Just for a comparrison between a top contender (really) from the past against a top contender of today Adamek 44(28 )-2 6'1" 215lbs Norton 42(33)-7 6'3" 220lbs
:blood.. When was the cruiserweight limit raised to max 200 IBS?.. I know that almost every HW weighed more(if not every?) than 200 in the 80s.
Norton's first fights with Ali he was fairly lighter, but he was shredded like hell and was a former football(American) player, shortly before boxing and says he was always naturally big and muscular. He claims before later in life he didn't even lift weights, but was naturally built like that.
Not sure about the weight change, more that some fans (usually klitschko fans) often refer to old time heavies as "small" or more derogatory terms, to be fair they have always been around the same size, guys like Norton, louis etc could all of been the same size as Areolla and Sam Peter if they'd not bothered with conditioning like those guys.
I'm a klitschko fan.. Old time heavies are small compared to the post 80s' (I'm talking about the HWs from the 60s,50s and 40s). Big guys has always excisted in the HW division, but they weren't able to compete with their smaller counter parts.. My theory is that big guys in the old days were simply too clumsy, slow and lacked coordination.. But what we are seeing now is: big guys who has good athleticism, mechanics and overall skill.. But that's just my two cents..
In the case of the klitschko's yes, but imo they are the exception Helenius, Valuev, Fury are all big useless lumps, and those have been around since the black and white days (carnera etc)
Interesting size comparison, but I think Norton's style is all wrong for Adamek. Adamek needs room to move and I think Nortons constant crowding and pressuring would be too much/ I'd expect Norton to eventually wear Adamek down and put him on the canvas in the later rounds.
why look so far? adamek would probably lose to povetkin, chagaev, chambers, chisora, helenius, haye, solis he only has one decent win with arreola
The cruiserweight limit was 190lbs until around 2005. Very recently. I've never really been a big fan of old time nostalgia and without even looking at the poll I'm pretty sure Ken Norton is wiping Adamek out. In this case, however, it's warranted. Adamek would have almost no advantages against Norton to call upon.
