In preparation for the upcoming NBA season, former Wildcat standout Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is trying something new, boxing.
“Out of the right corner, from Chester, PA, standing at an impressive 6-foot-7, 214 lbs Rondae Hollis-Jefferson!” In the era of professional basketball, players are always looking to try different things to prepare themselves for the extended grueling NBA schedule – Jefferson is trying out boxing!
Over the years, there have been many players who have tried boxing, whether for fun, for training or even competitively. NBA teams as well have incorporated boxing into a daily form of overall strength conditioning.
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Some even have made it a part of their lives from very earlier on. A well-known player, Ron Artest, aka Metta World Peace, has had boxing be part of his life since he was a kid. His father was a boxer growing up, and Artest was even going to train to become a competitive boxer back in 2004, but that did not happen. Instead, Artest has become a boxing manager for Oscar De La Hoya’s company Golden Boy Promotions.
Arizona Basketball center Dusan Ristic took up boxing in 2016 to help with his footwork, and we could all tell the difference.
Will Hollis-Jefferson get as involved into boxing as Artest? Who knows. He does though know how to have fun while at the same time getting in some left and right punches. Let’s not forget that water bottle technique – that’s on a whole other level! His Ali-ish talk is endearing, we know he can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk? See for yourself:
At the end the clip, Hollis-Jefferson lets you know how it’s going down:
"I am the best that ever did and got way with it. If you make to round it to two the fight was a fluke. If you make it to round 3, if you make to round three you weren’t fighting me."
This approach to conditioning has paid off already. Early in preseason action against the New York Knicks, Hollis-Jefferson can take contact, but still, take it strong to the bucket for the ‘And one!’
https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/915384662406688768
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Hollis-Jefferson is an individual who lives a very positive lifestyle, brings smiles to people’s faces and at the same time always finding ways to improve. Even if this boxing is one and done thing, would be fun to imagine him in a ring. I can just hear the commentators now “look at that, look how he can shimmy is way around the ring!” Hollis-Jefferson, keep on doing what you’re doing. You make Arizona Wildcats real proud!