How many different height listings have you seen for boxers I've seen Joe Frazier listed as 6ft and then as 5ft 11.5 inches. George Foreman was once quoted as saying Frazier was 5ft 9 or maybe at least he looked that tall to Foreman Mike Tyson has been listed as 6ft measured at 5ft 11 and others have said he is 5ft 10.5 inches. George Chuvalo said he is about 5ft 10.5 inches on his tip toes. Oscar De La Hoya in his early career was listed as 5ft 11 and then later as 5ft 10.5. Sugar Ray Leonard was listed as 5ft 10.5 inches and he even stated he was actually 5ft 9.5. Some claim Tyson Fury is 7ft or 6ft 9.5 or just 6ft 9? What other height claims and exaggerations have you seen? Where are the most accurate listings of boxers heights or does it even really matter when compared to a boxer's reach or weight?
The Tyson Fury one still confuses me! Lol. I've seen a few where his height goes up - down. 7 ft - 6ft 9etc.
Fury is 6’7 at best All short squat looking heavyweights like Marciano, Tyson, Frazier, Tua, Bert cooper an Andy Ruiz have all been described as 5’10 at one point or another cos thats like the default heavyweight height for short squat looking heavyweights.
I wouldn't want to quantify specific examples, but it is obviously something that happens from time to time.
Ruiz isn't a short guy. It's deceptive due to the stubby arms and absurd BMI. I've also been in the same arena as Lamon Brewster and Tyson. Tyson struck me as being a huge guy, but I didn't get close to him. I remember Brewster being a lot smaller. I remember being taller than Brewster and notably shorter than Paul Williams. Brewster gets listed at 6'2, which is generous, but Williams has been listed as 6'1, which is absurd. He was 6'2 1/2 at minimum and his shoulders are up high which makes him seem even taller.
I've known several people who actually met Iron Mike and tell me he's maybe a shade above 5'10, no more.
Not height per se but in the deceptive size department: Ray Leonard said Thomas Hearns during their press tour always wore baggy cloths (making him look smaller since they were hanging off him) and would be stoop-shouldered and kind of looking at the floor or keeping his head down. I can’t remember if it was at the weigh-in or the fight itself, but he said Thomas took off his top (shirt or robe, again not sure if it was fight or weigh-in and then kind of flexed his cobra-like torso and widened at the top and stood up straight and Ray said he looked absolutely massive — that Hearns/Steward had probably schemed for him to come off as smaller or weaker and then suddenly Ray got a shock as to what he was really stepping into the ring with.
Diego Corrales is listed as 5’10 and a half on boxrec. I remember people saying he was 6 feet. On the segment before the Mayweather fight, someone from his camp claimed he was 6’1. Paul Williams is listed on boxrec as 6’1 with a 79 inch reach. I remember people saying he was 6’3 and articles listing his reach as 82 inches. I’ve read a bunch of heights for Tyson Fury. Same thing for NBA players, especially Kevin Durant.
The following listed, or once listed, heights all look exaggerated to me: Dillian Whyte 6ft 4ins David Haye 6ft 3ins Andy Ruiz 6ft 2ins Jermaine Taylor 6ft 1ins when active (now a more realistic 5ft 11ins on Boxrec) JJW 6ft Floyd Paterson 5ft 11.5ins Mike Tyson 5ft 11-5ft 11.5ins (when he was fighting, now listed as a more accurate 5ft 10ins on Boxrec) Amir Khan and Ricky Burns were both listed as 5ft 10ins at points in their career Scott Quigg 5ft 8ins - I remember being surprised when the 5ft 6.5ins listed Rendall Munroe towered over him as the ref gave them pre-fight instructions
Cleveland Williams rated as 6ft 4 but he is really 6ft 2. Height of Rocky Maricano and Tyson is also exaggerated for about 1 inch.
I tell you what’s really annoying. You wanna know? Probably not but I’ll tell you anyway. When two fighters finally hit the ring for the all important pre fight instructions face off. Perfect opportunity to compare the combatants, right in each other’s zone, face to face. So what do they do with that? They use some BS, quirky angle, maybe pointing up from the ground or what not or even just pointing the camera at each fighter in insolation but never together in the same frame. Dumb AF! LOL. These dudes are getting taller, they need to move with taller cameramen! Unless they’re trying to visually exaggerate their heights. One of the better face offs filmed and photographed was that of Foreman and Ali in Zaire. Pretty square, both in frame, including vision from behind each man’s back IIRC. Tbh, Foreman appeared close to 1 inch taller imo. Back then, most thought Ali was a full 6’3” so, in relative terms, sometimes it was possible to float Foreman as being 6’4” or very close to. Even Bugner was getting as high as 6’5” such was his height pull on Ali. Now we know Ali was more like 6’2 1/2” - so, at least by my reckoning, GF might’ve been 6’3 1/4” to 6’3 1/2” max. and GF was listed as the latter height at least for his fight vs Ronnie Lyle. There’s several photos of Holmes and Foreman together - weird angles again, Larry appears clearly taller but I doubt that would be the case. I find it strange also that I can’t find any live vision of Larry and George together despite them obviously appearing in public together. Waddup wit dat?
I think George is more like 6-4 or so. He also has incredible bone density and size — there was film of him getting gloved for one of his second-career fights on HBO and it took two men tugging mightily to get his hand inside a 10-ounce glove. Getting hit by George was like getting whopped on the head by a canned ham or a frozen turkey. When he dies, they need to ship his skeleton to the Smithsonian. Also, I have it on good authority that Midget Wolgast was really 6-foot-11.
I think Mike’s height has been a point of contention ever since his early days as a up and coming contender. This content is protected
