{"id":692159,"date":"2026-01-13T00:38:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T00:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/692159\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T00:38:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T00:38:25","slug":"no-holds-barred-boxer-muhammad-ali-abstained-from-sex-before-fights-now-scientists-say-getting-intimate-prior-to-a-bout-may-actually-enhance-sporting-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/692159\/","title":{"rendered":"No holds barred! Boxer Muhammad Ali abstained from sex before fights… now scientists say getting intimate prior to a bout may actually enhance sporting performance"},"content":{"rendered":"

By SOPHIE FREEMAN <\/p>\n

Published: 18:37 EST, 10 January 2026 | Updated: 20:29 EST, 10 January 2026 <\/p>\n

Muhammad Ali<\/a> famously claimed he would abstain from sex for six weeks before a big fight to allow him to focus on the task at hand.<\/p>\n

However scientists now say the world heavyweight champion shouldn\u2019t have bothered.<\/p>\n

Researchers have discovered that making time for romantic physical contact before exercise could actually enhance people\u2019s sporting performance.<\/p>\n

A team from the University of Valladolid in Spain<\/a>\u00a0tested 21 healthy, physically fit men to find the truth about abstinence rituals used by some sportsmen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They gave each man an intense cycling test twice, once after they had abstained from making love for a week, and again 30 minutes after they had been amorous.<\/p>\n

The results showed that after sexual activity, the men could actually cycle for a little longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The researchers said in a report: \u2018These findings suggest that pre-exercise sexual activity does not impair athletic capacity in trained men, challenging the long-standing myth of mandatory abstinence before competition.\u2019<\/p>\n

Dr Athalie Redwood-Brown, senior lecturer in performance analysis of sport at Nottingham<\/a>\u00a0Trent University, who was not involved in the study, said that, for a long time, \u2018athletes thought that if they had sex, they would have less strength, speed, or aggression left for their sport\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Muhammad <\/p>\n

Muhammad Ali and his wife Veronica in 1978 – the iconic boxer was said to avoid having sex for at least six weeks before a big fight<\/p>\n

\"However, <\/p>\n

However, scientists now say getting intimate prior to a bout may actually enhance sporting performance. Picture: Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over rival Sonny Liston<\/p>\n

However, she added: \u2018The new research shows that this worry is mostly based on old beliefs, not how the body really works.<\/p>\n

\u2018After sex, the body releases chemicals that help people feel calm, happy, and relaxed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘That can help athletes concentrate better, being less nervous can help muscles move more smoothly, and feeling relaxed can make exercise feel a bit easier.\u2019<\/p>\n

The research was originally published in the medical journal Physiology & Behavior.<\/p>\n

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