Death to catchweights!!!

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009.


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  1. ApatheticLeader

    ApatheticLeader is bringing ***y back. Full Member

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    I've seriously had enough. Time and again nowadays we see fighters takeing fights beween established weight classes as a way around fighting someone significantly smaller/bigger than themselves. If there's no other way for a fight to take place than at a catchweight, that's a sure-fire way of saying that the fight should NOT BE TAKING PLACE AT ALL.

    It's really that simple. Established weight classes are there for a reason, and catchweights are, in my opinion, detrimental to boxing as a whole. It prevents fights that should happen from happening. It deceives fans into thinking certain fights could be competitive when in reality they aren't. It will lead to a fighter draining themselves to a weight they can't make in the pursuit of money and blowing themselves up merely to take a beating. There's a far greater chance of mismatches between two elite fighters, giving the horribly misguided view that one is THAT much better than another.

    Whether you like it or not, weight matters. If it didn't the concept of a p4p ranking wouldn't exist. Enough established weight classes are there for a fighter to make their desired weight withough putting themselves in too much danger. If a fighter can't fill out a weight-class properly, they should stay at the weight that is comfortable to them, regardless of the quality/status of fighters there are at the lower division, and stop trying to make fighters drain themselves to make a catchweight. Same thing applies to fighters that expect another fighter to blow themselves up horribly to create an artificial fight.

    It's a new phenomenon, and it's one borne purely of greed. It's time for it to end before boxing distorts itself any further.
     
    ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009
    ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009
    #1
  2. Scar

    Scar VIP Member Full Member

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    Watch out boxing, this guy means business.
     
    Scar, May 21, 2009
    Scar, May 21, 2009
    #2
  3. ApatheticLeader

    ApatheticLeader is bringing ***y back. Full Member

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    :lol:

    It had to be said.
     
    ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009
    ApatheticLeader, May 21, 2009
    #3
  4. Holmesy

    Holmesy Interloper Full Member

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    I disagree. I think catchweights give the opportunity to see fights which otherwise couldn't be made. If a fighter can't get to a certain weight, then he shouldn't agree to fight at it. Like you say, weight matters - so surely a system that goes up in 7lb steps can't be ideal - catchweights offer more flexibilty.

    I don't understand why you say they are bad for boxing. The weight divisions in place don't stop the kind of fight you describe - look at De La Hoya vs Pacquiao - that was at an established weight class. Fighters want to move up and down to test themselves and they will continue to do so. You want them to be forced to move 7lbs or none at all?

    Bad matchups can occur with catchweights, but that holds with any weight division, so there's no need to stop it.
     
    Holmesy, May 21, 2009
    Holmesy, May 21, 2009
    #4
  5. draw99

    draw99 Active Member Full Member

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    Well, there are so few different weight classes in the modern era, its not surprising catch weights are needed :lol:


    Being serious, I agree totally. Catch weights are bull****.
     
    draw99, May 21, 2009
    draw99, May 21, 2009
    #5
  6. Pound4poundx

    Pound4poundx Well-Known Member Full Member

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    What is the point of having weight classes if every fight is fought at a catchweight?
     
    Pound4poundx, May 21, 2009
    Pound4poundx, May 21, 2009
    #6
  7. Scar

    Scar VIP Member Full Member

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    Got to agree with you though, catchweights do add more complications but it's also a good way to make certain fights that can't happen at specific weights. As it can be negative it can also be positive for certain fighters who TRY to make different weight limits.
     
    Scar, May 21, 2009
    Scar, May 21, 2009
    #7
  8. hmm

    hmm damn chairs Full Member

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    hmm says... I kinda agree with you. We got all these weight classes, compared to the past, to ameliorate such problems. All this catch-weight stuff serves as a middle-ground to try and level the playing field/prevents someone from having too much of an advantage... makes sense and the argument goes both ways.
     
    hmm, May 21, 2009
    hmm, May 21, 2009
    #8
  9. redifish

    redifish Active Member Full Member

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    Catchweight=cash cow; exciting fights that would not happen ff regular weight divisions; etc.

    Kinda like match play in golf, All Star Race in NASCAR, etc.
     
    redifish, May 21, 2009
    redifish, May 21, 2009
    #9
  10. Holmesy

    Holmesy Interloper Full Member

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    It's not about every fight being at a catch weight. How many fights actually go down like that? Not many, really.

    It seems like people's main argument against is that there's too much confusion, too many weights already. So what? What's the point of weight classes in the first place - to improve safety and fairness. How do catchweight fights take away from this? They don't, but they do add more flexibilty in match-ups.
     
    Holmesy, May 21, 2009
    Holmesy, May 21, 2009
    #10
  11. Cobbler

    Cobbler Shoemaker To The Stars Full Member

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    Disagree completely. Weight divisions exist for the purpose of organised championships only. If a fight is not for a championship then it doesn't matter one little bit what the agreed weight is.
     
    Cobbler, May 21, 2009
    Cobbler, May 21, 2009
    #11
  12. mrbassie

    mrbassie Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Given the fact that every division with "junior" "super" or "light" suffixed is a catchweight anyway, I'm inclined to agree. Really you're talking about catch-catch-weights.
     
    mrbassie, May 21, 2009
    mrbassie, May 21, 2009
    #12
  13. J.R.

    J.R. No Mames Guey Full Member

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    Eh, I don't mind catchweights at all... if you can fight opponents within the weight limits of the division then go ahead. Doesn't bother me none.
     
    J.R., May 21, 2009
    J.R., May 21, 2009
    #13
  14. the_brigand

    the_brigand I'll Eat Her Later... Full Member

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    Well then we might as well go back to the old set of weight classes.
     
    the_brigand, May 21, 2009
    the_brigand, May 21, 2009
    #14
  15. yokspawn

    yokspawn Cereal Killer Full Member

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    TS is right, weight divisions are there for a reason.

    Scratch the catchweights, but bring in the same day weigh-ins... It's also unfair for naturally bigger men starving to make a lower weight class.
     
    yokspawn, May 21, 2009
    yokspawn, May 21, 2009
    #15
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