All work and no sex: Will it help Pacquiao in the ring?

Manny Pacquiao has vowed to avoid sex in the weeks before his fight with Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez, believing it will make him more aggressive in their grudge match. Occasionally criticized as being too gentlemanly in a gladiator sport, Pacquiao is working up an intensity against Marquez, towards whom the Filipino has shown an unusual irritation after Marquez claimed that he was cheated in their two previous fights. Covering Pacquiao's training in California, GMA News' Chino Trinidad said the boxing icon and lawmaker has been abstaining from "extracurricular activities" for nearly a month for his WBO welterweight title defense on November 13 (Manila time) against Marquez. Pacquiao is far from unique in avoiding bedroom romps weeks before fighting. Athletes and coaches the world over have long subscribed to the belief that it's best to abstain from sex before athletic competitions. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali allegedly abstained from sex a month and a half before a fight, saying that the practice made him unbeatable in the ring. There is no scientific evidence that sex before competitions saps athletes of strength. But it could be a distraction. Chino Trinidad, who has been reporting on Pacquiao fights for years, likens the boxer to a fighting cock. "Sa mga derby na malalaki, iniiwas nilang makakita ng mga babaeng manok o inahin, basta 'yung madidistract sila," Trinidad said. Pacquiao is a sabong aficionado. Sports medicine specialist Ian Shrier explained in a 2000 editorial in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine that abstinence is seen as beneficial for athletes because sexual frustration leads to aggression. For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV In sports where aggression is key, such as boxing and American football, this belief is stronger—some people (including professionals) think that ejaculating draws out testosterone from the body. Testosterone is linked to sexual desire and aggression. Endocrinologist Emmanuele Jannini, in a National Geographic article, said that the otherwise is true—sex stimulates testosterone production, which in turn increases aggression. In fact, Jannini's study revealed that after three months without sex, a man's testosterone levels drop to that of a child's. Several academics pointed out that the energy required in sex between married couples isn't that much at all—about 20 to 50 calories, according to National Geographic. Boone noted that the physical changes in a man's body during sex are nothing compared to a highly strenuous event such as a World Cup game. During the 2010 World Cup, Argentine and Brazilian players were given the go signal to carry on with their usual sexual relations. But the English weren't as lucky—wives and girlfriends were barred and their coach even monitored them through cameras in their hotel rooms. Abstinence, it seems, didn't really help—England was on the receiving end of a 4-1 beating from Germany. Focused at gigil GMA News' Trinidad noted that Pacquiao has been unusually intense at training recently. "Focused at gigil? Baka maging understatement pa yan sa level of focus ni Manny," he said. Normally a modest man not prone to criticizing opponents, Pacquiao has been vocal about Marquez. "I want to prove that he (Marquez) was wrong in wearing that t-shirt claiming he won the last two fights," Pacquiao told GMA News, referring to a t-shirt Marquez wore while they were promoting the match in the Philippines. The 12-round bout will be the third time Pacquiao and Marquez will be facing each other. Their first meeting in 2004 ended in a controversial draw while part two of their epic rivalry had Marquez losing his WBC super-featherweight title to Pacquiao in a highly-contested split decision. Pacquiao has said that he wants to erase all doubts about his earlier victory. Trinidad said that Pacquiao continues to push himself, asking for more rounds than required during training. Sex abstinence is meant to give him an extra edge. Is it all in the mind? While most sports science experts have debunked the notion that having sex before a competition could make an athlete weak the next day, they don't discount the psychological effects of sex or its absence. It could be that coaches promote abstinence because they want their athletes, especially younger ones, to be well rested the night before a big game. The same article suggests that athletes should stick to things they're used to doing in lesser competition or in practice—that is, nothing extraordinary routine-wise the day before. Boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who admitted he'd sleep with his girlfriend the night before a fight, also believes that sex can be a distraction for athletes. Disrupting training routines for a night romp can affect the athlete psychologically. Filipino boxer Denver Cuello also avoids sexual encounters while training for a fight. "You need to be disciplined in your training. All your training will be wasted if you engage in sex before a fight," said Cuello. It's this aspect that experts are finding hard to prove. One reason, medical columnist Dr. Johnny Benjamin of MMAjunkie.com explained, is because anxiety and stress because of sex are not the same for everyone. "Making a general statement regarding the appropriateness of sexual activity as related to any event is difficult and highly personalized," he added. So will Pacman's abstinence help him in the ring? Ultimately, according to Dr. Benjamin, what matters most is that an athlete is well-rested, well-hydrated and properly nourished prior to athletic activities. If that's the case, then Pacquiao better avoid late-night singing gigs as well. — JVP/HS, GMA News