I think the big point people are ignoring, when arguing about bulk and size, is that some fighters are naturally bigger than others. Lennox Lewis should NOT weight the same as Floyd Patterson because Lewis was naturally a bigger man, we should weigh more.
This got me thinking, if there is a consistent weight that boxers carry per their natural size. Now obviously, we don't have a bone structure map for every fighter, so we have to work with the numbers we are given. We could just go with height/weight, but even height doesn't paint a complete picture. So what I did was multiply a fighter's height by their reach (in sort of a Vitruvian measurement); and though this isn't perfect it lets us get the best numerical initial size number for a fighter. I then divide that number by their weight (then multiply by 100 so I don't have to work in tiny decimals). What this gives us is a pound per square inch measurement.
I figure, this should at least let us see who was carrying around the most bulk relative to their body size. So before I look at the heavyweights, I looked at some lighter weight fighters.
For lightweight
Duran- 3.05 lb/sqin
B. Leonard- 3.01 lb/sqin
P Whitaker- 2.96 lb/sqin
Then some Welterweights
R. Leonard- 3.01 lb/sqin
R. Robinson- 2.84 lb/sqin
F Mayweather- 3.0lb/sqin
Interestingly enough, for Light & Welter weights fighters seem to be about 3lbs per square inch.
Then I did some heavyweights, please note I have their weights listed next to them because unlike the lighter weights, these guys can weigh whatever they want, I also noted what fight they weighed that amount.
Ali (212)- 3.62. Foley fight, last fight before ban
Louis (210)- 3.57 Galento fight
Lewis (242)- 3.74 Holyfield II
Dempsey (188)- 3.53 Pick a fight, dude was consistent in his prime
Liston (215)- 3.51 Patterson I
Foreman (225)- 3.8 Norton
Cool finding, these heavyweights were consistently in that 3.5 to 3.6 range, with Lewis and Foreman being a bit bulkier. But thats not what all this arguing is about I figured lets look at the extremes that are causing all the bickering.
Fury (262)- 3.81 Usyk I
Marciano (185)- 3.89 Walcott Fights
Wait a second. Marciano was carrying more pounds per square inch than Fury? I guess he wasn't this boiled down, skin and bones, marathon runner who was a fit and trim wisp. Dude actually had some bulk to him.
Okay, obviously this isnt some scientific method to undoubtly prove a point. Shorter heavies end up being bulkier in most cases- Prime Tyson was over 4 pounds per square inch. But hopefully it shows that when people are arguing about bigger or smaller heavyweights they are not just saying add weight or take off weight. There are other factors, most of which are outside of the fighters control, that dictate size.
This got me thinking, if there is a consistent weight that boxers carry per their natural size. Now obviously, we don't have a bone structure map for every fighter, so we have to work with the numbers we are given. We could just go with height/weight, but even height doesn't paint a complete picture. So what I did was multiply a fighter's height by their reach (in sort of a Vitruvian measurement); and though this isn't perfect it lets us get the best numerical initial size number for a fighter. I then divide that number by their weight (then multiply by 100 so I don't have to work in tiny decimals). What this gives us is a pound per square inch measurement.
I figure, this should at least let us see who was carrying around the most bulk relative to their body size. So before I look at the heavyweights, I looked at some lighter weight fighters.
For lightweight
Duran- 3.05 lb/sqin
B. Leonard- 3.01 lb/sqin
P Whitaker- 2.96 lb/sqin
Then some Welterweights
R. Leonard- 3.01 lb/sqin
R. Robinson- 2.84 lb/sqin
F Mayweather- 3.0lb/sqin
Interestingly enough, for Light & Welter weights fighters seem to be about 3lbs per square inch.
Then I did some heavyweights, please note I have their weights listed next to them because unlike the lighter weights, these guys can weigh whatever they want, I also noted what fight they weighed that amount.
Ali (212)- 3.62. Foley fight, last fight before ban
Louis (210)- 3.57 Galento fight
Lewis (242)- 3.74 Holyfield II
Dempsey (188)- 3.53 Pick a fight, dude was consistent in his prime
Liston (215)- 3.51 Patterson I
Foreman (225)- 3.8 Norton
Cool finding, these heavyweights were consistently in that 3.5 to 3.6 range, with Lewis and Foreman being a bit bulkier. But thats not what all this arguing is about I figured lets look at the extremes that are causing all the bickering.
Fury (262)- 3.81 Usyk I
Marciano (185)- 3.89 Walcott Fights
Wait a second. Marciano was carrying more pounds per square inch than Fury? I guess he wasn't this boiled down, skin and bones, marathon runner who was a fit and trim wisp. Dude actually had some bulk to him.
Okay, obviously this isnt some scientific method to undoubtly prove a point. Shorter heavies end up being bulkier in most cases- Prime Tyson was over 4 pounds per square inch. But hopefully it shows that when people are arguing about bigger or smaller heavyweights they are not just saying add weight or take off weight. There are other factors, most of which are outside of the fighters control, that dictate size.
Willie Pep 229
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