I agree with both of you - Adam and One; it is down to genetics initially then hard graft. Tyson has a high proportion of dense type 11 muscle fibres compared to the average Joe.

The best bodybuilders also have these proportions too. Given a different set of circumstances Tyson could probably have made it as a top bodybuilder. I remember years ago watching a schwarzenegger documentary. There was this dude who was an ex Italian lightweight pro boxing champ - though he was a good boxer he also had the right genetics to gain muscle mass. Coupled with the right training and drugs he could compete with the best bodybuilders in the world. I think an athlete has to be mostly mesomorphic to achieve these massive gains though.

Originally Posted by AdamGB

Tyson was cut... we'll have to agree to disagree, I am talking about his physiques in terms of his strength, speed and power... the efficientness of his muscular mass, I get the feeling that what you are talking about is simply size, ie: cosmetics over athleticism

It is achievable, but only with the right genetics...

I'm simply talking about the would be body builder look it is trendy and easy to get you see every one getting in gyms.

Yeah, i was mainly talking about the appearance of Tyson.....you'd have to be a one in a million to have a body's like Tyson and the ability to use it as well as he does. He's a one off.
But the bodybuilder look is not something that is easily accomplished, hard work, diet and hardcore dicisipline..... it really takes alot out of you.
Well, it's killing me at the moment

If I had the choice I wouldn't want Tyson's physique. I just couldn't box with it. I'm a taller, lankier fighter and bulk would just slow me down. Develop yourself to be a better yourself. Don't try to be somebody else (yes that applies to boxing too).

anybody noticed that there are a fair few people on this thread that joined in about may/june 2006 and only have a few posts to their name? And all saying stupid stuff. Me thinks they may all be the same person.

I used to be mates with a couple of competition bodybuilders. They trained six days per week, used supplements and ate healthy. I started getting interested in boxing and we would often talk about Tyson and his physique. I remember them telling me that Tyson wasn't ripped. I tried arguing with them and told them I had read somewhere that he had once been measured as having 6% body fat. Bullshit they said. I didn't believe them till I saw images of bodybuilders competing with actual 6% bodyfat. These guys looked more lean than weigh in Pacquiao but with alot more muscle mass. My mates explained that Tyson had probably been measured the "old school pinch test way with calipers" as opposed to the modern method where they send an electric pulse through your body. I don't know if they were bullshitting me because the only things I know about bodybuilding are from what they told me. I still reckon Tyson is ripped though because I don't see the point in comparing him to some guy who hasn't eaten carbs or drank any water who would literally collapse from exhaustion without even getting hit once in a bout.

From what they told me it's impossible to tell whether or not someone can achieve a physique like Tyson's or Ali's without at least having seen a photo of them. Though a well designed program, proper form, diet, supplementation and adequate rest are of the upmost performance, genetics has a huge role to play. I understand why alot of people choose to deny this believing that you will never truly know your limits should you adhere to the "fatalistic mindset" that we are all doomed by our blood but at the same time there's no point killing yourself trying to achieve the impossible. I've seen some photographic evidence of some amazing transformations but how many of these were not aided by steroids? If you want to achieve a Tyson physique you better prepare to make a choice between bodybuilding or boxing. I don't believe it is possible to truly excel in either at the same time but hey maybe I've just got weak genes!

Ali, during his Cassius Clay day's was really a fine athlete. He did a lot of roadwork, and was running even in his youth. He'd do long distance, wind sprints, with a lot of variety at times. His strong legs were his foundation, but he was also blessed with good genetics and was very committed to his training.

Originally Posted by jahmez

I used to be mates with a couple of competition bodybuilders. They trained six days per week, used supplements and ate healthy. I started getting interested in boxing and we would often talk about Tyson and his physique. I remember them telling me that Tyson wasn't ripped. I tried arguing with them and told them I had read somewhere that he had once been measured as having 6% body fat. Bullshit they said. I didn't believe them till I saw images of bodybuilders competing with actual 6% bodyfat. These guys looked more lean than weigh in Pacquiao but with alot more muscle mass. My mates explained that Tyson had probably been measured the "old school pinch test way with calipers" as opposed to the modern method where they send an electric pulse through your body. I don't know if they were bullshitting me because the only things I know about bodybuilding are from what they told me. I still reckon Tyson is ripped though because I don't see the point in comparing him to some guy who hasn't eaten carbs or drank any water who would literally collapse from exhaustion without even getting hit once in a bout.

From what they told me it's impossible to tell whether or not someone can achieve a physique like Tyson's or Ali's without at least having seen a photo of them. Though a well designed program, proper form, diet, supplementation and adequate rest are of the upmost performance, genetics has a huge role to play. I understand why alot of people choose to deny this believing that you will never truly know your limits should you adhere to the "fatalistic mindset" that we are all doomed by our blood but at the same time there's no point killing yourself trying to achieve the impossible. I've seen some photographic evidence of some amazing transformations but how many of these were not aided by steroids? If you want to achieve a Tyson physique you better prepare to make a choice between bodybuilding or boxing. I don't believe it is possible to truly excel in either at the same time but hey maybe I've just got weak genes!

neither method is perfect... Bio-electric impedance also measures the fat in your stomach (if you've just had a glass of milk etc ) and also some of the fat around your joints and organs etc.

I've got a mate who's as cut as me... maybe more and his measure on the electric machine came out as almost 20%!... I got 8.5% using the electronic method and 10% using calipers (pinchers). So if what these guys say is true then I should have got a higher score with the electric pulse.

There are loads of ways of testing and there's variances of up to between 1-3% between most of them, give or take, biometrics might have had him lower or higher than calipers.

If you're testing yourself then the important thing is to always use the same conditions, methods and equipment when testing so that you can measure your progress more effectively.

it's also worth nothing that when they're cutting up for a competition a body builder might walk around at 6% body fat but on the day of the competition they'll be lower than that and massivly dehydrated too. It's one of body building's ironys - when they're looking their best is actually when they're at their weakest... I've had storys from guys who've barely been able to stand and do the poses etc...

Shit... I remember a few years ago when I had the 'noro virus'... I was ripped like a skinny body builder... 0_o