Fat Git wrote:Could any cruiserweight today campaign successfully as a heavyweight staying at 200lbs? Any cruiserweight that does move up like Adamek fights in at 215-220lbs and even at that weight - it just isn't big enough to deal with Vitali Klitsckho. (I know people bring up Chris Byrd but that was a shoulder injury defeat - Klitsckho was dealing with Byrd on the scorecards) I am all for the fact that yesterdays fighters had their own pluses in regards how they fought especially when it comes to ring activity like you alluded to but comparing them how they were to todays fighters who have all the medical, scientific and nutritional advantages - bit unfair to the chaps of yesteryear - again if Joe Louis was born in 1980 with his 1935 skills - he would have hammered the big Ukrainian freak - but not at 197lbs. (Which he wouldn't be if he was born today)simon fox wrote:Hey Carlos; I can to some extent really appreciate your point. Living standards are far better for some of us now than they were 80 years ago. Better nutrition, medicine etc has improved our lot.
I would argue though that there were big men years ago and for most of them their physical mass was to the detriment of their boxing skills and ability. I am sure that if Joe Louis and Frank Bruno were to punch a power measuring device then Frank would have the heavier punch. There is far more to a knockout punch than just weight of punch. Max and Biddy Baer were amazing physical specimens with very hard hitting power, much like Frank; by no chalk were they the best of their time though.
There is an argument that the body beautiful approach to boxing has been at the expense of tutoring in important skills. Boxing is an obviously physical sport but it doesn't necessarily follow that the better developed physique always wins, or is necessarily a harder hitter.
There is also an argument that tougher times make for tougher people, with a strong mind set. If a fighter boxes once or twice a year; maybe for £1,000,000 he (she) is not going to be as ring competent as a boxer who's boxed 6 times in the year.
I can see that without an upper weight division limit, Heavyweight boxing is different to the other weight divisions. I would say though that sheer muscle mass and height does not negate the skills involved in serious high level boxing and hitting.
:)
The thing about Vitali is he is very effective, his style may be ugly and not win him much critical acclaim, but it works for him. He is also not massively heavy considering his size. There are men in the division around his weight who are several inches shorter. He is a very big man, but not overly bulky, and as a result,he has pretty quick hands and feet for someone who is so tall.