How big would they be today? While some dispute how much of a factor size, weight, height, and reach play in boxing, another question to ask is how big would past greats be today? I really don't think many past greats would be able to change their skeletal structure much, but most of them could certainly add more weight and muscle mass. How much would the following past greats weight in shape if they were boxing today? Assume modern training, better nutrition, and whatever is legal today that helps a fighter build muscle and burn fat. Keep in mind too much weight can slow a fighter down and take away some of their best stuff such as speed, agility, and stamina for the later rounds. So I'm picking what I think their best weight would be today based on styles, and body type. My best guess: Jeffries 230 Johnson 212 Dempsey 205 Louis 212 Marciano 200 Liston 220 Frazier 210 Foreman 230 Ali 220 Holmes 220
My best guess: Jeffries 230 Johnson 220 Dempsey 210 Louis 220 Marciano 205 Liston 230 Frazier 215 Foreman 235 Ali 225 Holmes 225
I think 220 is too much for Johnson and Louis, and it would cost them speed. Neither has the frame for to carry it properly. 225 is a little heavy for Ali ( who did not look good over 220 ) and Holmes, but in a 12 round format, you could argue it. These two, unlike Johnson and Louis, had more room to add weight.
I know some of the answers because I ran into a article where scientific BMI's were assessed i'll post if I find it again. I do remember Marciano was an inch taller and about 210 Jack Johnson was 6'4 240...that's all I remember.
I can see Louis at 220, no problem. Holmes maybe a tad heavier at 225. I think Johnson could carry 215-220 without losing anything. I don't know about Marciano at over 200. Maybe, but to me it seems high, considering his overall skeletal structure. Even over the shorter distance of 12, he could lose some of the relenlessness and stamina he was known for. Guys like Jeffries and Foreman would be in the 230-230+ range.
Good thread. Louis 220-230 Holmes 220-225 Ali 225-235 Foreman 235-250 Liston 230-240 Frazier 215-220 Holmes would benefit the least... he's the weakest with the smallest frame. Big guys like liston and foreman would benefit the most, they had a big frame to put on some meat...ali also
Only fighters that would be significantly bigger would be fighters from era's where they trained down in weight.
The link below is what you are looking for and a short post from the link below..... [url]https://boxingwriter.co.uk/2008/09/12/resizing-the-big-men-jack-johnson-the-240lb-killer/[/url] Boxer Height in present terms BMI plus 3 points (Shilstone boost) Weight in present terms plus Shilstone BMI boost John Sullivan 6 feet 2 29 225lbs Jack Johnson 6’4 29 240 Jack Dempsey 6’2 27 210 Joe Louis 6’3 28 225 Rocky Marciano 5’10 29 205 Jack Johnson is now built like Lennox Lewis; Marciano is only an inch and a half shorter and five pounds lighter than Frazier was when he beat Ali the first time; Sullivan makes for a terrifying prospect at six-two and 225; Dempsey is about the same size and weight as Holyfield – although he would use the size differently -and Joe Louis does not look too different from Ali. It changes the arguments, doesn’t it? How would Lennox Lewis have handled a marauding, granite chinned 205lb Marciano? Could a crude but powerful 6’2 225lb John L Sullivan lick any heavyweight of the current crop? Would Jack Johnson, at 6’4 and 240, handle peak Tyson as easily as Lewis handled the shot Tyson? Joe Louis executed his punches almost perfectly, generating granite-cracking power, but even at 225lbs, would he have enough to dent Holyfield? And what kind of wars could Jack Dempsey instigate with his extra beef? I should actually post this in Dagos Why size matters thread as this shows how important it is . lol
While in a general trend the men in the US (and these are all US fighters) have grown larger over the decades, what in particular makes this the case for these individuals? The basis for this growth is not some sort of evolutionary hocus pocus but two-fold: better nutrition and better childhood heath care. Treated on an individual basis, which of these two adds size to, say, Marciano. I don't recall him having endured any debilitating childhood illnesses. And judging on the bios I have read (and the size of his mother), and knowing well Northeastern Italian-American culture, food was plentiful and extremely rich in his household. So, it's more than a simple computation which are based on giant trends being applied to individuals. And by the by, the average height of the US male is now downtrending, so figure that in, too.
I am certain that even the most conservative modern trainer, would be aiming for the weights that I have listed. I do not claim to know how beneficial it would be, or whether it would cause them to lose speed. Even so, I think that adding 10-15 lbs. of muscle would be a very small gamble.
I sometimes wonder if marciano was around now would he look like a HW vinny paz ? Bull necked legs still like tree trunks thick set arms bit like tony on the juice.thundering round the ring like a tank.would be fun.
Yeah, you gotta take this for what it is. I wonder how big Primo Carnera gets after this hypothetical size boost.
He might be the guy who didn't gain much here. He was already from a strongman background, an might well have been acromegalic. His trainers would probably work on his endurance, more than making him bigger.
Let's not forget that during the early part of the 20th century workers had very little rights and worked for low wages. Then the depression hit in the 30s when nobody was doing well. Then WW2 came around and people were living on ration stamps so it wasn't until the 50s when times started to get better. With poverty comes malnutrition, it is still around today. The reason for the size difference today is because of steroids put into food by farmers and most athletes lie about their height. You see it all time with football. I know guys who, when they were getting recruited by colleges, said they were 6'1 when they barely were above 5'10".