Holyfield once explained that if boxers are not careful, weightlifting can hurt a boxers technique and even knockout ability, because boxing is amazing muscle memory, slipping and countering, it takes years to develop, and he said when you bench press you are supposed to go all the way down, but in that position you would be pulling your arm back too far before the explosive movement. Boxers want to throw straight punches, not cock back like a bar fight. At the highest level, a great boxer can see your arm slightly start to go back before a power shot, so they train to throw without cocking back too much to not telegraph, and the bench press develops different motor skills in relation to power. Most good boxing weight trainers incorporate weighted movements similar to the actual boxing movements.
