Boxing is generally better for you if you want a lean body and want to focus on overall fitness while wrestling is the better option if you want muscle gains and a bulky body.
Boxing and wrestling are two of the most popular contact sports in the world but they differ from each other significantly in terms of rules, regulations, and dynamics. Boxing fighters compete with each other using their hands only.
Wrestling on the other hand is a grappling art where competitors must subdue their opponent using takedown and grappling techniques.
Boxing is considered one of the most ancient combat sports in the world. It is a form of martial arts which relies heavily on the hands. The goal is to knockout your opponent with a swift movement, powerful punches, and strategic strikes to the head. You can be the victor in a boxing match by knocking your opponent out or forcing them to forfeit the game.
Wrestling on the other hand is an Olympic sport where the goal is to gain control over your opponent. You must use grapples and takedown techniques, paired with agility and body weight to subdue your opponent until the referee intervenes.
Among the many differences between boxing and wrestling e.g., protective gear, match duration, type of sport, etc. the main difference between the two sports is that boxing relies heavily on punches and fists while wrestling makes use of grapples and takedowns.
I have been boxing for as long as I can remember and I’ve had the opportunity to closely observe other types of fighting styles as well. With my experience and observations, I will highlight the following points in this article:
- Boxing Vs. Wrestling
- The Benefits of Boxing
- The Benefits of Wrestling
- The Drawbacks of Boxing
- The Drawbacks of Wrestling
- Which Sport Is Better For You?
Table of Contents
Boxing Vs Wrestling
| Boxing | Wrestling | |
| More Effective for Self Defense | More Effective | Less Effective |
| Better Workout | Best workout | Good Workout |
| Harder To Learn | Harder | Easier |
| Safer | Less Safe | More Safe |
| Muscle Growth | Less Growth, More Definition | More Growth, Less Definition |
| Popularity | More Popular | Less Popular |
| History | Early 16th century | 1800’s |
Boxing Vs Wrestling: More Effective For Self Defense?
Both boxing and wrestling are extremely effective when it comes to self-defense.
However, boxing is more effective sport in terms of self-defense as it allows you to attack your opponent, defend yourself and face multiple opponents, all from a distance.
Boxing can be put to good use in a self-defense situation as you can use your speed, powerful punches, and quick reflexes to quickly dodge or subdue an opponent and make a quick getaway if you need to.
Wrestling may not be as effective as boxing but it is still very useful in defending yourself. In a one-on-one brawl, you can trap your opponent in a lock.
This will render any punches or kicks attempted by your opponent useless and will also give you an opportunity to take your opponent down.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: Better Workout
Boxing provides a better workout as it cuts down on fat, helps your cardiovascular systems, and builds up your muscles to give you a lean look. Wrestling will give you a bulkier body with greater muscle growth but at the cost of speed and agility.
Wrestling is a great workout for those who want to build muscle and strength. However, it’s not the best sport for those who are looking for an aerobic workout. boxing is a better choice if you’re looking for an aerobic workout because it requires more speed and agility than wrestling.
Boxing is a more intensive sport than wrestling, with more punches being thrown in a given time frame. This can make it a more challenging sport for those who are new to it, as well as those who are experienced.
Additionally, boxing often requires more stamina and strength than wrestling, which can be an advantage for some athletes.
Wrestling and boxing both provide workout routines for you. Ultimately, it depends on your preference to decide what is the better workout for you.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: Harder To Learn
Learning either of the two sports depends on two factors, physicality and technique. Boxing is more complicated as there are a lot of techniques involved and you have to maintain your physique as well.
Physicality
Boxing is a sport that is very physically demanding. It takes a lot of stamina and strength to learn boxing techniques. This is why boxing is often considered to be one of the harder sports to learn.
Wrestling is less demanding physically which means the novice players learn it quicker and with more ease than compared to boxing. Some amount of stamina and strength are required in wrestling as well, especially while taking down an opponent bigger than yourself.
Technique
You will need to master various techniques in order to excel in either one of the two sports. Boxing requires you to be agile to move around and avoid punches while hitting your opponent too. Only fist attacks are allowed which makes boxing more challenging.
Boxing techniques you need to learn to be successful:
- Focus on your opponent’s body movements
- Use quick jabs to keep your opponent at bay.
- Use your footwork to confuse your opponent.
- Land clean power punches to take down your opponent.
Wrestling is all about gaining control of your opponent and putting them into a position where they can’t move or defend themselves. This also requires a lot of techniques.
Wrestling techniques you need to learn to be successful:
- Control your opponent by using your body weight.
- Keep your hands up and away from your opponent’s body.
- Outmaneuver your opponent using strength and speed.
- Take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses by attacking them from the side or behind.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: The Rules
Boxing is a contact sport where you fight your opponent using your hands and feet only. You are only allowed to strike with your fists and the goal is to knock your opponent out to force them into submission by inflicting physical damage.
Illegal Moves In Boxing:
- Holding the opponent down
- Throwing an elbow or low blow
- Punching with the hand closed
- Striking below the belt
Wrestling will require you to use your whole body. You employ grapples and takedowns in an attempt to pin your opponent to the ground with their backs flat. You can also win by putting your opponent in an arm-lock or choke lock to force them into giving up.
Illegal Moves In Wrestling:
- Spinning a person around in a circle.
- Jumping on an opponent from behind.
- Hitting an opponent with an object while they’re down.
- Using performance-enhancing drugs pre-match.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: Safety
Wrestling is the safer sport as there are less chances of direct strikes. The risk of injuries still exists but is less than boxing where you face the danger of being struck directly on the head by your opponent.
Boxing fighters wear protective gloves, and hand wraps to protect their fists and joints but as a contact sport, it is still more dangerous than wrestling as the risk of a serious injury is always lurking around.
As a wrestler, you will have minimal protection during matches and will face the chance of muscular injuries, etc. These injuries are still dangerous and will cause discomfort.
Both sports can cause some serious injuries if the correct precautions are not taken. If you practice either of the two sports, be sure to seek proper guidance and take all precautions to avoid any risk of hurting yourself or others.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: Muscle Growth
In terms of muscle growth, wrestling is more effective than boxing. Due to the nature of the sport, wrestling workouts focus more on muscle and strength building. Boxing on the other hand is an all-body workout that builds endurance and stamina.
A popular opinion is that boxing is the better choice for building muscle. However, this is not the case. Boxing workouts are rigorous and burn a lot of calories, which sometimes leads to a cut in muscle mass as well.
While boxing is one of the most effective workouts for overall fitness, it may not be the best for muscle growth. If muscle growth is your main aim for working out, wrestling is the right way to go.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: Popularity
Boxing is more popular than wrestling as it has been around for ages and is practiced around the world. Prominent athletes like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson also contributed to the sport’s popularity.
While boxing is the more popular one of the two, wrestling is not far behind. Wrestling is an official Olympic sport and is also watched by millions around the globe. Television shows like the WWE network have contributed to its increasing popularity among the masses, especially the younger generation.
Boxing Vs Wrestling: The History
Boxing and wrestling both are among the oldest sports in the world, originating from ancient civilizations. Over time the sports have spread around the globe and went through several evolutions to become the sports as we know them today.
Boxing is a sport with a long and storied history. It is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, where it was used as a form of exercise and self-defense. It was a form of physical combat involving hands, feet, and even weapons sometimes.
Boxing became popular in Europe in the 16th century. It is believed that Muslims brought the sport to Europe where it evolved into its modern form as we know it today during the early 1800s. Boxing reached its peak popularity worldwide in the 1900s with the rise of television broadcast and media.
Wrestling is also one of the oldest sports in the world. It has a long and storied history that dates back to ancient Greece as part of military training. Wrestling was originally a martial art that involved physical combat between two opponents using grappling techniques (such as arm locks and headlocks).
Over time, wrestling became more of a sport where fighters would try to knock each other out by throwing them onto their backs or body slamming them. It became popular in America in the early 1800s and has since become one of the country’s most popular sports.
The Benefits of Boxing
The benefits of boxing include improving your body conditioning, hand-eye coordination and reflexes. It can also help you lose weight, build muscle, increase your endurance, and also improves your cardiovascular system.
There are a number of benefits to starting boxing at any age. Boxing is an excellent cardiovascular workout, providing cardio training that is both challenging and enjoyable.
It also strengthens the core muscles, which will help to improve balance and coordination. Finally, boxing can help to improve hand-eye coordination and decision-making skills, which are important in any career or activity.
If you’re looking for a sport that will provide you with physical and mental stimulation, boxing is definitely worth considering.
The Drawbacks of Boxing
Boxing is a dangerous sport and has been linked to many fatalities, including those of boxers. The direct hits you receive in boxing may lead to long-term mental and physical health issues.
A few main drawbacks of boxing are
- High risk of injury.
- High intensity and challenging matches/workouts.
- High amount of physical stress.
- High emotional stress.
Boxing is also a very rigorous workout and can tire you very easily. The sheer intensity of a boxing workout is also something that pushes people away from the sport. If you want an active sport that is healthy and with a reduced risk of injury, boxing may not be the right fit for you.
The Benefits of Wrestling
The main benefits of wrestling include improved strength, enhanced flexibility, improved balance and coordination, and better mental toughness. It is also a quick and great way for you to gain muscle and is a comparatively safer workout option compared to boxing.
Wrestling is a physical sport that relies on muscle power and technique. Wrestlers use their opponents’ body weight, size, and strength against them to gain control of the match.
While boxing can be very exciting to watch, wrestling may be a better option for you if you’re looking for a more physically-demanding sport with less risk of injury.
The Drawbacks of Wrestling
While it is safer than boxing, wrestling is still a dangerous and demanding sport. The frustrating drawn-out matches where you have to patiently wait for your opponents moves are enough to take a heavy toll on your body.
The drawbacks of wrestling include
- High physical toll
- Time-taking and slow process
- Difficult to make a living
- High risk of back injury and muscle strain.
Your head is relatively safe while wrestling but your back is not. Spine injuries can occur if you try to lift too much weight in a match and your muscles will also get strained.
Furthermore, wrestlers do not have the same technique and endurance as boxers so it is harder for them to force a submission out of their opponents, dragging out matches for longer amounts of time, increasing the toll wrestling has on your body.
Which Sport Is Better for You?
Ultimately, it depends on what you are looking for in a sport. If you are looking for a physical challenge with plenty of action and excitement, boxing may be better for you.
If you are looking for a more technical and cerebral sport that can be challenging but rewarding, wrestling may be a better option
Both sports require discipline, training, and dedication if you want to excel in either of them. In the end, it is up to you to decide which sport you enjoy more and want to indulge in. Both sports have their own pros and cons, make sure you weigh them carefully before choosing a sport which suits you best.
