I think even in that fight a catchweight favors Golovkin and the fight should take place at 168. Imagine having to take a body shot from Triple G if you struggle to make weight :yikes
Bingo, if it allows for a super-fight to happen and the person coming down isn't drained beyond being competitive then ok. Personally I don't think a title should be on the line unless a fight is at the full weight limit, even if it nixes the point above.
My thoughts are there are 18 damn Divisions these days so pick one and fight at the Divisional limit. 'Catch weight' fights cheapen the sport. They are usually carefully crafted bouts to give one of the competitors a decided advantage and to make the other fighter disadvantaged. Where is the honor in that? :huh To me and I am sure I am not alone 'catch weight' title fights simply do not count. It is why I laugh when people try and tell me Pacquaio who is Mr King Catch weight is an 8 division champion. He isn't.
They are terrible for boxing. No matter the cause I am firmly against this practice. What's the purpose of having weight divisions if everyone fights at catchweight? Catchweights are used to gain unfair advantage.
I am 90% against it but the 10% would be as long as it is not for a title. If it helps top fighters comfortable in their weight division to meet up, then thats cool. Like if Kovalev, comfortable at 175 meets Ward, who is comfy at 168 at say, 171, that would be fine.
But Kovalev hasn't weighed that low in his career, so I think he'd be at the disadvantage. Can't be easy to get down to a weight you probably haven't made since being a lot younger, when you are naturally in shape anyway.