BoxRec

I've just read the feature on Taylor-Arthur in BM and in it his team attribute Taylor's loss to Froch on cutting 26lbs in 3 weeks prior to the fight. They say they have addressed this by bringing in a nutritionist to bring it down safely.

When reading this my strong reaction was to think that they have looked at this all wrong - IMO the problem is not how to take the weight off, it's how to not put it on in the first place.

Which leads to my question, why does this culture doggedly persist in boxing? You wouldn't expect to see Chris Hoy or Usain Bolt piling on weight after competing and spending a large proportion of their training losing weight would you? Would you expect to see Bolt breaking records next summer if you saw him weighing 2 stone over his competition weight 3 weeks before? I know people may say that boxing is different because it's a weight-making sport but surely the point in preparing for competition in any sport is to obtain peak physical conditioning.

Doesn't an acceptance of such weight-making practices completely contradict this purpose? Should this change and will this change? I'd be very interested to hear your opinions on this.

i would say Reasons could be are that Chris Hoy and Ussain bolt are competing far more regular than boxers so are always kept busy.

Boxers at high standard such as this can go months without fighting so put on the punds easier
as there not likley to be hammering it in the gym as much as they would for a fight.

Obviously some people take it to extremes like Hatton but some feel they need to let themselves go before starting the slog back in the gym for fight night.

thats one theory anyway

Matt W wrote:I've just read the feature on Taylor-Arthur in BM and in it his team attribute Taylor's loss to Froch on cutting 26lbs in 3 weeks prior to the fight. They say they have addressed this by bringing in a nutritionist to bring it down safely.

When reading this my strong reaction was to think that they have looked at this all wrong - IMO the problem is not how to take the weight off, it's how to not put it on in the first place.

Which leads to my question, why does this culture doggedly persist in boxing? You wouldn't expect to see Chris Hoy or Usain Bolt piling on weight after competing and spending a large proportion of their training losing weight would you? Would you expect to see Bolt breaking records next summer if you saw him weighing 2 stone over his competition weight 3 weeks before? I know people may say that boxing is different because it's a weight-making sport but surely the point in preparing for competition in any sport is to obtain peak physical conditioning.

Doesn't an acceptance of such weight-making practices completely contradict this purpose? Should this change and will this change? I'd be very interested to hear your opinions on this.

Matt W wrote:I've just read the feature on Taylor-Arthur in BM and in it his team attribute Taylor's loss to Froch on cutting 26lbs in 3 weeks prior to the fight. They say they have addressed this by bringing in a nutritionist to bring it down safely.

A load of bollox really. So let's get this straight: A veteran like Taylor, who's been around for years, thinks it's a great idea to lose 26lbs in 3 weeks prior to a big fight.
Only, to his great surprise, it turns out not to be such a marvellous idea after all.

So they bring in a "nutritionist" to save the day. And everyone agrees they'll never do THAT again.

Has there ever been, in the history of boxing, a fighter say "I've got no excuses.." that wasn't followed by the word "but"?

Gazmac - agreed. As well as the implications for weight in a skills-based sport like boxing such inactivity is also very detrimental in terms of achieving peak performance.

MightyWarrior wrote:

Matt W wrote:I've just read the feature on Taylor-Arthur in BM and in it his team attribute Taylor's loss to Froch on cutting 26lbs in 3 weeks prior to the fight. They say they have addressed this by bringing in a nutritionist to bring it down safely.

A load of bollox really. So let's get this straight: A veteran like Taylor, who's been around for years, thinks it's a great idea to lose 26lbs in 3 weeks prior to a big fight.
Only, to his great surprise, it turns out not to be such a marvellous idea after all.

So they bring in a "nutritionist" to save the day. And everyone agrees they'll never do THAT again.

Has there ever been, in the history of boxing, a fighter say "I've got no excuses.." that wasn't followed by the word "but"?[/quote]

Errrrr, no.

Perfect preparation for any fight is extremely rare anyway and the winner could just as easily trot out how his preparation could have been better. Part of being a real winner is overcoming barriers and succeeding anyway. Hell, Mike Tyson had gonorrhoea when he fought Berbick and used it to help his performance as he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible so he could have a good scratch

Isn't it true that Tommy Hearns broke his hand in the first round against Hagler and was adamant about keeping it quiet so as not to take anything away from Marvin?

[/quote] Yeah, so he got Steward to come out and blame it all on a leg massage. Taylor doesn't like boxing that much, maybe he is not keen on training and never gives it 100% and suffers as a result.[/quote]

Personally always thought being pummeled for 3 rounds by Marvin at his most Marvelous had something to do with it.

A boxers confidence is a major factor. Taylor - just like any other boxer who loses - is looking for an excuse to why he lost, and a way that by doing something differently this time will stop that happening again.

For a recent example. Look how Froch and Witter have come out with various excuses why their performances since moving into real world class haven`t been so commanding .. its nothing new.