Can a really short person beat a really tall fighter?

As in, exactly how much does height affect a fighter? For example, can a 5'6" or so boxer ever have any chance at being good as a heavyweight no matter how hard he trains?

I'm asking this cause I've gone up against some tall ass people (ex. I'm 5'8" and the dude was 6'4") and just got owned.

 

james toney did okay, hes 5 9 he was really skilled but the size advantages are just too much for him at heavy weight.

i mean if you were some freakishly skilled mother****er that would be twice as skilled as muhammad ali then yeah of course but at the top level most guys are similar or close in level of skill.

 

I remember Foreman saying it's easier to punch up than down.

 

it´s the reach that makes it hard, you have to avoid those punches on your way inside to be able to reach the taller one.

 

i've seen a 6 footer fold from a body punch from a 5'6 guy in sparring

 

im sure everyone has seen it, at the top level you'll rarely see it unless the guy is amazing

 

Everything is an advantage in boxing if used properly. Like Eddie Futch, I think, once said, more or less, if you're short fight shorter. Get low and make him punch down at you. Keep your body angled and weight back as you press forward so he has yo reach with his punches to hit you. Shade to your right, keeping your head outside his left foot (if you are both orthodox), so he has to punch across his body.
All these things make it harder for him to hit you and easier for you to hit him. Missed punches create opportunities to get inside, so you have to learn how to make him miss and positioning is an important part of that; it is really hard to be successful if you put yourself in a position of having to react to, and slip or avoid every punch.
Walking forward with your gloves in front of your face is no strategy at all, it is more like a white flag.

 

foreman's an idiot. Thomas Hearns and Klit dropped that straight right down on people with devastating effect. You lose all your power when you punch up.

sometimes its hard to punch a shorter guy when he is crowding you because your own long body is kind of in the way and he is "inside" but if you gave me the choice I would punch down every day of the week instead of punch up.

 

Well thats just not true.

 

i watched that carl frampton at 5'5 beat kris hughes 5'11 the other day, mind you that hughes' jab was utter ****.

 

Throw a straight right hand at a hanging bag at the bottom of your pectorals. Now throw it five inches above your head. Do the same with a left hook.

Do a round punching only above your head. then do a round only punching at chest level.

You will also find that in addition to losing power, you will get WAY more tired punching four to five inches above your head every time and your arms will be jelly. It's true for me. When did Foreman have to punch up, ever?

 

I'm not a boxer but have had about a dozen street fights earlier in life and I always preferred fighting a taller guy than shorter. I feel like I can generate more power punching slightly up, like a leverage type of thing.

 

atsch

 

If you can get on the inside then you have an advantage.

That's why I think ultimately Tyson's defense was what made him so good. He had a freakish ability to slip punches and get on the inside, and most people couldn't handle him after that. I would say keep out of the center of the ring and try to push them to the ropes.

 

Hey, Foreman said it too. There was a reason shorter guys scared me more than taller guys when I scrapped. But hey, what do I know about myself? :huh