What is the fixation of weight on the heavyweights of the past?

If ever you could get rid of illegal practices fighters would go back to shorter careers and a lighter weight. We could make fair comparisons between eras too.

 

They looked like fighters back then Richard. Either blobs or bodybuilders now.

 

LOL Okay no. They were less muscular, less weight lifting and protein does that but there were no shortage of fatties.

 

I definitely miss the days when heavyweights were smaller and had more mobility. Thankfully we still have some guys that still fit that bill like Uysk but I respectfully disagree with the notion that these guys today are not in good shape or are bad athletes.

If you look across the board in most sports athletes are bigger now and in a most of cases every bit as athletic. The NFL and MLB athletes in particular have really grown over the last 30 years or so. Even none athletes are bigger now likely because of all the crap that is on our food today. Of course there are some folks that use steroids but I can tell you that the younger guys at the gym I fight at are all super diet and workout conscious unlike when I was competing in the 80's/early 90's when most of the trainers didn't want us lifting weights because they thought it made us slower.

There is simply more information for guys today related to nutrition and strength and conditioning but I do think the draw back is fighters are not focusing on building their boxing skill set as much as they tryimg to gain a physical edge.

 

Absolutely agree!

Making broad statements about how today's heavyweights are nothing but a bunch of untrained fatties, who gas after 6 or 7 rounds... it's just ridiculous! Obviously an agenda-driven attempt to "prove", how much boxing has devolved over the past decades.

 

Yup, Galento sure looked like the epitomy of being in shape

 

No there weren't as many fatties. Unless you count two Ton Tony.

 

Most looked soft then, but actually yeah not many I need to take back my words.

 

I think that stage where they really started looking porky was the late 70 s. Then by the time they hit the alphabet boys.. Well then we saw some real blubber boys.

 

I like your comment on," a heavier fighter is favored when no style or class advantage exists", That is spot on. It's why I've always said Marciano could never beat say a George Foreman since Rocky has zero style or class advantages. But look at the Duran Barkley fight, physically Duran had no business in the ring with him but he was a class above Iran with an advantage in his boxing style. Good one.

 

There is a point where size is irrelevant in the sport. It’s a matter of what you think that size is. Most heavyweight champions were below 200 pounds I believe so it kind of clashes w the size queens arguments. I think a 180 pound man is capable of knocking out anyone. Steroids have made it possible for men to put on a lot more functional mass. So who knows what men of yesteryear would have weighed today. Weights important so long as it’s functional. It’s only functional today due to PEDS