Average weight of top 10 HW fighters throughout history

There's been a lot of discussion lately about the size of HW fighters and how it has developed. As a maths teacher I'm quite a stats geek so I've done some minor research.

I took the top ten of the TBRB for this year (last weight of every fighter in 2016) and then the top ten of the ring rankings for every previous decade (last weight of every fighter in the previous year).

Just to compare and contrast some of the results.

There is no context here whatsoever, just pure number work.

2017 = 244.1
2007 = 247.2
1997 = 230.8
1987 = 213.9
1977 = 210.7
1967 = 198.2
1957 = 192.1
1947 = 200.3
1937 = 194.2
1927 = 199.3

Make of that what you will gents.

 

Well Wilder is the lightest man in the top ten and he has a realistic chance of unifying.

So I guess to be a sub 220 champion today you have to be a little bit better than Wilder since he's a bit bigger than 220 recently (although he was below 220 when he won his title)

To answer the question about CW though it's more to do with what a natural division is these days. The HW division has been massive for the last 20 years since the CW limit was highered. It makes sense to build a profile at CW then move up for the big fight, that seems to be what happens now.

The notable CW sized HW fighters of the past decade are probably Byrd, Haye, Adamek, Chambers and you could argue Wilder.

Of those 2 made a name at CW before moving up, the other 3 were willing to be naturally outweighed against their opposition.

I wonder if there's any CW men right now that weigh more than Wilder on fight night. That would be interesting wouldn't it.

Then again it could be that Wilder gets destroyed by Joshua and Parker and we never again see someone that size in the division. I doubt that highly because Usyk will move up at some point.

 

Typo, well spotted.

 

I'm not sure if it's a mindset thing or not. With Lewis, Vitali then Wlad being on top for so long boxers might have spent their career heavier so they can compete on a more even playing field if they get a shot.

I don't know.

It could be that weight training is better now and people can more effectively put on weight, or the outlier theory as you say.

I don't know the answer.

 

But Wilder could have made cruiser weight for a large portion of his career. Probably not any more though but still he's not far above 220 himself which was was the cut off you used.

Wilder isn't the best ATM, but he has a realistic chance of being the best one day, despite his lighter weight.

Yes I agree about the height, that's exactly the reason Marciano is so divisive in these discussions because with him it's his whole frame which is smaller in every aspect. Most other champions throughout history aren't that much shorter or less reach than modern HW men, they just weigh a lot less.

Discussing success of past greats who weight above 200 is a discussion about style. Those who weighed below 200 is a discussion about size. That's the key difference for me.

He really can which throws a spanner in the works of those who think the division is too big for former CW men to compete in.

 

Up until 1967 they'd all be CW divisions today on average.

77 and 87 are traditionally considered HW sizes on average.

Since then it's been above 230 which is a safe definition for SHW.

Looks like in the 70's either PEDS were introduced or people got bigger naturally through diet or training.

 

Obviously the change of 15 round era makes a huge difference. From 15 to 12 is a 20% decrease.

So the same men don't have to be as conditioned in terms of stamina. It became more about strength and making an impact over shorter rounds.