The bigger is better theory, a history.

There has been an increased trend from at least the 70s onwards for heavier, taller, rangier HWs. Its not just a few fighters but the average weight/height of the top 10.

Its also a myth that fighters used to train down and only recently started to bulk up, although it is easier now. Jack Johnson purposely added bulk, as did Patterson, and even Dempsey/Marciano also talked about adding bulk from what I read. Obviously they tried to come up in tip top shape.

Primo Carnera and Jess Willard may have been big but they clearly don't have the same skill sets or physical athleticism as modern SHWs like Lennox, Vitali, Bowe, Wlad

Fighting isn't just about size but the old adage 'a good big man beats a good little man' usually carries weight. What's more good big men like Lewis aren't necessarily even P4P worse than smaller men like Dempsey/Marciano

 

Very interesting your post...I remember that Nat Fleicher who saw them all was often quoted as saying "Any 195 fighter if good enough, was big enough to ko any much larger men ".He was quoted during Joe Louis's reign, and I concurr with that theory...History has proven that statement to be true...Fitz, Langford, Dempsey, Louis,for examples crushed bigger,
and less agile men often...
Years ago the heavyweights were trained down to theiur LEANEST weight
unlike todays body builders dreadnaughts...If you look at some heavyweights of the early 30s,many were 6ft.2 to 6ft.5, but as in the case for example, of Maxie Baer,who had the widest shoulders in boxing
was trained down to 205-10 lbs..Boxing trainers at that time knew that
bigger is not necessarily better...Like a car dragging a trailer in the back
you sacrifice speed for bulk...

 

If you're a better fighter then you have a much better chance of winning, nothing is certain, but being better>having bigger dimensions

 

Its about using what you have, if you are a naturally 190lb guy, bulking up to 230lbs isnt going to do you any favours. The Klitschko's are big guys but they box at a weight where they are fit and lean, not fat/muscle bound and slow.

As long as you are lean and near your natural weight, you will be good, no matter the size.

 

Which is true, although I believe Vitali was only 200lbs in his early 20s, here he is kickboxing

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTYjTvwOC6M[/ame]

 

Okay, then Powerpuncher, here is something for you to think about. Heavyweights started to appear bigger in the 70s. This coincides with what event? Could it possibly be the introduction of the Cruiserweight division? Meaning fighters under 190 simply didnt fight those over 190 anymore?

Looking back, the light heavyweight titles were introduced in 1903, and this corresponded with another lift in the weight of the contenders, as fighters who were just over the middleweight limit had a different title to fight for.

The other thing which tended to happen at around about the 70s, is that sanctioning bodies were introduced and (unless i am mistaken) they stopped sanctioning fights where fighters were different weights. If bob Fitzsimmons were around in the same shape today, he would not be allowed to fight at his best weight, if he wanted to win the world Titles.

Now things are made even harder nowadays by sanctioning bodies, because there are so many of them. You can no longer be 21 years old, beat the champion and be the king of the world. You have to get a shot at the title, defend a couple of times until your get a unification chance, defend a couple more times for the third title, go back and beat the champ of your first belt because you were stripped for not defending it, fith one of the other 8 champions who are a class above or below you, then after you do that, your career is nearly over, but you can then have a chance to go up a weight limit to light heavy (or heavy if you are middleweight). Problem is, by this time, you are getting old and naturally ready for the taking, at any weight. Recently the fighters who went up late were guys like Jones and Toney. They were shells of themselves when they went up but still beat several contenders and were competitive. When jones went down, he couldnt compete like he used to with the light heaavys, which proves this. Chris byrd was the same. He wasnt as good as either as a smaller fighter but had a better heavy career, yet he was KOd when he went down in weight. For some reason heavys get the excuse of weight drain and being passed it when they lose to light heavys, but it doesnt seem to work the other way around.

Add to all this, that fighter dont fight every couple of weeks or months, which means they dont get the opportunity or experience. In the older days, you could lose plenty, but come back and learn from it and go on to be considered invincicle. Nowadays it is very hard to do it because you dont fight enough. And if you arent gaining experience by fighting often, Size will overcome your skill more often.

Also, in the todays age, is it any coincidence that the Klitchsko's are champions? They are a throwback to the old days. Both are always in shape (unlike their opponents), they look lean, like the older fighters, obviously train for conditioning, they fight regularly as possible, similar to the older fighters. Wlad became unbeatable when he started using the clinch effectively, which is an old time technique, and he keeps things very basic with mostly 2 or 3 punch combos at the most, which is what a lot of old timers are criticised for doing. Vitali is an even bigger throwback. He has an old time stance, low guard, lean back defending etc. Why is it that these two old timers are so dominant? Is it because they dont have to fight the smaller fighters like Dempsey, Sharkey etc

 

Wow.. No wonder why put on all that weight using steroids. He was banned from the olympics for steroid use.

PowerPuncher,

I don't know about Dempsey, but Marciano used to train down from 210lb to hit 185lb. He ran alot, in fact he ran too much. Ate away at some of his muscle IMO(doing 15 miles a day would)..Imagine if he went on one of your creatine programs along with weight lifting. Like you said, creatine doesn't have any negative affect. Rocky wont lose stamina.

 

Bigger IS better----When the bigger dude is highly skilled.........

MR.BILL

 

that's interesting.

the fighters who are generally agreed to be using old school techniques are very difficult opponents, witness bernard hopkins.

 

Settle this with a Froch-Mayweather super fight. Imagine the build up...

 

If two fighters are equally skilled, but the other guy is bigger then size is a deciding factor. The bigger guy has an upper hand.

 

"Mayrunner-Froch" ain't gonna take place.........:-(

Mayrunner cannot fight and be effective at 160 to 168 pounds......:-(

MR.BILL:hat

 

not a great theory unless the bigger guy is more skilled. Even then it can be a disadvantage at times.