6'3"-ish is a great height for a heavyweight

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by catchwtboxing, Mar 30, 2025.


  1. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Just so many more great heavies about this height than there are super-heavies, who, according to Anthony Joshua, have stamina problems.


    Muhammad Ali
    George Foreman
    Ken Norton
    Larry Holmes
    Oleksander Usyk
    Evander Holyfield (billed as 6'2.5")
    David Haye
    Max Baer
    Tim Witherspoon
    Tony Tubbs
    Pinklon Thomas
    Michael Dokes
    Donovan Ruddock
    Ron Lyle
    Alexander Povetkin.

    To name guys off the top of my head.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2025
  2. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yes 6 ft 3 is the "height of champions" but I feel lot of 6 ft 2s and 6 ft 4s on your list.

    Buster Douglas another great 6 ft 3.
     
  3. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Fight sports enthusiast Full Member

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    Holyfield is far from 6'3", in reality he's closer to 6'1". Larry Holmes a true 6'3" guy, was a couple inches taller than him. Foreman who was also a strong 6'3", dwarfed him.
     
  4. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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    Not a scientific theory but it does often appear that p4p skills diminish at a greater rate as fighters’ sizes progressively and incrementally exceed the 6’3” or thereabouts height/size threshold.

    Sure, you’ll still get fighters who “move well for their size” but you’re not going to get a guy like Ali who moved incredibly well in absolute terms.

    There are pros and cons to greater size and I think that Usyk advantaged himself optimally in respect of the cons when he moved up to HW, one of the cons not least being the far more limited fuel tanks of the SHWs.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2025
  5. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    "It's difficult to give an exact ratio of 6'5" people for every 6'3" person, as height distribution is a continuous variable, not a discrete one. However, based on statistics, for every 100 people who are 6'3", there are likely around 1-2 who are 6'5" or taller"
     
  6. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Foreman was a legit 6’4”. He was taller than Ali and Norton when he shared a ring with them, and taller than Holmes when standing next to him.

    and Lennox Lewis was a very legit 6’5”, looking at him standing next to guys like Fury and Usyk.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2025
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  7. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes, but if height were really that much of an advantage, you would still expect to see a lot more highly successful big men. We aren't talking about how many there are for all of humanity, we are talking about how many there are comparatively for heavyweight boxers, and that ratio is pretty easy to obtain.
     
  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Since 2000, we've had Vitali, Fury, Wlad, Wilder, and Joshua at the top. Usyk is outnumbered at a 5:1 ratio despite these guys appearing in the general population at about a 1:100 ratio compared to guys of Usyks height.
     
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  9. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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    Yes, we should also consider how Usyk’s size measures up against the size of fighters who are actually prepared to compete at HW these days.

    Meaning, how does Usyk’s size scratch up as a % of the whole given that perspective?

    That more bigger men have gravitated to the sport doesn’t necessarily support the argument that bigger is better - but given their increased (majority?) numbers, the probability of a bigger man rising to the top of the heap is in their favour.
     
  10. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Why did you arbitrarily choose 2000?

    Did we not also have Dabid Haye, Joe PArker, Alexander Povetkin.

    Fury- beaten by 6'3" Usyk
    Wilder- Beaten by 6'3" Parker
    Joshua- beaten by 6'3" Usyk
    Wlad- beaten by by 6'3" Ross Purity

    Yes, a magic number indeed.
     
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  11. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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    Yeah, I think Foreman was at least 6’3 1/2” in his absolute prime.

    George had a good inch on Ali in their perfectly framed face off in Zaire.

    I think Lewis was reliably reported as 6’4 3/4” when he was fully matured. Close enough to 6’5” so as to not quibble over it. Lewis has probably also lost a bit of height since his prime.
     
  12. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I did say 6'3"-ish.
     
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  13. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I know for a stone cold hard fact that Usyk is 6-2 & 277/332"
     
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  14. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    2000 isn't an arbitrary number. It's literally the start of a millenium.

    Haye, Parker, and Povetkin have never been at the top of the division. Nor has Valuev who dwarfed them and probably made more title defenses (not fact checking).

    Why are you arbitrarily cherry picking loses?

    You seem upset by statistical probabilities.
     
  15. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    It's simply an advantage, just like tall guys gravitating to basketball. I think you know that.
     
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