Yes. At heavyweight. Despite the fat I specifically discussed a lower weight class in order that this might be avoided. Given the amount that you talk about Chris Byrd whenever this topic comes up, let's have three other examples. Preferably not heayvweights.
It seems that he actually turned professional at 169, and instead of sweating down to 160, he decided to go after the heavyweights!
If you wouldn't mind a quick clarification: Are you saying that it essentially doesn't matter whether Kovalev was a natural 190-pounder, because we know that he performed like one regardless of how he got there?
Eddie Chambers beat Sam Peter at 223lbs, then he fought Klitschko and 209, then Adamek at 202, later fighting at cruiserweight. Would it be fair to say that the cruiserweight division was of little interest to him, until he realized that he was going nowhere at heavyweight? If he could get down as low as 202, then should he perhaps have made the cut to light heavyweight, as you are suggesting that Sharkey should?
I'm saying that Kovalev was a modern-day light-heavyweight who wouldn't have been able to do light-heavyweight in 1920 without hurting himself and his performance quite seriously, with a high degree of probability. That's all i'm saying.
I am putting myself entirely in the hands of Boxrec here, which is always dangerous. His pro debut was against Garry Smith at 169lbs, and Smith was 160. If correct then that is very interesting.
I think there are quite a lot of guys who chance their hand at HW until they realise they are too small for the division and then they move down. I think this especially appeals to non-punchers who think they won't make money at CW. Here's a question for you. What do you think is happening in the world? Do you think most fighters are moving up to higher weight classes than they could comfortably make?
Try not to fixate on Chris Byrd. He fought at HW and could have made LHW, this is absolutely true though.
For anyone saying on the Sharkey side that Kovalev is a significantly smaller man than Sharkey: What do you make of Tunney? Tunney was also a LHW. Would he be facing a significant size disadvantage against Sharkey? (Unless you're saying that Kovalev is naturally smaller than Tunney -- essentially a bulked up Hearns?)
I would also suggest Enzo Maccarinelli, as a man who was a top cruiser, then tried the move down to light heavy, which he obviously could have done earlier. I am sure that you are absolutely right that most fighters are trying to cut weight. However, given the elite group of fighters that we deal with on the classic forum, don't you think that a few of them would be up for a challenge?
In his prime his weight varied from 187 to 202 and probably averages out to about 195. That's likely not exceptional for light heavyweight at all. Many of his big wins were at lower weights like 188 vs Wills and 187 vs Godfrey
