Reminder: Moving weight divisions is overrated.

On the other hand,

Mora, Acline and Verno Philips would make you undisputed LMW champion.

Mora, Sturm and Bute mix is still better.

 

so you'd think, for example, that pac's resume could have been more impressive if stayed and dominated 122 rather than move up to 126, 130, and 135?

i really think it is a combination of both. moving up in weight does not automatically mean cherry picking. like pac moved to 122 and took on one of the better champs and at 126 for mab. there will be a limit on a legacy built in one weight class. moving just means that your skill was still efeective against fighters who are bigger than you and i think that means a lot.

 

Yes, and in THAT situation it is fine to go up. There are (like you illustrate) some situations where going up should be commended, but there are also plenty of situations where staying should be commended.
:good

 

great said :good

 

Moving up in weight CAN be overrated if you just go up and fight the weakest title holder in the division (David Diaz)... but if you move up to numerous weight classes and you beat the REAL champ, then that's saying something.

 

YEs it is. Considering most move up in weight due to not being able to make weight. Ot they got KTFO of their previous weight ala' Zab.

 

it all depends what division it is..it is quite easy to unify this days in such weak divisions like 154 and 130(with the elite fighters moving up) for example.

But what makes it harder is the availability of this fights, there are fighters who wish to unify but the belts or other champs don't want to and just want to milk their belt against local domestic fighters like erdei, john, and most of the other japanese champs at lower weights and other euro champs

 

when did he say pac is cherry picking? read his post...you sound like pacdbest

 

I've been saying this for ages. It would be a lot better for boxing if we had more champions, holding all three belts making defences against all comers as opposed to this division hopping fad that often creates chaos. As mentioned previously, because the three belts are so often split, its easier for a fighter moving up to cherry pick a weaker belt holder.

 

You can cherry pick even if you unify titles. Tszyu never tried to unify with Oscar (when Oscar was in 140lbs) and Randall, but tried it later with Judah and Mitchell.
I would have much more respect to Tszyu if he didn't unify, but moved up in weight to cherry pick Quartey or Tito.

I would also have more respect to Calzaghe if he never unify, but moved up earlier and cherry picked live RJJ.

 

I agree, clearly cool, and have often thought this, but never spoken my mind about it. I dont think that boxers should move up as long as they still have big threats in their own division. It's okay if they are struggling with making weight, but beyond that... If they move up to face their biggest threat across divisions, I am totally okay with that.

But as you say, hailing fighters for the mere reason of moving up and beat a weak champion does nothing for me, unless they want to do something with this newly claimed belt at the new division.

 

Bang on some fighters do cherry pick to avoid the harder fights and just get another belt. Moving up is fair enough if you can not make weight or to make a good fight. There is the other side of the coin staying at the one weight and just taking the easy fights. The only way around it is one champ per weight but we all know thats never going to happen. Good thread :good

 

Do you know if Oscar wanted to unify with Tszyu though? Tszyu was never a 147 fighter, he cleaned up at 140 & left a good legacy there.

Calzaghe is a different kettle of fish & I agree with you. He was defending a joke belt while calling himself a pound for pounder. He should have stepped up & fought Jones.

 

Because of boxing politics....