MUSCLE MASS AND SIZE of modern heavyweights vs older generations

[GhostofDempsey]

Well, size can certainly matter, which why we have weight classes, but its not the end all be all. Joe Louis gave up close to 6 inches in height and 50-60 pounds of muscle to Primo Carnera, and he crushed Carnera with superior boxing skill. Harry Greb routinely competed with LHWs and HWs, Dempsey gave up 5 inches and 50 pounds to Jess Willard and almost killed him. Tyson was blasting out guys who were 6 inches taller and 30+ pounds heavier.

But then you look at how size is an advantage like Gatti over Gamache and Canelo over Cotto. That's where the size difference can come into play.

Sometimes that extra muscle weight works against you, weighs you down and slows you up. Restricts motion too.

[OctoberRed]

Ive heard too much muscle mass affects stamina in a tough fight and also stiffens up the arms to punch

[N!Ck F.]

Way to much emphasis and importance on size and power. There are people in this world, that can just really can hurt you with their fists...They know when to throw, how to throw, where to throw, and what to throw. Size and power is not much of a factor. Now, teach a big strong guy that and you have a person that can hurt you. Also The intent,the commitment to the punching back than to me is waaaayyyy different than today. Those old fighters like Frazier,Norton,cooney,foreman,Holmes,Lyle,shavers etc. Fought with a different mentality. It was so much more intense, so much more desire and passion, so much vicious intent behind shots they wanted to hurt you, now I find the mentality of heavyweights is cautionfirst,few guys are willing to take severe punishment to get a win. they don't have that blood and guts take 2 to land 1 mentality. The fires gone. I'd take any of the top heavyweights of the 70's over today's fighters with the exception of a few bad physical match ups.

[jack p]

Size equates to Power? No it does not equal power!
Fury is 6'8" 255lbs and couldn't break a broken egg!
Mike Tyson at 5'9" 218lbs punched much harder than Fury!


it's the size of the fight in the dog" that counts.

Ray

So true you would see the look on the guys that managed to get up from Mike Tyson's assault.They were stunned bewildered never expected that kind of power
They looked like someone whose in a state of shock.
They had no reference point for that kind of unworldly power.
We saw how an out of shape guy like Sanders did to Wladimer. Sanders had a good punch but not a knock out artists punch.
It shows how someone like Dempsey with his frightening speed and advanced skill set would be something Klitschko's would have no answer for.

Ray why do you always make sense

For those who think size is power.
If it were true then it would mean size equates to?
How far someone hits a golfball? hits a baseball?

Neither of those depend on size or really even power but clubspeed or batspeed when it connects with the ball determines how far the ball travels
But punching is more complex many different ways guys generate power.
The right timing when landing the punch can turn a knock down punch into a KO punch