the real reason why heavyweight boxing is in a weaker era

the klitschko's dominate not so much because they are bigger then everyone else. it's just 90% of the HW's today are not in great shape. the best HW's of the last few decades(post holmes)have all been in great shape for most of their careers. tyson, holyfield, klitschkos, lewis were all in great shape. even a guy like john ruiz was in great shape. he was never a muscle head but he could go 12 rounds with no problem. when rahman won his 1st title & had his best fights he was in shape but when he faultered it was because he was out of shape. tua would blow out guys when in shape but would struggle when he wasn't. too many HW's today are not in top shape. the klitschko's are the only HW's i seen in a long time that put on weight when training hard for a fight. most HW's are trying to drop weight to get in shape. that's the difference. if a challenger is not willing to train hard year round they will never beat the klitschko's. when it comes to wladimir the sanders & brewster fights were a long time ago. he has vastly improved since then. the klitschko's put on muscle for fights while the rest of the division has to drop weight for fights...the klitschko's only have to concentrate on strategy while the challengers have to worry about dropping weight, adding muscle, etc...

Comments (20)

bojangles1987

Greatest lie ever told. Not really. I'm not saying that current NBA players are capable of being professional boxers if they quit and started now, but so many guys that would have boxed thirty or forty years ago go into those sports. These are among the most freakish athletes in the world, with natural gifts that none of these fools fighting the Klitschkos come close to having. If some of these guys had been in a boxing gym from the beginning, you can bet the heavyweight division would be much better.

14y ago

bojangles1987

The lack of skill top rated heavyweights contain can directly be linked back to their weight too. Am I really supposed to be surprised that these guys do not possess skills that were as natural as breathing to every heavyweight as early as twenty years ago?

14y ago

Jedi_Vader

This era isn't weak, it's just not media driven like others because it's not a Black/American/Brit dominating. Top it off the Klits against their opponents is just like a great against a good/decent guy. You can see the difference. Just like how Floyd/Pac when they fight their guys, you can see the difference as well. Quote of the day. :lol1: This era is VERY weak.

14y ago

tenPt

It will get better, this isn't the only it was weak and it always end up getting better.

14y ago

Weebler_I

That's weird I couldn't see the difference in Pacquiao's last fight. Maybe because he was up against another great? These are the favorite excuses: NFL NBA fixed I agree. Can you imagine Ray Lewis at 6'2 265 fighting at heavyweight? How about Dwayne Wade at 6'4 220? They would be dominating boxing if they focused like they do with their own sport. You realise most nations have these big guys? we've been through this before but some US posters on here act like the US is the only nation which has alternative sports. For example, there is massive number of huge guys with good footwork playing rugby union in all the commonwealth countries standing between 6ft 8 and 7.0ft and weighing 280lbs+ with good footwork.

14y ago

nomadman

Boxing commissions should enforce a HW limit. Maybe a HW limit per height. If you're 6'2" you can't weigh more than a certain amount of pounds. Anything to make HW more disciplined. That wouldn't work. It'd be grossly unfair (pardon the pun) and probably unworkable. A better system would be individual contracts specifying the top weight both fighters can weigh in at, or perhaps cash incentives for coming in at a lower weight. That's pretty unworkable too.

14y ago

Visceral

It takes someone who is actually paying attention to notice that 99% of Heavyweights are fat and in absolutley horrendous shape. They get tired in the middle of throwing a single combination. People who act like the Klitchko's are just to big and skilled do not understand boxing. The Klitchko's are great, but there is a reason nobody gets excited about any of their challengers, they all suck.

14y ago

Kev

Manny Steward said the work ethic of American HWs is very poor compared to the Eastern Europeans. That's the difference. I'll have to disagree with that and say that the whole HW divisions work ethic, no matter where they're from, is very poor compared to the Klitschko's. This is just a case of two brothers who work harder than every one else in their division. And their styles and skills don't make things any easier for these out of shape contenders.

14y ago

Mr_Randy_Watson

14y ago

Mastermind24

not in shape = not good athletes the best American athletes who would have been heavyweights 20-30 years ago are college football tight ends and college basketball power forwards

14y ago

Drunk_Punch

Manny Steward said the work ethic of American HWs is very poor compared to the Eastern Europeans. That's the difference.

14y ago

jvsnypes

These are the real reasons: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/National_Football_League_2008.svg/150px-National_Football_League_2008.svg.png http://vuhoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nba.jpg I agree. Can you imagine Ray Lewis at 6'2 265 fighting at heavyweight? How about Dwayne Wade at 6'4 220? They would be dominating boxing if they focused like they do with their own sport.

14y ago

4Corners

This era definitely has had the most out of shape HW's. Just look at Odlanier Solis. I remember hearing and watching him in the 2004 Olympics thinking he was going to be the best HW in the world 5 years from then. Well he put on about 40-50 lbs after those Olympics and you all know the rest. But that's why the HW era has been weak since Holyfield-Tyson-Lewis-Bowe have left. The best fighters other then the Klitschko's have been probably Chris Byrd, David Haye (sadly), Hasim Rahman, and John Ruiz.

14y ago

joe_strong

Its like Atlas says the Klitschkos can fight 365 days a year because they are always in shape and ready,it will take the same effort from another fighter to compete with them. no question about it...

14y ago

The_Tase

14y ago

Kev

I don't think heavyweights are botherd about how much they weigh, there's no limit, bet they dnt care Boxing commissions should enforce a HW limit. Maybe a HW limit per height. If you're 6'2" you can't weigh more than a certain amount of pounds. Anything to make HW more disciplined.

14y ago

Kev

14y ago

dibzvincent143

because they are boring and they are not american..

14y ago

joe_strong

That's what I say as well. Klitschko's just work harder than every one else. They're in better shape. i'm not a fan of theirs but it the truth. you don't have to be sculpted but maintaining a healthy regime year round would go a long way. they just are dedicated year round while most of the contenders are not...

14y ago

Kev

That's what I say as well. Klitschko's just work harder than every one else. They're in better shape.

14y ago