How much does weight training help? It certainly helped Holyfield as he moved up to HW, but what about the lower weight divisions? As they get bigger and stronger, they end up in a higher weight class against stronger opponents.
There’s different types of weight training, and muscle gains are only possible if you’re eating surplus calories to your maintenance level. At the lower weight classes they’ll naturally weight train, keeping their muscles conditioned, but it won’t be bodybuilding, which I think is what you’re referring to.
Yep this. You can actually get stronger and remain the same weight or even lose weight as strength has a large neuromuscular element and isn't exclusively reliant on increasing muscle mass. You look at any other sport strength and conditioning is a part of their training. From long distance runners, race car drivers, phuck sake even curlers. If these sports with such meager requirement for strength see the benefits why wouldn't it benefit boxers where there is a greater specificity and requirement towards strength and power?