01-11-2017, 07:57 AM
(01-11-2017, 07:46 AM)robstar Wrote: You could also focus on dropping body fat which will quicken your movement and allow you to compete in a lower weight class where you will be more effective. If you're wanting to go pro, having the ability to control your body fat at will is almost a necessity.
It's not that easy.
I'll never drop enough weight to compete as a middleweight without losing a significant amount of muscle in the process. I carry body fat, but I carry A LOT of dense muscle, especially in my legs from 10 years of kickboxing.
Not to mention, middleweights and heavyweights fight DRASTICALLY, DRASTICALLY different. Changing from weight class to weight class not only means gaining (or losing) significant amounts of muscle, but also retraining your mind to fight differently.
Everyone thinks that combat sports is just getting in the ring and "slugging it out," but that's why we have so many people come to boxing, realize that it's a martial art just like anything else and drop out.
Watch a Mike Tyson fight (or any heavyweight fight for that matter), versus a Floyd Mayweather fight. Tyson is literally beating your body into submission. He's beating your arm. He's beating your chest. He's simply trying to connect his punches without getting hit himself. That's because he punches SO HARD that even when you block, you get f*cked up. Eventually, you'll start dropping your hands and he'll knock you out. Or, you'll lift your hands to guard the head and he'll destroy your body.
Mayweather, on the other hand, simply out-boxes you. You won't land any punches because he's faster, more nimble and has the reflexes of a god. He slips everything you throw, causing you to get frustrated and winded, and then starts throwing targeted, surgical punches. Most middleweight fighters fight like this. They move around, they slip, they're fast. They have some version of, "I'm gonna dodge everything you throw."
Now... being that I'm a naturally large guy with powerful punches... why would I drop down to middleweight just to have to completely relearn a brand new strategy that doesn't fit with how I think?
Again, it makes much more sense for me to lose enough body fat to look good and be a bit more quicker, but keep building punching power and muscle mass so I can take blows as well as dish 'em out.
