Ryan Garcia can barely bench a plate?

Yeah not being able to bench your body weight is pretty damn weak, I'm significantly smaller than Garcia and bench more than that as a warm up.

But having said that you have to look at that in context. If he's never benched before then that movement pattern will be totally alien to him and there's a big neurological element to strength. Give him a couple of weeks benching and he'll likely put that weight up easily simply because it won't be a totally new movement to him.

 

Benching is near useless in this sport. It's only application is pushing your opponents away. Real power comes from the legs and back.

Look at Joe Louis, Ali, Floyd, etc. All had chests with much to be desired.

Let alone benching is a very specific, controlled movement across a very specific distance.

He's also 135 ffs.

 

I'm a Ryan hater but this thread is ridiculous. The boxing form is to be appreciated, and I've always enjoyed making observations as to what the optimal body would look like. Look at the builds of the greats. Look at my avatar. Look into his eyes.

 

He looks well for 135, most people don’t get to reach that age.

 

Is this becoming a BB forum, or Boxing one?
And when the f**** has benching or similar typical fitness weight exercise equality strength ? It's simple does not.

And just like everything, it's come with time and repetition. He is probably benching lower weights or not benching at all. Nothing wrong with it. He doesn't need it.
It's not even Boxing related. But as a whole to all Martial Arts. Training for self-defense or fighting is different to just casually go and train for muscle, typical EGO fitness training or BB or powerlifting related one.

 

I don't get why people are making such a big deal about it. Garcia isn't a bodybuilder, his frame is quite slim and if you've never lifted before everyone knows you got to work your way up. Him not being able to lift his own weight at this starting point isn't surprising.

 

This, and even if you are lifting before, and hitting high weight, if you stops for a while, injury or whatever, you still have to climb the stairs again, and will struggle even with lower weights.

 

This.

 

Its not anywhere near the most important thing but I think strength training is definitely helpful as long as you dont end up packing on too much muscle mass to the extent that youre hindering your cardio and mobility. Its always good to be sturdy in anything that involves serious physical contact.

 

But strength training for fighters is completely different to strength training for the typical gym visitors, BBs and so on.

Lifting typical fitness exercise will do absolutely nothing for your power, speed, cardio, etc. It's actually going to hurt you, especially if you go for high weights.

 

How much can a mountain lion bench? Not much i bet, but he would still tear your ass up in a fight.

 

Not necessary. Just take a look at the "Superstars" TV show, which Smoking Joe attended in 1973. Couldn't quite lockout a 140lbs shoulder press. Talking about skills and punching power.

 

It's funny, I've been doing weight training recently and I've noticed my mobility, flexibility and cardio suffer because of it. I feel sturdier yet feel taut. Boxing is about speed, flexibility and body mechanics. The concentration on muscle mass is a fairly modern phenomenon and it's not necessarily proven successful. How many boxers do you hear about who never do weights - a fair few: James Degale, Ryan Garcia, who else is there??

 

Damn, didn't know so many people in this community were non athletes. The fact that some of you:

A. Didn't know a barbell weighed 20kg.

B. Think that a 70kg man struggling to bench press 60kg is "pretty good" is astonishing, jesus.

It's not about being a bodybuilder, it's about not being weak as ****. Are there diminishing returns to strength training? Of course. Plus most of the strength from a punch comes from your legs and torso anyway, but not even being able to shove an opponent that weighs LESS than you away with your arms? He'd get absolutely obliterated by an inside or "roughhouse" fighter.

Martial artists and practitioners of older sports are notorious for their conservatism towards science based training but damn, that's embarrassing.

 

I get your point but Kevin Durant's biggest offensive weakness is his lack of physical strength lol.