The idea behind catch weights isn't a bad thing. But the way it's done these days, like some of the major belts contested exclusively in catch weights, with the actual fighters campaigning at the weight being left out in the cold, that's just plain wrong! Can you imagine the outrage if the next linear HW champion won and exclusively defends his belt at a 220lbs cw, and because he brings in tons of cash the alphabets let him?
Since when are CW fights competitive? Usually they become pretty one-sided. The only "CW" fights that arent an issue to me are the ones where its basically just a relaxed weight for no title. Like Canelo-Kirkland. No biggy there, both are 154lb fighters - why make them both drain an extra pound for no title.
Example - If a MW fights a SMW at a 164 it will be more competitive than if they had fought at 160 or 168 because at 168 the MW would be at too much of a size disadvantage and at 160 the SMW would be too weakened from being weight drained.
Usually whatever the A-side drains the B-side to, its enough to severely weaken them. Thats why they do it. In reality c/w fights rarely make a fight "fair" they are just a tool used by A-side fighters to get easy wins.
I'm not sure about day-of weigh ins. People will still cut weight, they will just be even sicker, and more injury prone in the ring. Agree 100% on no c/w for titles.
Weight divisions constitute weight limits....not weight requirements. If you agree in contract to fight at a specific weight WITHIN the weight limits of the division then that's your decision. Fighting a welterweight fight at 142 is completely legal and makes sense . It shouldn't be a WW fight if it's OVER 147, any weight between 140-147 is legal if agreed upon in the contract.
Against them if their for a title but sometimes it can make for good fights when their is bad blood between two fighters. One fight that comes to mind is when Chavez was at 160 and Canelo at 154. Im pretty sure if that fight would have been made at a catchweight the winner would have all of Mexicos support but i guess they just chose to go different ways and they still became popular
There are 18 freaking Divisions. Pick one and fight at the limit. There is no reason for catchweight fights. They cheapen the sport.
It's still more fair and competitive than if they had just said "you have to come all the way to my division, I'm not gonna make any sacrifice at all" Depends on what time of day the weigh in was. if it was really, really close to fight time then I think people probably wouldn't bother risking it.
they are total BS. the actual weight divisions are too much.it won't change because,more divisions = more champs=more money. I would get rid of 154 and 168 and if it came down to it 140 can go too. too many boxers are champions because they are massive for the division and rehydrate after the weigh in as much as 20+ lbs. Canelo would be 160 and average. jCjunior would get smashed at 175,we seen what happened to Broner when he went to his appropriate division. Catchweights appear harmless when its 1 or 2 pounds but when you have a fighter like Canelo who struggles to make 154,and he drops to a catchweight of 152,its a big deal.
Yeah but most fighters are already draining themselves pretty severely, 4lbs doesn't sound a lot but in terms of draining that weight, it's a big amount. another 4lbs will turn them into a zombie half the time.
Some interesting perspectives thank you I think the general opinion is its good but not required and although been around for many a year seems to be abused in this day and age But who's to decide wether catchweights remain or go? Is there one overall authority to determine this?