They are supposed to make a fight fair but are never used that way. The "a" side just uses it to get an advantage, and the "b" side agrees to get a large check. You cannot get a fair situation by making it unfair for one side. It is always unfair for one side because an all new weight limit is being created, and since it's all new, there is a limited time to prepare and whether you can actually handle it or not is not known until the fight. The fighter coming up should just get into the weight safely, not use it as an excuse to get a good fighter at a catch weight.
That's how I see it. As long as both parties agree on a weight then have at it, just don't want to hear any crying afterwards. If you weren't good with the weight then don't sign the contract. If you knew it would affect your performance but wanted that payday, well ya got what you came for so too bad.
Floyd already had a title at 154 BEFORE he fought Canelo so I don't know what you're getting at. Canelo wanted the titles on the line because he thought he was better than Floyd. DOH.
Catchweight makes it possible for two fighters in different weight class to meet where not only one fighter needs to sacrifice moving up or down a whole division.
i think if theres two reigning champions in their weight class who have cleaned their division and meet in the middle is great & that causes a 'superfight' of sorts but when its fights for titles and its a catchweight with a challenger involved fighting for a belt 4lbs under the limit its a joke cotto vs martinez was a farce pac vs algeri also floyd vs canelo and i dont even know where to start with Garcia vs Peterson, a fight that could unify a division takes place 2lbs above the limit , what a joke
My first post was backing the idea of catch weights but that is only because titles and rankings mean next to nothing nowadays in boxing, it's mostly about matchups, so sometimes catch weights are necessary. Having said that, if boxing wants to ever be taken more seriously as a sport then they probably should outlaw cw title fights and respect the divisions they have created themselves. Two fighters competing at SMW can weigh in anywhere between 161 - 168, etc etc. Fighters shouldn't have to be dictated to weigh in at a set weight within the division. That just creates leverage in negotiations and keeps the silly shenanigans in boxing.
Only for non-title bouts between champions between two different weight classes. Just IMO. Titles should never be on the line unless the full weight limit is allowed.
Only under very rare exceptional circumstances, most of the time they r unnecessary and harmful. Like Ward Dawson.
Catch weights have been around forever, they serve a purpose. Now having catchweights for title fights is something new for the most part. I think that catchweights for titlebouts is some bosheit and should be against the rules. You want to defend your title than defend up to the prescribed weight in accordance to everything that is proper. Non Title fights, as long as they get them in the ring to throw I wouldn't care how they did it, catchweight or not. Just get the boys squared.