Biggest genetic freaks in each weight class?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Ironfox222, Jul 25, 2023.


  1. Ironfox222

    Ironfox222 Member Full Member

    116
    24
    Feb 20, 2022
    For heavyweight I have to say Mike Tyson
     
  2. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,248
    12,406
    Mar 2, 2006
    At junior middleweight I would say the 6'5 1/2" Sebastian Fundora and at light flyweight the 5'9" Joey Olivo.
     
  3. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,248
    12,406
    Mar 2, 2006
    Henry Armstrong - I once read that Armstrong had a slower heart rate and/or pulse rate than the average person, which enabled him to fight 3 minutes a round every round.

    Mike Weaver - when asked how much weight-training he did, he answered 'none'. He said his physique was simply good genes. His brothers had it and even his father had it, where they looked like body builders.
     
    Greg Price99 likes this.
  4. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,846
    9,300
    Dec 17, 2018
    BW - the 5ft 11ins Panama Al Brown, would be massively tall for a BW today, was insanely tall for a BW during the same day weigh in era, particularly back in the 1930's when the science of weight making wasn't what it would become.
     
  5. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,248
    12,406
    Mar 2, 2006
    Would I be out of line to mention 'Six-Heads' Lewis here?
     
  6. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    22,917
    25,674
    Jun 26, 2009
    George Foreman’s skeleton should be shipped straight to the Smithsonian when he dies. His bone size and density must be off the charts.

    Roy Jones Jr was also a freak. Maybe even a mutant. He should be tested for the X-gene for those reflexes … which to his credit he never cut corners on training due to his physical attributes. His six-pack has a six-pack.
     
  7. Sooncreate3

    Sooncreate3 Member Full Member

    278
    416
    Apr 23, 2020
    2 words: Naoya Inoue.
     
  8. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,352
    9,223
    Oct 22, 2015
    Thomas Hearns, a welterweight with a heavyweights height and reach, a Lt heavyweights power, speed of a lightweight.....Probably the most challenging welterweight in history....
     
    Clinton, Sailor Joe, Barm and 3 others like this.
  9. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 LONG LIVE WASHINGTON Full Member

    17,738
    19,745
    Sep 22, 2021
    Barbados Joe Walcott
     
    Sailor Joe likes this.
  10. Contro

    Contro Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,882
    4,694
    Jun 7, 2016
    Muhammad Ali/Mike Tyson/Ike Ibeabuchi/Tyson Fury at HW for different reasons.

    Roy Jones for 160-175.


    But the real freak is manny pacquiao.
    Hes explosive, a burst fighter like a canelo alvarez, mike tyson, Roy Jones yet has the punch output of a Chavez, margarito, marciano type grinder.
    How does an explosive, quick twitch fighter throw so many punches, never punch himself out and constantly bounce for 12 rounds?
    Its superhuman.
    Even though he was clearly on PEDs, i dont believe that alone would explain it or else there would have been others like him. Yet ive never seen it.
     
    Sailor Joe, Bokaj and Mike_b like this.
  11. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,896
    2,525
    Jul 9, 2020
    Tony Margarito was gigantic at welterweight/ junior middle weight. A shredded 6 footer.
     
    Terror likes this.
  12. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

    25,633
    16,542
    Apr 3, 2012
    Hugo Pineda at 140.

    Guillermo Jones at 147.
     
    Terror and Barm like this.
  13. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,553
    5,038
    Jan 7, 2007
  14. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    22,917
    25,674
    Jun 26, 2009
    Maybe it’s the title (‘biggest’) that has everyone going this way or it’s just how we all think, but I’m going to try to steer away from just ‘this guy is a genetic freak because he’s tall/big for his weight’ and stretch the envelope a bit.

    I don’t think Wilfred Benitez’s defensive skills were just gym-taught tactics that you could teach anyone else. Yes you could show any fighter how to slip punches but the anticipation … that’s a different animal. I think El Radar’s radar was a genetic gift — he knew intuitively what was coming probably before the opponent was going to throw it a lot of the time. Boxing just made some kind of sense to him on a — I hate to say it, but I will — borderline autistic level … maybe that’s not the right word, maybe it’s instinctive. Like a savant. He could pick up on someone’s rhythm and know where to be and where not to be (as far as being a target) while still in the pocket. So I’ll say that’s genetic freak material.

    I mentioned George Foreman above, but he was not only genetically big — as in not just tall but mass and bone density … his fists are the size (and hardness) of a couple of canned hams (can included) or frozen turkeys — but also his natural strength. I mean he pulled a truck around his backyard by a rope as an old man, and as a young man there’s the famous picture of him hoisting a freaking cow up over his shoulders and standing there holding it. That’s freaking ridiculous and you’ve got to have some genetic component to do that.

    Finally I’ll go with some obvious ones in a couple of categories — Julian Jackson’s explosive power was a gift, as were the durability and endurance (not as in conditioning, but literally the ability to endure and keep going through punishment) and, most of all chins of Randall Cobb and George Chuvalo.
     
  15. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

    6,401
    7,849
    Dec 18, 2022
    Barbados Walcott and Jeffries are good examples of genetic freaks