George Groves gave really good reasons why these check weigh ins do not help protect fighters health, but instead put their health at risk. Well worth a listen if you have not done so already. This content is protected
If it's too risky then fight at a more natural weight. That's what all these checks are supposed to help right to make sure you make weight safely? Hydration levels need to be looked at but if they did that most boxer would moveup 2 weight classes. Groves could fight at cruiser if the rest of the SMW and LH actually fought at a more natural weight. Obviously it doesn't work but that's supposed to be the point but all the fighters need to come together and we know that won't happen.
Why do fighters cut so drastically. Is it purely to be as big as possible at a weight or is it to do with peak performance?
Purely for size! It's at a point now where you have to cut to not be at a disadvantage. Some people are gifted with cutting weight as silly as that sounds.
Which begs the question why would they all do it if most of them would be at the higher weight anyway. Makes no sense. Always astonished me how Callum Smith got down to 168! He is huge haha. Other people 'good' at it were Canelo, Hurd maybe Hatton? I think if they all fought at more natural weights it wpuld be safer all round.
Classic prisoner’s dilemma…if all fought at a higher weight then they’d be better off but if one goes to the higher weight and another fighter doesn’t then the one that doesn’t has the advantage of fighting naturally smaller fighters. So you end up with a situation where everyone cuts hard and all are worse off effectively.
He’s retired with millions of pounds - been in some massive nights and retired with all his health and faculties in tact. If I was him I’d be enjoying food and beer to the max after a lifetime of making weight.