The perfect weight class structure

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015.


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  1. qwertyblahblah

    qwertyblahblah Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I've always thought the original 12 weight classes in the amateurs were fairer than any pro configuration. The 2000 weights, before they eliminated light middle and feather. But up 200 to 205, and call it cruiser and 205+ heavy, because not calling the top division heavyweight is just stupid. And 205 rather than 200 would give smaller heavyweights a bit better chance to make cruiser and not have to fight 240+ giants. But the same 7 lb leap from 112 to 119 as 132 to 139 isn't quite fair for the little guys, so sneak in a 13th division. The 10 current amateur divisions and definitely the original 8 pro divisions don't protect the fighters enough, while the 17 we have now is obviously too many. I've seen hundreds of proposals to reduce weight divisions, this I think is right.

    Heavyweight: 205+
    Cruiserweight: 205
    Light heavyweight: 178
    Middleweight: 165
    Light Middleweight: 156
    Welterweight: 147
    Light Welterweight: 139
    Lightweight: 132
    Featherweight: 125
    Bantamweight: 119
    Flyweight: 114
    Light Flyweight: 109
    Strawweight: 105
     
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    #1
  2. Limerickbox

    Limerickbox Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not bad.
    Theres absolutely no need for 17.
     
    Limerickbox, Sep 11, 2015
    Limerickbox, Sep 11, 2015
    #2
  3. rusak

    rusak Well-Known Member Full Member

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    178-210 is really stupid. You're basically railroading the guys at the lower end of that range, putting them at even greater disadvantage than the smaller cruiserweights face right now. Especially when you consider the fact that guys will weigh in at 210 and put on another 10-20 pounds after the weigh-in. So you could have guys weighing 230 in the ring against guys weighing 180.
     
    rusak, Sep 11, 2015
    rusak, Sep 11, 2015
    #3
  4. SelfUppercut

    SelfUppercut Guest

    SMW division has been one of the hottest for 10/15 years, you can't get rid of that. I would say get rid of several of the JR/Super divisions below LW, have cruiserweight up to 190, HW up to 215, and SHW above that.
     
    SelfUppercut, Sep 11, 2015
    SelfUppercut, Sep 11, 2015
    #4
  5. qwertyblahblah

    qwertyblahblah Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Fair enough. I originally thought more 200-221ish heavyweights should just cut down to 200 rather than bulk up, to even the heavyweight playing field.
     
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    #5
  6. Leoh

    Leoh Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    A 180 pounder would certainly not compete in CW. Anyone naturally over 190 can bulk up to make 210 and anyone under 190 can go down to 178. It's easier for big guys to move up or down 10-15lbs. There are a lot of LHW(Beterbiev) and CW(Usyk) guys who competed in Super HW in the amateurs. They go up and down as far as 30lbs. I think 210 limit is apt for CW.
     
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    #6
  7. qwertyblahblah

    qwertyblahblah Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think if we cut divisions smw just has to go. 165 is closer to 168 than 160, so comfortable super middleweights could fight at a loaded middleweight. Smw is an odd weight increment too. Up 8 from middleweight, then up only 7 to light heavy. Cutting too many divisions below lightweight is unfair to the smaller fighters, as 5 lbs is significant to a bantamweight but nothing to a middleweight.
     
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    #7
  8. rusak

    rusak Well-Known Member Full Member

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    There is no need or justification for such a large range. As it is, there should probably be another division between LHW and CW, 175-185 or something like that. Not everyone who is at their best at 190 can add 20 lbs or get down to 178 and still be as effective. It's stupid to suggest that.
     
    rusak, Sep 11, 2015
    rusak, Sep 11, 2015
    #8
  9. Leoh

    Leoh Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What do people do who are naturally around 185 now? They either move down 10lbs or move up 15lbs. This is not really a big difference.
     
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    #9
  10. qwertyblahblah

    qwertyblahblah Boxing Addict Full Member

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    After a 13 lb step from 165 to 178, the 22 lb leap to 200 is indeed big enough in terms of not just lbs but % of weight. The argument is 210 would compel 200-215 lb heavyweight to fight each other rather than be outmuscled by 240 lb heavyweights. Both divisions would involve more fights than other divisiosn between fighters of fair weight disparity, but the disparity at heavyweight would be reduced. My thread, I'm editing it to 205 :)
     
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    #10
  11. rusak

    rusak Well-Known Member Full Member

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    You have a lot of guys draining themselves to make 175, that's what's happening now. And how the hell do you know if it's a big difference or not? Have you ever done this yourself? Somehow I doubt it. In reality, a few pounds can be the difference between being more or less healthy in the ring and being really badly weight-drained. And fighting while badly weight-drained can lead to guys taking beatings that shorten their careers and ruin their health.
     
    rusak, Sep 11, 2015
    rusak, Sep 11, 2015
    #11
  12. Leoh

    Leoh Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I told you, there are top LHW fighters right now who were super heavies in the amateurs. If you set a new rule, people adjust to it in time with their diets and training, it's not an overnight procedure. They can set the new limits for, say, starting from 2018. We are just discussing something, I don't need your "how the hell do you know" tone here. I might be wrong with this and I'll always appreciate a good insight but if you want to go on like that, I'm not interested - just so you know.
     
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    #12
  13. uncletermite

    uncletermite Boxing Addict banned

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    Again how does a 205 plus HW division make sense?That 5 pounds more than the current one with only ONE guy in the top 20 who fights under 220?:-(
     
    uncletermite, Sep 11, 2015
    uncletermite, Sep 11, 2015
    #13
  14. Leoh

    Leoh Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Heavyweights do not drain themselves for the weigh-in, their fight night weight is the same with their weigh-in weight. It's not the case with lower divisions. Anyone naturally under 230 can easily make 210 for a weigh-in.
     
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    Leoh, Sep 11, 2015
    #14
  15. qwertyblahblah

    qwertyblahblah Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Tarver, Cunningham, perhaps Glazkov, Jennings would be fair fits at cruiser as they're undersized against the best big heavyweights
     
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    qwertyblahblah, Sep 11, 2015
    #15
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