Weights and boxing

What muscles look like to the naked eye gives absolutely zero indication of what they are capable of in an athletic capacity.

 

I started weight lifting probably 10 years ago. I also started boxing around the same time. I stretch before and after every workout to keep flexibility and to make sure I don't tear a muscle before hand. I've now competed in a couple of power lifting competitions, but I box (in some capacity) 5x a week still.
If you build muscle slowly and correctly, and don't just BULK UP, continue to throw hands, work at least an efficient amount of cardio, stretch, etc I've not noticed a bit of difference in my hand speed. If anything I'm way more athletic and quick since I've started shadow boxing more, and incorporating more movement in my mit work.
I wouldn't say I'd be able to keep up round after round with a guy who has a lot leaner muscle than me, but in an actual fight where I could use my raw strength more, throw hard shots, work my dirty boxing more then I beleive I got a big advantage. Plus, I've noticed with my neck muscles, strong legs, etc I can take a much better punch.
It's fine for the streets, or if your able to knockout somebody Mike Tyson style, but look at David Haye or Jeff Lacy for your answer to hardcore lifters and boxing. Big punchers, good fighters (debatable), but they do gas at least by the middle of the fight. I don't compete in that high of capacity so I'm happy with my extra muscle.

 

Why do you think you'd be able to use your raw strength more in an actual fight if that's not your natural fighting style. There are monster-muscled heavyweights who flick nothing but jabs, throw the occasional pot shot on the back foot 'n get on their bike 'n hold on for dear life.

It's not in their nature to attack, no matter how much their trainer tries to light a fire under them in the corner. All their muscles are window dressing. Fearsome looking brutes emulating Willie Pep. Lance Whitiker 'n Michael Grant for example.

 

Well what you should've learned is that appearance means nothing. Weightlifting doesn't equate to muscles/beach muscles, in a sporting context it relates to strength/power/performance, nothing to do with appearance. There are also plenty of examples where fighters muscles aren't for show, i.e. Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Hagler and so on.
As the other guy explained it's about the ability to recruit fibres, it's not about getting bigger but improving the talk between your nervous system and your muscles. We've all heard the stories about little old ladies performing superhuman feats of strength in life and death situations. Weighlifting and power training for sports is about that, reducing the inhibition and improving the recruitment. I'm sure you've known skinny guys who are very strong, it's the same principle. They're not blessed with anything, through their activity they've managed to improve their neuromuscular functionality, which is what weightlifting for sports is about.
If you're lifting weights to put on muscle then you'll decrease your power to weight ratio and that's going to be detrimental for sports performance. There are plenty of skinny athletes lifting heavy weights for strength, weight lift for strength, not muscle if you're an athlete.
Weightlifting does not equate to muscle. Heavy weight lifting and power training changes the properties of muscle to fast twitch fibres through altered genetic expression, you won't put on any significant amount of weight if you watch your caloric intake.
I like all your stories JG but the 'born with' line is tiresome, at least educate yourself a bit on these matters before making your conclusions.

 

God-given may be tiresome to hear, d, but that's what it is. Like the genius of Mozart. Would genius, wunderkind or prodigy work better for you?

 

Yes all of those work. God given implies that it isn't developed or they're born with it which simply isn't true.

 

Sorry... no disrespect intended, but that is not true.

 

No they didn't, they mostly lifted between fights. They didn't lift much at all during training camps, that's what periodisation is, camp is for boxing. Tyson lifted since he was 13 years old and Roy Jones has a weight room in his house, he also reportedly lifted a lot when he was young with sr. Boxers like to say they don't touch weights but they do, Hopkins, Toney, Tarver, Whitaker, Holyfield, Mayweather etc. all lift or have lifted weights.

 

Well said. To coin a phrase "when to athletes of equal will and equal skill are pitted against one another... the STRONGER WILL ALWAYS WIN!"