Fighters Who Blew Up In Weight Between Fights
Posted: 24 Nov 2009, 12:54
It happens to every fighter. You train real hard to get down to the right weight and condition, you fight your fight, and then you can relax, pig out, and count your money. For guys on the way up, they may gain ten pounds in between, because who knows when the next opprotunity awaits for them, they always got to be ready.
But for the guys on top of the world, they can take six months off or more, still have millions of dollars, and seem to have no worry in the world, they could always defend at a later date and time----who cares if the WBA, WBC, WBO or IBF strip their titles or put on an Interim title fight----they can get as fat as they want, and depending on the opponent, they can be as strict or lackidasical as they want come fight night.
Take Ricky Hatton, for example. It seems after every fight Hatton turns into a balloon. From a lean, mean 140 pound fighting machine to 180 pound dough boy, Hatton dives into excess when he walks out of the ring. Guinness flows like water, steaks as big as dinner plates, and the constant night life partying turns Hatton from the figure of fitness into Fat Bastard. It can be argued that Hatton's defeats to Manny Pacquia and Floyd Mayweather could have been the result of Hatton's life style outside the ring inbetween the big shows. His performances against Urango and Malignaggi weren't the best. Certainly the weight gain inbetween has to be an issue. There's no way a man can fight at a high level for a long period of time with that kind of weight gain and weight loss, its inhuman.
Take a look at Rocky Marciano a few months after he retired in 1956. This was a man whose been called the greatest conditioned heavyweight of all time. Constantly in the gym, constantly training, pushing the limits of human performance. Once he turned that schedule off, he morphed into a 250 pound Italian fat boy. When Ingemar Johansson became champion in 1959, Marciano attempted a comeback----but after a month or two of training, he gave up on the idea. Three years of eating to excess, smoking like a freight train, screwing hoards of women, was just too much.
Jake LaMotta claims that he lost over 10,000 pounds in his life time as a boxer. The middleweight champion of the world was originally a welterweight, who couldn't make 147 any more. Then he fought above 160, taking on light heavywieghts on a frequent basis, only working down to 160 when he fought the premiere middleweights of the day. Had he fought today LaMotta may have been comfortable at super middleweight. But let it be known that LaMotta was often so over the weight limit that he once took on Bob Satterfield, who was a contender for Marciano's crown!
Probably the best example that I can think of with a fighter from my life time was Roberto Duran when he began campaigning at middleweight. Duran was a phenomenal lightweight, possibly the greatest of all time, but once he became a household name and the money came pouring in, he couldn't help but dive into the riches that life can provide, if you got the coin to do so. He went to welterweight and made waves, but clearly wasn't as great as the lightweight version of himself. Still posessing incredible speed and skill, as well as power, he made the leap to middleweight where he gave Marvin Hagler some problems.
160 seemed to be easier for Duran to compete in than 147 and 135, because it was well known to all that Duran would go up to as much as 200 pounds in between fights. Losing forty pounds was hard enough, but losing 60 pounds was too much. When the super middleweight division was created, Duran seemed more at home, but by then Duran was too old and shop worn to be effective against the top guys. When he retired at the age of 50, Duran dabbled at 175 every now and then.
Mike Tyson at the peak of his career weighed in at 215 pounds. By the end of his career he weighed nearly 240 pounds when he fought Lennox Lewis. Today, though retired, Tyson weighs at a ball park figure of 280 pounds.
Muhammad Ali, before his bouts with Leon Spinks, was grossly overweight and even more so before fighting Larry Holmes in 1980. He weighed in the vicinity of 250. For Holmes he weighed 215 pounds. The weight loss, as well as being misdiagnosed with a thyroid condition, may have been too much for Ali. Before his return to boxing in 1970, Ali weighed at least 230 pounds for his computer fight with Rocky Marciano.
John L. Sullivan, the first heavyweight champion under the Marquis of Queensbury rules, usually came in at a trim 198-210 pounds when in great condition. However, Sullivan's alcohol abuse and zest for food and the night life, was revealing. His waist line increased tremendously when out of condition----sometimes being reported as much as 280 pounds when he would do his exhibition tours across America. In later life following retirement, the legendary ex-champion, once considered the image of a near perfectly developed man, looked more like Santa Claus as he weighed over 300 pounds.
Jim Jeffries generally weighed 220 pounds at the peak of his pugilistic powers, though it was not uncommon for him to show up as much as 280 pounds in exhibitions or against lesser opponents. When he retired, however, all concern for staying in shape went out the window, as he ballooned to 310 pounds. Six years after his last contest, he made a career comeback, losing 110 pounds in less than six months time and trained for a 45 round bout against Jack Johnson. The weight loss and ring rust was just too much for Jeffries, as he was kayoed in the 15th round after 14 of the most one sided rounds this side of Holmes/Cobb.
It seems more normal for heavyweights to pack on the pounds, but it is in the lower weights that the transformation between fights becomes more telling. Some guys dont seem to have the discipline to keep the weight off and end up fighting well above their means. Iran Barkley was an excellent example of this, as he weight from welterweight to heavyweight in a matter of a decade. Imagine, a guy taking on the likes of Roberto Duran at middleweight, and in a few short years duke it out with ex heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee.
James Toney is another. A superb middleweight, Toney lacked the discipline to remain a talent at the weight. He wouldnt stay at super middleweight or light heavyweight for long either. He ended up a Cruiserweight champion and later fought for the WBA heavyweight title. He still dabbles in the fight game, though its apparent he is now too old.
Antonio Tarver upset Roy Jones to become the 175 pound champ, but went up to 220 pounds to portray Mason Dixon in the sixth Rocky film. When he came back down he lost a unaminous decision to Bernard Hopkins and never quite regained his success at 175, winning the title and losing it all over again, this time to Chad Dawson. Was it the weight loss or was it that Tarver lost to a better man? People ordinarily say it was the latter, but yet they can excuse this next fighter for the weight gain/loss excuse...
Roy Jones went up to 196 pounds to fight John Ruiz for the WBA title back in 2000. It was a huge event and win for Jones, as it marked the second time in history that a former light heavyweight champion would win a heavyweight title. However, Jones dropped back down to 175 to fight Antonio Tarver and won a dubious 12 round decision. Not satisfied with the result, he met Tarver again, but this time was kayoed in two rounds. He fought Tarver once more for good measure, but lost a decision. In his next fight he was kayoed by Glen Johnson in nine rounds. Was it the 20 pound weight loss that zapped Jones' powers or was it Father Time catching up with him?
Probably the best example of a fighter whose career was ruined by weight gain was that of 'Caveman' Bob Moha, who was a middleweight who fluctuated between 160 and 260 pounds. Moha would fight one hell of a contest at 160, then disappear for a few months, come back and be 175 and plod his way through to a decision, a week later be a heavyweight and score a no-decision, disappear again and be so weight drained at 160 that he would lose to someone he shouldn't have to begin with. Some say it was his constant 'no show' attitude that ruined his career, but the weight had plenty to do with it.
Though not a fighter remembered for being trim, Eric 'Butterbean' Esch is another whose weight gains have hindered his already limited potential. Beginning at 400 pounds, Esch eventually ended his career more toward the 280 pound mark. The lowest he ever fought at was 240 pounds, but at 5'9" in height he still appeared to be a butterball.
Sometimes weight loss can be a hinderance. When George Foreman returned to the ring at the age of 37 he weighed 360 pounds. Foreman continued to lose weight and looked remarkably healthy at 235 pounds when he fought Henry Akinwande, but claimed that the weight loss was effecting him----since he was getting smaller, he didn't have the bulk to keep the young heavyweights off of him. When Foreman fought the likes of Holyfield, Morrison and Moorer, he weighed closer to 250 pounds. When he retired for good in 1997 he weighed nearly 270.
Ray Leonard, when he made his return to the ring against Terry Norris, made a calculated mistake of going down two weight classes below his own without so much as having a tune up. The result was a complete one sided decision loss. Was it the inactivity, was it Leonard's advanced age, or was it the weight loss? Probably all three in his case.
None the less, the point has been made. These are some of the better known cases of weight gain and weight loss in a fighters career inbetween matches. What are some that you may know?
But for the guys on top of the world, they can take six months off or more, still have millions of dollars, and seem to have no worry in the world, they could always defend at a later date and time----who cares if the WBA, WBC, WBO or IBF strip their titles or put on an Interim title fight----they can get as fat as they want, and depending on the opponent, they can be as strict or lackidasical as they want come fight night.
Take Ricky Hatton, for example. It seems after every fight Hatton turns into a balloon. From a lean, mean 140 pound fighting machine to 180 pound dough boy, Hatton dives into excess when he walks out of the ring. Guinness flows like water, steaks as big as dinner plates, and the constant night life partying turns Hatton from the figure of fitness into Fat Bastard. It can be argued that Hatton's defeats to Manny Pacquia and Floyd Mayweather could have been the result of Hatton's life style outside the ring inbetween the big shows. His performances against Urango and Malignaggi weren't the best. Certainly the weight gain inbetween has to be an issue. There's no way a man can fight at a high level for a long period of time with that kind of weight gain and weight loss, its inhuman.
Take a look at Rocky Marciano a few months after he retired in 1956. This was a man whose been called the greatest conditioned heavyweight of all time. Constantly in the gym, constantly training, pushing the limits of human performance. Once he turned that schedule off, he morphed into a 250 pound Italian fat boy. When Ingemar Johansson became champion in 1959, Marciano attempted a comeback----but after a month or two of training, he gave up on the idea. Three years of eating to excess, smoking like a freight train, screwing hoards of women, was just too much.
Jake LaMotta claims that he lost over 10,000 pounds in his life time as a boxer. The middleweight champion of the world was originally a welterweight, who couldn't make 147 any more. Then he fought above 160, taking on light heavywieghts on a frequent basis, only working down to 160 when he fought the premiere middleweights of the day. Had he fought today LaMotta may have been comfortable at super middleweight. But let it be known that LaMotta was often so over the weight limit that he once took on Bob Satterfield, who was a contender for Marciano's crown!
Probably the best example that I can think of with a fighter from my life time was Roberto Duran when he began campaigning at middleweight. Duran was a phenomenal lightweight, possibly the greatest of all time, but once he became a household name and the money came pouring in, he couldn't help but dive into the riches that life can provide, if you got the coin to do so. He went to welterweight and made waves, but clearly wasn't as great as the lightweight version of himself. Still posessing incredible speed and skill, as well as power, he made the leap to middleweight where he gave Marvin Hagler some problems.
160 seemed to be easier for Duran to compete in than 147 and 135, because it was well known to all that Duran would go up to as much as 200 pounds in between fights. Losing forty pounds was hard enough, but losing 60 pounds was too much. When the super middleweight division was created, Duran seemed more at home, but by then Duran was too old and shop worn to be effective against the top guys. When he retired at the age of 50, Duran dabbled at 175 every now and then.
Mike Tyson at the peak of his career weighed in at 215 pounds. By the end of his career he weighed nearly 240 pounds when he fought Lennox Lewis. Today, though retired, Tyson weighs at a ball park figure of 280 pounds.
Muhammad Ali, before his bouts with Leon Spinks, was grossly overweight and even more so before fighting Larry Holmes in 1980. He weighed in the vicinity of 250. For Holmes he weighed 215 pounds. The weight loss, as well as being misdiagnosed with a thyroid condition, may have been too much for Ali. Before his return to boxing in 1970, Ali weighed at least 230 pounds for his computer fight with Rocky Marciano.
John L. Sullivan, the first heavyweight champion under the Marquis of Queensbury rules, usually came in at a trim 198-210 pounds when in great condition. However, Sullivan's alcohol abuse and zest for food and the night life, was revealing. His waist line increased tremendously when out of condition----sometimes being reported as much as 280 pounds when he would do his exhibition tours across America. In later life following retirement, the legendary ex-champion, once considered the image of a near perfectly developed man, looked more like Santa Claus as he weighed over 300 pounds.
Jim Jeffries generally weighed 220 pounds at the peak of his pugilistic powers, though it was not uncommon for him to show up as much as 280 pounds in exhibitions or against lesser opponents. When he retired, however, all concern for staying in shape went out the window, as he ballooned to 310 pounds. Six years after his last contest, he made a career comeback, losing 110 pounds in less than six months time and trained for a 45 round bout against Jack Johnson. The weight loss and ring rust was just too much for Jeffries, as he was kayoed in the 15th round after 14 of the most one sided rounds this side of Holmes/Cobb.
It seems more normal for heavyweights to pack on the pounds, but it is in the lower weights that the transformation between fights becomes more telling. Some guys dont seem to have the discipline to keep the weight off and end up fighting well above their means. Iran Barkley was an excellent example of this, as he weight from welterweight to heavyweight in a matter of a decade. Imagine, a guy taking on the likes of Roberto Duran at middleweight, and in a few short years duke it out with ex heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee.
James Toney is another. A superb middleweight, Toney lacked the discipline to remain a talent at the weight. He wouldnt stay at super middleweight or light heavyweight for long either. He ended up a Cruiserweight champion and later fought for the WBA heavyweight title. He still dabbles in the fight game, though its apparent he is now too old.
Antonio Tarver upset Roy Jones to become the 175 pound champ, but went up to 220 pounds to portray Mason Dixon in the sixth Rocky film. When he came back down he lost a unaminous decision to Bernard Hopkins and never quite regained his success at 175, winning the title and losing it all over again, this time to Chad Dawson. Was it the weight loss or was it that Tarver lost to a better man? People ordinarily say it was the latter, but yet they can excuse this next fighter for the weight gain/loss excuse...
Roy Jones went up to 196 pounds to fight John Ruiz for the WBA title back in 2000. It was a huge event and win for Jones, as it marked the second time in history that a former light heavyweight champion would win a heavyweight title. However, Jones dropped back down to 175 to fight Antonio Tarver and won a dubious 12 round decision. Not satisfied with the result, he met Tarver again, but this time was kayoed in two rounds. He fought Tarver once more for good measure, but lost a decision. In his next fight he was kayoed by Glen Johnson in nine rounds. Was it the 20 pound weight loss that zapped Jones' powers or was it Father Time catching up with him?
Probably the best example of a fighter whose career was ruined by weight gain was that of 'Caveman' Bob Moha, who was a middleweight who fluctuated between 160 and 260 pounds. Moha would fight one hell of a contest at 160, then disappear for a few months, come back and be 175 and plod his way through to a decision, a week later be a heavyweight and score a no-decision, disappear again and be so weight drained at 160 that he would lose to someone he shouldn't have to begin with. Some say it was his constant 'no show' attitude that ruined his career, but the weight had plenty to do with it.
Though not a fighter remembered for being trim, Eric 'Butterbean' Esch is another whose weight gains have hindered his already limited potential. Beginning at 400 pounds, Esch eventually ended his career more toward the 280 pound mark. The lowest he ever fought at was 240 pounds, but at 5'9" in height he still appeared to be a butterball.
Sometimes weight loss can be a hinderance. When George Foreman returned to the ring at the age of 37 he weighed 360 pounds. Foreman continued to lose weight and looked remarkably healthy at 235 pounds when he fought Henry Akinwande, but claimed that the weight loss was effecting him----since he was getting smaller, he didn't have the bulk to keep the young heavyweights off of him. When Foreman fought the likes of Holyfield, Morrison and Moorer, he weighed closer to 250 pounds. When he retired for good in 1997 he weighed nearly 270.
Ray Leonard, when he made his return to the ring against Terry Norris, made a calculated mistake of going down two weight classes below his own without so much as having a tune up. The result was a complete one sided decision loss. Was it the inactivity, was it Leonard's advanced age, or was it the weight loss? Probably all three in his case.
None the less, the point has been made. These are some of the better known cases of weight gain and weight loss in a fighters career inbetween matches. What are some that you may know?
