# Place in Boxing for guys like me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907 "2003-07-16T16:15:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/1 "2003-07-16T16:15:37Z")
I am a 6 feet tall and weigh 180 pounds. I have very little fat on me, and am working on losing that. I’ve got a tall lanky (long limbs) bulid, but I’m a pretty strong and toned guy. Next year (eh, next month actually) I head off for ASU. I’ve always wanted to give boxing and wrestling a try. My high school didn’t have a wrestling team, so I lucked out there. (Played basketball anyway, so it wouldn’t have worked out) I would really like to become a boxer, obviously not a prizefighter, but a competitive opponent in and around the phoenix area. Anyway, I looked up the weight classes today, and I am a light heavyweight, and if I put ten more pounds of weight (in muscle), I’d become a Heavyweight! Umm, isn’t that a little unfair? I mean, 190 and up seems like a huge weight class. Me vs Butterbean? Me vs Tyson? I mean, is there a place in boxing for guys like me? ---
**Author:** ![toque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@toque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toque)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/2 "2003-07-16T18:00:24Z")
I am far from an expert, but I’d guess that you’d fight at LHW. I think most fighters walk around at 5-10 pounds heavier than their fighting weight, then slim down in the weeks before a match, sometimes dehydrating on the day of weigh-in. There’s a lot of tall lanky types in boxing, most notably Lennox Lewis. I wouldn’t be worried right now about your chances versus Tyson; just find a good gym, get into shape, see if you like it and if you’ve got some talent. Good luck, and keep your hands up! ---
**Author:** ![mcbiggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@mcbiggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcbiggins)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/3 "2003-07-16T18:07:07Z")
I wouldn’t call Lennox Lewis lanky but I have seen boxers in lighter weight classes who were tall and skinny. No names spring to mind at the moment, but it was cool watching someone who was 6’0" 155 lbs. fighting someone at the same weight who was 5’3". If you fight smart and keep moving and stay back, looking for openings you could be successful. But a smaller guy the same wiehgt will have a lot more muscle for his size, and if he gets in close he’ll hurt you. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/4 "2003-07-16T18:12:21Z")
What kind of punch do you pack? Rocky Marciano was about 5’11" and 190 pounds, and had the shortest arms of any heavyweight champ. He also had a right-hand punch like a falling safe. Watch Jersey Joe Walcott almost do a Linda Blair in their first fight. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/5 "2003-07-16T20:00:21Z")
Tall, skinny guys can be successful boxers - think Tommy Hearns or Alexis Arguello. You will probably drop the five pounds and fight light-heavy. Learn to jab, and then time the opponent coming in with the right. Right uppercuts also work well for long-armed fighters. As George Gainford (he trained Sugar Ray Robinson) said, “Keep your hands up and your ass off the floor.” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/6 "2003-07-16T20:04:57Z")
‘Hit Man’ Hearns was a fairly tall middleweight – close to six feet at 155 pounds IIRC – who stomped quite a few shorter, thicker opponents. ---
**Author:** ![toque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@toque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toque)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/7 "2003-07-16T21:17:30Z")
Another, probably unnecessary, word of advice: find a _boxing_ gym. Avoid places like World’s Gym or 24 Hour Fitness unless you know there to be reputable trainer there, they mostly provide classes to give machismo-deprived yuppies a workout. You want a place that exclusively trains boxing, probably to be found in a grittier part of town. Make it clear when you sign up that you have competetive ambitions, and you’ll probably get more personal attention. ---
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/8 "2003-07-16T22:20:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toque \* > \*\*Another, probably unnecessary, word of advice: find a _boxing_ gym. Avoid places like World’s Gym or 24 Hour Fitness unless you know there to be reputable trainer there, they mostly provide classes to give machismo-deprived yuppies a workout. You want a place that exclusively trains boxing, probably to be found in a grittier part of town. Make it clear when you sign up that you have competetive ambitions, and you’ll probably get more personal attention. \*\* Yea, I did a search a while back and found this gym… [http://www.ironglovesboxing.com/pages/892620/index.htm](http://www.ironglovesboxing.com/pages/892620/index.htm) It’s a mile and a half away from campus and sounds like a good place, although I’d obviously want to see the facilities myself. This site had a whole list of gyms and clubs in and around the Phoenix area… [http://www.boxinghelp.com/arizona.html](http://www.boxinghelp.com/arizona.html) ---
**Author:** ![labboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@labboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labboy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/9 "2003-07-16T22:58:14Z")
One more comment, If someone like ‘toughman tv’ wants you to fight someone 50lbs bigger than you DON"T. If your gettin the snot beat out of you QUIT. Don’t stand up for ten rounds lettin someone punch you in the head just to prove your a man. Your brain is important, protect it. ---
**Author:** ![toque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@toque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toque)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/10 "2003-07-17T15:51:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kgriffey79 \* > \*\*Yea, I did a search a while back and found this gym… [http://www.ironglovesboxing.com/pages/892620/index.htm](http://www.ironglovesboxing.com/pages/892620/index.htm) > It’s a mile and a half away from campus and sounds like a good place, although I’d obviously want to see the facilities myself. This site had a whole list of gyms and clubs in and around the Phoenix area… [http://www.boxinghelp.com/arizona.html](http://www.boxinghelp.com/arizona.html) \*\* Looks good! Come on the board some time and let us know how it’s going. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/11 "2003-07-17T17:11:06Z")
6’, 180 pounds was almost the exact height and weight of my grandfather when he boxed semi-pro (under the charming nickname of “The Woodland Flash”), and he made a pretty decent side career out of it. Good luck to ya! ---
**Author:** ![eman77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@eman77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eman77)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/12 "2003-07-17T19:29:58Z")
It’s better not to get too far away from your natural weight as you always see boxers struggling to make a weight class. Plus I wouldn’t recommend heavyweight unless your over 210 (this is why Roy Jones will never beat Lewis). This is some advice from a former boxer. Also have a guy at the boxing gym take a good luck at you before you even consider going pro or amateur, you may have potential or you may just suck but either way it’s some of the best excercise you can get. ---
**Author:** ![DiLLiGaF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@DiLLiGaF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiLLiGaF)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/place-in-boxing-for-guys-like-me/188907/13 "2003-07-17T19:55:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kgriffey79 \* > \*\*Yea, I did a search a while back and found this gym… [http://www.ironglovesboxing.com/pages/892620/index.htm](http://www.ironglovesboxing.com/pages/892620/index.htm) > It’s a mile and a half away from campus and sounds like a good place, although I’d obviously want to see the facilities myself. This site had a whole list of gyms and clubs in and around the Phoenix area… [http://www.boxinghelp.com/arizona.html](http://www.boxinghelp.com/arizona.html) \*\* The Irongloves gym sounds good as far as the one on one training goes. And it sounds like the guy running the place has experience and would give you a good workout. But one thing to look at is the fact that it is run out of what looks like a 2 stall garage, he has quite a bit of equipment but look around, no ring. If you really are thinking about getting into competitive boxing I would look for a place with a ring and other boxers training that you could spar with and learn the basics of being a master of the ring. I have never boxed competitivly but I was into the boxing workout and training years ago. And it wasn’t the psuedo boxing, it was with a boxer friend that had been there and done that.