Why are boxers so skinny?

Question

When i compare boxers with MMA fighters, there is a big difference between their heights and weights. Most of the boxers are very skinny for their height. For example kelly pavlik is 6"3 and weights only 165 lbs, what kind of a guy is that. Oscar de la hoya is 5"11 and weight 154 again underweight and skinny. But most of the MMA fighters they are like 5"10 5"11 and weight 185 to 205 and they dont have any fat on them all muscle. Why is this? why in some form of fighting its ok to be short but heavy, but in boxing tall guys prefer to be at 154-166 weight?

Answer 1

the wight classes are diferent in mma. boxers can be and so can mma be underweight but they are not typically. there are more weight classes in boxing than in mma. the ufc doesn't even have a light weight division it starts at middle weight and goes up so that may be why you see much more bigger fighters in mma than in boxing

Answer 2

Boxing and MMA have different training regimens. Boxers are conditioned to go 12 - 3 minute rounds while MMA fighters go 5 - 5 minute rounds.

boxers are not recommended to lift weights. Boxing has nothing to do with lifting weights. You don't use your muscles in boxing, it's more hip movement and shoulders. In MMA, you need muscles to get in and out of clinches.  

But it all comes down to boxing being a sport that demands 12 rounds of on your feet action while MMA also includes a ground game.

Answer 3

Because MMA is more about wrestling than just striking, you have to be big and muscular to overpower your opponents in MMA, in boxing is all about skill

Answer 4

its all about weight divisions:

Feathweights are around under 130 pounds

Lightweights - 135+

Welterweights: 147+

Middle: - 150+

Light Heavy - Around 165+

Heavyweight: 200+

Answer 5

because they work out everyday which makes them constanly lose weight. i remember from working out one day i lost 3 pounds.

Answer 6

conditioning and efforts to make their weight classes - same as real wrestlers.

Answer 7

we all train different mma guys lift weights and drink protein shakes while boxers keep it natural hardly any of thse mma guys are at their real weight for instance chuck liddell walks around at 225 but drops to 205 to fight another thing your saying these boxers are underweight you cant be more wrong both pavlik and de la hoya hit HARD and can take a punch if they were under weight non of that would be possible

Answer 8

because they have to be able to move comfortably with their body and they need to be fast