How got Holyfield a Heavyweight?

[Kid Achilles]

In a case of going overboard with weight training and hypertrophy I will point to the careers of Shannon Briggs and Danny Williams as two guys who's conditioning suffered bigtime. This was more of a case of foolish use of weight training (getting as huge as possible) than a reason to condemn weightlifting however. Weightlifting has it's place when used correctly, but I am against a non-heavyweight bulking up as it pushes the athlete above his natural weightclass where he is absorbing punches from guys who have bigger frames. Vinny Pazienza was a prime example of this.

The way hypertrophy can pay off for a nonheavyweight in my opinion is if say a 145 lb fighter at 14% bodyfat loses weight and replaces it with muscle (through weight training) to achieve a 145 lb physique at a lower bodyfat percentage. I am against that 145 lber lifting and bulking up unnecesarily and forcing himself to fight at say 154 or so, as I think was the case with Shane Mosley. Muscle weighs more than fat, but bone is more important than either. You can't increase the size and length of your bones and your just putting yourself at a disadvantage by forcing yourself to fight longer and heavier boned opponents.

[KingDosia]

There is little point in explaining anything to these keyboard warriors who are full of their own theories as well as that stuff that belongs in the barnyard. Rocky Marciano forced his weight down to 185 for a good reason: maximum fitness is coincides with maximum useable strength in an endurance related competition. Boxing has been around for over 100 years and it has been shown repeatedly that too much mass produces too little performance. Marciano could knockout any man with one punch in any round, and he could windmill knockout punches for 15 rounds. That is what real world "strength" is all about.

Now lets wait for it......the chief nerdy-boy is about to say he would go 15 rounds with Marciano anytime!!!

Potatoes you are a twisted bastard it wouldnt be right for me to argue with you for you know nothing of which you speak. You have won all claim to the I am full of **** hall of fame. There is no proof to any of your claims no evidence outside your opinion. Nothing yet you keep making noise. An idiot that knows not how to quit. Its like you are not even in the conversation. Off in some other world. The part I love is when you have been tagged with the truth you only lablel the owner of that statement as a nerdy little boy or the keyboard warrior. What a goof. 13 years my friend 13 yeads of hard work dedication living eating and sleeping nothing but boxing. I know the legonds you.Hold so highly. Yes in their time they were great. You can't say thay they are any better than people today. Just as I can't say they are worse.
I can say the human body is better understood today. Every sport is seeing records fall and athletes do amazing things. Its beautiful like that there is no ceiling. Boxing is not any different. Understand what you are arguing is that there is only one way. That is complete crap. Literally. Training for this sport is an individualized phenomenon. The goal gain speed, strength, stanima.
Tell me where a boxer would be wrong by enhancing and balancing those three. You can't because the very basis of what makes a fighter a fighter is those three key elements paired with his brain. The dinosaurs are no longer around for a reason. EVOLUTION.

[fraidycat]

In a case of going overboard with weight training and hypertrophy I will point to the careers of Shannon Briggs and Danny Williams as two guys who's conditioning suffered bigtime. This was more of a case of foolish use of weight training (getting as huge as possible) than a reason to condemn weightlifting however. Weightlifting has it's place when used correctly, but I am against a non-heavyweight bulking up as it pushes the athlete above his natural weightclass where he is absorbing punches from guys who have bigger frames. Vinny Pazienza was a prime example of this.

The way hypertrophy can pay off for a nonheavyweight in my opinion is if say a 145 lb fighter at 14% bodyfat loses weight and replaces it with muscle (through weight training) to achieve a 145 lb physique at a lower bodyfat percentage. I am against that 145 lber lifting and bulking up unnecesarily and forcing himself to fight at say 154 or so, as I think was the case with Shane Mosley. Muscle weighs more than fat, but bone is more important than either. You can't increase the size and length of your bones and your just putting yourself at a disadvantage by forcing yourself to fight longer and heavier boned opponents.

GodDAMN, that is a good answer.

I must spread some karma around before giving it to Kid Achilles again.

[leff]

In a case of going overboard with weight training and hypertrophy I will point to the careers of Shannon Briggs and Danny Williams as two guys who's conditioning suffered bigtime. This was more of a case of foolish use of weight training (getting as huge as possible) than a reason to condemn weightlifting however. Weightlifting has it's place when used correctly, but I am against a non-heavyweight bulking up as it pushes the athlete above his natural weightclass where he is absorbing punches from guys who have bigger frames. Vinny Pazienza was a prime example of this.

The way hypertrophy can pay off for a nonheavyweight in my opinion is if say a 145 lb fighter at 14% bodyfat loses weight and replaces it with muscle (through weight training) to achieve a 145 lb physique at a lower bodyfat percentage. I am against that 145 lber lifting and bulking up unnecesarily and forcing himself to fight at say 154 or so, as I think was the case with Shane Mosley. Muscle weighs more than fat, but bone is more important than either. You can't increase the size and length of your bones and your just putting yourself at a disadvantage by forcing yourself to fight longer and heavier boned opponents.

uuum, your bones also grow bigger and stronger with strenght training.

[Kid Achilles]

The density improves somewhat, so the studies say, but that isn't the same as growing in size. Your arms and legs do not get long from lifting. Even then that density increasement it's only a small improvement.

[Steiner_Ch]

Nobody knows if 20 additional pounds had improved the performance of the oldtimers (Louis...) because nobody of the oldtimers had give it a try.

Since muscles need oxigen their increasing decreases the endurance but this can be adapted to a certain degree.

[cdowd2]

Vin Pazienza was a great example of competing at way too high weight classes due to bulking up.

[potatoes]

Vin Pazienza was a great example of competing at way too high weight classes due to bulking up.

.....yes, and there is no proof the increased bulk improved his handspeed nor his punching power.

The nerdy boys constantly harp on about that there is no proof that pumping iron "isn't" beneficial for boxers. As if anybody should be in the business of proving an negative! What they fail to mention is that there have been few if any scientific studies done on boxers. All the evidence we have is anecdotal, and the anecdotal evidence we have clearly shows that 30 years of weight lifting has produced a decline in performance in boxing.

[Trick]

Has it now?

Ya, all those weights really slowed Roy Jones down...

[maxorido]

Has it now?

Ya, all those weights really slowed Roy Jones down...

Yes and just for clarification, Roy Jones employed weight training in his training before and after his move to heavyweight. Just incase someone trys to say his use of weight training was a one time deal, when I have proof that it was quite the opposite.