Why are the current heavyweights so soft and pudgy?

[Augustane]

I just had a moment of clarity while watching some old Ali, Foreman, and Tyson videos.

Modern heavyweights (Klitschkos and cruiserweights aside) are starting to make Butterbean look good.

What the hell happened to the Heavyweight division? It's not even a matter of aesthetics. I feel like if these guys were at all as competitive as the middleweights and welterweights, then they should at least have 'some' definition on their bodies. Even 'Big' George Foreman looks like a toothpick compared to many of today's contenders.

What happened?

What are ESB's thoughts and opinions?

[Eat'Em Up]

High Definition Television happened.

[Imperial1]

Because of the so called advancements

[JeanPaulValley]

Most of the guys who matter are in good shape. Adamek,Pulev,Haye etc
Even Fury has improved his body.
The fat out of shape guys tend to not be contenders.
Some guys wont ever have great bodies like Arreola but at least he has kept his weight below 250.

[Primenal]

#1. Many lazy people in this world
#2. If your a heavyweight.. You don't have to make any weight. Of corse guys in smaller divisions are looking toned whenever they have to drop 30 pounds in training camp. They have a goal, they have a certain weight to make, there pushed very hard to do so. Take a look at what happened to Hatton and Naseem when they didn't have these goals.

I know somebody is going to say the old heavyweight division was different... Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis (until the last stages), Ali, etc all came in shape. As JeanPaul said the guys who are real contenders are in shape. Not every guy back then was built like Tyson either.
Also the Heavyweights these days are much bigger. How many guys are over 6'5 these days? If your a 6 foot guy your pretty small in the division, and I'm sure some feel the need to pack on extra weight to deal with the size of these guys. Though not the best kind of weight.

[Forza]

ali was a chubster

[ludwig]

K2 are using mind control via cell towers to get any potential rival to eat mad tacos and hamburgers. They all get eating disorders by the age of 25 and can't challenge K2 in their prime

[JeanPaulValley]

Originally Posted by Forza

ali was a chubster

http://www.mensfitness.com/sites/men...af_i30_109.jpg

[JeanPaulValley]

Originally Posted by Primenal

#1. Many lazy people in this world
#2. If your a heavyweight.. You don't have to make any weight. Of corse guys in smaller divisions are looking toned whenever they have to drop 30 pounds in training camp. They have a goal, they have a certain weight to make, there pushed very hard to do so. Take a look at what happened to Hatton and Naseem when they didn't have these goals.

I know somebody is going to say the old heavyweight division was different... Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis (until the last stages), Ali, etc all came in shape. As JeanPaul said the guys who are real contenders are in shape. Not every guy back then was built like Tyson either.
Also the Heavyweights these days are much bigger. How many guys are over 6'5 these days? If your a 6 foot guy your pretty small in the division, and I'm sure some feel the need to pack on extra weight to deal with the size of these guys. Though not the best kind of weight.

I agree n thanks for the shout out!

[ViktorVaughn]

Originally Posted by ludwig

K2 are using mind control via cell towers to get any potential rival to eat mad tacos and hamburgers. They all get eating disorders by the age of 25 and can't challenge K2 in their prime

That's a good one! Getting their diet right seems to be a problem for many HW. The interesting part is that some HW with a sport background (athletics, football...) know that they need to be have a rigorous training as well as a balanced diet. In football the difference seems to be that many guys know it is just a requirement if you wanna be considered worth playing (exceptions exist of course). In boxing many young HW fighters are hyped to the bone by their entourage and team and they forget that you need the whole package to make it big.
The best part for boxers is that they burn a lot of calories (if training consistently) therefore they can do junk food in reasonable amount and still get away with it. Therefore for them coming in soft reflect a dieting problem. Even Arreola would look fit and cut if dieting properly I dont care what he or his fans say!

[JeanPaulValley]

Originally Posted by ViktorVaughn

That's a good one! Getting their diet right seems to be a problem for many HW. The interesting part is that some HW with a sport background (athletics, football...) know that they need to be have a rigorous training as well as a balanced diet. In football the difference seems to be that many guys know it is just a requirement if you wanna be considered worth playing (exceptions exist of course). In boxing many young HW fighters are hyped to the bone by their entourage and team and they forget that you need the whole package to make it big.
The best part for boxers is that they burn a lot of calories (if training consistently) therefore they can do junk food in reasonable amount and still get away with it. Therefore for them coming in soft reflect a dieting problem. Even Arreola would look fit and cut if dieting properly I dont care what he or his fans say!

I get what you're saying but Arreola has like loose skin or something. He's thin but he has zero definition.

[elchivito]

They simply not as dedicated and even less disciplined. Especially Arreola, at least he was. Don't know now. He's talented, but before Shields it seemed he wasn't that serious.

[bremen]

Originally Posted by Forza

ali was a chubster

True. 70s were full of chubsters

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/1024...li01jr_576.jpg

[Son of Gaul]

Originally Posted by Augustane

I just had a moment of clarity while watching some old Ali, Foreman, and Tyson videos.

Modern heavyweights (Klitschkos and cruiserweights aside) are starting to make Butterbean look good.

What the hell happened to the Heavyweight division? It's not even a matter of aesthetics. I feel like if these guys were at all as competitive as the middleweights and welterweights, then they should at least have 'some' definition on their bodies. Even 'Big' George Foreman looks like a toothpick compared to many of today's contenders.

What happened?

What are ESB's thoughts and opinions?

The dominance of Lennox Lewis and the Klitschkos made fighters take notice and place greater emphasis on size/strength to be competitive.

[Son of Gaul]

Originally Posted by Forza

ali was a chubster