Punching Harder at a Higher Weight

[black panther]

The general consensus regarding power is that you either have it or you don't. Sure it can be improved through better technique and training but there is a limit to this. Punching power is viewed as something natural and something that becomes less effective as a fighter moves up in weight, due to fighting bigger opponents that are better able to absorb the blows. It's rare to see a fighter "carry his punch" up with him as he moves up in weight.

However, I noticed Andrzej Fonfara, who started his career as a middleweight, has knocked out all but one (Glen Johnson) of his lightheavyweight opponents. This after scoring only 3 stoppages in 15 fights at middleweight. To add to the confusion, his opposition at LHW has been better than those at middleweight, dispelling the notion that weaker opposition has aided his KO ratio.

Can anyone think of any other instances/fighters where this has happened? Where increasing weight has improved punching power/ability to stop opponents?

[expe]

Ricky Burns seems to be hitting harder at lightweight.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Can anyone think of any other instances/fighters where this has happened? Where increasing weight has improved punching power/ability to stop opponents?

Many times where you see there their are other things behind it rather than "becoming bigger=hard hitting".

I.e. Fonfara was a kid for many of his early bouts and he later developed into a man. He's still not a big puncher but he's a tough work horse type his lands thudding shots that can grind down opponents in the middle and later rounds (his last 2 stoppages notable have been in rounds 7 and 9).

Theres also the fact he's now fighting longer bouts, 4 of his first 5 victories were 4 round decisions since then he he's stopped fighters in rounds 5,6,7 and 9 (and 3 in round 4) so I dare say the longer fight distance has helped him a bit as well.

[hurlock]

Some fighters mature later & start sitting on there punches, where as some kill them self to become a size at the weight then lose power & then some are boxing tough journeymen who are there to make it through without getting stopped which is a result for them as they can box the next week rather then get laid of for 6 weeks.
When fighters commit they are at risk like buckland walking on to that peach!!
Swifty looked alot more muscly & strong with only 4 extra pounds it shows he was prob burning off muscle then fat wouldn't call him an outright banger but deffo digs hard!!

[WelshJack]

Adonis Stevenson seems to have kept the power, I won't read into the Dawson KO as Dawson got KO'd by Ward and probably was lacking confidence, look forward to seeing what he does against Bellew.

[danconnollyeire]

The general consensus regarding power is that you either have it or you don't. Sure it can be improved through better technique and training but there is a limit to this. Punching power is viewed as something natural and something that becomes less effective as a fighter moves up in weight, due to fighting bigger opponents that are better able to absorb the blows. It's rare to see a fighter "carry his punch" up with him as he moves up in weight.

However, I noticed Andrzej Fonfara, who started his career as a middleweight, has knocked out all but one (Glen Johnson) of his lightheavyweight opponents. This after scoring only 3 stoppages in 15 fights at middleweight. To add to the confusion, his opposition at LHW has been better than those at middleweight, dispelling the notion that weaker opposition has aided his KO ratio.

Can anyone think of any other instances/fighters where this has happened? Where increasing weight has improved punching power/ability to stop opponents?

Hopkins looked all round stronger at LHW

[The Law]

I think Bellew would punch harder if he moved up to Cruiser. That's just hypothetical though.

[danconnollyeire]

Training pays a huge part. I took this from http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/st ... ining.html

Consider the recent bout between Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver. Bernard's performance clearly illustrated the potential of a properly designed strength program. Bernard Hopkins moved up 15 pounds to face Tarver at light heavyweight. Despite the added mass, Bernard was a stronger and more active fighter than he had been in recent bouts. His newfound physique did not impede his performance.

Archaic statements such as, "Weights will hinder endurance" or "Weights will hinder speed" were put to rest by Bernhard Hopkins. His dominant performance on national television has debunked all of the myths that strength training cannot be successfully implemented into a fighter's training program.

[dookus]

I think Bellew would punch harder if he moved up to Cruiser. That's just hypothetical though.

I think this is probably true

[Bomber 1]

It's a possibility but not a certainty to be honest.. I do the weight ok with time.. Don't get me wrong I'd be lying if I said im comfortable at 175lbs.. What I will say though is that I don't dry out and I eat on the day of a weigh in.. (Pre weigh in).. If cruiser was 13st 8 then I would consider moving but the gap is huge between 175lbs and 200lbs..

I know when I have a good camp and do things correctly I feel great in the fights but I've also done the weight wrong in the past so know its a double edged sword and you must plan and prepare your camps perfectly otherwise it can and probably will end in disaster..

[johnswan1]

It's a possibility but not a certainty to be honest.. I do the weight ok with time.. Don't get me wrong I'd be lying if I said im comfortable at 175lbs.. What I will say though is that I don't dry out and I eat on the day of a weigh in.. (Pre weigh in).. If cruiser was 13st 8 then I would consider moving but the gap is huge between 175lbs and 200lbs..

I know when I have a good camp and do things correctly I feel great in the fights but I've also done the weight wrong in the past so know its a double edged sword and you must plan and prepare your camps perfectly otherwise it can and probably will end in disaster..

Do you think you will be able to finish out your career at 175 lbs?

[black panther]

It's a possibility but not a certainty to be honest.. I do the weight ok with time.. Don't get me wrong I'd be lying if I said im comfortable at 175lbs.. What I will say though is that I don't dry out and I eat on the day of a weigh in.. (Pre weigh in).. If cruiser was 13st 8 then I would consider moving but the gap is huge between 175lbs and 200lbs..

I know when I have a good camp and do things correctly I feel great in the fights but I've also done the weight wrong in the past so know its a double edged sword and you must plan and prepare your camps perfectly otherwise it can and probably will end in disaster..

What do you walk around at mate? I agree 25lbs is an awful lot of weight. I preferred it when the limit was 190lbs.

[matko]

I think Bellew would punch harder if he moved up to Cruiser. That's just hypothetical though.

I've always said that but if tony makes weight easy enough than no point but too many fight at a weight too light for them and just cuting the last couple of Lbs can take all that strength away

[Jeff Thomas]

Because speed is a far more important factor in Knockouts then weight. It's about deception. All knockouts have one thing in common with regards to the victim, they don't see it coming.

[hurlock]

Being a banger is a natural gift!! To ko a fit athlete & have the power to dibilitate & sap people's strength is a truly amazing feat!
Bangers allway's carry there power up even James toney used to hurt heavies who had alot of size on him.
Pacquio
Trinidad
Haye
Stevenson
Jones jr
Gatti
Natural power has the same effect

[Tomasino]

Tommy Hearns carried a lot of power up with him.

[lefty]

Because speed is a far more important factor in Knockouts then weight. It's about deception. All knockouts have one thing in common with regards to the victim, they don't see it coming.

That's not strictly true. Not all big punchers have had quick hands. There's quite a lot that havent.

[hurlock]

Tommy Hearns carried a lot of power up with him.

Great call!

Guilermo jones aswell
Evander Holyfield
Shane mosely

[expe]

Tommy Hearns carried a lot of power up with him.

Great call!

Guilermo jones aswell
Evander Holyfield
Shane mosely

I am very suspicious as to how Jones made welterweight and light middleweight, a 6 foot 4 man shouldn't weigh 10st 7lbs no matter how badly he drained himself.

[crusader]

Because speed is a far more important factor in Knockouts then weight. It's about deception. All knockouts have one thing in common with regards to the victim, they don't see it coming.

That's not strictly true. Not all big punchers have had quick hands. There's quite a lot that havent.

It seems to me like most don't.

[lefty]

Because speed is a far more important factor in Knockouts then weight. It's about deception. All knockouts have one thing in common with regards to the victim, they don't see it coming.

That's not strictly true. Not all big punchers have had quick hands. There's quite a lot that havent.

It seems to me like most don't.

Yeah that's right actually

[Tomasino]

Eder Jofre didn't jump huge weight but he was still KOing people. Archie Moore carried his up from Middleweight to Heavy when he knocked down Rocky Marciano. Ezzard Charles too. Chris Eubank to a lesser degree.

[Bomber 1]

It's a possibility but not a certainty to be honest.. I do the weight ok with time.. Don't get me wrong I'd be lying if I said im comfortable at 175lbs.. What I will say though is that I don't dry out and I eat on the day of a weigh in.. (Pre weigh in).. If cruiser was 13st 8 then I would consider moving but the gap is huge between 175lbs and 200lbs..

I know when I have a good camp and do things correctly I feel great in the fights but I've also done the weight wrong in the past so know its a double edged sword and you must plan and prepare your camps perfectly otherwise it can and probably will end in disaster..

Do you think you will be able to finish out your career at 175 lbs?

Probably not mate.. I ain't gonna move till I've achieved what I've set out to do at 175lbs though..

[Bomber 1]

It's a possibility but not a certainty to be honest.. I do the weight ok with time.. Don't get me wrong I'd be lying if I said im comfortable at 175lbs.. What I will say though is that I don't dry out and I eat on the day of a weigh in.. (Pre weigh in).. If cruiser was 13st 8 then I would consider moving but the gap is huge between 175lbs and 200lbs..

I know when I have a good camp and do things correctly I feel great in the fights but I've also done the weight wrong in the past so know its a double edged sword and you must plan and prepare your camps perfectly otherwise it can and probably will end in disaster..

What do you walk around at mate? I agree 25lbs is an awful lot of weight. I preferred it when the limit was 190lbs.

In between fights I go to 185lbs but I'm slightly heavier this time, I needed the longer rest as I'd boxed 5 championship distance fights in the space of 16 months.. It's the camps that hurt you not the fights to be honest.. I love fight nights, I live for that feeling but like I said the camps are the real drain.. .. Could be far worse though, I could be back in the pillow factory and on the door on the weekend..

[expe]

It's a possibility but not a certainty to be honest.. I do the weight ok with time.. Don't get me wrong I'd be lying if I said im comfortable at 175lbs.. What I will say though is that I don't dry out and I eat on the day of a weigh in.. (Pre weigh in).. If cruiser was 13st 8 then I would consider moving but the gap is huge between 175lbs and 200lbs..

I know when I have a good camp and do things correctly I feel great in the fights but I've also done the weight wrong in the past so know its a double edged sword and you must plan and prepare your camps perfectly otherwise it can and probably will end in disaster..

What do you walk around at mate? I agree 25lbs is an awful lot of weight. I preferred it when the limit was 190lbs.

In between fights I go to 185lbs but I'm slightly heavier this time, I needed the longer rest as I'd boxed 5 championship distance fights in the space of 16 months.. It's the camps that hurt you not the fights to be honest.. I love fight nights, I live for that feeling but like I said the camps are the real drain.. .. Could be far worse though, I could be back in the pillow factory and on the door on the weekend..

You must stay in great shape between fights to only go up 10lbs, especially if you're tight at the weight.