Do you think that power is increased with height, at the same weight category?
I don't mean to compare a boxer in one category to other categories, but about strongest in each category.
Examples: Jess Willard - Jack Johnson, Morales-Pacman, BHop-DLH, Corrales-Castillo, the tallest were strongest.
Or even more likely: power increases with bone mass instead of just height, that way we include tall people and also short but wide boxers, for example Tyson.
Mainly bone mass, then muscle mass, and the least amount of fat (except heavyweights, because there is no superior limit to weight) to be compatible with muscle and bone to make the weight for the category. Example: Corrales has less fat than other in this weight because he is tall, he is more weight efficient.
I know there are other variables, but just want to know if this is one.
Tell me what you think.

Tszyu-Short but one of the strongest punchers in the game.

Tyson is a strong puncher as well as Pacman.

the height addds leverage to the punch which is always a plus for power

I have always believed u either born or not born with punching power.Look at Jimmy Wilde, who some consider one of the best punchers of all time and he was a flyweight champ.

One of the hardest punchers I ever met was 5-7 & 60 kg's.
All about timing & snap.

Lamon Brewster is listed at 6'1. He is more like 6'0.
Tyson is 5'9
Tua is 5'9

compare their height to most other heavyweights.

Thanks spinksjinx, although Tyson is included in my list if you see the middle of the post.

Pacman may be strong but less strong than morales, this is one example I put.

Tszyu don't know, but he may be wide.

Height dont matta. Pac, Tyson, Tua and Tszyu are short and they have big punch.

Doo, I think you watched Corrales Castillo too much!

Lamon Brewster is listed at 6'1. He is more like 6'0.
Tyson is 5'9
Tua is 5'9

compare their height to most other heavyweights.

Thanks Runw/knives, but these heavyweight have huge backs, so again more skeleton.

Thanks Runw/knives, but these heavyweight have huge backs, so again more skeleton.

ok. I see what you mean now. taller fighters with equivalent amounts of muscle mass? no?

ok. I see what you mean now. taller fighters with equivalent amounts of muscle mass? no?

Yes muscle is included, but also measuring the back from shoulder to shoulder trying to exclude muscles, there are differences in size, for example Corrales and Tyson have the same height but different shoulder to shoulder distance, so Tyson has both more bone mass and muscle mass.

Yes muscle is included, but also measuring the back from shoulder to shoulder trying to exclude muscles, there are differences in size, for example Corrales and Tyson have the same height but different shoulder to shoulder distance, so Tyson has both more bone mass and muscle mass.

well in that case yes. Because the taller fighter has an leverage advantage. Objects like the arm that are further away from the fulkram point generate more velocity I suppose. Only if you are being highly technical.

Height dont matta. Pac, Tyson, Tua and Tszyu are short and they have big punch.

Doo, I think you watched Corrales Castillo too much!

Thanks, although Tyson is included in my list if you see the middle of the post. Pacman may be strong but less strong than Morales, this is one example I put. Don't know about Tszyu, but he may be wider than others or some other reasons.

have always believed u either born or not born with punching power.Look at Jimmy Wilde, who some consider one of the best punchers of all time and he was a flyweight champ.[/QUOTE]
he know what he talkin bout.. nice avatar too man.. if a tall and short fighter is blessed with it then the smaller fighter usually more dangerous more leverage with legs punching up then down..also read up is more natural punching motion

Thanks, although Tyson is included in my list if you see the middle of the post. Pacman may be strong but less strong than Morales, this is one example I put. Don't know about Tszyu, but he may be wider than others or some other reasons.

I dunno about Morales bein stronger than Pac. Pac dropped Barrera like crazy and KOed him and Morales couldn't even floor Barrera.

I dunno about Morales bein stronger than Pac. Pac dropped Barrera like crazy and KOed him and Morales couldn't even floor Barrera.

I think the only power punch that Pacman shot was in the first round to the body. All the others were normal punches, and Morales threw strong punches in most rounds.

Barrera had some problems before that fight, he wasn't concentrated like in others.

Not to get into the Morales and Pac debut but Pac is a bigger puncher. Morales just has a style that will always to difficult for him and a great chin. (thats why he was not rocked to much by Pac in the fight)

i think its the bone mass, tyson hits much harder than holyfield but holyfield got more muscul than tyson. no matter how much and hard holyfield train he will never hit as hard as tyson. holyfield was blowing up from crusierweight so he didnt had the natural body and bone mass as tyson.

One thing I've never understood about some boxers, is they only seem to train their upper body. I've seen pics of Holyfield where his shoulders and arms looked huge, but his legs look like twigs. Tyson on the other hand, has reasonably big arms(but short) and shoulders, but smaller than most heavyweights. He does have MASSIVE legs. Tyson throws a punch with his whole body, and he can put those legs into it. It's like throwing in baseball. You don't throw solely with your arm; You throw with your entire body. So why don't more boxers balance their muscle and build stronger legs? The guys at the lower weight-classes seem to be a little more balanced muscle-wise, at least.

One thing I've never understood about some boxers, is they only seem to train their upper body. I've seen pics of Holyfield where his shoulders and arms looked huge, but his legs look like twigs. Tyson on the other hand, has reasonably big arms(but short) and shoulders, but smaller than most heavyweights. He does have MASSIVE legs. Tyson throws a punch with his whole body, and he can put those legs into it. It's like throwing in baseball. You don't throw solely with your arm; You throw with your entire body. So why don't more boxers balance their muscle and build stronger legs? The guys at the lower weight-classes seem to be a little more balanced muscle-wise, at least.


good observation. At the lower division, Pacquiao has the biggest legs. Maybe that explains his power? I don't know!

Not to get into the Morales and Pac debut but Pac is a bigger puncher. Morales just has a style that will always to difficult for him and a great chin. (thats why he was not rocked to much by Pac in the fight)

Thanks for the reply, it also may be chin related for this fight, although I don't think if it is the only reason. Commenter of the fight in the channel I saw it is very experienced, and said that Pac punches were small cat punches that don't hurt, while Morales throw some hard shots in some rounds.

Some of the biggest punchers ever were below 6 feet tall and Marciano was below 6ft in height and only weighed like 187 pounds but has the highest recorded hit on record recorded PSI. (pounds of pressure per square inch) over 1000

i think its the bone mass, tyson hits much harder than holyfield but holyfield got more muscul than tyson. no matter how much and hard holyfield train he will never hit as hard as tyson. holyfield was blowing up from crusierweight so he didnt had the natural body and bone mass as tyson.

Thanks for your comment, mass is main point of the thread question, first I think on taller boxers but then on mass to include others such as Tyson and Tua. Yes I think that if Holyfield decides to have even biggest arms, shoulders and back he still will hit less than Tyson.

Its more to do with height then bone mass. Actually the shorter the fighter the more power they have, or should have if punching correctly. Shorter fighters have better balance and leverage. Redmenace is correct about throwing punches with your whole body, like in golf (sorry) its the motion of the hips arms, legs, etc. Same with throwing a punch in boxing.

and to heavy hands, way to know your history. Wilde was what? 5'2". See short!! Damn, come to think of it, borderline midget... ;)

One thing I've never understood about some boxers, is they only seem to train their upper body. I've seen pics of Holyfield where his shoulders and arms looked huge, but his legs look like twigs. Tyson on the other hand, has reasonably big arms(but short) and shoulders, but smaller than most heavyweights. He does have MASSIVE legs. Tyson throws a punch with his whole body, and he can put those legs into it. It's like throwing in baseball. You don't throw solely with your arm; You throw with your entire body. So why don't more boxers balance their muscle and build stronger legs? The guys at the lower weight-classes seem to be a little more balanced muscle-wise, at least.

I think Tyson has bigger legs than Holyfield because he is a true heavyweight and more muscle can surround his bigger bones (apart from other reasons like genetics), this is about comparing the two.

And about the upper Holyfield body bigger than the lower body, also I can think that he don't want massive legs to allow for his foot movement.

Some think that how you take a punch with the entire body is the reason of the power, or part of it.

good observation. At the lower division, Pacquiao has the biggest legs. Maybe that explains his power? I don't know!

I think he has big power at 122lbs, and he is reasonably big either leg mass or body bone mass, and I believe it helped him, but I read he will stay at 130, I prefer him lower weight, at least 126.

Some of the biggest punchers ever were below 6 feet tall and Marciano was below 6ft in height and only weighed like 187 pounds but has the highest recorded hit on record recorded PSI. (pounds of pressure per square inch) over 1000

I read about his power, but also we know that is very difficult to imagine him hitting harder than George Foreman and many others.

How reliable is that PSI test, and did they do it to all the other heavyweight punchers?

Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey said that the biggest heavyweight puncher is Foreman, and they lived until 1980 aproximately. After that we have: Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno (there are similar comments on his PSI biggest than all others, but again, how reliable), David Tua, Lennox Lewis and Samuel Peter, I imagine some of them hitting stronger than Marciano. What others think?

Its more to do with height then bone mass. Actually the shorter the fighter the more power they have, or should have if punching correctly. Shorter fighters have better balance and leverage. Redmenace is correct about throwing punches with your whole body, like in golf (sorry) its the motion of the hips arms, legs, etc. Same with throwing a punch in boxing.

and to heavy hands, way to know your history. Wilde was what? 5'2". See short!! Damn, come to think of it, borderline midget... ;)

About shorter fighters having better balance and leverage, I think it affects equilibre, so they may have advantages rising from a knockdown. But I don't think shorter means more power.

About Wilde, yes he punched hard, but I don't know compared with current boxers.

mayweather vs Corrales

big punchers - some are short, some are tall. If you have no power in your punch now, you'll never have power in your punch.

Foreman was a hard hitter, when he wiped out Frazier, it was a complete shock.Ali had a jaw, he took some shots from Foreman.

I read about his power, but also we know that is very difficult to imagine him hitting harder than George Foreman and many others.

How reliable is that PSI test, and did they do it to all the other heavyweight punchers?

Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey said that the biggest heavyweight puncher is Foreman, and they lived until 1980 aproximately. After that we have: Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno (there are similar comments on his PSI biggest than all others, but again, how reliable), David Tua, Lennox Lewis and Samuel Peter, I imagine some of them hitting stronger than Marciano. What others think?

I tend to agree that Foreman probably did hit harder than Marciano, and Tyson probably hit harder too, but I dont know its still the PSI record and the man was short and only a 187 pounds. That is why Marciano was such a machine he had endless stamina due in large part to weighing only 187 pounds but he could hit almost as hard as Foreman if he really committed himself to a punch.

it's speed times the mass, guys like tua, ibeabuchi, lewis, tyson, guys who weigh over 220, and have good hand speed are going to be devastating punchers, tyson an tua generated most of their power from their legs,lennox lewis punced down and used most of his body weight on his punches, it's just different types of power but equally as devastating of course

I tend to agree that Foreman probably did hit harder than Marciano, and Tyson probably hit harder too, but I dont know its still the PSI record and the man was short and only a 187 pounds. That is why Marciano was such a machine he had endless stamina due in large part to weighing only 187 pounds but he could hit almost as hard as Foreman if he really committed himself to a punch.

What I know about marciano is that he trained more than others, maybe about double. Also, he had less fat than other heavyweights, so most of the 187 lbs are muscles and bones. These are advantages, that made him hit harder than others at his time, and without doubt hardest hitter at his weight or lower, but higher weights it depends. But I do no think he compares with the others I mention, also I read Frank Bruno hits more than 1000 PSI but don't know about others, or how realiable is.

it's speed times the mass, guys like tua, ibeabuchi, lewis, tyson, guys who weigh over 220, and have good hand speed are going to be devastating punchers, tyson an tua generated most of their power from their legs,lennox lewis punced down and used most of his body weight on his punches, it's just different types of power but equally as devastating of course

Thanks for the answer, if I understood what you mean with Lewis, it can be used in some punches, but not in an uppercut, that he throwed strong with the right hand.

Tyson and Tua go to the front with the body for some shots.

Foreman didn't do it especially at more than 40 years, it still impresses me the victory over Moorer at near 46 with that punch without much body movement.

[QUOTE=paul750]it's speed times the massQUOTE]

exactly...there are many factors to power. it's the technique and also the timing play a big part. also fighters with longer leaner muscle tend to have better straight punches while compact stocky fighters tend to have better shorter punches.

[QUOTE=paul750]it's speed times the massQUOTE]

exactly...there are many factors to power. it's the technique and also the timing play a big part. also fighters with longer leaner muscle tend to have better straight punches while compact stocky fighters tend to have better shorter punches.

I didn't think about it before. Can you put some examples of each?

I didn't think about it before. Can you put some examples of each?

longer, leaner fighters that have good straight punches for example would be tommy herns (great right straight) or manny (straight left).

stocky guys like tyson, barrera have great short hooks and uppercuts..

Thanks, although Tyson is included in my list if you see the middle of the post. Pacman may be strong but less strong than Morales, this is one example I put. Don't know about Tszyu, but he may be wider than others or some other reasons.

Errr no way Morales more powerful than Pac. Thats why he chose to box instead of brawling and when he finally stood toe to toe he was wobbling around. Morales beat pacman with skill, not power...

Power comes down to legs, technique, weight & bone mass. Most boxers got the technique down so it goes down to the other 3. Naz had huge legs for feather, Tyson has huge legs, so does Pac. Dunno how to explain hearns, lol. Usually those with bigger bone mass punch harder, thinner guys are faster but weaker. A 6'5 130lbs will no way in hell punch harder than a 5'0 130lbs. Someone like Klitscko's & Lewis punches hard because of their overall weight, not height although height adds weight.

Your examples are pretty messed up too, why compare willard with johnson, why not Dempsey? lol

Like I said above, height cant only be stronger as it adds weight. However if you were to compare a tall & short person of exact same weight, the taller guy will be thinner therefore faster but weaker, the shorter guy will look much more bulked therefore slower but stronger.

Errr no way Morales more powerful than Pac. Thats why he chose to box instead of brawling and when he finally stood toe to toe he was wobbling around. Morales beat pacman with skill, not power...

It wasn't how I saw the fight, although I didn't want any of them to win.
I saw a powerful body shot from Pacman at the round 1 and nothing more, all other punches were normal and didn't affect Morales much. To the contrary Morales pounches affected Pacman in some rounds. Pacman vas very stron at 122lbs. I would have liked to see Morales Pacman at 126, halfway between current weight and past weight, and even at 122, to watch a more competitive fight than it was at 130.


Power comes down to legs, technique, weight & bone mass. Most boxers got the technique down so it goes down to the other 3. Naz had huge legs for feather, Tyson has huge legs, so does Pac. Dunno how to explain hearns, lol. Usually those with bigger bone mass punch harder, thinner guys are faster but weaker. A 6'5 130lbs will no way in hell punch harder than a 5'0 130lbs. Someone like Klitscko's & Lewis punches hard because of their overall weight, not height.

Thanks, interesting. A 6'5" 130lbs is too thin that you lowered his mucle too much. Make same height example but at other weight: 6'5" 230lbs against a 5'0" 230lbs.

Your examples are pretty messed up too, why compare willard with johnson, why not Dempsey? lol

Because with Johnson he had 34 years, while with Dempsey he had 38, near 40, in times where much people lived 50-60 years.

Like I said above, height cant only be stronger as it adds weight. However if you were to compare a tall & short person of exact same weight, the taller guy will be thinner therefore faster but weaker, the shorter guy will look much more bulked therefore slower but stronger.

That isn't true, look at Corrales, he has more punch than all the orthers at 130 and 135 and is the thinniest.

4 years isnt gonna affect punching power that much. Its mostly agility, look at foreman, he lost everything but his power at 45.

Also there are always gonna be exceptions to the rule, I did mention Hearns. I didnt say that as a golden rule, its a general thing. Even I can feel it, if I was shorter in same weight it would mean more mass or bigger bone density thus more power. Think of it this way, if you had a stick(bone) and had to hit something with it, which would be more durable for hitting, the thin long one or the short big one.

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To me it seems like the 1st one is more likely to snap. Im not saying your bones would snap but I would imagine your body to allow more force based on what your body can handle.

Besides, Castillo had more power than Corrales, he dropped him twice. Like I said its not a golden rule. Weight = more power too but I seen tons who weigh less and are stronger punchers.

It wasn't how I saw the fight, although I didn't want any of them to win.
I saw a powerful body shot from Pacman at the round 1 and nothing more, all other punches were normal and didn't affect Morales much. To the contrary Morales pounches affected Pacman in some rounds. Pacman vas very stron at 122lbs. I would have liked to see Morales Pacman at 126, halfway between current weight and past weight, and even at 122, to watch a more competitive fight than it was at 130.




Thanks, interesting. A 6'5" 130lbs is too thin that you lowered his mucle too much. Make same height example but at other weight: 6'5" 230lbs against a 5'0" 230lbs.

The pity patters I saw from pacman was a joke too. Watch vs Marquez and vs Barrera, he didnt fight like that. Pac's power is mostly in that left hand from afar, notice how he lunges when throwing it, thats where teh power comes from. The quick flurries to the body wasnt gonna do much, I do them too but not for power but rather just trying to get lots of punches in.

Of course Pac would look more shaken cos he was getting way more outboxed, Morales was landing more punches than him. Watch the 12th rnd again, Morales traded and he was wobbling around everywhere. Some say it was blood on floor but his face didnt look like it and why wasnt Pacman wobbling around?

For your example, the 5'0 would be too stacked up thus too slow. Power = speed*strength. You ever seen those really short bodybuilders? Their biceps so big they cant even scratch their ass, doubt he would have the speed to pull off the punch. A fair one like 6'0 160lbs vs 5'8 160lbs, Id go with shorter one. Usually when I see fights its always the shorter one who is considered the puncher thus the taller one has to try box and dance around. It maybe not to allow them to get on the inside but also power.

4 years isnt gonna affect punching power that much Its mostly agility, look at foreman, he lost everything but his power at 45..

Boxers don't loose because of punch at 38, they loose fights at about 38 beacuse they have less reflexes, less movility, etc, this is the least important factor justifying a loose at 38, since power is the least thing they loose. I didn't mean he lost his power at 38.

Also there are always gonna be exceptions to the rule, I did mention Hearns. I didnt say that as a golden rule, its a general thing.

Yes, there are exceptions, that means that some other variables exist, I just try to know if bone density is one important.

Besides, Castillo had more power than Corrales, he dropped him twice. Like I said its not a golden rule. Weight = more power too but I seen tons who weigh less and are stronger punchers.

Corrales has more power, but a weak chin. That was commented before the fight: power of Corrales against durable chin of Castillo.

people can 'train' for power as well. some of your power along with technique and timing come from traing your fast twitch muscle fibers. plyometrics.

example: if two men were of equal physical stature..one trained with just weights...using slow reps...and one trained with a heavy bag..who do you think will punch harder at the end of 6 months?

it's not really 'strength' but the explosiveness you get from a still to the point of impact and the amount of mass you drive into it hence the speed*mass=power.

in a way...explosive bag work > low rep bench presses...

you see power in all shapes and sizes...in all weight levels.

The pity patters I saw from pacman was a joke too. Watch vs Marquez and vs Barrera, he didnt fight like that. Pac's power is mostly in that left hand from afar, notice how he lunges when throwing it, thats where teh power comes from. The quick flurries to the body wasnt gonna do much, I do them too but not for power but rather just trying to get lots of punches in.

Yes his left hand is the powerful one, he hurt Morales in round 1 at the body with it. Will watch round 12.

For your example, the 5'0 would be too stacked up thus too slow. Power = speed*strength. You ever seen those really short bodybuilders? Their biceps so big they cant even scratch their ass, doubt he would have the speed to pull off the punch.

Yes they can't take big punches with all that muscle mass.

A fair one like 6'0 160lbs vs 5'8 160lbs, Id go with shorter one. Usually when I see fights its always the shorter one who is considered the puncher thus the taller one has to try box and dance around. It maybe not to allow them to get on the inside but also power.

I don't think so, at least recently: Corrales having best punch at 130 and 135, Trinidad at much of the weight classes he had, and is taller than most boxers for 140lbs, 147lbs, even 154lbs.

The power in a punch is determined by how fast the fist is going and how much weight is behind it. The length of the arms has nothing to do with it.

The power in a punch is determined by how fast the fist is going and how much weight is behind it. The length of the arms has nothing to do with it.
that what i said previously, it's speed times the mass, it's like a guy once said, a bullet dosen't kill you because of it's size, it kills you because of the speed it's traveling at, if a cannonball could travel at the same speed as a bullet it would go throught about 30 buildings

The thing about fast twitch muscles is the extent to which you can train them. Although you can train to be quicker there are physical limits to it. If you take someone born with average speed that ran track since he was 6 and a guy that is just naturally fast and didn't run track until 21 the guy who is naturally fast will almost always win.

The power in a punch is determined by how fast the fist is going and how much weight is behind it. The length of the arms has nothing to do with it.

Thanks, but if tall boxers throw a punch from longer distance, doesn't it get faster? (maintaining all other variables the same, of course).