A hi-tech video capture system that is helping Britain’s hopes for boxing glory in 2012 has won a major award for its work with GB Boxing athletes.
The iBoxer system, developed by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER) in conjunction with the English Institute of Sport (EIS), won the Best New Sports Technology category in the MBNA Northern Sports Awards.
The system uses a series of cameras to monitor boxers’ movement in the ring, which is fed directly to a series of touchscreen monitors in the gym. The athletes then go over the footage between bouts in order to analyse and improve performance, define fight strategy and gain a better understanding of their opponents’ tactics.
Professor Steve Haake is director of CSER, which is a UK Sport innovation partner. He said: “Once the athlete has completed a three-minute sparring round or training session they can come out of the ring and get immediate video feedback on the aspects important to the session.
“The iBoxer system also stores the judges’ scores and videos for thousands of bouts, which can easily be searched using a laptop or touchscreen PC.”
As part of its sport science back-up team, provided by the EIS, GB Boxing has a full time performance analyst, Robert Gibson. He has trialled the system with the Olympic squad, based at EIS Sheffield.
Robert said: “Some of the things we’re looking at are to do with points scoring dynamics. Where are points scored during a bout? What are the current gold medallists doing? What are we doing compared to them? Then we look at punch efficiency. How many punches were thrown per point? And if a point isn’t scored why not?”
The system is unique in world boxing and has been well received by the Team GB boxers, who have been using performance analysis for some time to help inform strategy and tactics at major championships.
GB Boxing performance director, Rob McCracken, said: “Performance analysis is an important part of our boxer’s preparations. It provides us with insight on their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses and, by providing them with this knowledge, it builds confidence.
“The iBoxer system has supplemented our work in this area and enhanced the quality of our performance analysis.”
Dr Scott Drawer, head of research and innovation at UK Sport, said: “Our work sets out to help our athletes and their coaches learn faster than their international opposition, and this is a great example of where increasing knowledge and understanding of the sport can give our athletes a real performance edge.
“I’d like to thank our innovation partners at Sheffield Hallam University for making this possible and congratulate them on this well deserved award.”
Jofre & Glen Johnson supporting Oliveira Sat night in Brazil
SAO PAULO, Brazil (July 13, 2011) – Undefeated prospect Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira will have some heavy hitters supporting him Saturday night – Hall of Famer Eder “Golden Bantam” Jofre and former world light heavyweight champion Glen “Road Warrior” Johnson – when he enters the ring against Dominican veteran Jose “Minguito” Soto, headlining the “Sao Paulo Fight Night” pro-am boxing card, presented by MO Productions, at Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The 21-year-old Oliveira (14-0, 11 KOs), now rated No. 18 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”), takes on Soto (24-7-2, 13 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBC Latino middleweight championship.
“Sao Paulo Fight Night” will air live on TV Globo Network, SporTV cable, GloboEsporte and TV Globo International, as well as TYC Sports in Argentina, and streaming for free outside of Brazil and Argentina for free on www.BoxingChannel.tv.
Oliveira, the two-time defending Brazilian International Press Award’s Athlete of the Year (2009 and 2010), was born in Sao Paulo but he moved two weeks after birth with his family to Miami. He will be fighting for the third time in Brazil as part of a six-fight, two-year deal with TV Global.
Jofre (72-2-4, 50 KOs) is a four-time, two-division world champion who is considered the greatest Brazilian boxer of all-time and arguably the best bantamweight ever. He has supported Oliveira and MO Productions in their quest to popularize boxing once again in Brazil. Oliveira and Johnson train in the same Miami gym and have become friends.
“I’m honored to have Mr. Jofre supporting me at my fight once again,” Michael said. “He is a living legend, not only in Brazil, but in the entire boxing world. I was privileged to walk the great Glen Johnson into the ring for his last fight. I’ve learned a lot from him, in and out of the ring, and I’m very happy that he is here in Brazil for my fight.”
Brazil’s last superstar boxer, four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas, made his third World Boxing Organization super featherweight title defense in Credicard Hall, one of the largest show arenas in South America, when he knocked out challenger Javier Jauregui in 2000.
Several amateur matches featuring some of Brazils top Olympic boxers will be part of the “Sao Paulo Fight Night” card, in addition to one other pro fight between Sao Paulo light middleweights – Jailton “Dragao Branco” De Jesus Souza (12-2, 10 KOs) and Douglas Ataibe (1-0, 1 KO) in a six-round bout.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ARE FREE.
Doors open at 6:30 PM/GMT (5:30 PM/ET), first bout at 7:30 PM/GMT (6:30 PM/ET). Go on line to www.MichaelOliveria.com for additional information.
JUAN MERCEDES HEADLINES 5TH EDITION OF A PUÑO LIMPIO NEXT AUGUST 5 IN GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO
#8 World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight ranked, Juan Mercedes, will headline 5th edition of the successful series “A Puño Limpio” to be held at the Coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on Friday, August 5, in a PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) presentation in association with Top Ran Inc. to be televised on WAPA America.
Mercedes (25-3, 17 KOs), a Dominican who lives in Puerto Rico, will defend his 115lbs WBO Latino title in a 10 round bout against a foe to be announced soon. Mercedes won this belt on April 1st when he beat David Quijano in an exciting fight held in Caguas, Puerto Rico in the first edition of “A Puño Limpio”.
In the coestelar bout, unbeaten prospect Luis Joel González (7-0-1, 4 KOs), from Bayamón, will fight for the fourth time this year when he climb into the ring in the lightweight division six round fight against a rival to be announced.
In an interesting fight, Antonio Sánchez (3-1, 3 KOs) and Carlos López (3-1) will face at 140 pounds and to six rounds.
Other five bouts will complete the card.
Tickets for this “A Puño Limpio” are availables at Ticketcenter, www.tcpr.com, 1 787 792-5000. Prices are $12, $25 and $35.