Does being physically fit give European heavyweights an advantage over Americans?

[pistol whip]

Brewster never fought Vitali.

Wlad had some kind of blood sugar problem in his first fight with Brewster (he was taken to the hospital and they found extremely low blood sugar). He was physically fit, it had to do with another health problem which he now deals with.

Oops I meant Wlad and from what I remember they had a hundred diffrent excuses and that was one of them. Nevermind he also ran out of gas against Ross Purity and also got knocked out by giggly Jerry cooney look alike in Corey Sanders.

[The Hammer]

Oops I meant Wlad and from what I remember they had a hundred diffrent excuses and that was one of them. Nevermind he also ran out of gas against Ross Purity and also got knocked out by giggly Jerry cooney look alike in Corey Sanders.

That was then, this is now.

Wlad had more stamina than his last two American opponents, Thompson and Rahman.

Thompson ran out of gas around the ninth round, Wlad was fine at the end. Rahman appeared to become tired earlier, around the sixth.

[paul750]

ESB: Why do you think, guys like you and Evander Holyfield can keep in shape in their 40’s and guys like ShannonBriggs and Hasim Rahman can’t do it in their 30’s? Are they not as dedicated?

Oliver McCall: I really don’t know, but I’ve learned from my experience, as a heavyweight, from observing other fighters, and my own body, that for older fighters in the heavyweight division to be affective, they have to keep their weight somewhere near to the one where they were at their best.

ESB: Wow! You will not believe that I have 3 specific questions regarding that particular issue.

Oliver McCall: At least 5-10 pounds from when you were champion. An old heavyweight must stay within that range of their best weight if he is really serious about his condition and trying to actually accomplish something again. Even with their experience, they can’t keep all that extra weight, because they are already at a disadvantage from being older, and it becomes even harder for them to throw the punches they need to throw.

ESB: I have maintained, and I don’t know if I am the only one, but that since the heavies don’t have a limit, and you can’t really do that because of the size differences on some guys, they have free reign to be out of shape. With the cruisers, say, since they have a limit they must train in order to get down there.

Oliver McCall: Exactly, and because they have no limit, guys come in at 260, even though they would be great fighters at 240, but now you make the fight look sloppy because of it. Yeah, you say you can do it, but we see you just have too much weight on you, and obviously are nowhere near your best.

That’s why our titles are over there in Russia, because if nothing else the Russians come in shape. That’s a BIG DIFFERENCE. Look at Wladimir Klitschko, even Oleg Maskaev, is in hard rockin shape, you know. They don’t come in with their bellies hanging out over their trunks do they? American fighters are going to have to be in shape, to step up to the plate, and dedicate themselves, because if not they will get beat down by these Europeans, and not just Europeans, but guys all over the world who are really dedicating themselves.

ESB: One of the ideas I considered was perhaps some sort of height to weight limit? Maybe something with body mass index? Would something like that work?

Oliver McCall: Well, it would be something to consider but you don’t want to go height to weight because there are different elements to it, too. As far as obesity, though, these guys have to be told, “you have to limit your weight, even within whatever weight you are at, to some range that is acceptable.”

ESB: Absolutely, because if you remember with Corrales and Castillo, they were threatened that if they were not going to be in shape their purses were going to be withheld, and that is a motivator, too.

ESB: (Laughing) Alright. Since you are a veteran of two eras, what differences do you see between today’s era of fighters and the Oliver McCall, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Rid**** Bowe era?

Oliver McCall: The differences is that in this era the division is based more on conditioning and basics. If you are in condition and know your basics, like putting combinations together, and can give a punch as well as take it, you have a great shot at becoming heavyweight champion of the world.

Back in my younger age, 94, 90, 89, around there, it was more, the fighters were in condition, like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Razor Ruddock, who got into good shape a couple of times, but the skill level was a little sharper, even compared to the Europeans. It seemed like they had a little bit more skill and talent, like the boxing of Evander, the quickness and power of Mike Tyson, and myself, or the awesome jab of a Larry Holmes, and that will to win that George Foreman had. Back then, in the 80’s and 90’s when Foreman was blessed to regain the title, in comparison these guys are in better condition. So it's possible that if you have one of us come up and say, “I already have the ring knowledge, and if I get into the right condition, I can take a title because these guys don’t really have the same skill.”

''The conditioning is the reason the titles are over there.''

*Taken from E.a.s.t.s.i.d.e.b.o.x.i.ng.com

[Ben_London.]

ESB: Why do you think, guys like you and Evander Holyfield can keep in shape in their 40’s and guys like ShannonBriggs and Hasim Rahman can’t do it in their 30’s? Are they not as dedicated?

Oliver McCall: I really don’t know, but I’ve learned from my experience, as a heavyweight, from observing other fighters, and my own body, that for older fighters in the heavyweight division to be affective, they have to keep their weight somewhere near to the one where they were at their best.

ESB: Wow! You will not believe that I have 3 specific questions regarding that particular issue.

Oliver McCall: At least 5-10 pounds from when you were champion. An old heavyweight must stay within that range of their best weight if he is really serious about his condition and trying to actually accomplish something again. Even with their experience, they can’t keep all that extra weight, because they are already at a disadvantage from being older, and it becomes even harder for them to throw the punches they need to throw.

ESB: I have maintained, and I don’t know if I am the only one, but that since the heavies don’t have a limit, and you can’t really do that because of the size differences on some guys, they have free reign to be out of shape. With the cruisers, say, since they have a limit they must train in order to get down there.

Oliver McCall: Exactly, and because they have no limit, guys come in at 260, even though they would be great fighters at 240, but now you make the fight look sloppy because of it. Yeah, you say you can do it, but we see you just have too much weight on you, and obviously are nowhere near your best.

That’s why our titles are over there in Russia, because if nothing else the Russians come in shape. That’s a BIG DIFFERENCE. Look at Wladimir Klitschko, even Oleg Maskaev, is in hard rockin shape, you know. They don’t come in with their bellies hanging out over their trunks do they? American fighters are going to have to be in shape, to step up to the plate, and dedicate themselves, because if not they will get beat down by these Europeans, and not just Europeans, but guys all over the world who are really dedicating themselves.

ESB: One of the ideas I considered was perhaps some sort of height to weight limit? Maybe something with body mass index? Would something like that work?

Oliver McCall: Well, it would be something to consider but you don’t want to go height to weight because there are different elements to it, too. As far as obesity, though, these guys have to be told, “you have to limit your weight, even within whatever weight you are at, to some range that is acceptable.”

ESB: Absolutely, because if you remember with Corrales and Castillo, they were threatened that if they were not going to be in shape their purses were going to be withheld, and that is a motivator, too.

ESB: (Laughing) Alright. Since you are a veteran of two eras, what differences do you see between today’s era of fighters and the Oliver McCall, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Rid**** Bowe era?

Oliver McCall: The differences is that in this era the division is based more on conditioning and basics. If you are in condition and know your basics, like putting combinations together, and can give a punch as well as take it, you have a great shot at becoming heavyweight champion of the world.

Back in my younger age, 94, 90, 89, around there, it was more, the fighters were in condition, like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Razor Ruddock, who got into good shape a couple of times, but the skill level was a little sharper, even compared to the Europeans. It seemed like they had a little bit more skill and talent, like the boxing of Evander, the quickness and power of Mike Tyson, and myself, or the awesome jab of a Larry Holmes, and that will to win that George Foreman had. Back then, in the 80’s and 90’s when Foreman was blessed to regain the title, in comparison these guys are in better condition. So it's possible that if you have one of us come up and say, “I already have the ring knowledge, and if I get into the right condition, I can take a title because these guys don’t really have the same skill.”

''The conditioning is the reason the titles are over there.''

*Taken from E.a.s.t.s.i.d.e.b.o.x.i.ng.com

Good information there.

[hookoutofhell]

Does being physically fit give European heavyweights an advantage over Americans?

thats like asking if a quick F1 car has an advantage over a lower one(!)

[Pirao]

Looking good and being good conditioned is not the same. Look at Arreola vs Walker, who looked better physically? Who won the fight?

[Pirao]

I actually did a little research for you on 154-175. I looked up the Boxrec rankings. Not those silly alphabet soup titles.

At 154 - America has 5 out of the top 10. Europe has 1.
At 160 - America is weak. Only 1 out of the top ten. The one happens to be the undisputed middleweight champion. Europe has 7.
At 168 - America has 3 out of 10. Europe has 5.
At 175 - America has 4. Europe has 3.

Europe population - 730 million
USA population - 300 million

So honestly I don't know what you're talking about. America is still strong in the middle weights.

Pavlik is not undisputed. Do you consider Wladimir undisputed too?

[Roy Keane]

course it ****ing helps ...you have to be extremly fit to be a boxer being a fat **** isnt helping anyone

[The Hammer]

course it ****ing helps ...you have to be extremly fit to be a boxer being a fat **** isnt helping anyone

I can't understand why many heavyweight boxers don't stay in good shape. They are ruining their chances for TV appearances and better paydays.

Most fighters in the other weight divisions are able to do it.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

One thing about K-Bros they are in great shape.