Boxing should introduce mandatory pre-fight fitness tests for a boxer to be cleared to fight

Completely agree.

Stiverne has shown up in disgusting shape, and not for the first time.

Why is it only boxing that allows this?

 

It's not only in boxing. Have you ever watched darts?

 

Usually the more obese they are the better they are in darts isn't it?

Almost like an advantage

 

I'd rather see a cap on the HW division like they have in the UFC, 240lbs in this case. Some of the massive freaks that litter the division would be cut out, but no one would miss those, and almost all of the current top twenty would be able to make that weight if they really tried. If Wilder at six seven can get down to 212lbs and still remain one of the hardest punchers in the division, there's no excuse for guys like Whyte or Breazeale not to get themselves down to 240 with any problems. Give Miller a year and even he'd be able to make it.

Pre-fight fitness tests would definitely be a bonus, but you're more likely to know a fighter is in condition if they're able to make a contracted weight that would require some concerted effort to achieve.

 

I saw some of Ortiz's training for the Wilder fight and he was doing sprint circuits and could clearly run 5k in 25 minutes easily.

 

This would be a great idea.

Unfortunately at the moment test vary from state to state and from country to country when the requirements should really be standardized.

Also, it doesn't help that for every 10 honest doctors exist a bottom feeder doctor that will medically clear a fighter that isn't physically fit to fight for the right price. When my friend ran an MMA promotion back from 2005-2007 In Anaheim I used to help him with setting up venues and getting fighters checked out. On one occasion one of his fighters was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat, but the doctor hinted that he could get creative with the findings for the right price.

Here is the physical requirements for boxers in California.

https://www.dca.ca.gov/csac/forms_pubs/forms/physical.pdf