The mystery of what makes a powerful punch, how much do you know?

punchers are born

 

Power is an intangible. It ain't a skill thats taught to a fighter in the gym. He either has it when he's born or he don't have it. No other way to really explain it.

Some guys commit to their punches more than others tho. RJ had power in both hands, but wasn't urgent to KO ppl. He was content with decisions most of the time. Other guys with power figure 'why even bother winnin decisions?'

Every fighter is different, even if you can attach a similar label to their styles.

 

Punching Power is not 'intangible' it quite clearly a mix of speed, accuracy and mass(the weigt of the punch) in other words 'momentum'. It's simple physics. The mystery occurs because some lighter boxers seem to have more punching power than heavier, bulkier guy. This is either down to one of the other aforementioned factors that determine effective power i.e.. speed, accuracy, weight from body. A bulky guy throwing arm punches is not going to to have as much power as a smaller guy throwing his whole weight into a punch.
The snap-or speed of a punch- is determined by the tendons as much as the muscles, which is why some seemingly smaller guys can punch harder than more muscular guys.

 

There are obviuosly things you can do to get more power into your punches.

I was talkin about guys who can flat out ice you without havin to do anything extra to force the power. Real punchers have a gift to just do it effortlessly.

 

I dunno if I'm just making this crap up but didn't someone say before wrist size has a lot to do with it? I'm sure someone was saying Pacquiao had a wrist size similar to middleweights.

Maybe I dreamt it I dunno.

 

Genetics

 

Genetics is a huge factor imo.

Look at Old Foreman as an example, no speed to speak of but still knocked guys out with ease. If you look at Foreman's hands they are HUGE. I say that plays a big factor, more mass hitting your head causing the brain to jar producing a KD/KO.

 

Being big boned makes you stronger. More core muscle can stick to it.

 

No one is born to fight fighters are made just like anything else you pick up. You run one mile today next week you run two. Maravilla in 2000 wasn't thought of as a puncher come 2012 he's one of the best today. Hearns and Trinidad in the ams weren't known for their power until they evolved as pros. Wrist size, calves, biceps, triceps, pecs, shoulders, waist, etc are all equally important and each play their part. Big George was a puncher trained by Futch and as they say the punching power last thing to go. Whether it was 1974 or 1994 he had power.

 

Leg strength

Back Strength

Technique

 

many, many factors play a role. bone size and density, muscle strength and reaction speed, punching through the target instead of at the target, proper pushing off of legs while rotating hip and snapping of arm, etc... some people are born with the coordination to put all these factors together effortlessly, just like some people can throw a baseball like a pitcher the first time they pick it up, while others throw like a girl their whole life.

 

Interesting theory about the wrist size.

Pac's strength is the result of Ariza's special blend. No wrist magic there :thumbsup

 

Big boned is a myth. People (normal as opposed to abnormal people) have like 99.99% same bone density (genetically speaking). People who work out more (weight bearing exercise) have greater bone density, but at the elite level of boxing bone density is most likely negligent because everyone's working their ass off as is.

 

There is a colleration between wrist size and people who keep their power when moving up in weight.
It's just one factor from a dozen ones.