Foreman certainly didn't suck as a fighter in his second career. The man flattened Cooney, overwhelmed Qwai, gave Holyfield a great fight when the champion was in his prime, outpointed Alex Stewart, knocked out Michael Moorer, and deserved the decision over Shannn Briggs. You don't suck as a fighter and do that - especially in your 40s! Foreman was a much smarter boxers in his comeback, even if his tools remained the same. But I have discussed that in another thread. This one concerns height so let me address that: Why wouldn't having significantly more fat make you taller? Think about it. When you gain fat, your body enlarges. Fat cells grow on the bottom of your feet. That will make you taller. Fat cells grow on the top of your head. That will make you taller. Cells will grow between your vertebrae and joints. That will make your taller. Put it all together and it isn't hard to image than a man who is a tad over 6'3 become a tad under 6'4". Round down and up and you have the difference. It is true that you get shorter with age, but that is much later in life. Foreman was blessed with a long youth. He will be a big man for a long time. And he will be one of the greatest heavyweights to ever grace this sport forever. The man is a marvel. It was beating a rampaging Foreman that put Ali's singular greatness beyond legtimate dispute.
Excess weight might make a person shorter. All that excess baggage pulling down on a person's frame, putting extra stress on the vertebrae in the back.
I don't think people's heights change as their weight changes. And I don't believe most people start losing height in their 40's. Some people don't seem to shrink no matter how old they get. I'm nearly 85 years old and, according to my doctor's nurse, I'm the same height now as I was at 30 years old. Exactly when and how was George measured at 6'3"? If he was in his early twenties when that measurement was taken, he might have grown an inch. Some men eek out another inch during that time of life. Then again, maybe he stood up a little straighter when he was measured at 6'4". Also, I've heard that someone's height can vary nearly a half inch at different times during the day.
You make some good points! You are right - some people don't really shrink much when they age while other people shrink a lot. And the part about measuring different at different parts of the day is something that definitely happens to me....If I measure myself first thing in the morning, I'm 5'9 1/2". If I measure myself in the evening or at the end of the day, I'm just barely 5'9"......A lot of fighters' heights are probably measured with their boxing shoes on, so they gain a good inch or so in height.
Foreman and Holmes were always listed as 6'3". Then in 1990's, for some reason, they were always listed as 6'4" Holyfield is just under 6'1", but has been listed as igh as 6'2 1/2" Networks wants them to seem bigger I guess.