Powerlifter vs Boxer

[warriorsingh86]

Hi there, I'm new to this website and I'm thinking of taking up boxing to improve my fighting skills, especially for the street. But one thing that's been bugging me a bit is, is boxing really as great as some people say, could it make a person with no fighting skill whatsoever into a powerhouse to be feared? how many lessons would I have to go to at the boxing club before I see a significant change in my abilities as a fighter?

also I'm wondering If we put a person with muscle mass all over and in general a pretty big guy who's into powerlifting and has no martial arts experience of any kind against an experienced boxer who's not as huge as the other guy, who do you think would win in the street fight?

[twtguy]

Im going to try and answer your question with a story and hope that it helps.

When I was in high school there was a friend of mine who boxed golden gloves. He was so good his coach still says that he could have went pro. The kid couldnt have weighed more than 130 pounds. There was another kid in the school that was a year younger but the biggest kid I have ever seen. He was almost seven foot and could bench press close to 400 pounds. They never actually got into a fight but the bigger kid was always afraid of him. That is how effective boxing is my friend. If you know it...you wont even have to use it. Welcome to the site.

[tkd_person89]

People of the western world are far too concerned with getting big muscles...

Yeah strength definitely helps but I don't understand why some people just can't seem to understand the fact that skill is more important than strength.

[Tom Yum]

Is boxing really as great as some people say, could it make a person with no fighting skill whatsoever into a powerhouse to be feared? how many lessons would I have to go to at the boxing club before I see a significant change in my abilities as a fighter??

I think boxing is a great art. I've been doing it on and off now for about 2 years and train to keep my skills alive. How many lessons before you get good? It depends on how hard you work per lesson and how much time you put in at that work rate.

If you are naturally athletic, understand rhythm, timing and aren't afraid to push a little past your own limit, you could get functional boxing skills in 3-6 months. Meaning you will have the proper stance down, be able to move smoothly and quickly on your feet, be able to move/cover punches coming toward you and throw punches with good mechanics.

also I'm wondering If we put a person with muscle mass all over and in general a pretty big guy who's into powerlifting and has no martial arts experience of any kind against an experienced boxer who's not as huge as the other guy, who do you think would win in the street fight?

No art is going to make you indestructible. If the powerlifting guy sneaks up to you, picks you up and throws you over a car and into the concrete, your boxing skills won't matter. Sure its a cheap shot, but so would be sneaking up on the powerlifting dude and blasting a cross with the full power of your legs and bodyweight under his ear.

Size and strength matter. So does technique, smarts and will.

If you join a boxing club and hang around for awhile, in time you will see your question answered.

[twtguy]

Size could make one too bulky though. Eveyone knows that being bulky leads to being slow. Do you know of any huge guys that are fast? Is it possible to be a powerlifter and yet build those fast-twitch muscle fibers at the same time?

[Tom Yum]

Size could make one too bulky though. Eveyone knows that being bulky leads to being slow. Do you know of any huge guys that are fast? Is it possible to be a powerlifter and yet build those fast-twitch muscle fibers at the same time?

Its possible to be big and fast, but huge and fast - probably not.

Size does matter in fighting. It determines if your punching up at a guy or down at him. It determines how much weight you can pack behind a punch and therefore power. A smaller guy can hit with the same power as a bigger guy, but he has to have greater speed (Power = Work/Time). It also determines if you're going to stay on the inside or outside.

Bigger/stronger fighters will man handle you on the inside, they will try to slam you with their weight, get underhooks pick you and and bring you down hard, they will try to get ahold of your head....

The only way to overcome that would probably be with alot of clinch work, wrestling or judo.

[Xtschneider]

I'm a bigger guy, and i've been told i'm damn fast for being my size (not huge, but 5'11 220 lbs) I bench close to 300 lbs if that means anything. Boxing gets you faster, and it for me it took about 2-3 months to see a real difference in my skills as a Martial artist. That being said I say go with it! Also, with your other question, its more skill than power, but power does help.

[IPON]

Hi there, I'm new to this website and I'm thinking of taking up boxing to improve my fighting skills, especially for the street. But one thing that's been bugging me a bit is, is boxing really as great as some people say, could it make a person with no fighting skill whatsoever into a powerhouse to be feared? how many lessons would I have to go to at the boxing club before I see a significant change in my abilities as a fighter?

also I'm wondering If we put a person with muscle mass all over and in general a pretty big guy who's into powerlifting and has no martial arts experience of any kind against an experienced boxer who's not as huge as the other guy, who do you think would win in the street fight?

What you are asking has too many variables the largest of them being yourself. If you want to learn to defend yourself boxing can certainly help, but the question is will you be able to conquer fear intimidation etc to defend yourself? Are you willing to training hard enough where these techniques will be beneficial? No one can answer these questions but you. Regarding a power lifter more variables I used to power lift and I can tell you in all ranges I am fast but for my size very fast. Power lifting does not equal body building and for the people it slows down remember it may make individuals slower than they would be but not necessarily slow and by virtue of no weight training doesn't mean that you will be fast.

[EmptyneSs]

most people who havent trained in some kind of combat art do not stand much of a chance vs a decent boxer. they just arent fast enough. boxers will see shit coming at them real easily and be able to counter it. they punch pretty damn hard too.

to answer you question warrior, yes boxing is as good as everyone says it is. whats even greater is that u can learn boxing faster than most arts since its simple. and u can start using it immediately.one year of consistent, hard trainig with plenty of sparring time will make u way better fighter.

btw, any of u guys remember Amir Khan from the british boxing team who was in the olympics recently? he was only 17 and couldnt have weighed more than 130. however his hand speed was rediculous. that skinny ass little kid could probobly drop alot of people on the street with the kinda speed he had. the last thing he looked like was tough, yet he is an olympic boxer. speed pwns all.

[seanyseanybean]

he's in 60kg +, so hes a probably a bit more than 130ibs

[blitz]

60 kgs are 132.2 pounds so its basically the same ;p

[TerryV]

You also ask how long it would take, that depends on the person. There are some people who could have the best coach and tons of training and still would not be worth a dam.

[seanyseanybean]

oh yea, oops

[JFG]

We have some guys who come into the boxing gym with big muscles thinking that they are in great shape.

Truth is, the training you do to get those big muscles is the wrong training. You need stamina. You need cardio. You need to be able throw many punches. So the sets of 2-5 reps means nothing when lacing up the gloves.

If you decide to get into boxing competitively, your coach will likely say drop the weights for a while so that you can cut some weight and bulk. And then IF you get back on the weights again, it will be high reps.

However, if you're just doing for the sake of fighting on the street (I don't recommend it), then you can keep going for size and just learn some basic boxing technique.

I would recommend keeping your boxing off the streets though. Unlike other martial arts where you can learn to submit or fight in a defensive manner... in boxing you basically learn to knock someone out.

[warriorsingh86]

hi JFG

I'm one of those guys who lifts heavy weights and is trying to bulk up, I can't seem to understand though why coaches wouldn't want a boxer to liftweights heavily and get bigger and stronger muscles, wouldn't having strong powerful arms add to the amount of punching power a boxer already possess and make them more devastating in the ring?? Boxers like Mike Tyson & Roy jones all look pretty big don't they weight lift?

I do want to take up boxing, just don't got the money right now to join another gym so I'm weight lifting instead to bulk up, I do want to compete and become a better street fighter. I just want to know does strength and size make even a remote difference when it comes to boxing??