How Tall is the Average Boxer (17 examples)

The height can be a deciding factor in a boxing match. But what is the average height of a boxer? And is there such a thing like “too short” to be a boxer?

The height of the boxer is closely related to his weight class. Obviously, the higher the weight classes are, the taller are the boxers within those weight classes. But if you are looking for exact numbers, here are the average heights of the top 10 boxers by classes:

• Heavyweight (unlimited weight): 6’4 1/2 (194,3 cm)
• Cruiserweight (up to 200 pounds): 6’1 2/5 (186,4 cm)
• Light heavyweight (up to 175 pounds): 6’1 1/5 (185,9 cm)
• Super middleweight (up to 168 pounds): 6 ft 4/5 (184,8 cm)
• Middleweight (up to 160 pounds): 5’11 1/10 (180,6 cm)
• Junior middleweight (up to 154 pounds): 5’10 1/2 (179 cm)
• Welterweight (up to 147 pounds): 5’8 1/5 (173,2 cm)
• Junior welterweight (up to 140 pounds): 5’9 1/5 (175,67 cm)
• Lightweight (up to 135 pounds): 5’8 1/2 (174 cm)
• Junior lightweight (up to 130 pounds): 5’6 3/5 (169,2 cm)
• Featherweight (up to 126 pounds): 5’6 1/5 (168,2 cm)
• Junior featherweight (up to 122 pounds): 5’6 (167,6 cm)
• Bantamweight (up to 118 pounds): 5’5 3/5 (166,6 cm)
• Junior bantamweight (up to 115 pounds): 5’4 2/5 (163,7 cm)
• Flyweight (up to 112 pounds): 5’4 7/10 (164,4 cm)
• Junior flyweight (up to 108 pounds): 5’4 (162,6 cm)
• Strawweight (up to 105 pounds): 5’2 1/3 (158,3 cm)

How short is too short to be a boxer?

The shortest boxing champion so far was Baby Jake Matlala (4ft 10in / 147 cm). He was a South African boxer, who competed in the flyweight division and had more than 50 wins.

As you can see that there are literally no limits to that how short a boxer might be, as long as he can make the weight of the class in which he decided to compete. Like most of the professional boxers, Jake Matlala had his own unique style that worked great for him. Which lead us to the next question:

Can a shorter than average height boxer dominates in the ring?

The strategies of both types of fighters (tall and short ones) are very different. A shorter fighter with a short reach will try to close the distance in almost every situation. And the taller boxer will try to keep it, so he can use the benefits of his longer reach. But if a boxer develops a proper style, according to his height and reach, then he can dominate for sure.

The examples of short fighters who dominated in the ring are endless. Boxers like Myke Tyson, Rocky Marciano, Manny Pacquiao are the most famous ones, but there are many of them, especially in the lower weight classes, which aren’t so popular. The reality is that the height/reach can be an advantage, but what really matters in a boxing match is the skill of the boxer.

Often times, a more skilled short boxer can beat a taller one, in his own game, and vice versa. Factors like the experience, the sense of timing, the high fight IQ are much more deciding compared to the physical aspects. And there is no shortcut to master those skills. The only way to do it is with practice.

The height can be a disadvantage

In weight classes like the heavyweight or the light heavyweight class, most of the times, it’s easier to make the necessary weight (especially in the heavyweight, where there is no weight limit). But in the lower classes like Featherweight or Bantamweight, the boxers need to be very careful about how they pick their diet.

Imagine you are a tall boxer, who wants to compete in the Bantamweight class. That means that you need to weight no more than 118 pounds. You will probably need to cut a lot, so you can make the necessary weight. But there is the problem: the more aggressive weight cut can cause more muscle mass loss.

That means that you will have less power and less explosiveness, which are very important factors in a fight. And there is the advantage of being short. You can make the weigh easier (simple because, in the most cases the shorter people, weigh less than the tall ones) and retain more muscle mass.

So you will have not only more power and explosiveness but also more energy. That’s because you don’t have to cut weight so aggressively and you can eat more calories.

The reach is more important than the height

Not the height but the reach is the factor that can make the difference in a boxing match. That’s just because fighters with longer reaches can hit from a distance where fighters with shorter reaches can’t.

Because of that, the longer boxers like to keep a distance and use their jabs a lot. While the shorter ones are doing everything possible to turn the match into an inside fight. But usually, the taller boxers have also longer reaches.

That’s why we say that the height is advantage regardless of that, that only the reach matters. You can learn more about the importance of the height in the boxing in this article.

So in the rare situations, where the shorter boxer, have a longer reach than the taller one – the height isn’t an advantage at all. The only difference in those cases is that the punches of the shorter boxer will come upwards and accordingly, the taller fighter will punch downwards, so he can catch his opponent.

Successful short boxers

Rocky Marciano was shorter than the most boxers in his weight class. He also had the shortest reach of any previous or past heavyweight champions. That’s why he was taught to fight inside using bobbing and weaving to dodge the shots and then close the distance.

He was known of having a great chin and punching power which made him an extremely tough opponent. His stamina was also at a very high level. Regardless of being criticized because of his lack of movement, he is one of the greatest boxers who ever lived.

Manny Pacquiao is one of the top pound-for-pound boxers of all time. He is known for his speed and footwork. But he is also very explosive and has knockout power, despite that he weighs only 145 pounds.

He is not tall at all, even compared to the boxers in his division, but that didn’t stop him being one of the most famous boxers of our time.

Floyd Mayweather – According to many people, Mayweather is one of the best (if not the best) defensive boxers of all time. He has very high fight IQ, great footwork, and fast hands. He isn’t known as being a knock out artist, so he wins his fights by using a clever strategy.

Mayweather likes to bait his rivals to hit him and then counters them with tremendous speed. His reach isn’t something special, that’s why he mastered the Philly shell guard – one of the best defensive guards in the game, used mostly by short boxers.

Conclusion

There are no limits to how tall or short a boxer might be. The deciding factors in a boxing match are the conditioning, the experience and the overall strategy of the fighters. When you discover the best style for your body type, you only need to start practicing, master your strategy and start winning.

Don’t be afraid of testing new things. The only thing I do recommend if you want to try something riskier is to better do it in a sparring session, not in a real match:)