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

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Wrong - it you are grossly overweight, it 1) slows your movement, and 2) reduces your stamina. Ask any boxing trainer.

Let me ask you something....are you ******? Your BUILD meaning, not everyone can look like Vlad, that's called genetics. Some people, no matter how hard they train, will never have the BUILD that Vlad has, doesn't mean they are out of shape. You can be in incredible shape, like Juan Diaz but not have that lean muscular build....get it? By the way, I am a trainer....lol

i don't know about that.

i know looks don't mean nothing in boxing.

the big buff dude could get knocked out by some fat , out of shape dude.

the thing is though , people look different when they're in shape and you can tell by how their body looks how much roadwork and other work they've done in training camp.

Again, there are many fighters and athletes in general that don't look shreded but are in phenomenal shape, it's genetics.

I'm not saying that Toney isn't lazy because I mentioned he's the exception but a guy like Arreola could be in better shape but he will never look like a Holyfield or Vlad because of his genetics.

[paul750]

Your physical build has nothing to do with the way you fight or how good you are. Everyone of those American fighters no matter how hard they worked out couldn't look like Vlad in a million years. It's called genetics, doesn't mean that if they land a punch, Vlad wouldn't get knocked out.

The only exception is Toney, we all know he isn't in shape but then again, he isn't a heavy weight. He's just incredibly skilled and his boxing ability has allowed him to compete at weight classes much higher than he should ever be at.

You're missing the point man. Obviously some people's bodies will never look herculean, but being in the best condition you can be in can only help improve your performance. That's not to say a lot of them could ever beat the Klitschkos' regardless of how fit they were, but it would still improve them greatly as fighters.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

You're missing the point man. Obviously some people's bodies will never look herculean, but being in the best condition you can be in can only help improve your performance. That's not to say a lot of them could ever beat the Klitschkos' regardless of how fit they were, but it would still improve them greatly as fighters.

Well that's obvious, you want to be in the best condition you can possibly be in. I stress conditioning more than anything else in my gym. The point was that some think that because you look like Mr. Universe, you will beat someone who looks like Chris Arreola, and that's just not true.

Cardiovascualr shape has nothing to do with what you look like on the outside because of some genetic differences.

Some people lose weight faster than others, some cant get rid of the fat in their midsection. Look at a fighter like David Tua, while he looks strong, he isn't shredded like most fighters because of his genetics. Most Islanders are built like that but it doesn't mean they won't knock your head off...lol.

[paul750]

Well that's obvious, you want to be in the best condition you can possibly be in. I stress conditioning more than anything else in my gym. The point was that some think that because you look like Mr. Universe, you will beat someone who looks like Chris Arreola, and that's just not true.

Oh absolutely. But even Tua in his younger days didn't look fat like Arreola, he just looked solid. Another problem with these heavyweights is how heavy they think they should be. There seems to be a misconception that coming in like a whale will enable them to take a punch better and also to hit harder. Coming it at 260lbs will not enable you to take a punch better than if you were 225lbs. Why do these guys even want to be slower anyway. It's just pathetic.

[MANGLER]

Bein fit would give any fighter an advantage over an unfit one wouldn't it?

[Naps]

So many American heavyweights like Arreola, Estrada, Toney, Chambers, and Peter (lives in the US) are carrying around pot bellies.

Yet I see European heavyweights like Pianeta, Dimitrenko, Boytsov, the Klitschkos, Pala, Kretschmann, the Roths, and *****ko always coming to fight in reasonably good shape.

Some like Povetkin are a little plump, but that's natural for some Russian people - but you never see the really large bellies on these guys like you see on Chris Koval and Byron Polley.

Do the extra pounds put the American heavyweights at a disadvantage? I know if someone is highly skilled, they can still win despite being overweight, but they will definitely have less stamina.

Of course it creates an advantage. 30-40 pounds of fat do NOTHING good for a fighter. Lose the lard, build some lean muscle and you are guaranteed to be more dangerous.

[Ben_London.]

You're missing the point man. Obviously some people's bodies will never look herculean, but being in the best condition you can be in can only help improve your performance. That's not to say a lot of them could ever beat the Klitschkos' regardless of how fit they were, but it would still improve them greatly as fighters.

Good post. Obviously genetics goes into a person's build, like I said in the opening post, Povetkin is in great shape even though he doesn't look ripped, and the same is true of Fedor. The ideal weight is not the same for each individual.

But any competent boxing trainer will tell us that if a fighter is overweight, it affects his 1) speed and 2) stamina. Most of the American heavyweights are out of shape.

When Sam Peter arrived to live in America, he was thickly built but not fat. Now, he's grossly overweight and his extra weight slows him down and affects his stamina.

[Ben_London.]

Bein fit would give any fighter an advantage over an unfit one wouldn't it?

So far everybody thinks so, except for cuauhtemoc1496.

[Bushbaby]

European heavyweights dominate the heavyweights and are becoming better in other divisions based more so on their strick fundimentals and upbringing inside the ring,they work more on boxing technic and keep a very good eye on their basics,like working behind their jab and always remembering defence,what they lack in natural athleticism,they make up for with that!!Thats why some people say they are boring,but looking flashy means nothing if u just get buy with it eventually the fundimentals will overcome!!

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

So far everybody thinks so, except for cuauhtemoc1496.

Maybe you can't read and don't understand english?