Why did heavyweight boxers suddenly get bigger

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by superman1986, Jul 29, 2017.


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  1. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't get this better nutrition, what foods are athletes eating today that they haven't been eating for the last 100 year?
     
    Wass1985, Aug 5, 2017
    Wass1985, Aug 5, 2017
    #31
  2. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    True. Several studies also show that male testosterone levels are lower than they have ever been and part of the reason is chemicals in the food.

    Fifty plus years ago, the average man was smaller (meaning leaner) and had higher testosterone and physical strength as indicated by studies. Recently, the CDC redefined the "normal" levels of testosterone and now whats normal used to be considered low to average.

    It could be that as humans become more technically and mentally advanced we suffer in physicality. That's why we are closely related to chimps but they are so much more powerful but not as smart.

    And if you ever noticed nerds, who tend to be very intelligent rarely tend to be physical marvels. Rarely do you find someone like the K2 brothers who have the intelligence of a nerd but the physicality of a super hero. If human intelligence increases, humans could become smaller and weaker.
     
    superman1986, Aug 5, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 5, 2017
    #32
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  3. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I thought testosterone helps promote muscle and bone growth though? You'd think that the increase in size of humans would correlate with an increase of testosterone?
     
    Wass1985, Aug 5, 2017
    Wass1985, Aug 5, 2017
    #33
  4. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Doesn't too much testosterone make you go bald?
     
    JackSilver, Aug 5, 2017
    JackSilver, Aug 5, 2017
    #34
  5. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That's my excuse.....
     
    Wass1985, Aug 5, 2017
    Wass1985, Aug 5, 2017
    #35
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  6. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Show the studies. The last paragraoh is complete horses hit.
     
    NoNeck, Aug 5, 2017
    NoNeck, Aug 5, 2017
    #36
  7. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Not compared to the SHW wrestlers of their day.
     
    reznick, Aug 5, 2017
    reznick, Aug 5, 2017
    #37
  8. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    It does but the size increase today is because as a whole we are fatter. Its not like the average under 40 man is naturally a lean 185-200 or so lbs of lean muscle without lifting or minimum lifting weights. If that were true, then humans might be evolving.

    I think the increase in heavyweight size is due to chemicals not because we are bigger and stronger. A heavyweight bodybuilder in Joe Louis time was about 200 lbs some as light as 190 lbs. Which correlated with the size of the average heavyweight boxer. And at the time the heavyweight bodybuilders started growing to humongous sizes, we saw heavyweight boxers grow too. I dont think its a coincidence.
     
    superman1986, Aug 5, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 5, 2017
    #38
  9. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    True but those wrestlers had a lot more padding. They weren't lean and muscular like AJ or the K2 brothers.
     
    superman1986, Aug 5, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 5, 2017
    #39
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  10. JoffJoff

    JoffJoff Regular Junkie Full Member

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    I imagine he means better understanding about nutrition and its effects through scientific studies. This along with other factors already mentioned throughout the thread, particularly advances in PEDs and their availability all contribute to the situation we have today with the top heavyweights dwarfing their counterparts from yesteryear.

    Doesn't matter anyway though because weight/size doesn't matter in boxing, just ask @Perry @choklab et al.
     
    JoffJoff, Aug 6, 2017
    JoffJoff, Aug 6, 2017
    #40
  11. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I know the science has improved but have the methods really changed at all?
     
    Wass1985, Aug 6, 2017
    Wass1985, Aug 6, 2017
    #41
  12. Perry

    Perry Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Never said it never matters. It's just you can tell the amateurs in two ways...... jumping to conclusions concerning fighters yet unproven that they happen to like. Kovalev is the classic example here. Secondly with all the truely important technical info to consider that they jump right to size the easiest thing to see as important criteria.
     
    Perry, Aug 6, 2017
    Perry, Aug 6, 2017
    #42
  13. JoffJoff

    JoffJoff Regular Junkie Full Member

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    Methods?

    Kovalev is an amateur?
     
    JoffJoff, Aug 6, 2017
    JoffJoff, Aug 6, 2017
    #43
  14. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yes, I'd say they are still eating the same basic foods despite the better science.
     
    Wass1985, Aug 6, 2017
    Wass1985, Aug 6, 2017
    #44
  15. JoffJoff

    JoffJoff Regular Junkie Full Member

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    You could make the argument that food was better back then. However, I would imagine today athletes like pro boxers will have dieticians tailoring their food intake for optimal results as well as benefit from the greater knowledge available about which foods to eat/avoid both generally and specifically for the individual through blood tests and stuff.

    I should add I have no involvement in boxing or any other pro sport and the above is just a bunch of guesswork and half arsed assumption.

    Also, my own personal opinion is that it is the drug usage which is the primary reason for the rocketing growth in heavyweight boxers as well as other athletes at the top level.
     
    JoffJoff, Aug 6, 2017
    JoffJoff, Aug 6, 2017
    #45
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