Tyson Fury vs Battling Siki

Tyson Fury very quickly.

 

The second fight in the clip is Ewart Potgieter vs. Simon Templar. Templar was tough and experienced and was actually used to fighting big heavyweights, but he wasn't a top heavyweight and he was near the end of his career, so he was brought in to give Potgieter rounds. Also, there was more than enough competition in the heavyweight division for even a guy Potgieter's size without creating a superheavyweight division.

Here is a picture with Potgieter and Templar. Potgieter was 7'2" and Templar was 5"10".
https://imgur.com/4ECFr0X

The three best fighters that Potgieter fought were Jeff Dyer, Johnny Holman, and James Parker. All three fighters were about 6'3". Dyer and Holman both beat him and Parker got a draw with him.

Here is a piece talking about the Dyer fight.

Jeff Dyer of Springfield spotted lumbering Ewart Potgieter 11.5 inches in height and 120.5 pounds in weight and pounded out a unanimous decision to spoil the South African Giant's U.S. debut in a 10-rounder Monday night.

Dyer, no little man himself with 211.5 pounds on a muscular 6'2.5" frame, completely outclassed Potgieter, the biggest man in boxing history at 7 feet 2 inches and 332 pounds.
https://imgur.com/dvwzQDV

Here is a piece from the Johnny Holman fight.

Johnny Holman of Chicago last week won another victory.

The lumbering heavyweight, after dropping successive bouts to Eddie Machen and Willie Pastrano, found the range against Ewart Potgieter, massive South African, and pounded him at will to score a 10-round decision in a feature bout here.

POTGIETER, A giant of a fighter, outweighed Holman 325 pounds to 203. However, his size made little difference to Holman, who used his stomach for a punching bag.

In the very first round, Holman staggered his man with a sharp right to the head. Ewart, who recently put another fighter in the hospital, seemed defenseless against the usually slow Holman.

There were no knockdowns, but at the end of the fight Potgieter's stomach and sides were a mass of red welts from the constant pounding.
https://imgur.com/QjZqXOb

Here is a picture from the fight between Potgieter and Holman
https://imgur.com/oKb8kJK

 

Surely it's better to have an open division with no upper weight (or height) limit?

If your suggestion was currently implemented (i.e. SHW weight division open to 6ft 5ins+ fighters only), the fighter currently capable of beating every other on the planet, i.e. Usyk, would not be permitted to compete in it and therefore boxing would be all the worse for it, with the talent pool further diluted.

 

When the Kitschko's were dominating and maybe even up till Fury AJ Wilder to a extent I am sure people felt this way.

But now you have Uysk.

 

Uysk has a chance against anyone IMO.

 

I've read your post carefully a few times to check I wasn't misreading it, and you seem to be advocating the creation of a minimum height SHW division so that cross era fantasy fights aren't unfair.

For obvious reasons, that can't be what you're actually suggesting, so we'll put that to one side and concentrate on the impact to the current scene, by comparing reality given the current weight division parameters, relative to your suggested creation of a SHW, minimum 6ft 5ins, weight division:

1) Current - We know the best fighter in absolute terms for the past few years has been the sub 6ft 5ins Usyk, because he's beaten Fury and AJ twice each. We've seen the best fight the best, regardless of size, and Usyk has emerged as the clear, single champion.

2) Your suggestion of SHW and HW being two separate weight divisions, with the former having a minimum 6ft 5ins height to eligible - Fury will have likely emerged as the SHW champion and Usyk as the HW champion. There would be the obvious debate about who would win, but we'd never find out, as they wouldn't be permitted to fight, under your suggested rules.

I.e. your suggestion dilutes the talent, adds another weight divisions worth of "champions" and prevents the best (in absolute terms, i.e. regardless of weight) fighting the best

The current weight division parameters are therefore vastly preferable to your suggestion.

 

He would have a good chance against all of them and would favor him against anyone not named Wlad or Lennox who would be 50/50 fights

 

Modifying the weight divisions below the heaviest, open weight division, is one thing, and I'd review any suggestions with interest and an open mind.

The parameters of the heaviest weight division is another matter, though, and there should be no minimum height to compete in the heaviest weight division, imo. The heaviest weight division will always be the most glamorous. I can't agree with the likes of Tyson, Holyfield and Usyk, who were all the man at one time, regardless of weight, being precluded from competing in it.

To be frank, I'm not sure what problem you are trying to solve by introducing a minimum height to the heaviest weight division in boxing. I'd be interested in you posting a problem statement that you believe your suggestion resolves.