is conditioning overrated with heavyweights?

It's possible, like in the case of Povetkin, to not look fit and be very fit. Arreola is not in that category though, he is in the category of Sam Peter as someone who is eating himself into a terrible career. Cris has slowed down alot, and he wasn't fast in the first place. As for stamina his fights haven't gone long enough to tell, he went 8 rounds back when he was 235 pounds. He's not getting Vitali out of there early so he'd better come in good shape.

 

Conditioning doesn't have to mean ripped. You still need to put the work in to have the stamina.

 

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I bet there is some really good sumo wrestlers in freestyle MMA fighting. One day there will be a successful sumo wrestler that makes the transition to Heavyweight boxing.

 

Conditioning has nothing to do with how you look. It has to do with your ability to hold up for 12 hard rounds. Arreola has light tower power so he can get away with his overly bulbous gut. The problem is Vitali Klitschko has a cement head and I can see Arreola tiring long before Vitali does.

 

Conditioning isn't overrated, but the way somebody looks is overrated. The guys back in the 80's before Tyson came along and cleaned house were good looking guys, but they had very limited boxing skills.

 

I'm lovin' those metaphors man, I'm going to have to steal "light tower power" :good

 

To be fair, it's an old baseball term. I'm just trying to bring it to boxing

 

Do I really need to answer this????? I dont think so.

 

What compared to the technical wizards of today?

Are you talking about Larry Holmes here? Ol Larry had more skills in his left pinky then 90% of heavies around in this era.

 

Many fighters have had poor conditioning who looked like Hercules! It's not how you look, it's how you train. Conditioning is not overrated in any division, it's extremely important. Toney Galento anyone? Valouev can go 12 rounds as huge as he is. Vitali and Vlad can go 12 without any problems, they stay in shape.

 

I don't think Sumo matches last all that long. Brute stringht for a few seconds is probbly an advantage in that sport. In boxing you need to make your stamana last for up to 36 minnuets.

 

How could conditioning be overrated ?

Is having a good left hook overrated ?

 

Conditioning - no.

Aesthetic appearence, especially on ESB - yes.