Catch-weights. Good or bad. No riding the fence

I personally like catch weights.

They make fights like Pac 140 vs Cotto 147 doable. (145)
Cotto 154 vs Martinez 160 (159)
Mayweather 147 Canelo 154 (152)
Mayweather 147 Marquez 140 (144) though Mayweather blew it off cuz he could
GGG 160 vs Cotto 157 (155)
GGG 160 vs Canelo 175 (155)
Rigo 122 vs Loma 126 (124/125)
Ward 168 vs Smith 168 (172) Comeback fight, taking it easy not wanting to boil down
BHOP 174 vs Pavlik 160 (169)
BHOP 174 vs GGG (169)
Ward 168 vs GGG (164/166/168) depending on split and re-hydration clause

Im not against CWs. It allows for guys to fight the best in their neighboring divisions with compromising too much or conceding too much. Levels the playing field a bit while not allowing one guy to be too big or the other guy to completely drain the opponent b/c theyre the bigger draw.

Now, sure Canelo was completely drained. But it's his own fault for campaigning a LMW when he is clearly a LARGE MW boiling down.
It was wholly Dawsons fault for thinking himself so great as to come to 168 to fight the very best in the division at that time.

So, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

If Floyd and Pac can do it. If Cotto and Canelo can do it. If Rigo and Lomachenko can do it. If Ward and and BHOP can do it, Im cool with GGG doing it. Im cool if Huck challenges Wilder at 220.

Point is. Its good for boxing and has the potential for great fights to come forth from them
GGG vs Bhop or Ward.
GGG vs Canelo or Cotto
Mayweather vs Mathysee
Pacqioua vs Crawford

Plenty of great CW fights to be made.

Im particlualy aggravated by the current Lomachenko Rigonduaex negotiations.

Rigo is prepared to come all the way to 126 for the fight. 4 lbs N of his comfortable weight.
All he asks is that Lomachenko doesn't bloat up to 135 to try to push him around.
If Loma doesnt make this fight. ITS a BLATANT DUCK.

If Ward doesnt counter GGGs 164 offer, it's a BLATANT DUCK.

If GGG ignores BHOPs offer......BLATANT DUCK.

Catchweights exist in boxing. And while we definetely have enough wieght classes as some will argue, you can't always fight the best of the best inside your own weight class, even if their your mandatory.

DUCKS exist in boxing.

Fact is, CWs allow for MORE greats to get together. And sometimes theres little detriment, other times, moreso. But you gotta roll the dice sometimes to say your the best of your era.

Ball is in Lomas, Wards, and GGGs court.

Props to Shawn Porter for showing his huevos and overcoming the odds. Here is a big LMW, already fighting S of his best wieght class, boiling off an additional 4 lbs just make the biggest possible fight.

Not only did he do so, but he did so well, that he's gotten his name right back into the mix after his recent porr showing agaisnt Brook.

Hella props to Showtime Shawn. Putting CLand back on the map.deal:deal

 

So you'd prefer guys like Loma to wait out Rigo to move N, or GGG to wait for Canelo.
Kovalev might never get Ward without conceding 2 lbs.

I think theyre a necessary evil, and allow ATGs to fight other ATGs in the middle.

GGG vs Ward at 166
Ward vs Kovalev at 172
GGG vs BHOP at 168/169
Loma vs Rigo 124

 

Lomachenko has never fought below 126 that Im aware.

He's not a giant SFW, but it's no less a concession than Ward going down 2-4 lbs to meet GGG who would be coming up 4-6 lbs.

Neithers titles would be at stake, and they'd both safely go back to dominating their perspective divisions.

Canelo is already weighing 5-7 lbs more than GGG, yet GGG and K2 have openly agreed to fight him at any weight in which the WBC MW title would be on the line, ie 154.1 if that's what it took.

I think if a fighter is willing to go down he the the greater overall fighter, in terms of HUEVOS. Showing he has less fear of being drained. More confident in his skills.

I don't think Lomachenko is confident enough in his skills to venture S of 126.
Nor do I think Ward is confident enough in his skill to fight below his wieght class of 168.

GGG obviously has the MOST confidence in his own, willing to go N or S to make the best fights vs the elites above and below him.

Sadly his potential foes are not so confident in their skills.

BHOP obviously has shown the greatest confidence. :thumbsup

 

What if said fighter is willing to concede to the mimimum weight for that class.

For instance....when Canelo KOs Cotto at 155, should Canelo be forced to fight at his most natural current weight in defense of that title, ie 160, or should he be allowed to drag GGG down to a weight he has not fought at, ie 154.1, where it is still, TECHNICALLY A MW TITLE FIGHT.

I believe due to the immense gap in skills, power, chin, stamina, and I mean immense GAP, Canelo should be allowed every possible advantage vs GGG.

Its only fair. Even though Canelo is the naturally bigger man, GGG hasnt ever boiled down, and Canelo is comfortable in doing so.

It's the only way he survives 3 rds with GGG.

Levels/ And GGG is so clearly on that higher level than Canelo.:think