Cruiserweight Golden Era fighters at HW prove that talking about the need for SHW or Bridgerweight categories is nonsens

[gilgamesh]

Dude the point us Boxing purists make for not needing a Bridgerweight or Super Heavyweight or whatever the f*ck is the fact that it would take away the opportunity to see what we just saw. A much smaller man win the Heavyweight title just because he's flat out f*cking better than his opponent. It's a special thing to see you would agree yes? So it's a difficult thing to achieve. Yeah no sh*t. Winning the Heavyweight Championship always is. It ain't supposed to be easy

But it can happen, and there are exceptional talents like Usyk out there. The ones who can't hack it can go to Cruiserweight. The ones who dare to take their chances will do alright if they got the goods. That's Boxing.

That's also the magic of Heavyweight Boxing. Everyone's the same weight roughly in the other weight classes. At Heavyweight it's still the way it's always been. More or less.

Don't f*ck with that

[funso banjo baby]

The proliferation of alphabet titles is of far greater concern and damage to the sport.

Personally I find the increasing difference in height at the top weight to be of concern too.

I find 5ft10 tubby guys fighting opponents who are 6ft6 and over to be more of a circus show or wrestling than sport.

Rarely are these matchups entertaining

[Ruthless-RKO]

The following list represents the weights of the winners/champions of the world heavyweight title fights (including the WBA variants) that occurred within the last twenty years:

• WBA = 50 title fights; 3 winners weighing less than 220lbs
• WBC = 38 title fights; 4 winners weighing less than 220lbs
• IBF = 40 title fights; 5 winners weighing less than 220lbs
• WBO = 30 title fights; 1 winner weighing less than 220lbs

There's a slight flaw with this.

Let's take the WBA for example

50 title fights., 3 winner below 220lbs.

But how many boxers challenged the WBA belt weighing below 220lbs?

[Enlightened-One]

• Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder and David Haye are the only fighters within the last fourteen years to have won a world title fight weighting 225lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 14% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• Deontay Wilder, David Haye and Sultan Ibragimov are the only fighters within the last 15½ years to have won a world title fight weighting 220lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 10% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• The average weight of a fighter that failed to capture/defend the championship during a bout within the last 15 years is 242¼lbs.

• The average weight of the fighters that emerged victorious or successfully defended their titles within the last 15 years is 243½lbs.

• There have been 82 world title fights within the last 15 years.

Here’s a list of the fighters that won world heavyweight title fights within the last 15 years (WBA Super, WBA regular, WBC, WBO & IBF), coupled with the total amount of world championship bouts they won throughout their entire careers, as well as their mathematical average weights for these contests:

• Wladimir Klitschko (25 wins - average weight = 243.5lbs)
• Vitali Klitschko (15 wins - average weight = 247lbs)
• Deontay Wilder (11 wins - average weight = 222.25lbs)
• Anthony Joshua (9 wins - average weight = 245lbs)
• Nikolai Valuev (6 wins - average weight = 320.75lbs)
• Ruslan Chagaev (5 wins - average weight = 235.5lbs)
• Alexander Povetkin (5 wins - average weight = 229.25)
• Joseph Parker (3 wins - average weight = 246lbs)
• David Haye (3 wins - average weight = 216.5lbs)
• Tyson Fury (2 wins - average weight = 260lbs)
• Sultan Ibragimov (2 wins - average weight = 220lbs)
• Oleg Maskaev (2 wins - average weight = 239lbs)
• Oleksandr Usyk (1 win - average weight = 221.25lbs)
• Trevor Bryan (1 win - average weight = 267.5lbs)
• Andy Ruiz Jr. (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)
• Mahmoud Charr (1 win - average weight = 230lbs)
• Lucas Browne (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Charles Martin (1 win - average weight = 249.5lbs)
• Bermane Stiverne (1 win - average weight = 239.5lbs)
• Samuel Peter (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Shannon Briggs (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)

[Enlightened-One]

Let's take the WBA for example

50 title fights., 3 winner below 220lbs.

But how many boxers challenged the WBA belt weighing below 220lbs?

The post you quoted was from September last year, so here are the latest stats based on the last twenty years:

• WBA = 45 title fights; 3 winners weighing less than 220lbs (Haye [twice] & Jones Jr.); 5 losers (Holyfield [twice], Haye, Huck & Mormeck)

• Average weight for a failed WBA title challenger/loser is 242¼lbs.

• Average weight for a WBA title winner/successful defence is 249lbs.

[Counter-puncher]

is he still on about his 'averages'?

https://neilkakkar.com/averages-are-meaningless.html

it's painful, as usual.

[Counter-puncher]

I assumed you were a programmer based on your posting now im not sure

you may have assumed a programming background due to the obvious ASD issues but unfortunately he's one of those ones that doesn't have 'special superpowers' in like stats or IT, to compensate for all the other issues.

[The Gratest]

On average, EO copies, pastes and repeats the same post 5.36 times.
On average, I read the original post and follow up copies 0 times.

[Enlightened-One]

Dude the point us Boxing purists make for not needing a Bridgerweight or Super Heavyweight or whatever the f*ck is the fact that it would take away the opportunity to see what we just saw. A much smaller man win the Heavyweight title just because he's flat out f*cking better than his opponent. It's a special thing to see you would agree yes? So it's a difficult thing to achieve. Yeah no sh*t. Winning the Heavyweight Championship always is. It ain't supposed to be easy

I mostly agree with your assessment.

However, for mere mortals (i.e. those that aren’t destined for all-time-greatness, like Usyk & Holyfield), there’s a 45lbs+ void between the cruiserweight division and the average heavyweight.

That needs to be filled somehow.

I personally favour increasing the weight limits for the super-middleweight, light heavyweight & cruiserweight divisions to cater for this void.

I feel that would have been a better solution than the WBC’s briderweight division.

But it can happen, and there are exceptional talents like Usyk out there. The ones who can't hack it can go to Cruiserweight. The ones who dare to take their chances will do alright if they got the goods. That's Boxing.

Yes, remarkable feats, such as Usyk’s are possible, because size isn’t the be-all-and-end-all, but there’s no denying it really does matter.

As heavyweights keep getting bigger… and believe me they are, then we’re increasingly less likely to see the feats achieved by the likes of Holyfield and Usyk ever again.

That's also the magic of Heavyweight Boxing. Everyone's the same weight roughly in the other weight classes. At Heavyweight it's still the way it's always been. More or less.

Don't f*ck with that

I don’t want to touch the heavyweight division.

If you check the rankings, very few heavyweights weigh less than 230lbs anyway, so introducing a solution to fill the size void won’t affect the legacy of the division.

[Counter-puncher]

On average, EO copies, pastes and repeats the same post 5.36 times.

I'm calling BS on this, no way is the average that low

[The Gratest]

On average, EO copies, pastes and repeats the same post 5.36 times.

I'm calling BS on this, no way is the average that low

You got me there
I'll be fooked if i'm doing any of the research to work out that irrefutable fact!

[RScarf1]

The existence of a bridgerweight division does not prevent matchups like Usyk vs. Joshua from happening. Bridgerweight is recognized by the WBC. Even if it was recognized by the other sanctioning bodies and BoxRec and Ring magazine, these matchups would still happen. The reason is to be heavyweight champion will always be the goal of the shorter/lighter boxers who are great and not just good. Holyfield would still move up to heavyweight if bridgerweight existed in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Someone smarter than you isnt stephen hawking dude. Dont flatter yourself.

You arent proving your hypothesis and here is why:

The majority of defenses were won by wlad klitschko a large man. He beat large fighters and small fighters. Your "great stats" prove he was great at title defenses, something we all know.

It is your hypothesis so you prove it and not with bush league nonsense you spew. Actual analysis.


Until then yeah i will call out nonsense

You were demanding that I perform all the leg work by performing extensive research that adheres to your specific criteria, whilst also delivering insults in a condescending manner.

If you were so intellectual, you would have done the research yourself, before you formulated an opinion, and then provided it to the forum.

But you haven’t done that, have you?

You’re assuming I’m wrong based on very little information whatsoever, despite all the evidence I’ve cited that supports my argument.

I never assumed you were wrong. I said your statistical analysis was dog crap. And it is.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

And you know im right. You havent refuted what i said you just said "you do it smart guy"

If i find time i will. I dont have time right now. I work a lot dude

[Enlightened-One]

And you know im right. You havent refuted what i said you just said "you do it smart guy"

If i find time i will. I dont have time right now. I work a lot dude

Why don't you just be honest and say you're not going to do it?

If you performed the research, and then discovered I was 100% spot on, you won't admit it, will you?

Insults are your only counter argument.

More average weight stats regarding the heavyweights that successfully defended their titles over the years (weights based on title fights, not estimated):

• 2015 - 2019 = 237.25lbs (246.75lbs without Wilder)
• 2010 - 2014 = 240.25lbs (246lbs without Povetkin & Haye)
• 2005 - 2009 = 252.5lbs
• 2000 - 2004 = 243.5lbs
• 1995 - 1999 = 233lbs
• 1990 - 1994 = 225lbs
• 1985 - 1989 = 220lbs
• 1980 - 1984 = 216.25lbs
• 1975 - 1979 = 220lbs (WBC cruiserweight division launched Dec. 1979)
• 1970 - 1974 = 214.5lbs
• 1964 - 1969 = 206.75lbs

Do you not notice the obvious trend, or am I talking more nonsense?

Whilst the upward trajectory isn’t perfectly linear, it’s rather obvious to deduce that heavyweight champions are roughly 40lbs heavier than their counterparts from the sixties.

[Counter-puncher]

• 2015 - 2019 = 237.25lbs (246.75lbs without Wilder)
• 2010 - 2014 = 240.25lbs (246lbs without Povetkin & Haye)

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

And you know im right. You havent refuted what i said you just said "you do it smart guy"

If i find time i will. I dont have time right now. I work a lot dude

Why don't you just be honest and say you're not going to do it?

If you performed the research, and then discovered I was 100% spot on, you won't admit it, will you?

Insults are your only counter argument.

More average weight stats regarding the heavyweights that successfully defended their titles over the years (weights based on title fights, not estimated):

• 2015 - 2019 = 237.25lbs (246.75lbs without Wilder)
• 2010 - 2014 = 240.25lbs (246lbs without Povetkin & Haye)
• 2005 - 2009 = 252.5lbs
• 2000 - 2004 = 243.5lbs
• 1995 - 1999 = 233lbs
• 1990 - 1994 = 225lbs
• 1985 - 1989 = 220lbs
• 1980 - 1984 = 216.25lbs
• 1975 - 1979 = 220lbs (WBC cruiserweight division launched Dec. 1979)
• 1970 - 1974 = 214.5lbs
• 1964 - 1969 = 206.75lbs

Do you not notice the obvious trend, or am I talking more nonsense?

Whilst the upward trajectory isn’t perfectly linear, it’s rather obvious to deduce that heavyweight champions are roughly 40lbs heavyweight than their counterparts from the sixties.

Of course hw are bigger now. That isn't the argument.

[gregregegg]

And you know im right. You havent refuted what i said you just said "you do it smart guy"

If i find time i will. I dont have time right now. I work a lot dude

Why don't you just be honest and say you're not going to do it?

If you performed the research, and then discovered I was 100% spot on, you won't admit it, will you?

Insults are your only counter argument.

More average weight stats regarding the heavyweights that successfully defended their titles over the years (weights based on title fights, not estimated):

• 2015 - 2019 = 237.25lbs (246.75lbs without Wilder)
• 2010 - 2014 = 240.25lbs (246lbs without Povetkin & Haye)
• 2005 - 2009 = 252.5lbs
• 2000 - 2004 = 243.5lbs
• 1995 - 1999 = 233lbs
• 1990 - 1994 = 225lbs
• 1985 - 1989 = 220lbs
• 1980 - 1984 = 216.25lbs
• 1975 - 1979 = 220lbs (WBC cruiserweight division launched Dec. 1979)
• 1970 - 1974 = 214.5lbs
• 1964 - 1969 = 206.75lbs

Do you not notice the obvious trend, or am I talking more nonsense?

Whilst the upward trajectory isn’t perfectly linear, it’s rather obvious to deduce that heavyweight champions are roughly 40lbs heavier than their counterparts from the sixties.

So heavyweights are the lightest they have been in 20 years. interesting how heavyweights are shrinking...

[Bard of Boxrec]

EO in Monty Python Black Knight mode again

[Counter-puncher]

So heavyweights are the lightest they have been in 20 years. interesting how heavyweights are shrinking...

[Ambling Alp II]

Exceptions like Holyfield, Haye and Usyk happen, but generally speaking, bigger heavyweights usually beat smaller foes.

It isn’t an opinion, the world heavyweight title stats I cited clearly illustrate this obvious point.

"but generally speaking, bigger heavyweights usually beat smaller foes".
No they don't. and that is my point. Go back and look. Find fights where a bigger heavyweight takes on a smaller one. You will be surprised how often the smaller guy won.

Go way back in history. Looks what happens when a bigger heavyweight took on a much smaller one in a significant fight.
The bigger guy only wins about half the time.

Here is an extract of a post I submitted to the forum on the 29th September 2020 (the stats haven't changed much since then):

The following list represents the weights of the winners/champions of the world heavyweight title fights (including the WBA variants) that occurred within the last twenty years:

• WBA = 50 title fights; 3 winners weighing less than 220lbs
• WBC = 38 title fights; 4 winners weighing less than 220lbs
• IBF = 40 title fights; 5 winners weighing less than 220lbs
• WBO = 30 title fights; 1 winner weighing less than 220lbs

Here are the mathematical average weights for the winners/champions of all those title fights (rounded to the nearest pound):

• WBA = 247lbs
• WBC = 240lbs
• IBF = 242lbs
• WBO = 242lbs

And finally, don’t you agree that there are exceptions to almost every aspect of life, but they never undermine the general rule (otherwise they wouldn’t be known as exceptions)?

If these stats don't persuade you, then you're refusing to accept the cold hard truths of reality!

You are cherry picking. Guess you picked less than 220 because Usyk is just above that.
How many smaller guys got title shots and lost?

One guy weighing over 230 beating another over 230 doesn't count. Which is what most of the fights were.

Nobody is arguing that almost all the heavyweights in recent times have weighed a lot.
The real question is, should they ?

[The Gratest]

No, please no, just let it fade away........

The following list represents the weights of........

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

• Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder and David Haye are the only fighters within the last fourteen years to have won a world title fight weighting 225lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 14% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• Deontay Wilder, David Haye and Sultan Ibragimov are the only fighters within the last 15½ years to have won a world title fight weighting 220lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 10% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• The average weight of a fighter that failed to capture/defend the championship during a bout within the last 15 years is 242¼lbs.

• The average weight of the fighters that emerged victorious or successfully defended their titles within the last 15 years is 243½lbs.

• There have been 82 world title fights within the last 15 years.

Here’s a list of the fighters that won world heavyweight title fights within the last 15 years (WBA Super, WBA regular, WBC, WBO & IBF), coupled with the total amount of world championship bouts they won throughout their entire careers, as well as their mathematical average weights for these contests:

• Wladimir Klitschko (25 wins - average weight = 243.5lbs)
• Vitali Klitschko (15 wins - average weight = 247lbs)
• Deontay Wilder (11 wins - average weight = 222.25lbs)
• Anthony Joshua (9 wins - average weight = 245lbs)
• Nikolai Valuev (6 wins - average weight = 320.75lbs)
• Ruslan Chagaev (5 wins - average weight = 235.5lbs)
• Alexander Povetkin (5 wins - average weight = 229.25)
• Joseph Parker (3 wins - average weight = 246lbs)
• David Haye (3 wins - average weight = 216.5lbs)
• Tyson Fury (2 wins - average weight = 260lbs)
• Sultan Ibragimov (2 wins - average weight = 220lbs)
• Oleg Maskaev (2 wins - average weight = 239lbs)
• Oleksandr Usyk (1 win - average weight = 221.25lbs)
• Trevor Bryan (1 win - average weight = 267.5lbs)
• Andy Ruiz Jr. (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)
• Mahmoud Charr (1 win - average weight = 230lbs)
• Lucas Browne (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Charles Martin (1 win - average weight = 249.5lbs)
• Bermane Stiverne (1 win - average weight = 239.5lbs)
• Samuel Peter (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Shannon Briggs (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)

The factor in this would be what would some of these fighters weight be if they had 10% bodyfat and they were at their optimal weight. Let's say they shift all their bodyfat while maintining their muscle. Guys like Sanders and Ruiz Jr would be about 200lbs. Sam Peter would be about 220lbs. Shannan Briggs best fighting weight before he can became a steroid king when he wasn't gassed constantly was 230lbs and even then his stamina wasn't great. Even the fighters like Chagaev, Povetkin, Ibragimov would be 20lbs lighter if they were in tip top shape. It's the heavyweights though and weight to some extent helps in clinches and hinders with stamina.

I think the only ones in tip top shape are Haye, Wilder who are both 2 of the lightest and Joshua. And the extra muscle means Joshua has terrible stamina. So he's arguably not at an optimal weight either. He can't fight 3 minutes a round.

I think most people believe Mike Tyson would destroy all heavyweights that aren't his namesake today. And Tyson weighed 225-230lbs while not having a that low bodyfat

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

• Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder and David Haye are the only fighters within the last fourteen years to have won a world title fight weighting 225lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 14% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• Deontay Wilder, David Haye and Sultan Ibragimov are the only fighters within the last 15½ years to have won a world title fight weighting 220lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 10% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• The average weight of a fighter that failed to capture/defend the championship during a bout within the last 15 years is 242¼lbs.

• The average weight of the fighters that emerged victorious or successfully defended their titles within the last 15 years is 243½lbs.

• There have been 82 world title fights within the last 15 years.

Here’s a list of the fighters that won world heavyweight title fights within the last 15 years (WBA Super, WBA regular, WBC, WBO & IBF), coupled with the total amount of world championship bouts they won throughout their entire careers, as well as their mathematical average weights for these contests:

• Wladimir Klitschko (25 wins - average weight = 243.5lbs)
• Vitali Klitschko (15 wins - average weight = 247lbs)
• Deontay Wilder (11 wins - average weight = 222.25lbs)
• Anthony Joshua (9 wins - average weight = 245lbs)
• Nikolai Valuev (6 wins - average weight = 320.75lbs)
• Ruslan Chagaev (5 wins - average weight = 235.5lbs)
• Alexander Povetkin (5 wins - average weight = 229.25)
• Joseph Parker (3 wins - average weight = 246lbs)
• David Haye (3 wins - average weight = 216.5lbs)
• Tyson Fury (2 wins - average weight = 260lbs)
• Sultan Ibragimov (2 wins - average weight = 220lbs)
• Oleg Maskaev (2 wins - average weight = 239lbs)
• Oleksandr Usyk (1 win - average weight = 221.25lbs)
• Trevor Bryan (1 win - average weight = 267.5lbs)
• Andy Ruiz Jr. (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)
• Mahmoud Charr (1 win - average weight = 230lbs)
• Lucas Browne (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Charles Martin (1 win - average weight = 249.5lbs)
• Bermane Stiverne (1 win - average weight = 239.5lbs)
• Samuel Peter (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Shannon Briggs (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)

I'd like to factor in this discussion, the question: What would be what would some of these fighters weight be if they had 10% bodyfat and they were at their optimal weight? Let's say they shift all their bodyfat while maintining their muscle. Guys like Corrie Sanders and Ruiz Jr would be about 200lbs. Sam Peter would be about 220lbs. Shannan Briggs best fighting weight before he can became a steroid king when he wasn't gassed constantly was 230lbs and even then his stamina wasn't great. Even the fighters like Chagaev, Povetkin, Ibragimov would be 20lbs lighter if they were in tip top shape. It's the heavyweights though and weight to some extent helps in clinches and hinders with stamina.

I think the only ones in tip top shape are Haye, Wilder who are both 2 of the lightest and Joshua. And the extra muscle means Joshua has terrible stamina. So he's arguably not at an optimal weight either. He can't fight 3 minutes a round.

I think most people believe Mike Tyson would destroy all heavyweights that aren't his namesake today. And Tyson weighed 225-230lbs while not having a that low bodyfat

[Enlightened-One]

• Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder and David Haye are the only fighters within the last fourteen years to have won a world title fight weighting 225lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 14% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• Deontay Wilder, David Haye and Sultan Ibragimov are the only fighters within the last 15½ years to have won a world title fight weighting 220lbs or less.

• Their victories account for less than 10% of the world title bouts that took place during that period.

• The average weight of a fighter that failed to capture/defend the championship during a bout within the last 15 years is 242¼lbs.

• The average weight of the fighters that emerged victorious or successfully defended their titles within the last 15 years is 243½lbs.

• There have been 82 world title fights within the last 15 years.

Here’s a list of the fighters that won world heavyweight title fights within the last 15 years (WBA Super, WBA regular, WBC, WBO & IBF), coupled with the total amount of world championship bouts they won throughout their entire careers, as well as their mathematical average weights for these contests:

• Wladimir Klitschko (25 wins - average weight = 243.5lbs)
• Vitali Klitschko (15 wins - average weight = 247lbs)
• Deontay Wilder (11 wins - average weight = 222.25lbs)
• Anthony Joshua (9 wins - average weight = 245lbs)
• Nikolai Valuev (6 wins - average weight = 320.75lbs)
• Ruslan Chagaev (5 wins - average weight = 235.5lbs)
• Alexander Povetkin (5 wins - average weight = 229.25)
• Joseph Parker (3 wins - average weight = 246lbs)
• David Haye (3 wins - average weight = 216.5lbs)
• Tyson Fury (2 wins - average weight = 260lbs)
• Sultan Ibragimov (2 wins - average weight = 220lbs)
• Oleg Maskaev (2 wins - average weight = 239lbs)
• Oleksandr Usyk (1 win - average weight = 221.25lbs)
• Trevor Bryan (1 win - average weight = 267.5lbs)
• Andy Ruiz Jr. (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)
• Mahmoud Charr (1 win - average weight = 230lbs)
• Lucas Browne (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Charles Martin (1 win - average weight = 249.5lbs)
• Bermane Stiverne (1 win - average weight = 239.5lbs)
• Samuel Peter (1 win - average weight = 250.75lbs)
• Shannon Briggs (1 win - average weight = 268lbs)

The factor in this would be what would some of these fighters weight be if they had 10% bodyfat and they were at their optimal weight. Let's say they shift all their bodyfat while maintining their muscle. Guys like Sanders and Ruiz Jr would be about 200lbs. Sam Peter would be about 220lbs. Shannan Briggs best fighting weight before he can became a steroid king when he wasn't gassed constantly was 230lbs and even then his stamina wasn't great. Even the fighters like Chagaev, Povetkin, Ibragimov would be 20lbs lighter if they were in tip top shape. It's the heavyweights though and weight to some extent helps in clinches and hinders with stamina.

I think the only ones in tip top shape are Haye, Wilder who are both 2 of the lightest and Joshua. And the extra muscle means Joshua has terrible stamina. So he's arguably not at an optimal weight either. He can't fight 3 minutes a round.

I think most people believe Mike Tyson would destroy all heavyweights that aren't his namesake today. And Tyson weighed 225-230lbs while not having a that low bodyfat

Heavyweight boxing isn’t about physique.

And possessing a less than 10% body fat physique is only appropriate for bodybuilding rather than an athletic sport.

The vast majority of heavyweight champions from previous eras didn’t possess sub-10% bodyfat levels. Most weren't ripped to shreds with six-packs.

And when you mention Mike Tyson’s name, you forget to include the rather inconvenient fact that he existed in an era when heavyweights were much smaller than today’s big men:

• When ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson was at his destructive best (prior to his defeat to ‘Buster’ Douglas) for the first 37 bouts of his career, his opponents typically weighed 212lbs (excl. four anomalous fighters).

• Mike Tyson’s own average ring weight during the same period was only 217¼lbs.

Shannon Briggs’ lack of engine was due to him being an asthmatic (his claim). His bodyfat levels have always been low.

Anthony Joshua’s stamina isn’t one of his strongest assets, but it’s not “terrible” either – that’s just a ridiculous claim considering the nature of some of his victories.

I’ve provided the stats to justify the fact that it’s rare for small heavyweights to become world champions.

Your personal opinion doesn’t detract from the accuracy of the statistical evidence I’ve cited.

Everyone is welcome to keep saying “but, but but… I disagree!” and then cite extremely rare exceptions.

However, their opinions won’t detract from the undeniable upward trajectory of the trend that categorically proves that heavyweights are getting increasingly “larger” over time (in terms of both height and weight)!