24-Hour Weigh-ins = Illegal fight ?

I've been reading around on the topic of making it mandatory for fighters to weigh-in 24 hours pre-fight. And how this system allows a fighter of a naturally heavier weight to dominate those who are naturally smaller. This is mainly accomplished by fighters sweating\draining down to make weight and then rehydrating post weigh-in back to their natural weight.

I don't know about anyone else but this habit of usurping the rules and regulations of Boxing has undermined the very purpose of having weight classes. Each and every fighter who weighs in for one weight class but comes in at fight-time a full weight class heavier is essentially cheating. According to the rules of boxing.

WC-35 - Discusses what should be done if {In the referees eyes} the fight is a mismatch.

Why is it NOT a MISMATCH when some fighters weigh-in as welterweights but actually fight as middleweights???

Also it would seem that many if not all boxing commissions are aware of this increasing issue of fighters fighting at one weight while weighing in at a lower class. - But apparently are fine with violating their own rules & regulations.

Here's the thing: If a fighter is running the risk of being dehydrated on fight-night because they are draining themselves to make weight - Then they do not belong in that weight class PERIOD.

It makes the fight officially unfair and invalid to have two opponents fighting at two different weight classes in the same fight.

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WBC Weight rules -
WC-12
Weigh-in Weight Limits. Each boxer will not exceed the weight of X pounds or X kg. If one of the boxers exceeds such weight, he will be allowed two (2) hours to make the weight by weighing-in as many times as he desires.

WC-13
Weigh-in. Non Compliance of Weight Limits.
a) If the champion exceeds the official weight limit in his last time weighing within the two-(2) hour period has elapsed, he will lose the title on the scale, but the fight will take place for twelve (12) rounds. If the challenger was within the official weight and wins the match, he will be declared the new champion, but if the exchampion wins the match, the title will be declared vacant.
b) If the challenger exceeds the official weight limit in his last time weighing within the two-(2) hour period has elapsed, the champion will win the bout by default.
c) If the champion and challenger do not make the weight after weighing within the two (2) hours, the title will be declared vacant.

WC-35
Mismatch. The referee may stop a bout, at his discretion, when the contest becomes a mismatch and the inferiority of one of the boxers is such that continuation might endanger his health.

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http://www.talkingboxing.com/articles/2008/carriedoapril7.html
Obviously, there are exceptions. On rare occasions fighters of Oscar De la Hoya or Floyd Mayweather's caliber will naturally outgrow many weight classes…first in physical terms then in terms of their ambition for the prestige of collecting many belts. Those cases should not be confused with the cases of numerous boxers who make a mockery of the weigh in system by adding 10-15% of their fighting weight between the weigh in and the actual fight. A prime example is the Arturo Gatti-Joey Gamache fight at Madison Square Garden

in February 2000. Gatti's official weight for that fight was 140.5 lbs. Gamache's was 140 lbs. On fight night, according to HBO's unofficial scales, however, Gatti weighed 160 lbs. while Gamache weighed 142 lbs.
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http://www.whaledog.com/2006/10/new-jersey-changes-weigh-in-rules.php
Following is the official statement my the New Jersey State Athletic Commisison:
From: Commissioner Hazzard
Date: October 17, 2006
Subject: Weigh-Ins for Championship Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, and Kickboxing Matches

We do not agree that moving the weigh-in to the day of the event is the proper solution. In theory, we agree with the concept, but the practical reality dictates the opposite conclusion. A weigh -in on the day of the event will only increase the chances of seeing a dehydrated fighter competing during the event. While this approach may be successful in other sports like amateur or collegiate wrestling, these competitors are not subject to repeated blows to the head and are not trained by individuals who derive substantial revenue from a percentage of the fighter's purse.
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I'll repeat a line from above: If a fighter is running the risk of being dehydrated on fight-night because they are draining themselves to make weight - Then they do not belong in that weight class PERIOD.

 

And in that case - How is it a fair fight if Clottey is fighting as a super Middleweight and his opponent is at welterweight +/- 5lbs.

No way is this within the rules of boxing!!!!!!!

 

It seems 16+/- lbs is the normal weight gain post-weighin for most fighters - But again that is still a higher class range.

 

I understand where you're going - But if a fighter has to drain himself or sweat-down to make weight .... He's not in the correct weight class.

If a guy walks around at 170lbs then he should be at Middleweight, if he walks around at 150 then at welterweight.

When your body is normally hydrated - that's your weight class. And if the situation arises where you get dehydrated - your body will regain its normal amount of hydration in recovery. i.e. Your normal walking around weight.