Biggest person you've ever sparred or fought? Your strategy or advice?

[Thank Me Later]

First and foremost, this isn't a "who's tougher" thread. I think as fighters we all know how it is in boxing gyms. Boxing is a thinking man's sport. Hit and not get hit. I wanted to create this thread to kinda share advice off each other. Share some sparring or fight stories. Don't gotta say no names or gym names. Just share some experiences.

My "in shape" weight is 130lbs. Right now I'm 160lbs. Been outta the gym a few years but returned recently. Just started sparring again. Biggest dude I've ever been up against, pro cruiserweight (200lbs). Obviously he wasn't trying to KO me in sparring. But I got some good a$$ work that's for sure. My strategy against bigger opponents is, bring your legs. Move around a lot. Side to side. Change up your rhythm. Don't be a standing target. One time I laid on the ropes like an idiot trying to catch a break and I got tagged with good body shots. The ropes is the enemy! lol

[Mr.MojoRisin']

Biggest guy I sparred was 160+ whereas I was at 129/130 lbs. My second ever sparring session. He was trying to knock me out the entire time.

The toughest guy I ever sparred was 110-115 lbs soaking wet. He was just better and more skilled. Hard to hit. It made all the difference.

[Richard P]

I fight at 160 and was brought in to spar a guy at 200Lbs to simulate his opponents movement and elusiveness

TBH, the punches were not as hard as i was expecting and i could see a lot of them coming, it was just his toughness and durability. You could tell he loved a tear up and punches just didnt faze him

Just kept moving side to side, hitting him with nothing more than 4 shot combos and getting on my bike and moving around the ring.

[OctoberRed]

I sparred someone once who had a 15 pound edge. I thought it wouldnt be a big deal, but he knocked me into next week with a body shot

[juggernaut666]

Biggest NON pro i sparred was 6'3 260

Biggest pro i sparred in the ring was Yuri Vaulin 6'4 200

Biggest Pro i actually fought (outside the ring ) 6'3 250

Sparring big guys suited my style more and more had MUCH better work put into it than sparring smaller guys who really werent around me bc all my friends were big athletes .Fighting /Sparring guys under 200 is a free day if your accustomed to SHW 's where you have to work harder to reach them. Im never on the back foot and able to dictate with power which is a plus .

I really train on /off more in MMA type training but as you said combat is hit and not get hit .

Usually out weighed by 80/90 pounds bc im not big and they are very big but if you dont hit hard the stradegdy is simple ,pickem apart on the inside .Or when in doubt choke em out !

[Thank Me Later]

I sparred someone once who had a 15 pound edge. I thought it wouldnt be a big deal, but he knocked me into next week with a body shot

Lol yes, it can be overwhelming. Size in boxing does matter. That one time I laid on the ropes to get rest, I got f**ked up in that round.

Biggest guy I sparred was 160+ whereas I was at 129/130 lbs. My second ever sparring session. He was trying to knock me out the entire time.

The toughest guy I ever sparred was 110-115 lbs soaking wet. He was just better and more skilled. Hard to hit. It made all the difference.

I can relate. Toughest guy I've sparred was an amateur. He was in the low 120's maybe even smaller. I forgot what weight he fought at. It was my first sparring session ever. He was like a ghost in there. Hit me 4 times and he was ghost'd! Those small guys are so fast on their feet and with their hands.

[Thank Me Later]

Biggest NON pro i sparred was 6'3 260

Biggest pro i sparred in the ring was Yuri Vaulin 6'4 200

Biggest Pro i actually fought (outside the ring ) 6'3 250

Sparring big guys suited my style more and more had MUCH better work put into it than sparring smaller guys who really werent around me bc all my friends were big athletes .Fighting /Sparring guys under 200 is a free day if your accustomed to SHW 's where you have to work harder to reach them. Im never on the back foot and able to dictate with power which is a plus .

I really train on /off more in MMA type training but as you said combat is hit and not get hit .

Usually out weighed by 80/90 pounds bc im not big and they are very big but if you dont hit hard the stradegdy is simple ,pickem apart on the inside .Or when in doubt choke em out !

What's harder, boxing or MMA? I've never tried MMA. I had a friend who did it. He was trying to get me to convert. I was like naw, I ain't trying to get my legs broken by some Muay Thai fighter lol.

[juggernaut666]

What's harder, boxing or MMA? I've never tried MMA. I had a friend who did it. He was trying to get me to convert. I was like naw, I ain't trying to get my legs broken by some Muay Thai fighter lol.

Sorry theres NO short answer for this .....

Well theres really no answer to that a clear answer ........ TRAINING for MMA is MUCH harder . You have to really break your body down bc you are weight training more (physical strength ) , Grappling which totally exhausts the body / muscles /joints ..etc. You have to do 3x the cardio work for the cage bc 5 min rnds with less referee intervention too .

Getting thrown ,landing on knees ,back etc and you are preparing for more variables when other things are legal like kicking ,submissions ,takedowns etc . . Most on here dont get it bc its a boxing site and most have never even been in actual sanctioned matches . Try grappling for just 3 minutes and without rest putting on gloves and sparring 2 minutes ,you will see what im talking about .

Boxing in ITSELF is very hard bc you are only allowed to use hand strikes with limited clinching so you need a SPECIFIC skill set bc kicking and grappling wont bale you out making it more difficult in some circumstances . So in that aspect boxing is more difficult when you limit options .

Personal exp. I had a easier time with boxing bc compared to Grappling tournaments i was able to end fights faster its much more grueling trying to submit someone when its more physical without punches being thrown if you dont get a win right away . I would excell in MMA bc i could do both and have training over 20 plus years in various arts .

So its really a trick question which is harder ,in MMA theres more ways to win andlose which takes more preperation and Boxing you need to be on point with less things to worry about bc you know only bod and head strikes are allowed . You also need to be more dedicated to Boxing bc its one art .

One sport MMA ,breaks your body more the other you focus on more ? I would say its up to the individual ,myself would have a far easier time in MMA bc of my attributes ,in MMA physical strength goes a long way where its not overly required in Boxing .

The guy in my sig to my left is the former Muay Thai world champion ,he has a UFC 1 contract still that he almost sighned back in the day ,the taller one is up comer cruiser /HW boxer . Training in MMA is about learning like any form of combat (credible ) trainers who can juggle both boxing and MMA training is hard to find .

I would say the more you know in combat itself the smarter all around you'll be and POSSIBLY adapt in a boxing ring better though thats subjective based on your abilities to do different skills . When anyone asks if they should try MMA i say yes bc if anything the training will give you better balance and better cardio if anything just moreknowledge which never hurts .

I also have traditional martial arts training (Isshin Ryu karate ) which i was LUCKY to have credible trainer and wont recommend it bc there completely incompetent and fake Sensais (masters ) out there ,learning traditional arts doesnt happen in a group you need one on one with real striking and one whos applied the techiques themselves in real fights .

My Sensai who has 6th degree and black belts in various forms has 50 years in martial arts .Ive seen him drop 5 skin heads back in the day and put a 6'5 giant to sleep with a simple pressure point on the neck in seconds at age 65 (didnt think they were real until i saw that )

Anyone who tells you NOT to learn new things is a fool why i added this.

[Richard P]

What's harder, boxing or MMA? I've never tried MMA. I had a friend who did it. He was trying to get me to convert. I was like naw, I ain't trying to get my legs broken by some Muay Thai fighter lol.

As the saying goes 'those who cant box MMA'

i am joking by the way guys, before anyone starts

[Richard P]

Sorry theres NO short answer for this .....

Well theres really no answer to that a clear answer ........ TRAINING for MMA is MUCH harder . You have to really break your body down bc you are weight training more (physical strength ) , Grappling which totally exhausts the body / muscles /joints ..etc. You have to do 3x the cardio work for the cage bc 5 min rnds with less referee intervention too .

Getting thrown ,landing on knees ,back etc and you are preparing for more variables when other things are legal like kicking ,submissions ,takedowns etc . . Most on here dont get it bc its a boxing site and most have never even been in actual sanctioned matches . Try grappling for just 3 minutes and without rest putting on gloves and sparring 2 minutes ,you will see what im talking about .

Boxing in ITSELF is very hard bc you are only allowed to use hand strikes with limited clinching so you need a SPECIFIC skill set bc kicking and grappling wont bale you out making it more difficult in some circumstances . So in that aspect boxing is more difficult when you limit options .

Personal exp. I had a easier time with boxing bc compared to Grappling tournaments i was able to end fights faster its much more grueling trying to submit someone when its more physical without punches being thrown if you dont get a win right away . I would excell in MMA bc i could do both and have training over 20 plus years in various arts .

So its really a trick question which is harder ,in MMA theres more ways to win andlose which takes more preperation and Boxing you need to be on point with less things to worry about bc you know only bod and head strikes are allowed . You also need to be more dedicated to Boxing bc its one art .

One sport MMA ,breaks your body more the other you focus on more ? I would say its up to the individual ,myself would have a far easier time in MMA bc of my attributes ,in MMA physical strength goes a long way where its not overly required in Boxing .

The guy in my sig to my left is the former Muay Thai world champion ,he has a UFC 1 contract still that he almost sighned back in the day ,the taller one is up comer cruiser /HW boxer . Training in MMA is about learning like any form of combat (credible ) trainers who can juggle both boxing and MMA training is hard to find .

I would say the more you know in combat itself the smarter all around you'll be and POSSIBLY adapt in a boxing ring better though thats subjective based on your abilities to do different skills . When anyone asks if they should try MMA i say yes bc if anything the training will give you better balance and better cardio if anything just moreknowledge which never hurts .

I also have traditional martial arts training (Isshin Ryu karate ) which i was LUCKY to have credible trainer and wont recommend it bc there completely incompetent and fake Sensais (masters ) out there ,learning traditional arts doesnt happen in a group you need one on one with real striking and one whos applied the techiques themselves in real fights .

My Sensai who has 6th degree and black belts in various forms has 50 years in martial arts .Ive seen him drop 5 skin heads back in the day and put a 6'5 giant to sleep with a simple pressure point on the neck in seconds at age 65 (didnt think they were real until i saw that )

Anyone who tells you NOT to learn new things is a fool why i added this.

Yeah i know what you are saying, watching a lot of young fighters now and i see techniques in boxing that stem more from unorthodox martial arts to help them obtain angles and advantageous positions

I have seen Kali footwork work very effectively in boxing to help people get around to a fighters blind side

I think in 20 years a lot of good fighters will use a lot more unorthodox/less traditional boxing methods - look at Lomachencko as a prime example at the moment