Does size count even just a little bit?

I've no idea tbh. I think probably around the time of Mancini vs Kim when a lot of the rules changed.

It's hard to say because every increase of weight will sacrifice something else.

If I was Rocky's trainer and he was hell bent on challenging Joshua I would definitely advise him to add some muscle.

 

There are probably quite a few guys out there who fight at heavyweight and have the scales rigged to make them heavier, or weigh in with weights in their shoes, or fully clothed. Promoters probably worry that certain guys will come in too light and it won't look good, and that's sorted out.
People here take the official weights too literally. At heavyweight it doesn't matter what they weigh so I doubt the official weights mean much at all.

 

Fighter's adjust to the times and situation.

In the 50s, Heavyweights only had to weigh over 175 and the top fighters usually didn't weigh much more than that so there was no reason to add bulk. So you had lots of 180-190 guys active in the division.

In the 90s, Heavyweights have to weigh over 200 so Holyfield bulked up to the minimum amount of 205. Put Holyfield in the 50s, he would probably settle in that 180-190 range. Put Ezzard Charles in the 90s, he would probably bulk up to 205.

In modern lighter classes, guys jump around the few modest pounds in the division as a business move. They may not like their chances against a title holder in that division or the options, so they jump up a class or down one.

 

Yes, I just watched some Gerry C00ney fights. He was what 220lb 6'6"? For a giant he was fast and had the ability to shorten his shots and fight inside and I remember reading an interview with him years ago where he says something like "yes I was pretty good for a time but once you lose that half second of timing you lose that inch of space and positioning to do it"

With PEDs C00ney would be 270lb and possibly half the fighter skill wise but possibly even more effective because at that size he won't rely on timing. He could slobber all over a guy with half the effort.

I don't think there is a 270lb 6'6" guy capable of that timing or foot positioning or ever can be,, but of course they will never need to.

And that is why the division is what it is.

 

When did the official ruling come into force though? Say if GGG wanted to fight Ward at SMW, GGG should be able to come in at MW if he decides to.

 

I agree.
I don't know what the official rules are. I believe the NY boxing commission might have been stipulating things around certain fights on this issue way back in the 1930s, but we can see it wasn't across the board.
For example, Billy Conn was officially 174 when he faced Joe Louis, and Ray Robinson was officially 157 when he faced Joey Maxim. On the other hand, I think (i might be wrong) Henry Armstrong was told to weigh over a certain amount to challenge Barney Ross for the welterweight crown because he was at that point a featherweight champion and perhaps the thought of a 126 man get battered by a 145 pound man worried the commission. As we know, Armstong ended up doing the battering anyway.

 

That's what I was going to get at, Conn weighed in under the LHW when he fought Louis in 1941.

 

Seems fair all in all.

 

Pac came in lighter than WW when he faced Margo at LMW.

Maybe there is no official rule, but I couldn't picture a trainer allowing anyone under 200 to fight at HW, they would just be able to fight at CW instead.

Tell you what though, I reckon the next decade is gonna be telling.

Breidis, Usyk, Gassiev are all looking very skilled.

Any of those does a job at HW and we can all breathe a sigh of relief

"So the former CW men aren't too small after all"

That will be my reaction anyways.

 

I reckon any boxer can increase weight, it's just the more weight increased the more you have to sacrifice skill wise.

Tua, Norris, Toney could all hold the extra weight and still be an athlete.

Haye has shown he can hold 230 quite easily.

It's all about what works best in that situation imo.

All 3 of those I mentioned could be the next HW champ but all 3 started off at CW.

That's the most likely scenario for any classically sub 200 man imo. Forge a name at CW, jump up for the big fight at HW and finish a career their.

I just don't see anyone willingly fighting in the modern division below 200.

 

It depends on bone structure and an individual boxer's fighting style.

 

Everybody is assuming that banging on muscle would automatically slow someone like Marciano down, that might not be the case at all. That muscle might give him more explosive speed and power.

 

Marciano might be able to carry muscle and not be slowed down. He's still going to be 5'10 with short stubby arms though.