African Americans are bigger than most mainland Africans, but Nordic/Scandinavian whites tend to be larger as a group. But I think people from all ethnic backgrounds are getting taller. Here in Southern California, I see quite a few tall Asians and Latinos, something I don't recall seeing as much of 20 years ago (I'm 38). At 5'9 1/2", I always felt above average and in some cases semi-tall, but I don't feel that way anymore. The schools I went to always had a lot of Asians, and they were generally all shorter than I was. But things seem to be changing.
Why? The guys 40,and has always been built like a brick shithouse. He may have carried some excess fat at times, be he was always a beast. Just look at any of his old pics. His legs have ALWAYS been outrageously muscular. This is a guy who is barely 5'10,and weighed over 200lbs in his teens. In his prime,he weighed 225-230. Even when he weighed 245 against Lewis, you still wouldnt have referred to him as "fat". The guy (like lots of Samoans), is just a tank.
Yeah, people seem to get taller. I'm 30, 6'1 and when I compare myself to those around 20 now I feel average in Poland. These are apparently top countries when it comes to height (males), looks like you're right. Netherlands 181,0 5’11.3″ Iceland 179,8 5’10.8″ Norway 179,7 5’10.7″ Sweden 179,3 5’10.6″ Denmark 178,8 5’10.4″ Finland 178,4 5’10.2″
Here in the Netherlands the younger people (18-20) the guys on average are taller than 185cm, I'm 185cm and am slightly below average.
Tua has always looked like that, just not as lean. Still remember his epic battle with Ike Ibeabuchi.