Height Is Key In Boxing! 21 Pros & Cons For Tall & Short Fighters

Height is key in boxing if you have the skills to use it properly – which could affect elements like defense, punch force, balance, reach, speed, agility, and so on. 

But height is not a decisive factor during fights – a shorter boxer can defeat a taller one, although people usually think the opposite. Every time I hear the underestimation, I say – “Dynamite comes in small packages”. 

Both tall and short boxers have pros and cons, and it’s all about making the most of the pros while escaping from the cons by training. 

The article perfectly shows the comparison between taller and shorter boxers, as well as breaks the unfound prejudices.

Height does matter a lot in boxing because it dictates various aspects like the boxer’s arms and hands length, exposed body parts, reach, balance, defense, weight control, punch force, and explosiveness. 

For example, taller boxers have longer arms and longer reach, they are less susceptible to head shots. On the other hand, tall boxers are not able to dodge every attack delivered to their bodies because they are long and have more body parts exposed.

Whereas shorter boxers have shorter arms and legs, and their speed and agility are much better. 

There are plenty of ways for a shorter boxer to nullify all of the advantages a taller opponent has. The same goes for the opposite situation. 

Don’t worry if you are tall or short, and don’t let your height demotivate you – remember that boxers are matched by weight and not height for a reason. 

Therefore, many things depend on height, but both tall and short boxers have the same chance to win – it all depends on their skill levels and proper techniques. 

Being taller has many advantages in boxing. For example, taller fighters have longer reach, have more weight to their punches and are less susceptible to headshots.

As a tall person, you need to train a lot and use those pros as well as vanish out the cons as much as possible.

In the following text, you can find out about everything that taller boxers deal with and take pride in. 

Pros Of Being Tall In Boxing

1. Taller fighters hit harder. As a taller person, you have the leverage to put more weight on your punches because you have a higher-positioned gravity center.
2. Taller fighters have longer reach. This allows you to keep your opponent far away from you, so you’re out of the shorter opponent’s reach. You can hit the opponent when he can’t hit you, and that’s a huge thing. 
3. Taller fighters will land punches first. If you’re at closer range, longer arms can also be helpful because you usually hit first.
4. Taller fighters have better vision. Being taller means that your head is far away from the opponent’s gloves – giving you better viewing angles.
5. Taller fighters can easily clinch. With longer arms and reach, you can get into a clinch much easily than shorter opponents – giving you a way out in tough situations.
6. Taller fighters are likely more confident. Being able to look down and see your opponent gives you more self-confidence and makes you think about the victory. You start to look down on him and strengthen yourself mentally. 

Cons Of Being Tall In Boxing

1. Taller boxers are usually slower than shorter ones, which can be a bad thing during the fight and you are susceptible to counters.
2. Taller boxers are less agile. Bigger bodies require more energy and are harder to move around.
3. Taller boxers are less coordinated. Having long limbs means a longer distance and more energy used while you throw punches.
4. Taller boxers have poorer balance. For a tall boxer, it’s easier to fall off balance because of his high-positioned gravity center. 
5. Taller  boxers usually have less muscle mass, which means less power and strength. 
6. Taller boxers have more exposed areas. A longer body means more parts exposed to punches. The shorter opponent is able to deliver body punches in various places, and it can make the opponent weak. 

Taller fighters have more reach and have much better viewing angle but they have more exposed areas

Being shorter can be an advantage in boxing because you are more agile, have better balance and have better defenses because of less exposed areas. 

Short boxers are often underrated, and taller boxers are often considered superheroes. But believe me, short boxers can be a real nightmare for them! 

There are both pros and cons to being a shorter boxer, and they can help or hurt. If you improve yourself and train a lot, advantages become useful, and disadvantages don’t hurt. 

As I said, it’s bad to generalize things – being shorter doesn’t mean being weaker. You need to work on your skills and proper techniques to beat taller opponents and find that sweet spot.

There are both pros and cons to being a shorter boxer, and they can help or hurt. If you improve yourself and train a lot, advantages become useful, and disadvantages don’t hurt. 

You can find more information about the pros and cons in the following text. 

Pros Of Being Shorter In Boxing 

1. Shorter boxers are better in close range because they can land punches quicker. Therefore, in-fighting is the favorite thing for short boxers – that’s how they defeat taller fighters and nullify their ability to reach longer. 
2. Shorter boxers move faster than taller ones. It’s usually because you have shorter limbs. Therefore, they successfully escape from the opponent’s punches and have a significant body-rotation speed. 
3. Shorter boxers have better balance because of a lower center of gravity. Sometimes, a good balance can be decisive when it comes to winning the fight. If you are unstable, one push can make you fall, and the referee can consider it a knockdown. 
4. Shorter boxers have better defense because they have lesser exposed areas. They can protect their heads with large boxing gloves, and the body is usually protected because the opponent is taller and landing head punches is often the only option. 
5. Shorter boxers have better coordination because of the shorter limbs and it requires less energy to move them.

Cons Of Being Shorter In Boxing

1. Short boxers have short reach, and they often need to deliver higher punches to reach the opponent’s head. That makes you vulnerable and more tired. You are never going to have long reaches because that cannot be improved – it’s about genes. 
2. Shorter boxers are not good at long-range – your short hands can’t reach the opponent, while the opponent can reach him. 
3. Shorter boxers have limited view. Some punches may come from above and out of your vision. You can’t predict the direction of where punches are coming, and that makes your taller opponent better at defending yourself. 
4. Shorter boxers are underestimated and could lower your self-confidence, but this is an individual thing, of course. 

Shorter fighters move faster and have better coordination but may find it more difficult to land punches.

Regardless of being short or tall, your height will give you advantages when boxing. It’s all about how you use it in a fight. 

Our physical characteristics always have both pros and cons for any activity in this world. 

When it comes to boxing, many people say taller fighters have better reach/distance and are so hard to beat.

And yes, none of it can indeed be improved – being tall and having long arms come from our genes, and you can’t change anything there. 

Also, tall boxers can deliver head punches easily or maybe predict the direction of where the punches are coming. 

But shorter boxers can nullify these taller boxers’ advantages in two ways – by working on their skills and making the most of the advantages from the lack of height.

You can win a fight against a taller opponent if you work on your skills, choose the right technique, and make the most of your physical advantages. 

As I said, tall boxers are often considered superheroes, but short boxers can easily defeat them in no time.

They only need to be consistent in training and trying to beat and vanish out of as many disadvantages as possible. Also, you need a good technique to nullify all of the advantages a taller boxer has. 

Practice body punches and deliver them while fighting. Throw hard shots there, as you can’t reach a taller fighter’s head. 

Another thing that I recommend you do to win a fight against a taller opponent is to move constantly. Don’t be static – use your advantages, such as your agility and speed. Move your head to escape from head punches, as it’s the taller fighter’s main weapon. Also, good footwork is the key to success and minimizing taller fighters’ advantages. 

Besides that, train your hand speed – a taller opponent already sees you coming, so you need to be fast to eliminate his advantage. 

Try to bait; stand your ground, back-foot bait, or high-pressure bait, and cut some distance between you two. Intercept your opponent’s strikes, or do some inside fighting. 

Learn to love jabs, keep practicing, and turn the opponent’s advantages into disadvantages. 

Height plays a huge role when it comes to boxing and boxing style. Both tall and short boxers have many advantages due to their height. 

There is no answer to the question – “What’s better – being short or tall?” – because it’s all about using your height to your advantage and turning the opponent’s advantages and disadvantages. 

Therefore, height does affect boxing but doesn’t determine the winner. What determines the winner is your consistency, skill level, and finding that sweet and proper technique during fights.