Rampent Weight Cutting Seems More Prevalent than Ever

Russell · Mar 14, 2017

It might just be me and my personal salt, in all honesty. Or maybe I've just started to notice it more. But it seems that an increasing number of fights are being dictated by, or at least seriously affected by the enormous amount of weight some fighters are cutting, by one means or another. Weight cutting isn't anything new in boxing, but it seems more and more fights are seemingly coming down to size as opposed to skill or other attributes.

Entire careers are now being built on sheer size advantages, at a rate that I don't remember existing before.

Look at Saul Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr's dog and pony shows. Adrian Broner is the perfect example of this, and formerly with the kind of matchmaking to further exploit it. Peter Quillin's ridiculous weight cutting got him how far again? Tony Bellew boiling down to 175. Fonfara has been out boxed by several fighters before he simply ran his much more skilled opponents down and out, much like Hurd and Nelson both beat Tony Harrison recently. Sam Eggington is huge and seems to of thrived in his two biggest fights because of it. Imam.

Then you see crude fighters who can barely throw a punch straight enjoying success, like David Benavidez. They're young and they still have the ability to shrink down two weight classes to an unnaturally small size for the shortest window of time before getting into the ring.

David Lemiuex re-hydrating a surreal, nearly 20 pounds and us watching Curtis Stevens get the Gamache/Gatti treatment is a perfect example of my beef here, and I honestly don't know why there hasn't been more of a backlash or at least a discussion of the the situation.

First having fights called off because of his weight issues, then months later blowing off a 2nd day weigh, feigning ignorance on the rules of a title he's held before. All while the other fighter toughs it out and stays on weight. Seems like most people were caught up in the awe of the knockout and not the circumstances around them. I just don't like it, personally.

Then there's Tony Harrison, the homeless man's version of Thomas Hearns. Much like Hearns his durability is cited as his major failing point, but I'm not sure how truthful that actually is. His durability is obviously sub-par. Beyond that, he's a good sized operator at the weight, and was well ahead on two cards against both fighters who've defeated him.

Both his losses were against mammoth, boiled down fighters who are capable of squeezing down an absurd amount of weight. Both Hurd and Nelson both simply imposed themselves via their huge size advantage until they could catch up, despite both beyond thoroughly out boxed. Harrison couldn't deter either despite being a very good puncher against normal size fighters in his weight class.

My new motto in gambling in close fights is simply going to be "bet the bigger guy".

Willie Maeket · Mar 13, 2017

The networks don't help it either. Promo companies and HBO especially want KO's no matter what. You don't KO people then no TV time (Rigondeaux). So you are kinda forced to stay low where you have the advantage in order to make money too. You hear Lampley and Max , it's not just them but the executives too. They want that UFC crowd and money that's what they are looking at. Damn the fighters.

Listen to Merchant suck Gatti's dick. Joey Gamache was coming off of bum fights with guys that had records of 63-35-0, 30-32-3, 13-36-0. This was pure **** riding by Lampley and Larry shamefully building up Gamache as a "worthy opponent" for Gatti.

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Larry and Lampley pissed themselves watching Mayweather beat the life force out of Gatti who was coming off of a 5 fight win streak from his Ward trilogy and he had just beat Leija by 5th round KO. They were disturbed by this but cheered Gatti thrashing Joey,hypocrites.

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Russell · Mar 13, 2017

Much as it pains me to imagine, what if we had Thomas Hearn's fighting today and occasionally dropping a fight, despite his enormous talent advantage, because he was fighting someone 20 pounds bigger than himself?

Iran Barkley himself was a huge weight cutter, coincidentally.

Russell · Mar 13, 2017

Good post Maeket, thank you.

radupidu · Mar 13, 2017

Russell said: ↑

It might just be me and my personal salt, in all honesty. Or maybe I've just started to notice it more. But it seems that an increasing number of fights are being dictated by, or at least seriously affected by the enormous amount of weight some fighters are cutting, by one means or another. Weight cutting isn't anything new in boxing, but it seems more and more fights are seemingly coming down to size as opposed to skill or other attributes.

Entire careers are now being built on sheer size advantages, at a rate that I don't existed before.

Look at Saul Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr's dog and pony shows. Adrian Broner is the perfect example of this, and formerly with the kind of matchmaking to further exploit it. Peter Quillin's ridiculous weight cutting got him how far again? Tony Bellew boiling down to 175. Fonfara has been out boxed by several fighters before he simply ran his much more skilled opponents down and out, much like Hurd and Nelson both beat Tony Harrison recently. Sam Eggington is huge and seems to of thrived in his two biggest fights because of it.

Then you see crude fighters who can barely throw a punch straight enjoying success, like David Benavidez. They're young and they still have the ability to shrink down two weight classes to an unnaturally small size for the shortest window of time before getting into the ring.

David Lemiuex re-hydrating a surreal, nearly 20 pounds and us watching Curtis Stevens get the Gamache/Gatti treatment is a perfect example of my beef here, and I honestly don't know why there hasn't been more of a backlash or at least a discussion of the the situation.

First having fights called off because of his weight issues, then months later blowing off a 2nd day weigh, feigning ignorance on the rules of a title he's held before. All while the other fighter toughs it out and stays on weight. Seems like most people were caught up in the awe of the knockout and not the circumstances around them. I just don't like it, personally.

Then there's Tony Harrison, the homeless man's version of Thomas Hearns. Much like Hearns his durability is cited as his major failing point, but I'm not sure how truthful that actually is. His durability is obviously sub-par. Beyond that, he's a good sized operator at the weight, and was well ahead on two cards against both fighters who've defeated him.

Both his losses were against mammoth, boiled down fighters who are capable of squeezing down an absurd amount of weight. Both Hurd and Nelson both simply imposed themselves via their huge size advantage until they could catch up, despite both beyond thoroughly out boxed. Harrison couldn't deter either despite being a very good puncher against normal size fighters in his weight class.

My new motto in gambling in close fights is simply going to be "bet the bigger guy".
Click to expand...

Good post and it-s true but nothing illegal.
Fight night 2nd weigh ins should be imposed.
Lemieux would've blasted Stevens out of there regardless.

Robney · Mar 14, 2017

One of the reasons that we get bigger size disparities is the prior day weigh-in thing. Supposed to be for the "safety" of the boxers, but it's just to prevent cancelling of fights and shows making things more unsafe in the progress.
Of course we had major weightcutters in the past as well, endangering themselves as much as their opponents (McClellan ring a bell?!) But nowadays there are even bigger gaps between weigh-in and actual ring weight shifting the danger more to the side of the smaller guy. Rehydration limits like the IBF enforces are a step in the right direction, but only help so much because they are done many hours before the fight actually starts, allowing for a lot of additional rehydration and weight gain after.

Russell · Mar 14, 2017

Robney said: ↑

One of the reasons that we get bigger size disparities is the prior day weigh-in thing. Supposed to be for the "safety" of the boxers, but it's just to prevent cancelling of fights and shows making things more unsafe in the progress.
Of course we had major weightcutters in the past as well, endangering themselves as much as their opponents (McClellan ring a bell?!) But nowadays there are even bigger gaps between weigh-in and actual ring weight shifting the danger more to the side of the smaller guy. Rehydration limits like the IBF enforces are a step in the right direction, but only help so much because they are done many hours before the fight actually starts, allowing for a lot of additional rehydration and weight gain after.
Click to expand...

It's gotten to the point where you rarely see a world class fighter not gulping down pedialite or something similar moments after stepping off the scale. It's a plague in the sport.

Rope-a-Dope · Mar 14, 2017

Robney said: ↑

One of the reasons that we get bigger size disparities is the prior day weigh-in thing. Supposed to be for the "safety" of the boxers, but it's just to prevent cancelling of fights
Click to expand...

Michael Spinks vs. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad II, which never happened, probably was how that started. Eddie didn't even try to lose the necessary weight, causing the fight to get cancelled, and with a lot of people losing money, the weigh-ins started getting moved to a day before. So I blame this all on Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Absolutely! · Apr 21, 2018

Boxing isn't a safe or sane sport, and boxers are going to abuse their bodies any way they can to get an opportunity to abuse their opponent on fight night. It's not something that anyone can do anything about, really.

RacingBeat · Mar 14, 2017

Great post OP

Limerickbox · Mar 14, 2017

Russell said: ↑

It might just be me and my personal salt, in all honesty. Or maybe I've just started to notice it more. But it seems that an increasing number of fights are being dictated by, or at least seriously affected by the enormous amount of weight some fighters are cutting, by one means or another. Weight cutting isn't anything new in boxing, but it seems more and more fights are seemingly coming down to size as opposed to skill or other attributes.

Entire careers are now being built on sheer size advantages, at a rate that I don't remember existing before.

Look at Saul Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr's dog and pony shows. Adrian Broner is the perfect example of this, and formerly with the kind of matchmaking to further exploit it. Peter Quillin's ridiculous weight cutting got him how far again? Tony Bellew boiling down to 175. Fonfara has been out boxed by several fighters before he simply ran his much more skilled opponents down and out, much like Hurd and Nelson both beat Tony Harrison recently. Sam Eggington is huge and seems to of thrived in his two biggest fights because of it. Imam.

Then you see crude fighters who can barely throw a punch straight enjoying success, like David Benavidez. They're young and they still have the ability to shrink down two weight classes to an unnaturally small size for the shortest window of time before getting into the ring.

David Lemiuex re-hydrating a surreal, nearly 20 pounds and us watching Curtis Stevens get the Gamache/Gatti treatment is a perfect example of my beef here, and I honestly don't know why there hasn't been more of a backlash or at least a discussion of the the situation.

First having fights called off because of his weight issues, then months later blowing off a 2nd day weigh, feigning ignorance on the rules of a title he's held before. All while the other fighter toughs it out and stays on weight. Seems like most people were caught up in the awe of the knockout and not the circumstances around them. I just don't like it, personally.

Then there's Tony Harrison, the homeless man's version of Thomas Hearns. Much like Hearns his durability is cited as his major failing point, but I'm not sure how truthful that actually is. His durability is obviously sub-par. Beyond that, he's a good sized operator at the weight, and was well ahead on two cards against both fighters who've defeated him.

Both his losses were against mammoth, boiled down fighters who are capable of squeezing down an absurd amount of weight. Both Hurd and Nelson both simply imposed themselves via their huge size advantage until they could catch up, despite both beyond thoroughly out boxed. Harrison couldn't deter either despite being a very good puncher against normal size fighters in his weight class.

My new motto in gambling in close fights is simply going to be "bet the bigger guy".
Click to expand...

Quillin?
Wasn't he only around 170 getting in the ring?

As far as I'm concerned, its a level playing field.
Guys who cut too much will be drained. Both guys weigh in a at the same time at the same weight.

Clinton · Mar 14, 2017

Limerickbox said: ↑

Quillin?
Wasn't he only around 170 getting in the ring?

As far as I'm concerned, its a level playing field.
Guys who cut too much will be drained. Both guys weigh in a at the same time at the same weight.
Click to expand...

Was at the Scarlets match 2 1/2 weeks ago in the Pro 12. Very disappointing but a wake up call. Be back at the fortress in 2 1/2 for the Toulouse match in Europe. Over the moon!!!!

Limerickbox · Mar 14, 2017

Clinton said: ↑

Was at the Scarlets match 2 1/2 weeks ago in the Pro 12. Very disappointing but a wake up call. Be back at the fortress in 2 1/2 for the Toulouse match in Europe. Over the moon!!!!
Click to expand...

They let that game slip away terribly!
Once the Irish lads are back on the panel, should be a different ball game.

Clinton · Mar 14, 2017

Limerickbox said: ↑

They let that game slip away terribly!
Once the Irish lads are back on the panel, should be a different ball game.
Click to expand...

Simply can't wait for April 1. The internationals will make a massive difference. Worried about 9 after CM though. He suffered a stinger on Friday. Don't trust Williams. But must keep Jaco after this year.

Gannicus · Mar 14, 2017

I've definitely noticed boxers increasingly cutting weight.
The Super Welterweight division is actually alarming. Have a look:
- Jarred Hurd: 6'1, 76.5 inch reach
- Tony Harrison: 6'1, 76.5 inch reach
- Demetrius Andrade: 6'1, 73.5 inch reach
- Jermall Charlo: 6'0, 73 inch reach
- Jermell Charlo: 5'11, 73 inch reach
- Erikson Lubin: 5'10, 74.5 inch reach
- Julian Williams: 5'11, 72.5 inch reach
- Vanes Martirosyan: 5'11.5, 70 inch reach
- Charles Hatley: 5'10, ? inch reach
- Erislandy Lara: 5'9, 74 inch reach
- Austin Trout: 5'9.5, 72 inch reach

The smallest guy is AUSTIN TROUT who is 5'9.5, 72 inch reach. This is the smallest guy at the top of the division -
http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Miguel+Cotto+Austin+Trout+Austin+Trout+v+Miguel+ZVkKne9E3jdl.jpg
http://swfight.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Trout-LoPorto.jpg

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