Can 'Human Growth Hormones' improve durability?

[big lennox]

I know EPO'S increase red blood cells, and therefore endurance/stamina, but HGH seems to make people bigger and stronger, and I was wondering if this improves the ability to take a punch as well?

I suppose I have seen a couple of boxers, who are rumoured to have taken HGH, and have gone up the weights and being able to hold significantly bigger shots with out getting hurt.

Would be very interesting to read peoples opninons/knowledge on the matter.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Sadly the morals behind testing such things are going to stop them being properly tested. Though it is known that they do "significantly" improve performance (some stats in a book I have state 7% I think)

[housesecond]

HGH increases the size of ALL muscles. Including cardiac and other intestinal muscles. Hence the bodybuilders these days strutting the stage with distended abs.
Any boxer taking HGH is potentially (IMO) committing suicide.

[Matt W]

Do we know what factors underpin durability? If not it wouldn't be possible to answer this question with any confidence.

[hurlock]

HGH increases the size of ALL muscles. Including cardiac and other intestinal muscles. Hence the bodybuilders these days strutting the stage with distended abs.
Any boxer taking HGH is potentially (IMO) committing suicide.

apart from the love muscle DD

[crusader]

Do we know what factors underpin durability? If not it wouldn't be possible to answer this question with any confidence.

Many people believe a strong neck or jaw is what produces great durability, but I'm not so sure about that. Oleg Maskaev had a big neck and a massive jaw, yet he turned into jelly as soon as an opponent touched him. I'm not really a 'science guy', but I have always thought the ability to take punishment was related to a fighters neurological system.

[Matt W]

If it was something that was trainable then you would see more boxers improving their durability through training. As you don't see this I would tend to agree that it is more likely to be something neurological, therefore HGH wouldn't improve it.