heavyweight size

If all rules enforced, Wladimir should not be anything more than a slight favorite to beat Lyle. Lewis only a small 1. ________________________ All those bigger men would have beaten Ali indeed. ________________________ Rahman would have been a perennial top 10 in those days, usually top 5. Rahman is not a good example of real size. Excess fat and glycogen do not help so much. Even without them he would have still been bigger than Quarry whom was not lean himself even at a below 200lbs w8.

 

Ali and Holmes are special cases. They were tall enough, had an 80" reach, very fast and equipped with iron chins. So they could handle it and win a decision.

I do think super heavyweights ( 6'5" 235 + pounds in shape, 79+" reach ) with skills are nearly bullet proof to decision losses vs smaller fighters. You have to knock them out.

Count up all of Bowe's Lewis, and both Klitschko fights. They have just one razor thin decision loss among them to an all time great who had a huge edge in his corner, and on a 17 minute fan delayed stoppage.

 

I saw footage of bowed doing seated cable rows once and during his prime. He did lift weights. To what degree I don't know. It's fair to say he probably added 10-15 lbs of muscle over what he would have been in the 70s.

 

I guess heavies can be bigger now because they don't have to go 15 rounds like they used to. I can't imagine someone as heavily muscled as Rahman doing well in those last 3 rounds, especially if fighting at a good pace.

 

Lewis came in as low as 220 in some of his early fights, and I think he started bulking up in earnest when the last remnants of the 15 round limit disappeared.

If we say that in Ali or Holmes's day he would have been 220-230lbs, then you are only talking 10-15 lbs difference in weigh, and an inch or two in height.

 

1) Noooo, as I showed with the Foreman-Lyle clip, Lyle was 220 in shape in his prime. he would not make CW without losing strength.

2) Bowe looked a little soft at 235, Rahman a little less so.
they were not much bigger than Lyle, Rahma a bit shorter but with a superb reach. Bowe taller but likely NO more muscle per lb. than lyle.

3) Size IS one advantage. But as numerous folks have noted throughout this & other web sites, rules changes (12 rounds, amount of clinching allowed chief amongst them) help.
Without them & other subtle changes, it might be NO advantage or a disavantage for, say, Lewis to have gone beyond the 220's.
And PEDs also have enhanced the size of some.

4) Anyone COULD make CW, but seeing Ali in his prime ~ 212-214 & very lean...He would lose muscle & overall ability, though he could be even more dominant at CW, so what?

5) It is cuckoo for cocoa puffs to say Louis would be a "very tiny" CW today.

Size is height, reach, weight & muscle. Defined rationally.

No less than 6/ 1 1/2", listed overwhelmingly as 6' 2" Most all the modern guys you mentioned have their height rounded up.
Louis had a 76" wingspan.
So in no way is his length even below average, let alone "very tiny" for a modern CW.

He competed at a little under 200 early in his career-trim, at his pre=war peak(of skill + expereince) ~ 207, more fat & a bit more muscle at 218 vs. Rocky.

In his early career ~ the '30's, he was smaller in weight & muscle than modern HWs, later closer to average today.

But "very tiny"? That is a joke.
If a CW is very tiny, besides that he nornally would be waaaay under 6' in height & reach, even if you merely consider weight & muscle. by DEFINITION if "very tiny" he would need to be just a little it over the 175 lb. Mininum for CW.

Please do not even overstate facts, let alone make outrageous statements. It erodes credibility on other matters.

Thank you.

 

And Clay weighed in as little as 188 in his pro career and didn't break 200 until his 15th fight. I guess he should have stayed at that weight and been more effective.

My guess is that Lewis fought at his optimal weight as is evidenced by the fact that he was the greatest champion of one of the greatest eras the division ever saw.

 

Yet, Ike Ibeabuchi and David Tua put on a clinic of output over 12 rounds at 235 and 226 respectively.

I guess both would have gassed and fallen over dead at the start of the 13th.

 

Bowe was a bit soft at 235. I can see fat on his sides.

I wouldn't believe all that reach measurement stuff unless you get the tape measure out yourself and measure them.

Anyway, Lyle was 215 to 220 and solid lean at that weight. And I don't think he was the biggest of his era anyway.

Yes, heavyweights have got bigger.

 

Lewis's weight varied. He did good at 227 and at 242 and at 250. etc.

He got KO'd at 238 and at 253.

Not sure we can find an optimum. I suppose not 238 and 253.

 

You might be right. He carried the weight well.
He lost to a 217 pound man in his next fight who actually was a blown-up cruiser. So that kind of answers your whole question.