I heard that in the 1930s they almost created a super heavyweight division

It was to be called the "dreadnaught" division and was discussed, although I don't know tp what degree of seriousness.

 

That is supposed to be highly confidential information!
Where did you hear these things???

 

So basically the greatest heavyweight of all time established that the current division is a joke nearly a century ago

 

After Ernie Schaaf's death following his loss to Primo Carnera, the New York commission announced that they were establishing the dreadnought class and banning Carnera from fighting anyone under 220lbs. This would have meant his planned title shot at Jack Sharkey would have to be cancelled. Shortly afterwards, the commission backtracked, saying that the ban remained in place, but they were making an exception for the title fight.

I don't know what happened to it after that - if it was formally abandoned or just quietly forgotten about. Ironically Carnera's next appearance in New York was his title defence against teeny, tiny Tommy Loughran - the greatest weight disparity ever in a title bout.

 

Until Valuev came around. A number of his title fights blew that weight disparity out of the water.

 

I've just realised the part about it being Carnera's next appearance in New York was also wrong. Madison Square Garden, yes, but in Florida.

 

He seemed so at the time, but I don't think so anymore. Considering Zhang pushes close to 300. A number of boxers are closer to 300 pounds than they are 200 pounds these days.

Hell, Carnera only weighed in the 260s for most of his defenses. If guys like Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte enter the ring close to 260, people think they're in shape. Ngannou was a jacked 270+.

Deontay Wilder will give up close to as much weight to Zhang in their upcoming fight as Loughran gave up to Carnera. Wilder weighed 213 last time out, while Zhang weighed 291.

The WBC doesn't even consider 213 pounds a "heavyweight" anymore. In fact, 213 pounds would've been well under the heavyweight limit 90 years ago back when officials were considering a heavier division for fighters like Carnera.

 

They briefly did. Carnera v Campolo in 1931 was for the Superheavweight title. It did not go anywhere and Carnera continued fighting at HW.

As catch said it would been called the "dreadnought' weight class.

I think they tried to make this class again in the 60s and had another title fight. I can't remember the 2 guys that fought for it. But I remember reading it on boxrec.

The problem with this concept except for the lack of tradition is that those sort of fighters are rare and the ones who'd choose to fight in that weight class instead of HW are even rarer.

 

The dreadnought classes only title fight was before Schaaf died.

 

You are correct! My late Grandfather told me about that. It was considered serious in some quarters. Grandfather said: "It didn't catch on for long, was later relegated only to non-title matches, and then quietly went away."