https://tim.blog/2013/05/06/how-to-cut-weight-ufc/ Mods, may I request that the topic stays here, since weight cutting is not a new concept in boxing. See the link above. I found this interesting article on how fighters cut weight, how much they can lose in just 5 days, and how much they can gain back just 24 hours after the weigh-in. It's also interesting to note how little performance deficit there is, despite a massive fluctuation in weight. This was written in the context of losing weight for MMA, but it'll apply to boxing too.
Fun fact- Carnera used to train down in weight, he would also boil himself down in a sauna like a lot of other old school HWs before a fight- in reality he actually weighed nearly 300lbs in the early stages of camp.
get the weight down through diet and cut minimal to no water. Do not gorge after the weigh in. You will be at your strongest.
Interesting article, OP... I didn't know about the salt piece but I have been following the ketogenic (very low carb) diet for a while... If these guys aren't already on a low-carb diet to begin with with, that prefight week has to be miserable given that lurching into keto (or worse yet, eating just enough carbs to avoid it) is unpleasant.. Insomnia and the constant desire to **** as your body expels electrolytes. However, suddenly switching back over to carbs would give you a boost on fight day provided you don't over do it. I wonder if there's any data on whether weight cutting actually tends towards a competitive advantage (i.e. look weigh-in weight minus next day weight & see who wins in non-mismatches), as guys like Hagler, Floyd and B-Hop who never let themselves balloon up were very successful.