Who were the first skilled, athletic big heavyweights?

Might be interesting to look at someone like Jack Trammal who was a contender that fought (and was bigger than) Primo Carnera. Or Hein Ten Hoff (probably about 6 3?)who wasnt the greatest fighter ever, but actually looks better than most on film. The biggest difference is in the training. You refer to beanpole but the reality is that fighters used a lot more stamina training such as distance running and a lot less weight lifting, which meant their weights would drop so much lower. The same would happen to todays fighters if they undertook the same training. The prime example is the training Chris byrd undertook for the George fight.

The real question is whether or not the weight lifting makes a fighter better than running. Modern thinking says it does, but i am not really convinced.

 

You can't call a man a superheavyweight whom weighed 208 and 210lb for his biggest fights!

 

It comes down to whether you are looking for a body type, or a body weight.

The "beanpoles" of the past, are basically guys with body types like Lewis or Bowe, trained to come in as light as possible.

If you make weigh the deciding factor, then some quite compact guys can make the grade, especially latterly.

I presumed that you were looking for the evolutionary predecessors, of the current generation of so called super heavyweights.

 

Well I guess you can't stop me.

Its not like there is an agreed definition of what a super heavyweight is.

 

I don't think that kind of fighter was the norm for heavyweights until the late 60s or early 70s and it was most likely Ali.

 

Ok as long as you stay consistent. By your definition Ernie Terrell was a superheavyweight at 6'6 205-212lb

 

He is actually a fighter that I would look at, when discussing the predecessors of the current super heavyweights.

 

Max Baer.

Jeffries.

 

There is footage of Fulton, but you can only see it if you have friends in high places.

I am basing my interpretation entirely on written accounts, but I think that he might be your origin point here.

 

Yes it's a bit sad these full time boxing historians are selfish and don't like to share rare footage to the boxing community

 

carnera was pretty awesome, a past time vits.

 

Terms & defuiintions are important to get at the truth & have common agreement to pursue it. Otherwise definitions are infinitely flexible & we end up talking imprecisely & at cross-purposes.

Lewis fought well into the 220's before he started lifting weights. And was 6' 5", not 6' 6". So even 220 at 6' 6" is thinner, & that was before he bulked up.
If someone came in at 201 or 210 at 6' & 1/2 feet tall it would not even make the OPs definition of a SHW.
But methinks one must be a decent weight FOR your height-& not through a high body fat %-to meet the requirements of what is realistically a SHW.

Meaning a good amount of height, reach & muscle.
So say a Deontay Wilder would not fully qualify to me, at 6' 7" & 219 for his last/best fight, & no legs to speak of.

Though he is close enough due to his upper body & so long as to be debatable.

 

Fulton was a smaller, shi ttier Gerrie ****ey.

Deontay Wilder is likely a shi ttier Michael Grant more carefully managed.