Something I've noticed and that is bothering me recently. As boxing fan, we always moan that theyre's way too many weight classes, yet when fighter fight a whooping 7 pounds or 5 pounds over theyr usual weight, we claims he's underweight. So wich is it? Is there too many weight classes, or are fighters taking on fighters from a weight class below them shameless coward? And as a disclaimer, no this is not an attempt to credibilise Floyd Mayweather resume, who is the modern day champion of this practice.
people who complain that hatton wasnt the same fighter at 147lbs are basically upset he was unable to cut weight against mayweather jr.. a silly and naive argument. he was the heavier man in the ring. and it was him, not mayweather jr. who refused the bout at 140lbs when both were there in that division and it was viable.
Is this true? I don't remember Hatton refusing a fight with Mayweather (or vice versa) at 140. Floyd was through 140 so fast that he didn't do anything other than cash in on Gatti. He had three fights within 13 months...Corley, Bruseles, Gatti...and was gone. As to weight classes...I don't like screwing with weight classes because it distorts historical comparisons and regular fans can't keep them straight as it is, but I do believe that 17 weight classes is too many. If you start trying to refigure...it gets messy pretty quick. Maybe 105, 110, 115, 120 and then Featherweight...that replaces 6 weight classes with 4 and makes more sense...maybe drop featherweight to 125 to get rid of the stupid 4 lb step currently in place. I think we're just better off leaving it alone, though.
If fighting at 147 meant that PBF were barred from fighting anyone from lower weight-classes, without exception, my opinion is he wouldn't fight there - he would've stayed at 140. And 140, by the way, where Hatton could actually be effective, has been around a long time. And my guess is it's elimination would not be the goal of anyone in favor of reducing the number of weight-classes. Whether you're in favor of reducing the number of weight classes or not, I don't think there's any question that it would mean fighters who could otherwise be champions would not be afterall. The fact of the matter is, if there were no 140 pound division, Hatton would likely not have had the success as a fighter that he did. It's possible he could've made 135 and had success there, but it's obvious he would not have made his mark at 147 the way he did at 140. And I think it's this reality that justifies giving less credit to PBF for his win over Hatton. The only defendable rationale for fewer weight-classes isn't that they don't matter - that 5,7 pounds doesn't matter - but rather that with fewer weight classes fighters on a whole will be better, with not just fewer champions, but fewer, "mediocre" ones.
The number of weight classes is just right, there are too many titles. Also, anyone who thinks Floyd could have made 140 as easily as Hatton when they fought - having fought 4 times at 147 and having not made 140 for 2 years - is clueless.
THere are too many weight classes, clearly THis is especially true when one considers the ABSURDITY that is day-before weigh-ins Lightweights are supposed to weigh 135 pounds, NOT 152 pounds FUCKING JOKE
I don't understand why anyone would go through the trouble of arguing that Floyd could have made 140 as easily as Hatton. Even if it were true, what is the point?
it would be one thing to say hatton could make 140lbs easier if he did so and came in the ring at 145 pounds. fact is, he'd make that weight for fifteen minutes and be back to 152+ pounds immediately, which is what he came into the fight at in reality anyhow.
The Problem is, Hatton Fans STILL Cling to a Smaller GLIMMER Of Hope that he was Somehow "Compromised" by Fighting @ 147...7 Fucking Lbs DOESN'T Alter the Outcome of that Bout in the Slightest, Especially when U Consider that Floyd Began his Career @ a LOWER Weight than Hatton... REED
Well, I think PBF still would've won at 140 too. But the fact remains, Hatton didn't prove shit at 147, prior to losing to PBF there, and so a win over him there is not as meaningful as it would've been at 140. I'm not sure how you can argue otherwise. For example, consider if Hagler had moved up to 175 prior to his fighting SRL, and lost to Micheal Spinks. Would Spinks' win have been as impressive as SRL's was? Given that Hagler hadn't even proved himself a top 10 light heavy-weight, let alone the phenom at 175 that he'd been at 160? This is why guys move up in weight to fight. By doing so, they have everything to gain and very little to lose. The guy fighting the opponent moving up, on the other hand, stands to gain very little, with much more to lose. As for your complaint that too many think the outcome might have been different, had it been at 140, these are simply doubts that PBF has left, given who, when and at what weight he's chosen to fight. These are sacrifices PBF's made in order to play it safe - he's left doubts all around. Blame him for the people who say it would've gone down differently. You could argue that no matter what PBF does, that there will be doubters. And that's probably true. But it's also true that some doubts are more reasonable than others. PBF is a long way from removing all reasonable doubt.
w/NO Supermiddle Division Back Then, the Jump from Middle to Lightheavy was MORE than TWICE the Jump that Hatton Made to Face Floyd...If Hatton had Fought Floyd @ 154, that'd B Comparable to Hagler vs. Spinks... REED:hammert:
Id be dropping the number of divisions, but more importantly, Id get rid of the ridiculous weigh-in system, reverting to the original.
indeed there's no point in having weight classes if fighters can come into the fight 15 pounds above the weight limit
