i was a boxer for 3 years and near the end of my career i started getting really really bad knees to the point where i could not run to train at all! but there is one great alternative, swimming! if you swim for 20 minutes per day before you do your boxing training then that is sufficient cardio id say swim 20 min a day 3 times a week and one hour swims at least once or twice a week. also something you can do is sprints in the pool. since amateur boxing is 3, 3 minute rounds and one minute breaks you swim 3 minute full out sprinting which is generally one pool length and back 3 times then rest one minute and do two more times also if you are at a good gym they will do circuit drills which increases cardio and doing lots of sparring will help your cardio too. also since you don't want to bike on the road get access to an exercise bike and go 20 or 30 mins on intense level that is really helpful too.

honestly though unless your knees are truly to damaged to run a few times a week then running and sprinting is the best thing to get that explosive speed

Who's your coach?

Usually you have to run, b/c it's just part of getting into good shape and training. I HATE running though, jumping rope is a lot easier AND it burns like 3x the calories that running does.

The only fighter I can remember who didn't run was Big George Foreman, during his comeback in the late 80's through most of the 90's.

HE said he didn't like to run or do road work while training, b/c he was old/big and his knees couldnt' handle it.

Didn't seem to be a problem for him, considering he had a lot of success. That's only one case though, and obviously Foreman is one of the greatest fighters ever.

Running or ROADWORK including different phases of running is essential. Get the knee looked at And corrected now, before eliminating any thought of running Amateur boxing is 80% conditioning and learning to cope and breath correctly is very important too.

I'm 15 and use to do kick boxing and tried amateur women's cage fighting. I tried to do it with out running. I hate it because I get awful cramps and sharp pains in my knees. Just put icy hot on your knees before and after. Go to a doctor and have them check your knees. They can reccomend which brace to use and if you need just Advil or prescription. I don't know if you Couls trade running for cardio. But ask your trainer. Good luck!

No, not really.

Now I know it sounds like an obvious question, but I'm 15 years old and next year I'm planning on becoming an amateur boxer because I've trained for six months, and my coach (two time WBC champion) says that I'm ready to start fighting because I learn really fast and I'm able to adapt to any opponents fight style. The reason why I asked the question though was because yesterday I went for my typical 5 mile morning run, and everything went good but when I came back I did my stretches, ate, then while I was resting really bad sharp pain occurred in my right knee and it lasted for a while. I don't know what it was, but I'm afraid that It will happen again tomorrow after my morning run. So I was wondering if it would be possible to do a cardio workout equivalent to running or similar and less stress on the knees. I cannot bike because to many people around here get hit by cars while they're biking, there is no sidewalk. Can I possibly do a bag workout to simulate the cardio it takes to run?