Though this book is theoretically about how to use boxing to get fit, what it really is is a fantastic guide to solo or partner training. The first chapter reviews the basic training equipment needed, even offering a probable price list, before moving on to a chapter on basic stance, footwork, and head movement. The next two chapters are on basic offense and defense, and include info on combination building and how to use the heavy bag for building defence. The next section is on the various drills using the mirror, the bag, and your partner. The mirror section is worth only one page, but the rest is invaluable. With the bag, author Lachica demonstrates punches, footwork, and defense, while reminding the reader to keep in mind technique, rhythm, and strategy. He provides a number of drills to keep things from getting boring. With partner drills, he begins with counter drills, where one defends a punch and then returns with his own punch, then moves on to flow drills, which combine offense and defense for both parnters. The next two chapters are on situational sparring and free sparring, and provide excellent advice for the beginner. The book finishes up with three fitness chapters, on resistance training, stretching, and cardio training, respectively. This book provides a good blueprint for improving one's boxing skills, as well as getting into shape. Recommended for beginners and fighters alike.

This is the second book in a series of three collaborations between Doug Werner and Alan Lachica on the topic of boxing.

The book "Fighting Fit", is the best of the three. It is packed with boxing wisdom, is well written, and the photographs easily show the techniques being taught.

From a person who wishes to learn boxing for fitness purposes, or for people like myself who compete, this book is a valuable tool.

I highly recommend it.

Finland) -

As the earlier book up) was an excellent book, I was expecting this to be at least a four-star book. I was badly disappointed, however.

Much of the written material in the book is taken directly from the earlier book, and there is not much text added. Instead, the book relies heavily on photographs. There is nothing wrong with that, per se, but it places high demands on the quality of the pictures. Sadly, the pictures don't fill the expectations. They are not entirely bad, however, as you can see what you are supposed to see from the pictures. But they are far form good quality.

Much of the book is filled with different punch combinations, counters and flow drills. In these pages, there is hardly any text, instead the reader is supposed to study the pictures and learn from them. This is hardly satisfying, and there is a genuine need for exhaustive written instructions. There is also some instructions about stretching, weight training and sparring, but these issues are not given very thorough presentation.

There is some merit to this book, but you need to have a more complete textbook to support the pictures in this book. For one, the book is missing a complete training program, instead the reader (beginner-intermadiate level) is supposed to construct one on his own, based on the limited information given in this book.