CLASSIC FIGHT NIGHT THREAD:Wilder-Fury II

The historical allure of the heavyweight crown has been that it signals that its wearer could beat any man in the world (in a boxing ring). Putting a cap on the division is an acknowledgement that that's no longer true. Is your theory that this new quasi-heavyweight division would still possess the same allure and marquee status as the former unlimited division?

 

No, I appreciate it was funny. I just wasn't sure if there was a serious point/premise behind it. Didn't mean to sound completely humourless.

Not everyone can earn a lucrative living. Having said that, David Haye and Chris Byrd, for examples, DID earn some very good paydays at heavyweight.

Not everyone can be world champion.

That's my point, you seem overly concerned about a select few talented fighters of a certain size, who you'd like to have world titles and (maybe) more money.
The money/payday argument is contentious anyway, since cruiserwewight in 35 years of existence has not produced many stars or superfights within its own ranks. Only when talent moves up to the open division did mega-paydays occur.

Like I said, a 215 or 218 man can already choose to fight at cruiser if they want to see if they can make a champion among men their own size, but they'd have to weigh in.
Most probably if they are really good they end up going for HW anyway.

Most super-heavies would probably be able to cut down to 230 or 225 anyway, if a division was inserted there. So I don't see what is hoped to be achieved.

I was talking about fat 300 pound tomato cans, not Valuev giants.
My opinion is that any out of shape man can end up in the open division, which to me is more of a concerned than someone like Pinklon Thomas perhaps not getting a WBC belt because the champion was a giant.

 

He'd do what boxers in every other division do, he'd dehydrate and rehydrate. Easily make 230. Maybe not Wladimir specifically, at this stage of his career. ... but hypothetically, men of his size and body composition would be populating a division set at 230. And entering the ring closer to 250.

A large number of the elite eavyweights would be ripped and dehydrated, just like every division.

 

My argument is there needs for someone the size if Muhammad Ali to go that is not called "cruiserweight".

The Superheavyweight crown could easily represent the "beat any man" stuff that heavyweight did but regular heavyweight would represent what was rather than what is in that department. rather like an old tyme bulldog has been introduced to demonstrate what a bulldog was supposed to be "heavyweight" could mean a lot more than cruiserweight. It should not be a stop gap. Light middle caught on. Supermiddle caught on. Cruiser never did.

 

What ? Because people didn't like the name ? :huh

 

Exactly the Cruiserweight division isnt marketable. Even im put off just by the name and so are lots of casual fans. Calling it heavyweight and changing the boundaries of weight will make it more like the classic heavyweight boxing of the past.

This business about cutting weight etc happens at all weight classes. Put the limit at 215lb and if a 235lb opponent really wants to weaken himself by dehydrating 20lb before a fight to make weight then its up to him - but that could happen at any weight class. What it will do will definately change the nature of the HW division.

Why do people bemoan the giants of today and complain that HW boxing is a rubbish division and it wasnt what it used to be? The only great HW boxing fight that I can remember watching this century between 2 Super Heavyweights was Lennox Lewis vs Vitali. If someone can name me another then I would like to know. The nature of HW boxing has changed and giants have the advantage over skill.

What I am advocating is no new belts, no new weight classes ( but a changing of the boundary to a 215lb limit), just a changing of the name and we can start to enjoy HW boxing again. No it wont be perfect but it will be an improvement on HW boxing as it is now

 

And that is too bad because the division has some talent and good fights.

 

The light heavyweight division exists already

I dont think the introduction of the Super Middleweight division harmed the sport

 

Let's hope they do. So long as the cruiser name gets dropped its not creating a division or anymore champions. It works in Amateur boxing. Cruiserweight is an outdated, confusing term and classification for small to medium heavyweights. Muhammad Ali should not have to be one.

 

Its one thing to drop five lbs of water and go down from say super welter to welter.. Its a different matter entirely to lose 20+ lbs, a lot of which may be muscle.. You're making some big assumptions there.

 

Give it a new name and all that will turn around. Cheapest way to improve the image of boxing.

 

I am 99% against creating a super heavyweight division. The talent is too thin to have four heavyweight champions and 4 super-heavyweight champions, which could happen with alphabet politics.

Those who weigh 210 pounds can easily shed the weight like the lower weights do, and re-hydrate to fight at the cruiserweight limit.

Boxing needs fewer champions not more of them.

 

Not everyone has to fight guys who are half a foot taller and 30 lbs heavier either..

I honestly don't care one way or the other if the divisions stay the same or change. but if they do stay the same then Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko type fighters are the ones who will rule the heavyweight division from now until the end of time. They're massive size advantages over smaller contenders will encourage pushing, grabbing, shoving, etc which will make for the type of lousy fights we've mostly been watching. I'll leave it at that..