Attn: pro boxers. Please stay in your lane (and your most naturally-fitting weight class). Thanks.

As a rule I hate catchweights. Really the only point of them is to scheme and get an advantage. I suppose in some extreme cases it does make a little sense. Like if a fighter is coming up a bajillion weight classes and wants to shed some body down a few pounds to make a more fair fight. But then you weakened your opponent possibly so there is that to consider.

The vast majority of fights a catchweight is ridiculous. The best example of a plausible and reasonable catchweight was Pac vs Cotto at 145 due to the ridiculous amount of classes Pac climbed. But considering how the fight turned out Pac probably would have beaten Cotto easily at 147 as well. Maybe wouldn't have scored the 12th round KO, but who knows.

 

The old "I'm not racist one of my friends is black" defense. lol

 

Well, i hear people complain all the time that we have too many weight classes, and I tend to.agree.
In that sense i do not have a problem with catchweight fights. If a fighter can get a bigger payday and give the fans a fight they want to see, im all for it.
The only issue I take is when one fighter rehydrates to the point where they have an unfair size advantage.
But that happens in non catchweight fights as well

 

@IntentionalButt

I know I'm in the minority here, but we need a 187 pound division. But, but, but.... more belts, more corruption, more ducking, blah, blah, blah, whine all you want, I don't care. If there's a need, there's a need.

From 105-130 we have 8 weight classes. I'd cut that down to about 4-5 classes and do away with 105 all together. I don't know any grown man who could make 105. I don't know any grown men who could make 108 either. I suppose if I went to Thailand or Peru I could find some, but eh... talent pool is pretty damn shallow regardless. My interest wanes big time below 118 or 122.

From 175-200 we have 1 weight class. Yea I get it, percentages regarding body mass come into play too, but still. It's too big of a jump. If say 5'11" Artur Beterbiev wanted to try his luck against some bigger guys, but just doesn't have the frame to go all the way to 200 where guys are rehydrating to 215 I could see myself giving him some slack if he has a catchweight of 197 or thereabouts. I still wouldn't like it at all, but if there was a 187 class there would be no need.

 

Froch knew where his strengths were and stuck to 168
Kessler also although i think he might have had a fight above but generally stuck where his strengths were

 

Thou protest too much(typical hypocrite). Don't have a cow man(hey get it? Mexican Beef?).

 

Kessler was smaller than Froch was. He could have made 160 throughout his prime if he was inclined and committed to a weight cut. In my opinion, Kessler was a naturally smaller man than Bernard Hopkins.

 

Totally agree with the TS.

Hate catch weights, rehydration clauses, imaginary weight classes like 155....