Was Rocky Marciano actually a big heavyweight ?

[Dempsey19]

Duran had exceptional stamina at 147 when in shape; his first fight with Leonard was a great display of that.

While some weight-cutting is desirable for non-heavyweight boxers, ideally boxers should stay lean and fit year-round.

I was referring to the 2nd Leonard fight when he got fat.

So, heavyweight boxers should fight at their walking around weight ?

[GelfSara]

I was referring to the 2nd Leonard fight when he got fat.

So, heavyweight boxers should fight at their walking around weight ?

The point Re: Duran was of course that stamina was not a problem for him provided he was adequately trained; on the occasions when his stamina was not up to snuff he simply had not allotted himself enough time to recover from the needless and destructive weight gains that blighted his career post-Montreal.

Boxers should ideally stay fit year round; as heavyweights have no reason to diet down to extremely low bodyfat percentages there is no reason why they should not stay at much the same weights year round, just as tennis players, basketball players, etc. do.

On a side note: Boxing is virtually unique among professional sports in that as one becomes more successful one competes less often; as a consequence it is common for famous boxers to be better conditioned while "contenders" than as champions. This shouldn't be the case; boxers should police themselves and hire people to help them stay fit and lean year-round when they have the $$ to do so--but they often don't.

[OctoberRed]

Boxers should ideally stay fit year round; as heavyweights have no reason to diet down to extremely low bodyfat percentages there is no reason why they should not stay at much the same weights year round, just as tennis players, basketball players, etc. do.

Agreed....