The middle weight division is full of great fighters in the 5'7" to 5'9" range. Hagler, Cerdan, Zale, Ketchel, Greb, and Walker to name a few. Yet it seems the world-class middleweights have grown out of the 57 to 59 range. Since 1989 the lineal middle weight champs have been Nunn at 6'2", Toney at 5'10", Hopkins at 6'1", Taylor at 6'1", and Pavlik at 6'2 1/2". If you want to throw in Roy Jones, hes 510+ Is this a new trend, or are they really just cruiserweights getting to 160, and then entering the ring above the light heavyweight limit? Or are height and reach just a bit more important in the modern sytle of boxing in the middle weight divison? Let the debate begin.
Maybe Nunn was 6'3". Tales of the tape can vary a bit. Nevertheless, how would you answer this thread? The best middles all seem to be getting taller. Why is this? A fluke? Height and reach are just important in middle weight boxing? The middles today are light heavies or cruisers?
Good topic but I thought Toney was 5'9....Nigel Benn was 5'9 (apparently Nige could make 154), Eubank 5'10 (and drained to high heaven) Maybe 5'8 Mayweather will give middleweight a shot as he ages and puts on thickness. Fighters do weight drain allot these days, they always have BUT its easier because of 1day between the weigh in and the fight. Today fighters have diuretics, saunas, sweat suits, starvation that all help them drain every ounce of fluid so they can fight at the weight. Today most middlweights will add 10-20lbs and not be hurt by the effects of weight draining. There has always been tall middleweights but perhaps old school guys like Cerdan would fight 147-154 under todays conditions In boxing fighters do best when they get an advantage by fighting at the weight class where your biggest and strongest, 1 day weigh ins have added a new dimension to this. So yes the Middles today are yesterdays lightheavyweights and crusers
one name Marvin Hagler 5"9, Ko'd 6"2 Hearns and 5"7 Duran gave him a rugged and crafty fight...there are taller middles but it does not mean a shorter great one will not appear...Heavys were getting bigger than the under 6" Tyson came and dominated and the 38 yr old 5"10 Toney held him own with the Big boys
The way I see it a weight limit will result in greats of all shapes and sizes. 160 lbs can go further in a shorter man so every now and again you will get a wrecking machine of 5' 7''-9'' who is sort of a stunted light heavyweight. I cant talk about soon but I am sure that there will be many Hagleresque ATGs in the future.
