and the actual physical challenge. Dr. Mike Israetel’s expert analysis serves as a reality check, urging aspiring boxers to focus on a balanced training regimen and caution against extravagant claims that may not align with practical fitness principles.

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