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Performance Edge Chiropractic

Pietro Baio


Last Updated: 1/25/2010

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Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 32
Sign: Cancer

City: BROOKLYN
State: New York
Country: US
Signup Date: 12/29/2007

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Sunday, January 10, 2010 
BY: Dr.Pietro BaioFirst, let me begin by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. 2010 looks like its shaping up to be another great year for boxing. With that in mind, I think we all would like to get into shape ourselves.  One of our most common New Years’ resolutions is usually fitness oriented. Whether you’re an athlete or Joe couch potato we usually look at the new year to either lose some unwanted weight, gain some well deserved muscle mass or just live healthier. It’s never easy and I can say most of us who do start a new program may find themselves bored or wandering off the path with in a few weeks. I’d like to give everyone a few tips to stay on the path and find that “Eye of the tiger.” It’s usually nice to start off with a goal. Some people (like myself) need a reason to lose the weight or get in shape, especially with the cold weather around. In the long term of weight loss think of a special occasion, an event like a wedding, summer vacation or that summer basketball league, or a white collar boxing event. You may even want to take your last physical evaluation into account. Another goal might be to lower your blood sugar or blood pressure. It usually helps to write your goals down in a journal both long term goals and weekly goals. Usually a weight loss goal of 1-2 pounds per week is reasonable. You might even consider adding a few minutes a week to your cardio program. Remember to keep both long and short term goals reasonable and achievable.
 
 Next, you want to choose an activity you enjoy. If it’s not fun you’re not going to stick with it. Pick a sport you enjoy and ease yourself back into it. Say you choose boxing, you’re not going to head straight into sparring you should start off with shadow boxing. “24 Hour Fitness” has a great aerobic shadow boxing class to get you started. If basketballs’ your choice, break the game down before you start playing a full court game with your friends. Some free throws to get you in the rhythm. Follow that up with some sprints. Like I said ease into it.
 
 What also is important is having a gym buddy. With people who have busy schedules this may not always be possible, but having someone to workout with and make a game out of fitness it helps in the sticking to it. It may be good to go out and try a few gyms. Check out their aerobic classes. You might find some friendly people that go to the gym at the same time and may become your gym buddy.
 Every good fitness/weight loss program is going to require some diet/ life style modification. Two of my favorite sayings have always been “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got.” and “You are what you eat.” The body is a well engineered machine, treat it like such. If you have a Ferrari and fill it up with low grade full it will not perform like a Ferrari. The truth is changing ones diet is easier said then done. Too often people try to change everything all at once. This is difficult for many and will lead you to give up before you start. My philosophy is slow and steady wins the race. Try changing one food item a week. It is very easy to cut out unnecessary calories by doing this. Try replacing soda with seltzer, plain water or green tea with lemon and/or honey. You can try limiting your amount of potato chips, using lightly buttered popcorn or low salt pretzels. Substitute vegetables, fruits and nuts for snacks instead of the old coffee cake, ice-cream, and donuts. Open your eyes to new experiences and try something new every time you go out to dinner or go to the grocery store. You may find a fruit or vegetable that doesn’t usually whet your appetite. Remember don’t be afraid to try something new in your goal to lose weight this year.
 
I hope these few tips can help you on your way to a better you in 2010.
Boxing News www.diamondboxing.comDr.Pietro Baio
Performance Edge Chiropractic
7315 Ave U
Brooklyn, NY 11234
(917)-309-5453
www.PEChiro.com

Wednesday, January 06, 2010 
That Gut Feeling
 
I know this is a boxing site and not an MMA site; both can have similar injuries.  I’m referring to Brock Lesnar and the diverticulitis he has been diagnosed and treated for .Extreme stress during training camp for either athlete can bring about a lot of the same illnesses.. Diverticulitis as well as celiac diseaseulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease are just a few of the stomach illnesses that can happen to an athlete during training. Stresses of daily life as well as training, diet, and environment can all lead to the presence of these draining illnesses. Any of these can turn a hulking mass of muscle like Lesner into a sick, shriveled up shell of a man. If not properly diagnosed and treated such illness will lead to extreme loss of muscle mass and strength.. 

Diverticulitis is an out bulging of the gut wall. Diet usually has a big part to play in this. Low fiber diets, such as those high in protein, fat and sugars lead to a build up of waste in the gut. Over time the body needs to find a way to release some of this pressure and weak sports form. These weak spots leave an area where the body cannot move waste properly. Depending on the type of food that gets stuck in these pouches, irritation and inflammation  can occur. This will lead to infection and possibly surgery similar to what Lesnar had done. The elimination of the infected area will prevent  rupturing which can lead to possible death. 

Celiac disease is another disease of the gut. This one is due to a Gluten intolerance. Gluten is found in most wheat products such as bread and pasta. In most cases it is passed on through genes from parent to child. It may be dormant till a stress like a virus or bacterial infection triggers it. It leads to a suppressed immune system which affects the gut in a way that absorbing nutrients becomes difficult. The lack of nutrient absorption can lead to a number of other illness as well as muscle wasting and bone degeneration. 

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease can be categorized as Irritable Bowl Syndrome. Once again studies show this gut disease can be genetically related. So if someone else in the family has it, you stand a good chance at having it too. Both these diseases are an inflammation of the digestive system. They can come and go. They may also be worse or better depending on the time of day. The inflammation over time leads to ulcers, or pitting in the gut. In time, the pitting leads to scaring and maybe even a rupture in the gut lining  which can lead to a spread of bacteria to other organs.

All of these stomach injuries can be treated and some even cured if diagnosed in time. As athletes we need to know our bodies. Whether something you ate just doesn’t settle right with you or seem to be losing weight that you don’t intend to lose; listen to your gut feeling. It may make the difference in competing or just sitting the on side lines


Monday, November 30, 2009 
A Different Kind Of Loaded Glove
 

Lately, it seems if you are a boxer or MMA fighter at the top of your game, you can't seem to get away from the chatter. He is too strong, too fast, and he is also ripped.  He must be on something. 

People these days seem to be throwing around the words steroids and growth hormones entirely too much. In my last article, I spoke about blood doping and EPO. 

In this article, I decided to write on a topic that comes up frequently, the definition of steroids, growth hormone, and testosterone. I should also talk about the illegal ways of taking performance enhancing drugs, the various testing methods given by the sanctioning bodies and the natural ways one maximizes what God has given.

Steroids are hormones produced in the body. They travel in the blood stream attached to protein and enter individual cells, thanks to the fact that they are a fat, helps to improve the reproduction of protein and muscle growth. Synthetic steroids were originally developed to help to maintain muscle mass, and prevent muscle wasting in diseases, such as cancer and HIV. It wasn't until the body building era of the 60's and 70's, that steroids became popular. At that time, athletes were looking to pack on muscle and gain a better performance edge. In 1990 steroids were banned for possession and/or sale for anything other than medical use. There are various steroids, as well as various methods in which to take them (pills, injections, skin patches, etc.) You will still see athletes using steroids today in order to maximize muscle growth and strength. 

  The structure of steroids is fairly easy to test by using urine samples. In the long run, the athlete needs to keep in mind the drawbacks of steroid use. Use of steroid effects are: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and the possible decrease of HDL, (good cholesterol), causing the weakening of bone ligaments and tendons. The tendons take longer to adapt to physical stress than muscle, so they become the weak link in the chain. It has also been said that steroids can lead to mood swings, as well as a decrease in natural testosterone and sexual dysfunction.
 
 Growth hormones are produced in the body by the pituitary gland located on the under portion of the brain. It is usually released in pulses based on the daily stress and diet of an individual. Human growth hormones were originally prescribed to aid in the growth of children and adults with height deficiencies. With a natural deficiency for growth, these hormones were first processed from the pituitary glands of dead animals, later came a process using bacterial growth.
In theory, the effects of taking such a drug would be to increase muscle size and strength, insulin/glucose absorption which help the carbohydrates create the necessary energy, as well as bone growth. Side effects may include abnormal growth of body organs, such as the heart and liver, hardening of the arteries, and even nerve entrapment (pinched nerves.) Unlike steroids, growth hormone is harder to detect because of its naturally occurring state in the human body.

 In addition to steroids and growth hormones there are also hormone precursors such as Androstenedione (Andro) and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These growth hormones are believed to be converted into steroids in the liver; usually taken in pill or powder form. Both are banned by most sports governing bodies. They are believed to have similar side effects to steroids ; easily detected in urine samples. 

Lastly, athletes may also take insulin and thyroid hormones, which are also naturally occurring in the body. Insulin may be used for glucose and amino acid absorption, as well as the control of lean body mass. An excessive amount of insulin in the body, just as with diabetics can lead to hypoglycemia and possibilities of a coma. Thyroid hormones are currently prescribed to people with an under active thyroid, (mostly women), to help control metabolism and allow for weight loss. Again, any hormone replacement drugs can have side effects that may include, heart rhythm abnormalities, increased body temperature, as well as hypertension.

Many governing bodies have banned different substances. It is up to the athlete and his/her team to know what is going into the athlete’s body. Even herbal remedies and over the counter supplements may show up as a positive in a blood test. It is the  individual governing body’s (ex: IOC, USA boxing, FIFA) role to help keep a level playing field for all its athletes. Drug tests such as urine samples, blood tests and hopefully in the future, hair samples can help as well. It is important to know and understand that most of these exams not only test for abnormally high traces of banned substances but also abnormal levels of naturally occurring substances, like in blood doping or steroids. The blood or urine sample is checked for the number of immature cells versus mature cells. Someone who is doping will not have the proper portion of these cells. One may try to cover their use by taking herbal flush or diuretics. This only helps to dilute the urine. Samples are also checked for these products, while every day new less detectable performance enhancers are produced, we need to remember that science is not far behind following with a new, more advanced method of testing. 
 
 I have always been an advocate of "training smarter."  You can try and take a short cut; take any one of these products. You may risk getting caught, or even worse, having a severe side effect. Scientific studies of nutrition show that not only what you eat, but the scheduled time you eat can control any one of these hormones. Take the time do your homework; learn what to eat, when to eat, and in what portions. Nothing beats a stress free, good night's sleep for the release of growth hormones.
 
   Remember, that resistance training does have its part in this process, as well.  It helps control the release of testosterone, steroids, and growth hormones. I also have to say, that regular massages, chiropractic adjustments, and if possible, resting in a hyperbaric chamber, by increasing oxygen aiding in healing the body.  We can all become well-tuned athletes. Listen to your body. If it's telling you to take a day off, then do it. Nothing will ruin your physical well-being, hormone regulation, and mood swings then taking the time to rest from a hard workout. 

We all know that being an athlete means competing and pushing the body to its limits. I say, find the natural way. It’s the only way.


Wednesday, November 25, 2009 
Dr. Pietro Baio DCDuring a recent dinner with a good friend and top boxing trainer, the old standard of training high and performing low was brought up. You know what I mean and you have seen it on 24/7 with Marquez and Pacquiao. You train in the mountains and then come down for the fight. The same discussion was also brought up again during an interview with a pro boxer. After giving it some consideration I figured I would let everyone know what the purpose behind altitude training is.  Also I want to let everyone know why I wouldn’t consider it for a pro boxer unless you fight at the same elevation as your training.
 
The body is a remarkable piece of machinery and when it is working smoothly it can adapt to most physical tasks asked of it given the proper recovery, nutrition and training time. One such adaptation is adjusting to altitude or any area with a decrease in oxygen. It all starts with a hypoxic ( low oxygen ) environment. The body needs oxygen to be able to function ( muscle growth, healing, energy production, etc). When there is a decrease in blood volume or environmental oxygen due to atmosphere changes it produces a Erythropoietin (EPO) in the kidneys to help increase red blood cell production and oxygen transport. Once the proper oxygen levels are reached the body decreases the EPO production. So follow me here, if you train at a higher altitude( 1000+ meters above sea level) the body will adapt by producing more EPO, expanding the number of red blood cells and oxygen in the blood to help increase muscle function, decrease fatigue and aid in healing. So, hypothetically you should be able to fight longer, harder with out getting fatigued or winded.
 
Sounds great in theory. You’re planning training camp for your fight and its going to be a 6-8 week camp. You decide to spend part of your camp in the mountains to gain this possible advantage. There are different ways to do this: You can train high and live low, you can live and train low, or you can buy a machine that can simulate the altitude training. Now here is where things get a little sticky. The science shows that the body adapts. We all remember the saying, ” Use it or Lose it?” well you’re going to have to fly to the fight, appear at press conferences, make the weigh in and then take the fight. Well that’s going to take you about 7-10 days at the area of the fight. Studies show that within 3-7 days at the lower altitude your body starts to adapt and you have lost your physical advantage ( mental advantage may be something else).
 
The other thing you might consider which is unethical in my book as well as with most athletic commissions is blood doping. You can take an injection of EPO or you can have your blood pulled out in advance ( red blood cells get separated out of the blood and re-injected closer to the fight). We all see the tests that commission gives to examine blood for increased EPO or even check the red blood cell percentage with usually anything over 55% red blood cells/ 45% plasma being questioned.
 
So, you can keep training at altitudes if it gives you a mental advantage. The science shows it will not affect you physically. It may even cause some set backs in your training. You can inject the EPO or blood dope ( a la Mosely) if you think you won’t get caught. The only way I see altitude training working is if you’re fighting at a high level and train at the high level or if you’re going  to come off the mountain only for the weigh in and fight. Just remember,the thicker your blood the more possibilities of high blood pressure, heart attack, or even a deep vein thromboses. Hope this helps clear some of the stigma of altitude training.
Latest Boxing News www.diamondboxing.com

Saturday, November 07, 2009 

BY: Dr. Pietro Baio
Melissa Hernandez Interview
DB-What's your opinion on Holly's Style and defense?
MH- If you can call what Holly has a style. Well, she is a master of her craft. She runs around the ring wasting time and running in full force to knock her opponent of balance. She's very good at this but I wouldn't call it a style.  More like a rabbit running through your legs to jump in its hole. Defense for her is coming in shape for every fight.  I give her that- she's always in shape.
DB-Holly is going to be the biggest and tallest opponent of your career. Who are you sparring with to prepare you for this fight?
MH-As a pro yes she will be the tallest but not in my boxing career. In my 1st fight as an amateur I fought Jill Emery in the finals of the NY Golden Gloves. Jill is about 5'9 and  southpaw. So I'm using her and other guys in my gym- the famed Gleason's in Brooklyn. I'm also have Jill as one of my trainers.
DB- This fight will mean a step up in weight. How are you preparing for the weight gain?
MH-I have always walked around 145 between fights. So the weight gain won't be a problem.
DB-Will you be increasing your protein intake or supplementing with protein shakes?
MH-I won't be drinking any shake or taking any supplements. I'm very old school when it comes to my boxing diet. I eat whatever I like when I fight in the higher weight classes. Such as pasta ,rice, beans of course, chicken and steak. When I fight in the lower classes I eat plenty of greens and just chicken. But what I'm doing different for this fight in my diet is adding rabbit as my final feast (lol).
DB-Are you looking to pack on muscles?
MH-I am defonitely trying to pack on muscles and not just fat. I want to be strong for this fight. Holly has fought up to 154 so I believe she can take a punch.
DB- Are you using a strength and conditioning coach to aid in packing on lean muscle?
MH-I'm kinda using my other head coaches son as my strength coach. Delen Parsley Jr. is an up coming middleweight boxer. He's been training me on getting stronger through weight training and all around making sure I don't slack off and sneak out to the bar. Lol!!
For my conditioning I'm already running and doing all I can in NYC but as of November 17 I'm moving my camp to Denver where the real conditioning comes in. They don't call it mile high for nothing.
DB-How much time are you dedicating to muscle gains?
MH-I've been training for about 3 weeks in weight training giving about 5 hours a week to just muscle gain.
DB-Are you concentrating on mass building exercises like the squat, dead lift and bench press?
MH-That exactly what I'm doing for this fight.
DB-Are you using any other techniques to gain mass?
MH-Not really. I want to maintain my speed and being lighter will help come fight night.
DB-Do you feel the added weight will slow you down? Or will you stay your current weight to keep your speed and agility?
MH-Yes I believe adding to much weight will slow me down. I made the mistake before when I went up to 135. Making that weight made me sloppy so I'm trying to stay small. Holly will think there's 5 Huracan's in the ring with her. Come December 4 I'm going to be what I always say I am... I'm womyn's boxing and win, lose or draw the world will see why I'm the best.
LATEST BOXING NEWS www.diamondboxing.com
 

Thursday, October 29, 2009 

..BY:Dr. Pietro Baio.... ..

We have all heard of Kelly Pavlik and his hand injury. This is something that has been lingering for quit a while now. Maybe even before the Marco Antonio Rubio fight. Many wonder if this could be true. Can a Staph infection really last so long or even prevent such a big name boxer from ever stepping into the ring again. While I don't have all the answers on the Pavlik's situation, I was recently asked to speak on "TheBoxingTruth.com" about this very problem.....

....

Staph(ylococcus Aureus, Epidermidis) is a bacteria. All bacteria have a function and can be helpful or harmful to the human body based on its location. In some instances where say a boxer receives a cut at the gym an open wound can be infected by Staph. On the outside the skin may just look discolored ( red, green, white). You may see puss filled pockets. The skin may feel warm to the touch. On the inside, tissue is being destroyed. Depending on the strain of Staph and how it is introduced to the body it may get into the blood causing a toxic affect. General Fever, shakes, and sweating can occur. The infection can even find its way into the local bone. Imagine such a bone infection causing a world class boxer to lose his profession if he can no longer use his hand due to bone and tissue lose?....

....

Prevention starts in the gym. Keeping your wraps and gloves clean/ dry. The gym should be sanitized and sterilized often. Having bags, medicine balls, and other equipment left unclean are huge breading grounds for such infections.  Usually a cleaning solution with bleach and water is adequate. If during training you do happen to get a cut please take the time to clean, sterilize and bandage the wound. This will minimize possible infection. If you do notice a discoloration, puss, or pain please get checked out. This is your career after all and knowing is half the battle. ....

....

Your doctor will more then likely take a piece of the infected area to be tested as well as blood samples. The usual course of treatment is antibiotics. Do yourself a favor and use all that the doctor has prescribed. Stopping to early and trying to save some of the meds for the futures could end up doing more harm then good. Early termination of medication will only cause the weaker bacteria to be killed off leading the stronger bacteria to grow. The usual time is about 4-8 weeks. It may even be necessary to have the infected area x-rayed, or you may need to get an MRI or Bone scan to see the extent of the damage. Lastly, don't rush to get back in the gym. Some times the combination of bacteria and anti-biotic may cause a generalized stiffness which needs to be slowly worked on. ....

....

Lastly, while on the antibiotics it is important to know that other medications such as steroids, alcohol use and a weekend immune system due to a prior illness can affect the time needed to recover.  I hope this helps clear some of the questions people have had about Staph and how it can affect a boxer. Always keep your eyes open. And have a doctor you know and trust. There is no reason to be macho or make light of a situation that can hinder your future performance in the ring or the future of your life as an every day person.

 
Dr. Baio was featured Sunday on two internet boxing shows. First up for Dr. B was On the Grind Boxing, then it was on to Boxing Truth.Both shows are a click away:

On the Grind Boxing
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/OnTheGrind/2009/10/26/The-Worlds-Number-1-Boxing-Podcast
Latest Boxing News www.diamondboxing.com
Dr. Pietro Baio DC
Performance Edge Chiropractic, P.C.
7315 Ave U
Brooklyn, NY 11234
(917)-309-5464
PBaio_DC@yahoo.com
myspace.com/performanceedgechiro
 

Thursday, October 29, 2009 
Everlast Shadow boxing at 24 HR Fitness

On October 24, 2009 Everlast and 24 Hr Fitness launched round two of the wildly popular Everlast Shadow Box Workout class with three Wolrd Champions in three separate locations, “Sugar" Shane Mosely in Los Angeles, Andre Berto in Miami and Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi right here in New York City.

I managed to make it out to the class in NYC. I walked into a class of about 30 gym members ready to get their sweat on. The class started with a warm up: squats, push ups, jump rope and a run through of the 4 basic punches ( jab, straight, hook, and upper cut). The class was performed to club/ house music so you wanted to keep things moving if not "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" around the aerobics room. Malignaggi was up front demonstrating to participants the proper technique for each punch as well as some great pointers to help prevent injuries. 

Once everyone was warmed up things started to speed up. The class started working on combos and mixed things up by adding basic aerobics moves (grapevine, step touch, deep knee bends, etc). You could feel the heat.  The class is designed to replicate an authentic boxing workout, which was working because even the Champ was starting to work up a serious sweat. To add to the classes intensity, participants were given the new Everlast Shadowboxer band for resistance.  To help protect their hands they used the new Everlast Elite EverGel hand wraps. Everyone was encouraged to keep their hands up throughout the class not only to help with the intensity, but the fact you need to keep your hands up in a real fight to protect your head.  

This class was well done and a must for those looking to experience the incredible strength and cardio benefits of an authentic boxing workout in a fun class environment. It would make a great addition to any pro boxer's training, but is a non-intimidating way for the regular joe to go 12 rounds without having to worry about getting a black eye.

Monday, September 21, 2009 
Thursday, September 03, 2009 
The Everlasting “Everlast”
“Choose Your Weapon”

On my recent trip to Houston, I got a chance to meet up with Ben Baruch, the sports marketing coordinator for Everlast. During the trip he quickly showed me some things Everlast has been working on as well as some new videos featuring their new products from the Everlast Youtube Channel with Paulie Malignaggi and Danny Jacobs. Peeking my interest, I scheduled some time to interview Ben about Everlast and their new product fight gloves.

The company was originally started in 1910 as a swim suit manufacturer. In 1917 Jack Dempsy and Jacob Golomb (founder of Everlast) worked on a protective headgear for Jack to use during sparring. In 1919 Jack won the Heavyweight Championship and used all Everlast equipment. Today Everlast is synonymous with boxing. The company has branched out. Not only does Everlast deal with boxing, they have recently moved into the world of MMA. 


PB:
In the past, you offered a single choice in fight gloves. I understand you now have several to choose from. Can you go into more detail on each glove?

BB:
Since we began making boxing equipment, we have always had one pro fight glove on the market. The glove has changed throughout the years, but we really have only offered fighters one style of competition level professional gloves. Everlast has been a dominant force in boxing since forever and the professional equipment is what we are best at. With the emergence of competing boxing equipment brands, new styles of gloves have offered fighters a variety to choose from.  

The thing to note is that fight gloves are contingent on the fighter’s style. Ex: Paulie Malignaggi has had a history of hand problems. He’s a boxer, throws for volume, he’s slick. He likes to get in and out and would needs gloves for defense. He’s going to have different needs than a pure puncher like Kelly Pavlik would have. For him, that additional power is more important. So, there is obviously a difference between the two fighters that we need to address. Each fighter has a different hand shape or an issue that we will need to ultimately address.

Taking all of this into account we needed to offer more then just one style. We needed to give fighters a choice and a little more variety. We’re the first company to offer fighters multiple styles of fight gloves. We have unique gloves that we are launching this year. 

1910 Fight Glove:
This is our classic fight glove. There has been a few changes over time, but it’s still the same basic fight glove. The wrist cuff has been reinforced, offering protection and increasing fighter’s stability. We have made the fingers a little longer making it easier to make a fist. We call it our “Balance Glove.” It’s a cross between a punchers glove and a boxers glove. It’s a little bit of everything. Alot of boxers have been wearing this glove for many years and they feel comfortable in it. The perfect balance of protection and power. Boxers who wear the 1910 glove include: Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Paul Williams, Josh Clottey and many more. 

Protex Fight Glove:
It focuses on a reinforced tri-paneled wrist cuff, harder foam and a little extra padding around the hands and thumb. It’s very similar to our training glove which has been extrememly successful in the pro ranks. It is constructed of a harder leather for impact. We have several fighters who have adopted this glove such as Andre Berto, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Urbano Antillon to name to date. This is the best glove as far as defense as it’s easier to block or perry. Its a little longer so its slick and more precise.  Any fighter looking for a protective glove event if for one fight needs to try this glove. 

MX (Mexican) Glove:
This is our Mexican puncher’s glove.  Made with soft ironed Mexican leather, and padded with a mixture of horsehair and foam, this glove offers fighters the most power possible. With the weight distributed more towards the wrist, the knuckles can really be felt on opponents. Currently used by such fighters as Jermain Taylor, Danny Jacobs, Juan Diaz, Chris Arreola,  Rocky Juarez and many more. These gloves are hand crafted and made in Mexico.

PB:
How do you fit the individual boxer to the proper glove?

BB:
We talk to as many fighters as possible. We let them know what we are doing. The gloves are important to us. The best way to do it is to bring them up to the office. Have them try the gloves on. Have the boxer workout a little. They need to try the gloves on with their hands wrapped to see the difference. See where the thumb is cut, feel the soft leather. 


PB:
Any other new products coming out?

BB:
We have the EverGel series now available. Many consumers are familiar with our Evergel glove wraps. The focus is a gel that helps protect the knuckles like gauze would. We have taken that technology and added it to the training gloves by building it directly into the foam. Our Evergel series of MMA and Boxing training gloves will have gel built in between the four layers of our C4 Foam padding. 

PB:
Is Everlast working with any MMA promoters?

BB:
We are working with Cage Wars, Ring of Combat, Asylum Fight League, Fight time promotions, Prize fight MMA, Global Combat Alliance. We’re trying to focus on the grassroots MMA events.

PB:
Other then Randy Couture who I saw wearing Everlast trunks at UFC 102, what other MMA fighters do you sponsor?

BB:
Gray Maynard, who is from Randy’s Gym Xtreme Couture. He’s the co-main event on Sept 16th at UFN 19. He loves to train in the Everlast Protex gloves. 

PB: 
Being an equipment manufacturer are you guys capitalizing on the new trends in fitness. People seem to be moving away from machines and free weights and taking up cardio boxing and kickboxing classes?

BB:
We have been working with Crunch on a kickboxing class. We already have an art of boxing class with them. We are also working with 24 hour fitness doing a kickboxing for fitness class. Crunch is more of a contact boxing class. The 24 hour fitness class is more aerobic boxing / kickboxing, non combatitive workout. 

PB: 
I understand that your starting a Muhammad Ali Collection?

BB:
Should be hitting stores as we speak. Its a dedication to the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s gold medal win at the Olympics and the 100th anniversary of Everlast.  We are paying tribute to Everlast’s greatest Endorser, Muhammad Ali. Gloves, Trunks, head gear. He’s become a staple of our brand and we are honored to be working with him.

For more information on Everlast and the equipment mention here please visit http://www.everlast.com/

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 

Current mood:  artistic
Category: Sports
Freak or Fracture. In the past few months we have heard a lot about broken ribs. The most recent being Mayweather's broken ribs leading to postponement of his fight with Marquez. No one really know what kind of rib injury or if it even happened. Having been around the fight game a while, I can say rib injuries do happen during training, sparring or during a bout. The site and degree of injury will dictate what treatment and how long it will take to recover and get back to training. Rib injuries can be as small as an irritation of the cartilage which holds the rib in place, or a misalignment of the rib with it's joints in front or behind the rib cage. You can also have rib fractures do to body punches or even the exercises done during training ( medicine ball toss). You can have a hair line fracture that heals quick with a few weeks of rest. You can also have a big time fracture that can cause major internal damage such as punctured lung or spleen. This type of injury will have signs and symptoms related to the intensity and severity. You can have a slight irritation while breathing or even worse dizziness and bloody vomit. Its important for anyone to get this checked up. The quickest recovery is usually one where the problem is diagnosed and treated appropriately. You will need x-rays or may be MRI or bone scan to diagnose the intensity and figure out the treatment. X-rays may take a few day before they can pick up a fracture so MRI or bone scans maybe taken for quick diagnosis. If it is just a misaligned rib ice, chiropractic adjustment, soft tissue treatment ( massage) and ultrasound maybe enough to get you back on track. Something like a hairline fracture may just be left alone to heal on its own with nothing but rest. Same boxers may get inflammation of the cartilage around the ribs ( Costochondritis). I would use cross friction massage (ex: Graston) to help with Costochondritis. A rib fracture that is more severe may require some elastic taping (Kinesiotape) of the injured rib and diaphragm, and cold laser therapy to help speed up bone formation and decrease pain/ inflammation. In the case of a rib that is puncturing a body organ or even sticking out through the skin, surgical repair may be needed. Its always important these injuries be checked, treated, and let heal fully. Returning to training to early will just leed to a re-injury and take you out of training once again. So, while some of us may not believe Mayweather's excuse, it does have some validity. It would have been nice to have an exact diagnosis (name for the injury). This would have helped with estimating recovery time. Who knows if Mayweather may have been able to fight in July. Maybe he was looking to keep us and Marquez on ice for a while. Hopefully we can learn from this and put our site on the task at hand. Marquez vs Mayweather will take place this come September. No, excuses or further delay for the return of Boxing's "Money" Mayweather.