Time to create a Super Heavyweight Division?

delete

 

This, we should also introduce the junior minimumweight division :bbb

 

No, no more divisions.

Here's what I'd like to see happen. First off, I'd love it if people stopped ragging on cruiserweights moving up into the heavyweight division on the mistaken belief that they were too small (not fat enough more like). Secondly, I'd like to see sanctioning orgs stop giving artificially inflated rankings to fat inactive slobs like Solis, and I'd like to see the Klits stop honouring such sham ranking by rewarding said fighters with undeserved title shots. If there's no effort needed to fight for the title, then no effort will be given. That's got to change.

Going back to my first point...

Too many people see cruiserweights as small men. They're not. The average height and frame of most heavyweights today is the same as it was twenty or thirty years ago, with the exception of the Klits and a couple of the up and comers like Price and Fury. The difference is that today's heavyweights all seem to hover around the 240 - 250 mark, where in the past they'd barely scale 210. This isn't an improvement in any way that I can see.

Today's heavyweights are noticeably more sluggish and flat footed than ever before, and often lacking in the sort of top level stamina needed to employ more energy intensive styles like the bob n' weave traditionally used by shorter fighters. This forces them to adopt a very basic hands up come forward style that's not only not very entertaining, but relatively easy for a taller more skilled fighter like Wlad to combat. They might be able to take a slightly better punch, but if it's just going to make you a mobile punchbag then it's not a trade off worth having, in my opinion.

More cruiserweights in the division means more athletic and better conditioned athletes, more skill, more excitement and more competitiveness. That means less easy title shots for apathetic slobs and bum beaters like Solis and Arreola and a general raising of prestige in fighting for a heavyweight title. Fatter heavyweights either get with the program or get phased out. Either way, it improves the division as a whole.

It's sort of happening already, with cruisers like Huck and Haye getting fast tracked to big fights against established heavies based on their cruiser records. I was against it in the past, but now think it would benefit the division enormously, provided enough of them sign up to allow for exciting competitive matchups. Use the cruisers as a sort of weight limited testing ground for normal sized heavies, increase the money being pumped in to the division to act as an incentive for staying there and honing your skills, and implement a sort of rankings transfer system that allows top cruisers to get title fights at heavy with minimal need to prove themselves first, regardless of their drawing power or pull with the sanctioning orgs.

Hopefully guys like Huck have a few more forays into the division, shake things up a bit with their ability to actually fight hard for twelve rounds.

 

It'd just be pissing on the sports most prestigious division. I'm a pretty passive person but if this was even rumoured, I'd be starting petitions and all sorts

Boxing should be protected, not abused by greedy promoters and sanctioning bodies who want another plethora of titles out there.



My reply from the British forum:


"Boxing shouldn't *******ise it's most prestigious division, just to accommodate some fat slobs who can't be bothered getting into shape.

It's a sad reflection of the state of the division that so many fighters think 'bigger is better'. Instead of coming in at a good 215-220lbs and being fit and active, many fighters choose to bulk up - with fat - to 240-250lbs and try to be as strong as possible. It's counter productive. Why not focus on being good boxers, who can move well and be active for 12 rounds?

The heavyweight division is a so lacking in talent, it's unbelievable. Part of that is because today, more so than ever before, fighters are looking to their physical attributes rather than improving technically.

The abilities of super heavyweights is unproven anyway. In my mind, there has only been three genuinely skilled super heavyweights in history. Lewis, Bowe and Wlad. Those fighters are the exception, not the rule. Not many fighters will ever be 6'5"+ and 250lbs+ and great. Those physical attributes bring too many negatives with them for such big men to be well rounded."

 

The people who attack the idea of not having a super heavyweight division always offer no arguments whatsover.

If a super heavyweight division is such a bad idea, why aren't you speaking out to get rid of all the lower weightclasses? Why do you need super middleweight in between middleweight and light heavyweight if weight doesn't matter as you guys imply? If you are going to complain about too many divisions, the answer is to get rid of some of the lower divisions, and not to deny the need for a super heavyweight division. Heavyweights and super heavyweights are often the face of boxing and if there are consistently boring fights at heavyweight (as you get with 250 lbers against 215 lbers) then fans will be turned off.

The bottom line is a 220 lb elite boxer will not be able to compete with a 250 lb boxer of the same skill set who has height/reach advantages. The only way the 220 lb fighter can win is to not just to be more skilled, but substantially more skilled. Emanuel Steward knew this and said as much. Tons of experts understand it. Boxing commentators are always mentioning it. Why don't the fans get it?

 

HW's should just get in better shape.

Part of why the K bros dominate is cuz they the only HW's who always show up in solid condition.

 

This is the 690201 time this has been mentioned!

**** the superheavyweight division! Haye was 210 pounds and he beat a 320 pound man! Eddie Chambers beat Dimitrenko! Adamek beat Grant. Smaller heavyweights are fun!

 

The majority of the biggest punchers in heavyweight history are all between 215-230lbs. The best chins are mainly around that weight. The heavyweights with the best stamina were all around 210lbs. The fastest heavyweights ever were mostly around 205-215lbs. The best heavyweights ever were mostly around 210-230lbs.

Having a division above that is separating inferior fighters, in order to create an ugly, untalented division which nobody would be interested in. Every three decades, you might get a guy like Wlad or Lewis but the vast majority will be like Dimitrenko, Helenius, Vitali, Valuev etc., who are untalented, stiff, awkward fighters who nobody wants to see.

Superheavyweights are not better than heavyweights. Size carried disadvantages with it. Does someone who is 6'9" and 280lbs always have a better chin than someone 6'2" and 220lbs? No. Do they hit harder? No. Are they more athletic? No. Does they have better stamina? No.

 

except butterbean, Valuev, mccline and a couple other 7 footers that
arent factors anyway, pretty much all heavyweights could
probably get under that. fortunately they're all basically retired
anyway

 

yes exactly. Classical heavyweights were 215-230. That's the division people want to see. People want to see big (but not freakish) guys go at it. That's why you need a super heavyweight division--so the titles aren't dominated by the superheavies and the best p4p boxers at 200-230 can fight for a title.

That sounds unlikely. Big sells. Especially if you got a really talented guy like Wlad at the top of the division.

There's an OTR Emanuel Steward interview where he expresses the opposite opinion, and expresses doubt whether the heavies of the past could contend with Wladimir or Lennox. Of course, prime Ali's speed, chin, and savvy give him a good chance in any mythical match-up. But the exception bolsters the point--it's only the supremely talented heavyweight that could overcome the size disadvantages and contend against a superheavy with Lennox or Wlad's skill and athleticism.

The heavyweight division would mainly be there to make good title fights. Kathy Duva could perhaps get ahold of a title for her NBC series. It would give Povetkin/Haye/Adamek incentive to fight each other. Eventually heavyweight champions would be induced to take a run at superheavyweight champions, just as many cruiserweights move up for fights at heavy.

 

no need for a super heavyweight division. The heavyweight division is by design the open division, to cap it makes no sense.

 

we must never have a super heavyweight division

 

Look at history. there was small heavies dominating huge heavies from the start. of the divisions history. Huge people didnt just start existing today. lamest idea ever

 

leave HW unlimited, and then move cruiserweight to 210, LHW to 190, SMW to 175, MW stays 160 ... and drop about half the weight classes under MW