Dropping down in weight is much harder than moving up, it takes a longer period for the body to adjust to a new lower weight. best success dropping weight comes early in the career, the advantages are worth it, size advantage, the disadvantage is facing faster, higher paced opponents in the lower classes. Most certainly a much higher skilled opponent if its a Heavyweight moving down in weight in 2020 at the Golden-Age of the Cruiser division, in 2020 it will be an amazing feat for a Heavyweight Champion to be able to defeat a Cruiser in his own turf (much more impressive than beating a slower bulked up Cruiser or bullying a Lighter Cruiser), any Heavyweight who can pull this historic feat gets immediate Top notch ATG P4P status. Including Usyk if he can defeat the odds at Heavyweight, then go back to punish Cruisers who took his Cruiser Crown while he was away. For 2020 the best opening for maximum benefit is moving down from Cruiser to Light Heavyweight, the Cruiser moving down can take a few fights to adjust & eventually face Artur Beterbiev for the crown of this historic division. Again Usyk doing this after (success or failure at Heavyweight) is instant top ATG qualifier. 100s of boxers tried & failed big...mainly because they under-estimated the punching power of lighter opponents. The move down, must come with Elite-Skills or Extreme-level pressure Champions that pulled it off Champions who were heavier at early boxing days Carlos Monzon Marvin Hagler Miguel Cotto Champions who the move down from Amateurs or Pre-Title-Shot Bernard Hopkins Andre Ward Paul Williams Shawn Porter Champions who won a title in the lowest weight after a title shot at higher weights Vince Phillips Oscar De La Hoya Miguel Vazquez Champions who returned back into a lower weight class they moved-up from (bigger list) Bob Fitz, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Hearns, Donaire, Mugabi...etc
When did the likes of Hagler, Hopkins and De la Hoya move down to win a title? I thought they only moved up in classes? and Hagler only fought Middleweight?
I was also wondering about Hagler. Checked his Amateur record just in case and the only other weightclass he fought in was light middleweight. Are we missing something?
Ruby Bob Fitzsimmons. Herbie Hyde didn't win another belt, but after being WBO champ had a good run at cruiser.
None of the guys he put have won a world title at their weight, then moved down to win a world title in the weight class below. Not sure what the example was for
Hagler & Monzon were naturally heavier built men, Cotto was very obese early on, turned solid prior to boxing. (examples, so prospects who think being naturally big as a teen is an obstacle!). Andy Ruiz success is mainly because he is facing poorly conditioned obese or bulky Heavyweights, he had to choose between Middleweight (with Cotto/Hagler/Monzon diet) or Heavyweight (on Dillian Whyte fitness program)
Bob Fitz run was solid, in the modern era he would have been able to go as far as Junior Middleweight, as he seem to have that mindset Herbie Hide run was good, but that was a weaker Cruiser era. Its very hard to see any Heavyweight beating the modern Cruiser (Wilder being the only exception, if he decides to give it a run, but he will have to use a higher output, as those Cruisers are not as easy to hit as the Heavyweights), the rest of the Heavyweights are either hopelessly obese, too tall or have no physical advantage to challenge modern Cruisers.
Guadalajara Rivalry Canelo Alvarez - Miguel Vazquez Canelo SD4 Miguel Vazquez (2006) --- 15yo teen vs 22yo Pro-Debut Canelo UD10 Miguel Vazquez (2008) -- Rematch Career Path 147 - 154 - 160 - 168 - 160 - 175 (Canelo path) 147 - 140 - 135 - 140 (Vazquez path) Canelo will have a strong case for the GOAT P4P, if he moves down to Welter, beats Pacman for his Welter strap. Then call-out Floyd at Welter...win or lose very impressive
Great thread. I noticed it's harder moving down when the fighter is an established pro then when the fighter is a amateur turning pro. I believe a lot of amateur trainers are dealing with kids and a huge weight cut is bad for kids who are growing. A side note, James Toney used to play high school football at around 200 Lb. I don't know if he ever had a amateur fight at that weight. But it does explain why he always had trouble with weight. He obviously always liked to eat.
Hagler was barely 5'8 and came in under the mw limit regularly. He could have maybe gotten down to 154 but are you suggesting he had a body that could have fought above 160?
