Heavy weight boxing: Is mass from body fat just as useful as sarcoplasmic hypertrophy?

I'd say it's harmful since it takes more oxygen to use, which drains your stamina and speed whilst providing no benefit to your raw strength or force output

Boxers today carry high bodyfat because we're in a weak era that lacks conditioning and dedication imo

 

Muscle is going to sap oxygen as well, especially when overmuscled.

The reason why heavyweight boxers today look softer than those in the 80s and 90s is because those eras were full of rampant juicing by the likes of Holyfield, Tyson, Morrison and Briggs.

If you look at rugby players it is the reverse. A few decades ago the players were much much smaller but now they are superhuman, absolutely jacked and carrying ridiculous size because they are all on testosterone and growth hormone.

Pretty ridiculous to dismiss today’s heavyweights as “lacking dedication”. There will be some seriously motivated contenders out there inspired by the mega paydays a fight with someone like Joshua can land them.

 

The answer to this is yes, fat still adds weight. BUT, I'd rather take the hypertrophy route, not only does it look better, but you also gain some strength advantage and support to your skeletal structure. The reality is THOUGH, weight is weight. Doesn't matter if the guy weighs 240lbs of hypertrophied muscle, or 240lbs of excessive fat, if he knows how to use his body weight behind clinching, leaning, and punching, it's going to feel the same regardless. In the end, it's a gloved hand that's smacking into the opponents face and that's where the impact is concentrated on and traveling towards the opponent, how and what causes the weight behind it is inconsequential, what matters is the weight. I would know, my fat ass has been competing at heavyweight against much taller and hypertrophied guys, and I've had great success, much more so than my looks would lead people on to believe at least.