Suggestion/observation of arm span in boxing...

[imaioral]

Good evening guys...

I was wondering one day of these about the arm span measuring in boxing and today decided to write down. Getting the boxrec descriptions of arm's reach, I was thinking if the way boxers do to measure are wrong (as follows the picture example below) because if you think a little you use the gloves closed (of course ) and as soon as you measure your arm span with the hands closed (like if you were using gloves) the measure drops from 15 to 30 or more centimeters in comparison of them opened (you don't touch the opponent with the fingertips). I have 1.83 and 1.96 of arm span (based on boxrec description) and with the hands closed it drops to 1.80.

(Supposition): Is the common arm span measure in this case based on hand closed + thickness of wrap + gloves (or thickness of the gloves)? Looks like stupid but, what is the real explanation for this?

What do you think? Because if I'm right there must be a change in the way they measure boxers reach...

Thanks for all the attention!

* Sorry if any english mistake...

http://postimg.org/image/ifu0rcbn5/
http://postimg.org/image/eejqdhbxj/

[ElJefe]

I think they say it's measured from the armpit to the fist. So not including out-stretched fingers, wraps or anything like that.

[Lackeos]

There's an armpit to fist measurement and there's a fingertip to fingertip measurement, which is what boxrec publishes. I don't think it matter a lot whether you measure to the end of the fist or to the end of the fingertip except in some rare case where one boxer has much longer fingers than the other fighters in his division; because it's often almost a wash. Some people think the arm length measurement is a lot more important than the wingspan measurement, but I think the distance between your armpit and your neck functionally contributes to your ability to reach the opponent's face without them reaching your face. The more inwardly turned the fighters are, the more true this is, and the more squared-up they are, the less true it is; but boxers tend to fight fairly turned-in. So anyways, I don't think either measurement is much better or worse of an indicator, as long as you remember that the wingspan advantage is roughly double the real functional reach advantage.

As to the original question, I don't see a significant need to measure boxers with gloves on. Unless one boxer's gloves are thicker than his opponent's the difference between measuring fist and measuring with glove is mostly a wash. Plus, if we change our system now and stop measuring the old way, then we will have less data with which to compare old fighters' wingspan and new fighters' wingspan.

[crusader]

Some people think the arm length measurement is a lot more important than the wingspan measurement, but I think the distance between your armpit and your neck functionally contributes to your ability to reach the opponent's face without them reaching your face. The more inwardly turned the fighters are, the more true this is, and the more squared-up they are, the less true it is; but boxers tend to fight fairly turned-in.

I agree

It's a pet peeve of mine when people suggest that arm length is a more accurate measure than wingspan; shoulder breadth is absolutely a factor when it comes to how far away someone can be while still being able to hit their opponent.

[Kalan]

The measurement should be fingertip to fingertip... If you want arm length you'd measure to the end of the wrist. And that makes no sense. If you want REACH it's how far you can reach with your arms extended to either side.. Boxers jab with their fingers extended, but it's just so fast you can't see it.. Your reach surely extends beyond the flat of your fists anyway -- since you have wrapped hands and padded gloves to account for.

[thomasjkelley]

Very interesting topic! I think you make a good point. If you're worried about your English, then we are all in trouble. It was practically perfect.

[handsofstone]

Very interesting topic! I think you make a good point. If you're worried about your English, then we are all in trouble. It was practically perfect.

[Cutman Scabbers]

What I always wondered is how do they get these guys' arms back on after they've measured them?

[Kurgen22]

The length of the arms is really just a tool that give an edge to a boxer. in reality Ive seen many fighers use the width of their shoulders and the length of theier upper body to outreach opponents who fought "squared up".
Sonny Liston had an 84 inch reach to Ali's 78 inches. Yet Ali was able to "outreach him". Part of it was speed but a lot of it was how Ali angled his shoulders and bent his upper body to extend his reach.

[funso banjo baby]

there is an interesting article on the history of 'the tale of the tape' in this months ring magazine.

according to them the first appearance of measurements and stats similar to the tale of the tape first appeared for John L Sullivan , and it is suggested this played in to the mythic status of Sullivan in America.

it's a pity they didn't give credit to Pierce Egan who was a fastidious recorder of physical stats way back in the regency bareknuckle era....albeit retrospectively

[thomasjkelley]

What I always wondered is how do they get these guys' arms back on after they've measured them?

Oh no! You are mistaken with the process. But this is a common misconception. They do not surgically remove the arms from the shoulders. It would take too long for the fighter to heal from such procedure if they had to do tbat 3 or 4 times per year. So in lieu of those precise measurements, they measure the shoulder blades as well and just figure it will all even out somehow in the end. Jolly good perception on your part.

[Cutman Scabbers]

What I always wondered is how do they get these guys' arms back on after they've measured them?

Oh no! You are mistaken with the process. But this is a common misconception. They do not surgically remove the arms from the shoulders. It would take too long for the fighter to heal from such procedure if they had to do tbat 3 or 4 times per year. So in lieu of those precise measurements, they measure the shoulder blades as well and just figure it will all even out somehow in the end. Jolly good perception on your part.

Whew, what a relief! Thank you for clarifying.

By the way, do they sharpen the shoulder blades when they have them out?

[thomasjkelley]

What I always wondered is how do they get these guys' arms back on after they've measured them?

Oh no! You are mistaken with the process. But this is a common misconception. They do not surgically remove the arms from the shoulders. It would take too long for the fighter to heal from such procedure if they had to do tbat 3 or 4 times per year. So in lieu of those precise measurements, they measure the shoulder blades as well and just figure it will all even out somehow in the end. Jolly good perception on your part.

Whew, what a relief! Thank you for clarifying.

By the way, do they sharpen the shoulder blades when they have them out?

Sharpen the shoulder blades? Oh no, no, no, no. This is just another common misconception. Shoulder blades aren't blades in the same respect as razor blades, they are not used for cutting or shaving things. They were named as such after the man who discovered them: Lord Barrington Blades IV of Cambridge. Good question, another fine learning moment on Boxrec. Well done sir, well done!

Okay that's enough out of me. These back and forths could entertain me all night..... and that's a problem!

[Cutman Scabbers]

Oh no! You are mistaken with the process. But this is a common misconception. They do not surgically remove the arms from the shoulders. It would take too long for the fighter to heal from such procedure if they had to do tbat 3 or 4 times per year. So in lieu of those precise measurements, they measure the shoulder blades as well and just figure it will all even out somehow in the end. Jolly good perception on your part.

Whew, what a relief! Thank you for clarifying.

By the way, do they sharpen the shoulder blades when they have them out?

Sharpen the shoulder blades? Oh no, no, no, no. This is just another common misconception. Shoulder blades aren't blades in the same respect as razor blades, they are not used for cutting or shaving things. They were named as such after the man who discovered them: Lord Barrington Blades IV of Cambridge. Good question, another fine learning moment on Boxrec. Well done sir, well done!

Okay that's enough out of me. These back and forths could entertain me all night..... and that's a problem!

Many thanks again for clearing things up!

As boxing derived from fencing and was in its earliest (modern) forms taught by fencing masters such as
James Figg, I assumed the shoulder blades were remnants of the days when gentlemen settled disputes
with instruments sharper than fists.

In any case, it looks like Lord Barrington is still in business!

http://www.barringtons-swords.com/fanta ... rings.html

[thomasjkelley]

Whew, what a relief! Thank you for clarifying.

By the way, do they sharpen the shoulder blades when they have them out?

Sharpen the shoulder blades? Oh no, no, no, no. This is just another common misconception. Shoulder blades aren't blades in the same respect as razor blades, they are not used for cutting or shaving things. They were named as such after the man who discovered them: Lord Barrington Blades IV of Cambridge. Good question, another fine learning moment on Boxrec. Well done sir, well done!

Okay that's enough out of me. These back and forths could entertain me all night..... and that's a problem!

Many thanks again for clearing things up!

As boxing derived from fencing and was in its earliest (modern) forms taught by fencing masters such as
James Figg, I assumed the shoulder blades were remnants of the days when gentlemen settled disputes
with instruments sharper than fists.

In any case, it looks like Lord Barrington is still in business!

http://www.barringtons-swords.com/fanta ... rings.html

Ahaaaaaaha! You are too f##king funny. I swear I made that name up. But then again, I'm sure you could have made a connection with any name I gave you. You are good my friend.........real good! Cheers! Kudos to you Scabber.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Sharpen the shoulder blades? Oh no, no, no, no. This is just another common misconception. Shoulder blades aren't blades in the same respect as razor blades, they are not used for cutting or shaving things. They were named as such after the man who discovered them: Lord Barrington Blades IV of Cambridge. Good question, another fine learning moment on Boxrec. Well done sir, well done!

Okay that's enough out of me. These back and forths could entertain me all night..... and that's a problem!

Many thanks again for clearing things up!

As boxing derived from fencing and was in its earliest (modern) forms taught by fencing masters such as
James Figg, I assumed the shoulder blades were remnants of the days when gentlemen settled disputes
with instruments sharper than fists.

In any case, it looks like Lord Barrington is still in business!

http://www.barringtons-swords.com/fanta ... rings.html

Ahaaaaaaha! You are too f##king funny. I swear I made that name up. But then again, I'm sure you could have made a connection with any name I gave you. You are good my friend.........real good! Cheers! Kudos to you Scabber.

Many thanks, TJ, and Sudoku to you too!