Height, Reach, Weight: How big of a factor are they?

Ok PAC is clearly smaller than Algieri...about 4 inches shorter, 6 inches less in reach. The thing is, we are use to seeing PAC being the small guy. Every single fight, he's usually giving up height, reach, and weight advantage to his opponent. Regarding weight, sometimes he gives up 10-15 lbs on fight night. That's huge. That's what partly makes PAC remarkable. Only guy that he has faced recently that has similar physical traits is JMM. I personally think height and reach are huge advantages in boxing. Take the NBA for example, a few inches is huge. Arm wingspan, big hands, height, length ...ex. Kawhi Leonard was able to disrupt Lebron James in last year's finals. ..A 6-11 Power Forward with length is routinely labelled as a mismatch for a 6-9 tweener forward. In boxing, similarly, height, reach, weight is huge. What's your opinion?

Comments (10)

Reloaded

Those elements on their own dont mean much when they are attached to little power , what ever you do is related to power , with elite fighters you must have enough power to keep them off you , they can all box at the elite level , Ruslan is not elite , pitty patter wont steal fights from elite fighters . Manny is a very good boxer he will have the skills to get to Algieri and then Algieri will know he is in the wrong class , this will be a KO win for Manny , and thats why they selected him .

11y ago

Elroy1

Height and reach CAN play to an advantage but only for a boxer who knows how to make use of it. A boxer who does not utilise their height and reach properly to keep an opponent at the end of their jab will in fact be at a disadvantage for various reasons given an opponent the same weight. Also longer boxers have a more challenging balance to master. Weight however is an advantage no matter what way the pie is cut, even a bummy boxer can be dangerous to a much better one due to a weight advantage. Skills are obviously most important as in any sport.

11y ago

Joe_Beamish

You have to play to your strengths. Even a taller guy with a longer reach will not be able to take advantage of a smaller, faster, stronger opponent who has agility and good footwork (as is the case in the Pac-Algieri fight). You can use your height and reach but if the smaller guy can sidestep and slip your jab (for instance), and counter you with a straight left to the chin, what advantages do you really have? Agreed. So many other factors could change the game in a fight. Think Leonard Duran I. Sugar had a great reach advantage, speed advantage, super elite skills and couldn't beat a brilliantly feignting, fierce (and in many ways very fast) Duran. Look at prime Tyson, too. Or Marciano. Or Chavez.

11y ago

mathed

So you both are saying that boxing is a unique sport where intelligence, timing, speed can overcome any big physical disadvantage? Yes perhaps. But let's say there were 2 fairly even skilled boxers. I think these physical traits would definitely impact the outcome. It's a unique sport where the constraints of the rules of play allow for certain non-physical attributes to play a large role to the degree that they may actually overcome some of the opponent's physical attributes. This is further compounded when the opponent fails to effectively capitalize on those said physical attributes.

11y ago

mathed

11y ago

pacmanis1

They are all a factor depending on the fighter. Imagine a 6' Rigondeaux. Look at Wladimir Klitschko. Then look at Corrales, P Williams, Margarito, tall, long reach, heavy on fight night but they gave up their height and reach. Williams didn't even use his weight, pretty much gave up all his advantages. He was an inside fighter who didn't use his height(to fight outside), his weight(to bully, push around fighters), or reach(again, inside fighter, so he didn't really use his reach that much). Depends on the fighter. You could make them a factor if you actually utilize them. Or you could just completely disregard all of those advantages and brawl your way through fights without using any of them except weight. ^^^^^This. They can be HUGE advantages if used correctly, but you have to have the smarts to use them.

11y ago

IboxSouthpaw

So you both are saying that boxing is a unique sport where intelligence, timing, speed can overcome any big physical disadvantage? Yes perhaps. But let's say there were 2 fairly even skilled boxers. I think these physical traits would definitely impact the outcome. Reach would play a factor if that's the case .. You don't have to hit the chin to really hurt someone .. So if he can utilize the reach then the short fighter could find himself in some trouble .. But if the fighter can't use his reach it's pretty much a handicap at that point

11y ago

Strategic1

11y ago

Kev

11y ago

LarryX

Height is not really a factor at all to be honest....Reach when used correctly is a great advantage as you can control the distance..USUALLY!!! but with reach you need other factors like timing, speed,and intelligence to make it really matter or the smaller man will just slip your shots and beat your ass

11y ago