Can we stop pretending previous generation heavyweights are too small? Usyk and Joe Louis are the same size

[Science]

The lineal heavyweight champions from all previous eras would destroy every fighter in this era.

Dont tell me they’re too small. They clearly aren’t.

Uysk is 6'3 220 something, Louis was 6'1 and usually ranged from 199 -208 in his prime.

Joe Louis came from an era of flat footed stand in your face fighters. Uysk moves alot. No comparison.

[ShaneMosleySr]

Until October of 2019, Usyk never weighed over 200 pounds for a single fight.

This fight was the first time he’s ever weighed more than Louis highest weight.

Usyk’s highest weight was two pounds heavier than Louis’ highest weight.

Joe Louis was 6-2. Usyk is 6-3.

They’re the same size.

Uysk is 6'3 220 something, Louis was 6'1 and usually ranged from 199 -208 in his prime.

Joe Louis came from an era of flat footed stand in your face fighters. Uysk moves alot. No comparison.

[billeau2]

has usyk totally transformed how boxing is looked upon, past and future hhhmmm

No but I see Shane's point... There is a lot of BS spread that does not consider facts... Like for example, if we look at actual cruisers who fought heavyweights and actually look at the match ups, and the fights, you see many different results, but one thing you do not see, is a heavyweight being just too big and strong in a match. Yet the myth persists that size is a primary indicator of success. And... the notion of a natural heavyweight, talk about an oxymoron sheesh... What pray tell is an unnatural heavy weight?

What people fail to realize is that weight is not the only thing that makes someone "big." Usyk had no problem bulking up, but has a medium built frame, he could never be the same size of Foreman, or Liston (for example). You have to look at frame, wrists, leg size, hand size, neck etc... That does not make Usyk less of a heavy weight... It is easier to transmit force with bigger bones, but one lacks nimbleness.

When you look at the big punchers they are smaller to average size heavy weights. Wilder has a frame like Usyk... Tyson was around 230ish.
We have more big heavyweights, but the division is weak... And at this point two of the top dogs (usyk and Wilder) are average size heavyweights.

[billeau2]

Louis was 6'1 ... Usyk is 6'3 with a 24 hour weigh in advantage. You prove your ******ity once more.

Oh come on... Louis is built like Usyk... give an inch, take an inch... If Louis had felt it prudent he could have come into a fight in his prime weighing more, fighters did not want the weight. Their frames are similar, Louis was maybe the thicker of the two.

[billeau2]

Look at Tyson. Remember what everyone would say about Tyson? "I don't see Tyson overcoming the 10 inch reach advantage." "When Tyson comes in, because he has to, he's going to get caught with the uppercut." "He's too big for Tyson."

There was Joe Frasier who was as tall as Tyson, and he did pretty well in the land of giants. There was Marciano who was shorter than Tyson and shorter than everyone else at heavyweight at the time.

Holyfield was small too, and although I have a lot of respect for Holyfield, that guy was hitting them roids. You don't get traps like that without a little help. That's probably why he took a punch better than anyone and lost all his hair overnight.

The only thing about Usyk that is a drawback is just like Roy said, he lacks that explosive, concussive power. His boxing skills and IQ make up for that, but he's going to have to go the distance with a lot of guys.

Those comments you attribute to Roy, and your conclusion are dead on. there used to be a way to look at human structure, where some are athletic, fat, or thin... another way of looking at it is bone size, frame size. A Pitbull weighs a lot less than other dogs, but has weight where it matters for conflicts. Weigh is just one part of being bigger.

[Boxing-1013]

I think Joe's issue would be less about size, and more about it him fighting about 80-90 years ago. No one knows how someone from that era would compare with a guy from today who has a lot of the advantages that come with time.

Joe's a legend so wouldn't really say he has no shot, but in general it's hard to compare eras, and in general athletes get better over time.

[LeOoze]

if Louis was big enough to KO Primo Carnera then he would be big enough to beat AJ

[_Maxi]

Louis was 6'1 ... Usyk is 6'3 with a 24 hour weigh in advantage. You prove your ******ity once more.

Heavyweights don't cut weight.

[deanrw]

They are not too small. What we are seeing is these giant heavyweights are too big and stiff. These cruiserweight dudes are going to cause a lot of problems. The only big heavyweight who is gifted with legs is Fury, but he has other problems and won't be around much longer. AJ, Wilder etc will not be able to handle good movement. Smaller heavies will reign once again.

[ShaneMosleySr]

Joe Louis was undisputed heavyweight champion for 12 consecutive years, defending the title 25 consecutive times.

He can compete in any era.

Just imagine if Tyson Fury beat Oleksander Usyk in 2023.

His next fight would be defense number one of the undisputed championship.

Do you think he could make 25 more defenses and stay champion until 2035?

Theres not a chance in hell.

So let’s not say it’s hard to compare eras. Good heavyweights existed at some point between 1937 and 1949. Joe Louis just beat them all.

He’ll fit in today, don’t worry.

I think Joe's issue would be less about size, and more about it him fighting about 80-90 years ago. No one knows how someone from that era would compare with a guy from today who has a lot of the advantages that come with time.

Joe's a legend so wouldn't really say he has no shot, but in general it's hard to compare eras, and in general athletes get better over time.