Having big thick legs - and weight class

[Big N Bad]

hello people

i want some advice about which weight division is it best for me to go in, im not here for any confidence boosting.
my legs have always been really thick and big. they quite muscular, even when i was in shape, my thighs were 22 inches and my calves were around 15. i hit very hard too.

at the moment i weigh around 78 kg and im about 5 ft 8. this is not my fighting weight.
im out of shape, i dont look 78 kilos. my upperbody doesnt look too bad, the weight is mainly in my legs and waist.

my fighting weight 2 years ago was 63 kilos. i dont want to come down to 63 now, i feel that my body can handle 70 kilos if its muscle, and by my legs being so big and strong, i feel that i can fight in a higher weight class, i have the power and a strong base...

so instead of losing all that weight, i will lose the flab and replace it with muscle.

any advice?

ps. forgive me cos the post isnt well structured

[BlackWater]

You might be at a height disadvantage, but if you think you can do it, go for it.

[MagnificentMatt]

63 kilos at 5'8 with think legs seems weird.. I mean, 5'8 is like..maybe an inch above average for that weight class...

Must have a hell of a cross I reckon.

[Bodysnatcher]

Tyson was famously short for a heavyweight and he had, at his fighting peak, monstrously huge thighs, about 27 inches I believe.

I've read a few theories that sturdy thighs helps with power and punch absorption, but that's obviously difficult to empirically prove.

It's something that affects me. I'm 177cm tall, walk around at 165 in excellent low bodyfat shape and my thighs are 1.5 inches bigger in circumference than 6 foot 6 inch Vitali Klitchsko's when he fought Lennox Lewis.

If I seem to have thought about this too much, try finding a pair of jeans that fit comfortably when you have a 31 inch waist and thighs like mine...it's impossible :)

(That isn't a brag by the way, I only hit the heavy bag, don't fight, and my upper body isn't exceptional, just a decent athletic physique and no more.)

Anyway, my subjective opinion is that large muscular thighs do make it more likely you'll lose a height advantage.

I would bet someone like Arthur Abraham, a short middleweight (these days), has large thighs.

Freddie Roach recently told Amir Khan that he needed to lose upper-body weight and replace it with leg weight. To hep his chin maybe? The punch-absorption theory, given that an impact on the chin travels down the entire body, head to toe?

I'm honestly not certain.

Just my two cents.

[Bodysnatcher]

Hatton has large thighs as well, 22", which is pretty huge for a 5`6 guy. Billy Graham mentioned it a major factor in his body punches - although, again, I don't know what the physiological reasons for that would be.

[Big N Bad]

firstly i would like to thank bodysnatcher, magnificentmatt and blackwater for some very good posts. i really appreciate it. :thumbsup

to blackwater - yeah i will most definetly have a height disadvantage, but i have been sparring bigger guys than me all the time, i have learned some good defensive moves to get in close. to be honest i find it easier fighting someone taller, thats how often i have sparred with taller guys.

to matt- when i was 63 kilo's i think my thighs were 22 and calves were around 15. now they 23 when i measured em yesterday and my calves are 16. yes it is odd but i dont mind cos i feel im gifted, in the sense i feel becos of my legs i can take a really good shot, i guess even when you get stunned, you're legs still keep you up. Also i can hit.

at first i just thought i was just another puncher but as time went on, every trainer would compliment my power saying i got dynamite in my punches etc lol, one guy said that i have the best left hook in the gym (after doing pads ), and i only weigh 78, with guys who are 90+ kg. and to top it off, i broke a record on some punching machine (right cross) in a well known casino.

if you guys want some big punches in your arsenal i suggest you work on you're legs and you're back (lats) thats another part of my body which is unpropotionally big- the lats stick out like wings. in my homeland they are all lumberjacks, even the women. back home its easier to imagine a women whos an axe murderer:yep

in the meantime i plan to lose my bodyfat and gaining a little muscle, i dont believe in losing too much weight where you're dehydrated its not good in taking shots cos there is little fluid around you're brain, i believe in natural. i will keep training, as along as im low on fat i'll fight at that weight.

i just wanted to make sure that i wouldnt be making an extremly unusualy move by moving up in weight when im 5'8. i guess everyones frame is different, some people are 6ft and can barely carry 160 pounds. some people are 5'7 and can easily carry 200 pounds without looking fat..

[Big N Bad]

the root reasons why i would prefer to fighting up in weight are that i struggle to box effectively on the back foot becos i fight alot of taller people, on top of that im not built for speed like ali, i have legs like trees and thick heavy lats, it makes my arms feel heavy. im not slow but im not made to box on the back foot against speedy guys, i have average reach, i feel i would fight better at a higher weight, cos im stocky, and wont need to box going backwards.

i also have the defense which is incredibly important in boxing, the defense to fight taller opponents, so thats not an issue.

again i would like to thank you for you're advice. :good

ps i think eventually if i can take the flab of me, i would go upto what i am at the moment as long as its muscle.

[BlackWater]

You can fight at any weight-class at any height/reach/etc. you just have to learn a style that suits your traits. There will always be a great fighter out that you can look at, who made it, and was in your situation.
If you have the ability to fight taller/larger opponents, don't feel like you have to really sacrifice to stand a chance. I'm 6'0" 148, and I'm trying to drop down to just above 140. One day I'd like to be at 154/160 range.

[papke26]

I have big thighs but im a heavyweight so it don't matter. I have a good chin and maybe big thighs are a factor why i do.

[avk47]

I'm only 6'0 and I'm a heavyweight. My thighs are only marginally below Tyson's, and I am always the shorter guy. Liking to counterpunch and time my opponents doesn't help :rofl , but over time I've developed a very wierd and very awkward style.