When a boxer goes up in weight class to fight what happens to them?

Question

i always hear that when they go up: for example welter to middleweight. that its not their natural weight and their power and speed goes down is this true and why?

Answer 1

Depends on the fighter. In most cases, when a fighter loses his abilities that made them competitive in a lower weight, they exceeded past their fighting weight.

Take Tito. At welter, he was a devistating puncher, but as moved up to middle, his power didn't decrease, just his oppoents where bigger and use to bigger hits.

That is why when Tito bloated himself up to Light Heavy to fight Jones Jr, he hit Jones Jr with shots that would knocked a welterweight over. But Jones Jr was the bigger man, who was use to fighting at the heavier weights.

Also, Tito speed went because he bloated himself up to get to the weight classes.

Now take Pavlik. He's a BIG middleweight.. At 6'1, he could easily make his way to Super Middle and Light Heavy. However, his power he has at middle might not be as devistating against bigger oppoents.

Answer 2

I think its a matter of conditioning....they weigh more and don't get used to it before a fight.  If they're not at their natural weight its obviously going to be different

Answer 3

A lot of times when a boxer goes up in weight, it's not that the power and speed goes down, it's the fact that the power has little effect on the bigger opponent who may be a natural at that particular weight.