In a big interview with NBA.com, Rasheed Wallace talks about not only his love for boxing... but his desire to get into it for the health benefits.
NBA.com: But I've heard that you have gotten into the ring with Bernard Hopkins as a sparring partner from time to time. True?
RW: I've just gone a couple times to see him spar. But this upcoming summer, I'm going to start working out with him. Try to get my old body into some kind of shape.
NBA.com: Manny Pacquiao is a huge basketball fan; he loves to play the sport and even owns a team back home in the Philippines [PacMan Gensan in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association]. He strained a knee ligament, in fact, while playing sometime after his Ricky Hatton fight last spring. That had his trainer [Alex Ariza] wishing Pacquiao would stick to the ring rather than the court. Do you see much crossover in terms of training or workouts?
RW: Actually, I think boxing is a harder workout. There are so many key things you have to work on. You have to work on your body because you're taking so much physical punishment. You have to work on your neck, all your individual muscles. So I would say that boxing workouts are a little bit harder.
When asked how he became such a big boxing fan... he answered "C'mon man.. I'm from Philly."
Boxing is a great workout. You need a ton of endurance to make it through a fight. I think when you're Sheed's age, mixing it up and training your body a little differently is good.
By the way... we're going to do a live chat for tonight's C's-Jazz game. Join us at 7:15 for a little pregame banter before we rock it for the return of Celtics basketball after a few nights off.
Thanks Alan, for the Sheed link
