How Welterweights Shrunk Over Time

[GrandpaBernard]

Today Some of our natural welters or guys who moved up from 140 are 5 ft 7 or 5 ft 8

Back in the days welterweight champs were 5 ft 9 or 5 ft 10

Did normal sized people go off into other sports as boxing’s accessibility in America decline

[Ray*]

Not sure what happened but I think most of these guys at 147 are there because of the money. I mean a lot of them can actually shrink down to 140 if the money is there and the discipline is there.

[JohnCastellanos]

Today Some of our natural welters or guys who moved up from 140 are 5 ft 7 or 5 ft 8

Back in the days welterweight champs were 5 ft 9 or 5 ft 10

Did normal sized people go off into other sports as boxing’s accessibility in America decline

I always looked at that era like the steroid era. Not sure if I’m right but back then it was easier to get away with it

[bballchump11]

They have shrunk over time. Even Oscar, Mosley, Quartey were bigger.

[GrandpaBernard]

They have shrunk over time. Even Oscar, Mosley, Quartey were bigger.

yeah Shane Mosley is a buff guy

Oscar started at 130 and still has a larger frame than Keith Thurman, Porter, Garcia, Crawford, etc

[GrandpaBernard]

They have shrunk over time. Even Oscar, Mosley, Quartey were bigger.

Meanwhile heavyweights continue to get bigger and bigger

[bballchump11]

yeah Shane Mosley is a buff guy

Oscar started at 130 and still has a larger frame than Keith Thurman, Porter, Garcia, Crawford, etc

Yeah I was going to mention how many of the current welterweights started at lower divisions, but so did Mosley and Oscar. It is a factor though. Errol, Brook and Boots Ennis are bigger welterweights and started at 147.

[Luilun]

What happened is smaller guys were able to move up in weight because the talent isn’t as great do you really think Pacquaio or Mayweather would have beat Tommy Hearns or Sugar Ray Leonard at Welterweight?

[RuleOfTheSpear]

They have shrunk over time. Even Oscar, Mosley, Quartey were bigger.

yeah Shane Mosley is a buff guy

Oscar started at 130 and still has a larger frame than Keith Thurman, Porter, Garcia, Crawford, etc

Yeah I was going to mention how many of the current welterweights started at lower divisions, but so did Mosley and Oscar. It is a factor though. Errol, Brook and Boots Ennis are bigger welterweights and started at 147.

You could name only a handful of legit top welterweights who didn't fight below 147.

Shawn Porter
Keith Thurman
Errol Spence

These are the recent legit welterweights who campaigned in 147 throughout their whole career.

Spence is probably the only one who could hang with the past welterweights. He has the size and frame for it. But Thurman and Porter are no slouch either. Lost only a close decision to Spence and Pacquiao.

[Ritz Kola]

Boxing as a sport has lost ground to other sports in America. Thats one reason.
PED Testing wasn't a staple in the sport and fighters abused that low-key governance. Another reason.