Are there any fighters who actually fight at their very best fighting weight? By that, i mean they train as hard as they can, they get in the best shape they possibly can and then they try to beat there opponent. There really doesnt seem to be any, at all. If asked, i would ahve suggested that Hopkins was this type of fighter. Always in excellent shape, but the reality is that when he fought a bigger (and presumably better) opponent, he always elected to go up in weight. Therefore, you can summise that even when younger, he was not really at his best, as a middleweight. Who knows, he may have naturally been a heavyweight! or at least a light heavyweight. Are modern fighters not confident enough in themselves to find their best weight and fight at it. Does every single fighter, reach their optimum weight and then cut below it to get down to weight and ensure they face a smaller opponent? The heavyweights are an obvious selection, but to be honest, 90 percent of these are over their optimum weight, it seems. But leaving aside the heavyweights, does anyone fight at their best possible weight. By this, i mean that if they signed a million dollar contract to fight a weight unlimited bout, they would come into that fight actually weighing the same weight that they step into the ring to defend their current world championship. I cant think of anyone, can anyone else?
I hate weight-making for exactly this reason. Fighters can't give of their best wedging themselves into these smaller divisions. I think both Floyd and Manny are fighting in a division where they are comfortable though.
