Heavyweight size explosion in the early 1970s?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017.


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  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Just a quick observation that I came up with while roughly eyeballing the Ring lists.

    Up through the 1960s, most top ranked heavyweights were 6'1ish or shorter, and relatively few were 6'3 or taller. This seems to have changed fairly suddenly in the early 1970s. By 1972, the majority (7) of Ring ranked heavyweights were 6'3 or taller. In the 45 years since then, barely a handful of heavyweights shorter than 6'1 have made reached any of the annual Ring year-end rankings lists. This overall height distribution held fairly stable until the past 10 years or so, and now virtually all of the top-ranked heavies are 6'4 or taller.

    What happened? Any explanations for this change in height? Or are these stats just meaningless?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017
    #1
  2. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    people have actually grown a little on average.

    how is this news? school children know this.
     
    HerolGee, Jun 9, 2017
    HerolGee, Jun 9, 2017
    #2
  3. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    The question is why the change occurred at that particular point in heavyweight history.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017
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  4. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's just a guess but, apart from the conditions allowing for an increased average height, the post-war baby boom could account for why more of these taller people were around, in general - by and during the '70s.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2017
    Man_Machine, Jun 9, 2017
    Man_Machine, Jun 9, 2017
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  5. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    It's called the Jimmy Ellis experiment.

    A man who was a career MW was taken in by a curious coach who thought "let's bulk you up and make you a HW".

    Jimmy Ellis captured part of the HW crown thus the experiment was a success.
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 9, 2017
    lufcrazy, Jun 9, 2017
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  6. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    conditions obviously. why are you asking this. everyone knows this.
     
    HerolGee, Jun 9, 2017
    HerolGee, Jun 9, 2017
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  7. Mr.DagoWop

    Mr.DagoWop Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    The best guys just happened to be shorter. Height doesn't determine if you are a good fighter.
     
    Mr.DagoWop, Jun 9, 2017
    Mr.DagoWop, Jun 9, 2017
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  8. Big Red

    Big Red Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well, around the 1960s or 50s they started using growth hormones in the meat and dairy industry. So we all are on peds lol.
     
    Big Red, Jun 9, 2017
    Big Red, Jun 9, 2017
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  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    The population grew which increased the amount of larger individuals. Less than 2% of the population is 6'2" or taller.

    You can also trace increased height at light heavyweight and middle weight.
     
    Mendoza, Jun 9, 2017
    Mendoza, Jun 9, 2017
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  10. richdanahuff

    richdanahuff Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    This content is protected
     
    richdanahuff, Jun 9, 2017
    richdanahuff, Jun 9, 2017
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  11. The Ripper

    The Ripper Member Full Member

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    Bollocks all depends on your frame mike was 510 and it proves it just got your built
     
    The Ripper, Jun 9, 2017
    The Ripper, Jun 9, 2017
    #11
  12. The Ripper

    The Ripper Member Full Member

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    Bollocks all depends on your frame mike was 510 and it proves it just got your built
     
    The Ripper, Jun 9, 2017
    The Ripper, Jun 9, 2017
    #12
  13. The Kentucky Cobra

    The Kentucky Cobra Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    This is the same as the Marciano thread..just reworded
     
    The Kentucky Cobra, Jun 9, 2017
    The Kentucky Cobra, Jun 9, 2017
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  14. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    The "Marciano" thread referred to a development that occurred around the late 1950s/1960s; this thread refers to a different but related development that occurred in the 1970s.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Jun 9, 2017
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  15. The Kentucky Cobra

    The Kentucky Cobra Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Same answer. American men being better bed throughout the duration of their life after the Great Depression and Great Wars, produced an increase in bone density, which equates to heavier mass.
     
    The Kentucky Cobra, Jun 9, 2017
    The Kentucky Cobra, Jun 9, 2017
    #15
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