Yes. It happens, and not only in boxing. I am 6 feet even, in bare feet. In flat heels I have looked down on people who claimed to be over 6 feet tall, and one in particular claimed to be 6 feet 2 inches. I understand that some people measure in shoes, but this woman is lucky if she is 6 feet even, with normal shoes on. She is probably 6 feet 2 inches with 3 inch heels.
Was that before or after the thspinal injury though? He was a shorter HW but for most of his career he really fought short. After practicing moving with legs far apart and a hunch and keeping your chin tucked and such that has to become a bit of a habit outside the ring too. Hearns was the opposite, he was tall and fought tall for the most part then he had the big hair too. I'm surprised fighters don't try to play down their height a little to make the opponent feel smaller on fight night.
I always wonder about fighters who fight with big hair. Hearns with the afro sometimes. Lewis with the dreads. Doesn't it make you get extra hot? I always figured if I were an athlete, I'd just buzz my head every few days. Why bother with hair in a case like that. edit: I guess it's a style thing? I've seen a lot of NFL guys playing with dreads, now that I think about it.
5’10” sounds about right for Arguello but I do have a recollection that 5’ 9 1/2” might’ve been circulated for him also. Not a big diff. Anyway, this pic seems to uphold Arguello in the above range:- https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/507499451734537010/
The funny thing is that so many people inflate their heights they create a false impression what a certain height actually looks like per the eye test. As an example, a real 6’1” might often be inflated to 6’2” - so it might seem the person is telling the truth. I might not get the answer I want to support my theory BUT, since you’re a true 6’ bare feet, I’ll make a small bet that people often guess you to be taller? Particularly when you have enough other shorter (than yourself) ladies claiming to be 6’2”. You’re grandad or pop is about 6’7” right?
Leonard and Arguello look about the same height and Danny Lopez not far off. I've seen scores of photos like that with boxers of different weight categories and if you didn't know, you'd never guess who was in what weight division
I am a true 6 feet, but you are correct in that many think I am taller than that. In fact, one guy, who was about 5 feet 8, guessed my height at 6 feet 3 inches. As for Granddad, I have heard some say he looks 7 feet tall!
Bob Foster might be one of the more accurate listings. Mostly detailed as 6’3 1/2” (maybe I also saw 6’4” one time) - he holds up to that next to the likes of Ali and Ken Norton, over both of whom he had an edge.
Whyte will be about 6ft 3ins - 6ft 3.5ins Reason being, my brother is about 6ft 2ins and a lad who he used to spar with is slightly taller than my brother, this lad also sparred with Joseph Parker and they had a picture together and Parker was noticeably taller, with Whyte being a tad smaller he will be there or there abouts.
6' is a round # so it is even more likely to be overstated. For example Floyd Patterson was a bit shorter. Like 2' 7" tops. This is why he had to use the leaping left or "Gazelle Punch". He was just so fast you could not tell that he was constantly jumping up to land any punches.