Did Rocky Marciano disprove the connection between fist size and KO power?

I’m not sure if it was HIM who did it. But most of the body’s power comes from momentum delivered by the hips and the shifting of one’s weight. Of course having heavier hands and larger fists to cover more surface area probably ads to that effect

 

I don't think anyone ever cited fist ratio as the primary factor in power.

 

I don’t think fist size has anything to do with power at all. Having big hands and wrists is definitely an advantage for durability though.
I have tiny hands and small hand bones, I never really did any fighting but I could hit pretty hard when I was young and fit.
Punching power starts from the feet and is more about the whip that you generate through the body.

 

A larger surface area means that the power is somewhat dissipated as the pressure behind the force is spread out over a larger surface area.

A smaller fist that hits at the same 'power' and body mechanics as a larger fist actually applies more pressure to the temple or point of the chin than a larger fist.

Think swinging a sledgehammer versus swinging a dagger at the same soft tissue.

Obviously, correct hand, wrist and forearm alignment whilst delivering punches has an effect on long-term hand integrity.

 

Small fists have penetration.

 

I really don't think that you can link power to any physical attribute.

There have been murderous punchers who are stocky, and murderous punchers who are spare.

There have been murderous punchers with big hands, and murderous punchers with small hands.

Power is neuromuscular.

 

If you look at the details of his fights Marciano did not have tremoundous power he was more of a brawler who accumulated damage. How much more power did Marciano have then Manny Pacquiao?

Reach is one of the two types of ways you can class KO power the other way is not possible to measure and someone with small hands can have incredibly hard hands that make everything they touch explode. The problem with short arms is not that they can't have power but that a fighter has to cross more distance to land making it less and less likely they can succeed at HW where the opponent needs to cross a much smaller terrain.

Wild Bill Hanrahan or Langford had 74 inch reach, Tyson and Patterson had 71 and all your P4P small HW and LHW types were working with a longer reach because whether or not 66 has power its just really hard to work around. Look at a Mike Tyson and now take 5 inches away from his reach. At some point the distance becomes too great. I've done a census of HW contenders by reach and under 70 it just plummets regardless if theres power or not.

 

Larry Holmes hands are huge, not a lot of power overall. Edwin Rosario had "little girl hands" but a lot of power. Hand size is not the big factor in power. The body is a chain and how fighters use the chain is what matters most. I've see big muscular guys who couldn't crack an egg, and guys who looked like nothing who could put you down and out.

 

KO artists are born not made.

Yes some fighters suddenly improve their power after looking feather fisted, but we all know one of the question marks that comes up with that!

Hand size isn't a big factor for me, timing, speed, technique and shifting of weight far more so in my view.

 

Heavy hands are more destructive than big hands. Bone density. Powerful forearms as well

 

KO Artists are made.

 

I think Marciano was an exception to a ,lot of supposed boxing "truths" Ie size, reach hand size. nobody seemed to mention jack Dempseys "size" etc. He still has the on ly heavyweight zero ,losses. (Marciano)