Has Usky just demolished the myth of the modern superheavyweight?

Exactly, he's average for a modern day CW, where the guys walk around in the 220s range and cut to make 200.

People are getting into revisionism now with Usyk and his size, most CWs today wouldn't have the balls to step up and fight giant guys in the 250s-270s lbs range like Usyk has. That's why they cut weight and stay at CW.

 

I don't recall him proving anything he just said he "looked it up" without a source and that "bodies" (all of them?) allow any weight difference to challenge for their titles. But no specific title bodies were named. It might be difficult to find a rule on it from any belt organization since its not their call to make. Its the Commission's.
ABC Regulatory Guidelines – Association of Boxing Commissions (abcboxing.com)

Scroll down see "Weight Difference Allowance" to check how much a competitor is not allowed to weigh more than. Weights exceeding the allowed amount are cancelled. The minimum is 3 pounds for mini flyweights. The max is 12 pounds for Cruiserweights. In California the commission will cancel the fight if a competitor is over 15% above contracted weight.

This part is my opinion. Weight differences exceeding the allowed limit rule can be waived but probably wouldn't in a case of say a 50 pound difference or around that ball park by any commission because if something bad happened (i.e. Gatti/Gamache) they would be liable for waiving the rule and allowing it to happen on their watch. It basically just seems like a measure to green light bouts that wouldn't be allowed to go ahead by a couple of pounds so everybody can still put on the show and get paid. Its not a rule so that a featherweight can fight a heavyweight.

 

I appreciate the info you’ve linked, thanks for that - and there’s other interesting info there also.

I’ve quickly skimmed it all but see no preclusion for a lower weight limit at HW - and no restriction in the difference of weights is specified at HW - in fact, it expressly states “No limit” in regards to weight differential.

It simply specifies > 200 lbs which I read as precluding anyone at that specified weight competing below HW - not necessarily precluding anyone below that weight from competing at HW.

 

Bang on.

 

Basically you can't weigh over X amount or the fight is cancelled BUT the commission can waive their own rule. A featherweight CAN fight a heavyweight through this particular loophole but I argue that it would probably be very difficult to find a commission to actually OK that bout.

 

We know of course there would never be an attempt to stage such a fight so I am wondering why you ever mentioned it?
There are no definitive rules that preclude a lower weight fighter challenging a champion of the alphabet organizations ,and lets be serious here no body would attempt to promote such a match as you gave ,so why you are even mentioning it is a mystery.
Jones Jnr put on 20 lbs to challenge the WBA's Heavyweight champion Ruiz,but he did that for his own benefit ,not because it is stipulated he had to.

David Haye conceded 99lbs to Valuev when he challenged him for the WBA title.
Ruiz conceded 97lbs to him.
Chagaev 91lbs
Barrett 100lbs
These are WBA heavyweight title fights and heavyweight is the division we are concerned with apropos the thread.

Any mention of feathers v heavies is just irrelevant muddying of the waters

 

Realistically though they would be ducked. Usyk being a unified champ at cruiserweight probably made it a lot easier to land big fights than if he had simply turned pro at heavyweight. Ducking is a lot less rampant at cruiserweight so its easier to prove yourself.

At heavyweight you have plenty of talented guys not getting opportunities or having to wait years to get big fights.

 

years ago they had Big men but not the Super Heavyweight division from the amateurs where a lot of fighters learn their craft - they used to say "the bigger they are the harder they fall" because Jess and Primo and others but one thing other than size advantage heavyweights cannot grow a stronger chin because of size. Weightlifting and eating and the Juice make bigger muscles and bodies, but the chin stays the same

 

It was brought up because people like yourself are always complaining about a lack of "180 pound heavyweights" being successful at heavyweight when modern day commissions don't even allow it and maybe thats why theres a lack of examples. Yes they do have a rule for this. Scroll up and read it. The minimum is 3 pounds for mini flyweights. The max is 12 pounds for Cruiserweights. In California the commission will cancel the fight if a competitor is over 15% above weight.

 

There is no limit for heavyweights. A man may give away 100lbs to another in the heavyweight division and its been done several times as the examples I have given prove.
Do stop talking about mini flyweights ,they have absolutely no relevance to the heavyweight division and what is allowed there vis a vis weight!
I have never complained about the lack of 180pounds men being successful at heavyweight, all I have ever done is point out 180lbs men have no chance against today's superheavies if the skills levels of both are equal.

 

Yeah because heavyweight is unlimited. Heavyweights can weigh anything EXCEPT less than a heavyweight. If any non heavyweight fought anyone with a 100 pound advantage or even over a max 12 pound advantage the fight is cancelled by the commission. That would explain why we don't see it happen a lot. You can't blame the fighters for that.