Some skinny people may consider their entrance to the boxing world. Boxing is a suitable sport for everyone, regardless of physical characteristics. Everyone can benefit, even if you don’t think you’re ideal for it. Let’s see whether thin people can box.
Not only can skinny people start and learn to box, but many professional boxers are thin. Therefore, you can learn and get to the top levels if you’re not as muscular. You’ll also have an advantage in your endurance, as you’ll need less oxygen – than more muscular boxers – to continue fighting.
There’s one clear disadvantage for people with less muscle mass in boxing. You won’t be able to pack as much force in your punches until you perfect your technique.
Boxers with more muscle mass will more easily generate force with their punches, regardless of their techniques. So, it would be best if you worked harder than everyone else to learn the fundamental punching technique faster.
Numerous ways exist to increase your punching power in boxing. I wrote an article on the best ways to increase your punching power; give it a read if that’s one of your pursuits and you want to achieve that quickly.
Can skinny people box?
If you have less muscle mass than average, you can still work hard and reach unimaginable levels. But do you think everyone who is not skinny has an easier time training? No, they still have to work hard, and so should you.
Skinny people can box, as boxing doesn’t require you to have high muscle mass. As a result, someone with low muscle mass will still be capable of throwing a powerful punch. Many welterweights (147 pounds) boxers, such as Floyd Mayweather Jr., can knock you out in a single punch while not being muscular.
You can do any sport other than bodybuilding if you’re skinnier than the average person. And still, you’re probably not as interested in bodybuilding.
As a skinnier fellow, you’d have to focus on your punching power more often than the average boxer, as that’s where you’ll see trouble.
Your endurance should be fine, or at least better than most people. Likewise, your speed and range of motion should also be solid. So I encourage you to identify your weaknesses and work on them until it’s gone.
Everyone has a weakness or two. However, working on improving them as much as possible is hard for everyone. However, those who do it will experience more results, progression, and benefits from boxing! If you want to learn about the mental benefits of boxing, follow the link to an article of mine.
Is being skinny a disadvantage in boxing?
Everyone has something going for them. On the same coin, everyone has a weakness. Identifying and working on them is critical, especially if you care about being a solid boxer.
Being skinny in boxing isn’t a disadvantage but has various drawbacks, such as having less muscle. However, some will say it’s more of an advantage since your muscles will need less oxygen, increasing your endurance. In addition, your punching power can be high even if you’re skinny.
So yes, while being thin has various disadvantages, it’s not a disadvantage. As a result, you can still begin to box without constantly worrying about not being as suitable for this sport as other boxers.
Eventually, you have to work with what you have. And if that means learning more slowly, you should still start your boxing journey.
Of course, you can always do resistance training to increase your muscle mass. According to a study, “Research shows that a single set of 12 to 15 repetitions with the proper weight can build muscle efficiently in most people.“
The part I want to repeat isn’t the number of repetitions but the last part: hence, this will work for most people. And you’ll be able to change your training routine to fit your needs.
If you’re unsure how to start your boxing journey, hire a coach or attend a boxing gym—in the beginning, getting a coach to help you will boost your overall progression rate. So, don’t think you’ll be better if you start alone.
Do skinny people have less punching power?
Many professional boxers who can pack a punch are skinny. This might look odd to those looking from the outside. However, it all makes sense once you understand how force works and how boxing works.
Skinny people have less punching power as they’re usually not muscular. However, many slim professional boxers, such as Manny Pacquiao, can knock you out in a single punch. Scientifically speaking, force equals mass * acceleration. Thus your mass and force correlate.
Regardless of the force equation, you can work on your boxing technique to constantly increase your punching power.
Many boxers skip this part, but it’s a critical one. Working on your technique before you even consider sparring or fighting—will be crucial to your long-term progression.
If you want to ensure you’re capable of packing a punch, regardless of your weight or body composition, it’ll be best to learn how to generate more punching force through your body. For instance, weight shifting is a technique you must master to pack a punch if you’re skinny.
Look at how this coach explains weight shifting. You can learn that if you’re skinny and boost your punching power. So, focus on these tips and techniques no one seems to do to ensure you have the advantage over your training partners.
How to get into boxing if you’re skinny
One rule of thumb I found to always be accurate in life is not to overthink things. Most hard things will require effort, but do not worry. That’s why many people overthink when starting new things, such as learning to box; eventually, they never seem to start.
Getting into boxing if you’re skinny is the same as getting into boxing if you’re muscular; you must attend your first class, and that’s it. But, of course, you’ll start to improve right from your first class, so don’t hesitate to step out of your comfort zone and learn this fantastic martial art.
Being skinny doesn’t mean being unable to change oneself. On the contrary, you can transform your body if that’s one of your goals. You won’t notice any disadvantages until you’re in the later stages of your training. So start training without overthinking it.
You’ll notice how both your physical and mental selves begin to improve. You’ll slowly learn about the basic movements everyone has to learn to become a boxer.
That doesn’t change according to your body composition. So you’ll learn to jab first whether you’re skinny, muscular, or overweight.
The sport of boxing is suitable for everyone, but with one condition: you must be willing to work hard for a greater purpose.
So, think about your purpose. What do you want to attain from your boxing training eventually? Once you have a clear answer, you can use it to fuel your motivation tank when it’s running low.
I wrote an article on various reasons to learn boxing. One of these reasons can be your purpose, so give it a read.
Are boxers skinny?
Some boxers are skinny. The sport of punching won’t require you to be physically strong. However, being so can help you hit harder, thus, causing more damage with your punches.
Many professional and amateur boxers are considered skinny, and thus, they’re not muscular. On the other hand, some heavyweight boxers are muscular and weigh a lot. Some examples of lean boxers are Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marcos Maidana, Rey Vargas, and Emanuel Navarrete.
Although you can pack a harder punch if you have more muscle mass, you still have one primary advantage if you’re thin; your muscles need less oxygen to function. As a result, your endurance baseline will be higher than the endurance of another boxer with higher muscle mass.
How are boxers skinny but punch hard?
Learning how to punch correctly is critical, even for those with high muscle mass. For those with low muscle mass, you must focus on learning the proper punching technique if you want to pack a hard punch. Many professional boxers have done it before you, so it’s possible to punch hard without as much muscle.
Many skinny boxers punch hard because they know how to use body momentum to generate more force. That’s how many lightweight professional boxers can knock out a regular person with a single punch. In addition, boxers benefit more from being skinny than overly muscular, as they need to endure many rounds.
Indeed, boxers can benefit more from being skinny than being muscular. That’s why many professional boxers aren’t as muscular as you would expect.
However, some pack high muscle mass and can still run a marathon if they want to. So, it all depends on your endurance and how well you can withstand long boxing sessions.
Punching hard also comes from technique as much as from muscle. That’s why you won’t see the individual holding the record for the hardest punch thin; instead, this person will be muscular.
But, you can work on your technique, including weight shifting and generating momentum through your body movements, to increase your punching power – regardless of your current weight or muscle mass.
Can you be a boxer if you’re skinny?
Some people with low muscle mass might consider themselves unsuitable for boxing because of their bodies. However, such a conclusion is 100% wrong. You can become a solid boxer, even if you’re skinny. Let’s see how and why.
Being a skinny boxer is possible, as many professional boxers hold little muscle mass. But, it’ll require you to work harder than your athletic peers. Having a solid boxing basis can compensate for lower body weight. In addition, you can use weight shifting and momentum to increase your punching power, even if you’re skinny.
Many have done that before you. So, what makes you think you’ll be incapable of achieving similar levels?
All it’ll take is hard work, consistency, and dedication. That’s the formula for success in anything in life. For instance, I can’t expect my website to succeed if I don’t show up daily to write and edit articles. Likewise, you can’t expect to improve your boxing skills if you’re not showing up weekly and working hard.
The result might even be you growing your muscle mass. Think about it; you’ll train weekly in an exercise involving resistance. As a result, your muscle mass will increase if you eat and sleep sufficiently.
Follow the link if you want to know what to eat as a boxer to lose body fat and build muscle.
Final words
Some people form various excuses in their minds to stay away from hard work. The mindblowing (no pun intended) part is that they do that unconsciously. So, they don’t even realize they’re doing that.
You can still box if you’re skinny. It won’t stop you from learning the art and even building some muscle in the process.
If one of your goals is to increase your muscle mass, you can incorporate weightlifting workouts in your week to ensure you’re building that muscle while learning to fight.
However, as many have done before, you can remain with low muscle mass and still aspire to turn pro. You have nothing to lose, only to gain.
You’ll also enjoy reading about whether boxers are muscular if you’re interested in the topic of this article. Follow the link to learn more.