In a boxing match, a fighter’s weight is considered more than his reach or height in giving him the upper hand.
So why does weight matter in boxing? Does a lighter boxer have any chance against a heavier boxer?
This article will discuss why weight matters in boxing and ways you can beat a heavier boxer.
Why Does Weight Matter In Boxing?
Weight matters in boxing because it gives a boxer:
- Stronger Punches
- More Energy
- Ability to Physically Overwhelm the Opponent
These are the main reasons why boxing is separated into different weight classes. If a fighter in the heavyweight division (> 200 lbs) faced a fighter in the super middleweight division (168 – 175 lbs), the weight advantage becomes too big.
For this article, we’ll be considering how weight affects boxers within one weight class. For example, consider two fighters at the lower limit (130 lbs) and upper limit (135 lbs) of the super featherweight class.
The heavier boxer may have a bigger advantage, even though it’s only a difference of a few pounds.
It’s important to note that these reasons may not always make the difference in who wins a fight. It’s similar to a shorter fighter going up against a taller fighter. In the end, it depends if a boxer uses his weight properly.
Stronger Punches
First, a boxer has stronger punches with more weight if he uses proper form.
Generally speaking, more weight can translate into more power. With more muscle mass and bone density transferred into force, you can hit harder.
You can only get stronger punches with more weight if you have good technique. If you use poor technique, your weight will only hold you back.
In the end, having stronger punches is not the deciding factor in who wins a fight. We’ve all seen smaller, skilled fighters land powerful punches despite being in lower weight classes.
Putting weight behind stronger punches plays a significant role but is not the most important factor in determining who wins a fight.
More Energy
Next, a heavier boxer will have more energy compared to a fighter who has been cutting weight.
You can see this factor at play during a catchweight fight.
It’s not so much the actual weight difference that matters, but rather how fast a boxer loses weight to make the limit.
When a boxer cuts weight rapidly, he feels drained on fight night even if it’s a matter only a few pounds.
At the lower weight divisions, this change in a boxer’s weight makes a huge difference in the total percent change.
For example, a super bantamweight (122 – 126 lbs) will feel the loss of 5 pounds more than a super middleweight (168 – 175 lbs).
Anytime a boxer loses significant weight for a fight, you can expect a noticeable difference in his style, strategy, and energy levels.
Ability to Physically Overwhelm the Opponent
Next, a heavier boxer gains the ability to physically overwhelm the opponent.
For example, some boxers take advantage of a rehydration strategy. They cut weight via extreme dehydration so that they don’t miss weight. In the time left until the fight, they regain water weight back to try to reach their natural weight.
If used properly, a fighter can use the extra 5-10 pounds on his body to pressure and exhaust his opponent, making a big difference in close-range fighting and clinching.
Though there’s the downside of long-term health risks if done repeatedly, the rehydration strategy is one way to get an edge over an opponent.
How To Beat A Heavier Boxer
To beat a heavier boxer:
- Control The Range
- Get Him Off-Balance
- Avoid Clinches
A smaller fighter’s goal is to negate the reasons mentioned above and use opponent’s extra weight against them.
Control The Range
First, to beat a heavier boxer you need to control the range.
Avoid the mid-range where your opponent can land sharp, accurate combinations, and instead alternate between the long-range and close-range.
Control the long-range with jabs and feints and stay out of range of your opponent’s power punches.
In close-range, smother (but avoid clinching as we’ll discuss shortly) so that your opponent can’t wind up power punches and put his full weight behind his punches.
Get Him Off-Balance
Next, to beat a heavier boxer you need to get him off-balance.
When your heavier opponent is off-balance, he’ll be unable to wind up his power punches.
Since your opponent has the advantage of power, you’ll have to rely on timing, speed, and precision here.
Don’t stay in front of him and attack on the center line. Keep circling around and bait heavy shots where he’ll overextend to use his weight against him.
Avoid Clinches
Lastly, to beat a heavier boxer you have to avoid clinches.
A heavier opponent can become a pressure fighter just by overwhelming you physically.
Avoid any situation where opponent can apply his weight on you and turn a boxing match into a wrestling match, so stay off the ropes and out of the corner.
This will take away a lot of your energy and will give your opponent the upper hand in later rounds.
Conclusion
Weight matters in boxing but not as much as boxing fans think.
It plays a bigger role in a combat sport like MMA that incorporates groundwork and grappling. It takes a lot of energy to control the full weight of your opponent when he’s on top of you.
You should study these fights to see how the smaller fighter negates his opponent’s weight:
- Manny Pacquiao (144 lbs) vs. Antonio Margarito (150 lbs)
- Sugar Ray Leonard (165 lbs) vs. Donny Lalonde (167 lbs) for the light heavyweight title
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. (155 lbs) vs. Logan Paul (189 lbs)
In the last example, Logan Paul was the bigger guy with a weight difference of 44 pounds. Even though Mayweather outboxed him, his heaviest shots wouldn’t have affected Paul at all.
On the other hand, Mayweather knew that a clean, heavy punch from Paul would be devastating, so he spent most of the fight controlling the range and blocking shots.
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