WHAT SORT OF BUILD DO GREAT PUNCHERS HAVE ?

[Tyson KTFO 3 Times]

Alexis Arguello
Michael Spinks

Both stick figures, relatively speaking

Thomas Hearns, one of the greatest p4p punchers in history was built like a hairpin but could hit Like a truck.

[KOJOE90]

When thinking of punchers and 'where does the power come from? etc' I always think of one my of favourite punchers the great Welsh Flyweight Jimmy Wilde. Here was a tiny man who stopped around 99 opponents and yet when he turned pro at the tender age of 16 he was only 74lbs!!!!

I have a soft spot for the Mighty Atom as my Grandfathers uncle used to train with him.

I used to think at one time that thick upper back development was a sign off a good puncher Earnie Shavers, Julian Jackson, John Mugabi, Nigel Benn spring to mind but there are too many punchers ( better than some I've mentioned ) who don't fall into this catagory.

On the British scene Naseem Hamed had a good punch, I put this down to partly having very strong looking legs (unlike Hearns) or when he punched he put all his weight behind a lot of his shots, hence why he often ended up off balance or falling over etc.

[tea]

Mike Tyson

Short
stocky
FAT HEAD

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[Tantum]

The main thing is to have very sturdy bones in the hand and wrist.

Jack Dempsey was an ideal type in this respect.

Jack Dempsey was a loser, he had sturdy PLASTER OF PARIS in his gloves maybe.

[john garfield]

As soon as I thought I had it figured out; I had to re-think it.

First, I was sure it was the slope-shouldered guys, like Robinson; than I went from tall, skinny guys with leverage: Saddler and Jenkins. Then, with more than 50 years in the sport, I realize there is no body type. You’re either born a puncher or your not, and they come in every shape--and non shape--imaginable, many so surprising, it seems impossible.

[john garfield]

The same with home run hitters in baseball--Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Jimmy Fox, Hank Greenberg etc.

all different in technique AND physical build.

Great pianists---Rachmaninoff was 6'4"---Josef Hofmann was 5'!"

How about Earnie Banks: Who'd figure him for a homerun threat?

Since you're into vintage baseball players terap, check our thread about the good old days, I think you'll get a kick out of story I posted ther...if you haven't already read it.

[silkov]

I think there are a number of different factors which can make a fighter a big puncher... raw power and strength, speed, timeing and leverage.
Tony Galentino was a rolypoly but a ferocious fighter and puncher who dropped Louis and ruined Lou Nova as a fighter.
Ruben Olivares was a great puncher, especially at his peak as a Bantam.
Archie Moore was powerfully built but his koes were also related to his subtley fast hands and timing.
Robinson has a great ko record but used to say that he wasn't a big puncher... but he was extremely fast and accurate and one of the best combination punchers ever.
Earnie Shavers had lots of raw power but also technique too, he knew where to hit and when to hit an opponent.
Pipino Cuevas had probably more raw power than any other fighter I ve seen in his prime... every punch he threw hurt his opponent.