Trying to decide the best weight for me. I want to go competitive soon. i'm 5"10 147 lbs Is this too light? Would it be better to stay at this weight, or do I need to put on more and reach 154-160?
Stay that weight unless you feel weak. It's nice and kind of tall for the weight class if you fight tall: range on the jab, some leverage on the dropping power shot. It's not Hearns tall, but it's De La Hoya kind of size. Bulking up is pointless unless you are unnaturally weak for the weight in boxing.
Thanks for the reply. I feel pretty comfortable at this weight, I've never been more. I was just wondering whether it would be slightly better for me to get to 154 or something
Yeah, no point in fighting naturally bigger guys. I never absorbed the shots from welterweights too good, the featherweights didn't tend to hurt me, and I felt weak and damaged and got tired more quickly below 118, so 126-130 at 5'8'' was ideal for me. Everyone's different, though. I just think bulking up serves no purpose in weight class sports, unless you are just cutting too much weight or simply not very strong. Muscular development is by and large irrelevant in a sport that relies on timing, toughness, precision, stamina, and explosiveness, though of course strength and conditioning are important, too.
Weird question. Are you strong for your size? Are you fit? Are you carrying much body fat? Eat well and train hard, whatever weight you fall at fight there. If you're just above a weight class then think about dropping some weight, if you fall in the middle and feel you can't make the lower weight class then maybe think about building a kilo or two of powerful muscle. It's important to have a good strength to weight ratio in boxing, it makes no sense to actively look to gain weight unless you can't make weight comfortably at a lower division.
