Average weight of top 10 HW fighters throughout history

I didn't calculate the exact change but I remember seeing the majority of guys were 6'3 with 1 or two above and a couple below, 6'1" was on the bottom of the spectrum. For '67 the average was probably somewhere around 6'0 with 6 guys being at or below that mark. 4 out of the 6 being below with 5'10.5 being the shortest.

 

Average height of some of these years in cm (one inch is 2,5 cm)

2007: 193,4 cm

1987: 189,36 cm

1977: 188,55 cm

1967: 186 cm

So while height has increased as well, it doesn't seem to have increased on par with the weight increase. From 1967-1987 the weight increase per inch was around 12 lbs. From 1987-2007 the increase was around 21 lbs per inch. The increase in bulk relative to height was in other words almost the double between 1987 and 2007 compared to 1967-1987.

 

Height plays a role. You just don't many top ten ranked 5'7" to 5'9" middles these days. Years back, they were more common.

 

The population has jumped quite a bit since 1950's, therefore you have more people living over 6'4" tall. But people are getting taller each generation for the most part.

 

I'd also add increased focus on training in intervals and training with weights.

 

Is it possible that our modern lifestyles also contribute to this?
Like in Dempseys day, I assume people were more active throughout the day. Taking long walks and not sitting still for long periods of time. Unlike today where we have TV, computers, etc.

Think about the popular themes of old school boxing training. Very long outdoor runs, lots of hiking and walking.

They did use those pulley weights which is way less common now.

Also aren't today's contenders usually older than they used to be. Lots of proespects today are 27 years old. This is when their bodies start to slow down and build strength.

 

In the last 100 years, American average height for men has increased by only three inches.

 

That could be due to no more same day weigh ins. A natural 160 fighter can cut down to 147 or even 140 in some cases that wouldn't be there 40 years ago.

 

True and that could also be due to immigration. 100 years ago Jews, Irish, and Italians were pouring into the US. If I'm not mistaken those aren't very tall ethnic groups so perhaps the mixing of ethnicities through reproduction increases the average height over time by decreasing the amount of pure Jews, Irish, and Italians.

 

Do you think anyone wanted to come in fighting Mike Tyson light? Biggs, Frazier, and Spinks were bodybagged. That's the time when the weight increase happened.

 

This is probably the most accurate theory

 

But now we are the most YOKED country on this, or any other, planet, brah.

 

From 1245 BC to 1225 BC there was a huge growth spurt in the heavyweight division.