We hear this term "natural weight class" thrown around a lot. It's ambiguous, but also extremely relevant. People are different sizes naturally and that's just the way it goes. In my opinion the weight class that you're most comfortable fighting at around age 25 is your natural weight class. At that time your speed and your power potential is basically maxed out. And your stamina is really high and about as good as it probably will get. And the body has completed it's growth. Look at the guys through history and it seems like the weight they were fighting at age 25 matches up with what many deem their optimal weight class (physically not skill) and most natural weight. Hearns-154 Robinson-147 Duran-135 Pacquiao-126 RJJ-168 Floyd-135 Arguello-130 Leonard-147 Cotto-147 DLH-147 Morales-126 Barrera-122 Pretty much matches up wouldn't you say?
Nah, I think that's more like your prime weight class is what you're describing, but for me natural is the lowest weighclass a fighter can make fairly comfortably. So e.g. Mayweather for me at the moment is a natural 147lber, he's grown into that weight class. However, he was at his best you could argue in a lower weight class (130 is usually considered the weight class he was at his peak).
Well I thought 135 was his best class, but that's just me. Pacquiao is a good example of what I'm trying to illustrate. His best weight class physically was 126. That's where his attributes were at their peak. His skills continued to develop throughout his career which is normal.
Those numbers don't look right. Hearns bone structure of a light heavy. Robinson bone structure of a super middleweight. Duran 135-140 is about right. Pacquiao only made 126 by cutting 9 or 10 pounds. He has the same measurements as Duran. RJJ likewise weight cutting, bone structure of a light heavy. Floyd weight cutting era, 145 is about right which is what he weighs now that he's not cutting weight. Arguello had middleweight measurements. He only made 130 by being abnormally skinny. Some guys can do that with the right diet, some guys can't. You could argue that he was exploiting the weight class rules to fight naturally much smaller guys though. Leonard 154 would be my guess. Cotto would be 140 without the weight training and roids. De La Hoya middleweight measurements. Morales has welterweight measurements. Barrera about 130.
25 is the age your mind is said to have just entered adult hood but I do not agree it's where your bodies physical prime lies. I would say it's much later, years after learning about your body, how best it moves, at what weight do you get the most productivity out of your body, and while you're still able of doing it. This is age is most said to be about 32 for athletes, and you could still make up for (exceed) loss of mobility with experience so it may still not be your overall prime.
Yes, but they're not natural 126 or 135 lbers anymore, they wouldn't be able to make those weight classes, they outgrew them, so the way I view the term they are now naturally 140 and 147 lbers. I get what you mean though, I think we just have different definitions. I'm not sure I'd agree that the body stops growing at 25 though.
I get what you're saying too. Fighters as they get older can no longer fight in their optimal weight classes due to age and gaining weight. But isn't it a little conspicuous that most fighters most dominant weight class (physically) seems to be the one where they were fighting at around age 25?
Height doesn't equal your natural weight. Mike Tyson is a natural HW. Just the way it is. Ray Robinson who is taller is a natural WW. People are built differently.
