Why are there seemingly never any unifications bout below featherweight?

I was thinking about this the other day.



Its is something that is rarely seen, at least in my lifetime.


Anyone have any theories as to why?


I mean, surely the best little guys want to fight each other, in fact, you'd think they would be pushing for it given that a unification fight would most likely bring them the most money and exposure, invaluable in the lower divisions where the casual fan tends not to pay that much attention.



So whats the reason?


Politics?
Promotional differences?
Straight up ducking between champions?


Its kinda a shame, because there happens to be some decent talent in the lower divisions and at the very least a unification bout may get people talking somewhat.








Sage

 

I'm not sure. Their probably are, its just that we never hear much about them. That or champions are not interested in unifying. I know Flyweight and super flyweight have some good fighters in there and will be unifying soon. Vin Darchayin was the undisputed champion and was looking to unify when he had the title, but all of the other champions avoided him. Donaire is having that same problem which is the reason why he is moving up to super flyweight becuase those like Mijares, Montiel ect will fight anyone and will unify. All in all, it could be a lot of reasons.

 

It's mostly money, there just isn't the money to put these fights on because they are not "fashionable" divisions. The recent Mijares/Munoz fight was the first unification fight below feather for nearly 10 years! You're right, it is a shame but there just isn't the demand & investment in the lower divisions to get these fights on.

 

Yeah all of them, including SFW and LW seems to be just waiting for their big paycheck against Pac

 

Very little money down there so risking the title in unifying for the same amount of cash of a regular title defense doesn't worth it.

The other reason that the lower divisions are much more varied in continents and nations so the average fan can very rarely watch two champs in TV in one division... so it really doesn't make sense unfortunately...

SBW and SFW is pretty damn hot now though... and hopefully we'll see Calderon-Solis one day at LFW... so we can expect a few unifications IMO (Caballero-Molitor, Montiel-Mijares, maybe Naito-Sakata and Vazquez-Juanma.)

 

We could be talking mother Theresa and you *******s will find a way to
make it about PAC

 

The lower weights dont capture the imagination like the heavier weights.

99% of the lil guys would make the same money defending against a fighter nobody has heard of as he would fighting another champion that nobody has heard of. Sad state of affairs and theeir is exceptions ofcourse, but you have to be a very specal lil guy to secure unification fights.

 

Mijares just unified

Molitor is unifying in November

Vasquez and Larios was pretty much a unification. Vasquez was IBF champ and Larios was WBC champ but the IBF title just wasn't on the line.


Also, Morales and Barrera at 122

 

I think by 2009 we are going to see some form of unification in the bantamweight division.

 

yep.

also u get a lot of guys from asia holding titles in those divisions.

they always end up being attractions and making money for there promoters.

so taking big risks like unification fights aren't worth it.

 

This might change though. I've been hearing noise about unification at flyweight where you have two Japanese guys & a Filipino holding the three belts. They're quite keen to put something together.:thumbsup

 

I always though the preponderence of champions from Asia in those divisions was the problem. They tend to have even fiercer promotional splits.

 

probably because of the chris john's of the world (fighters who would rather hide on his backyard and be anonymous rather than unify in mandalay bay)

 

I'll have to take your word on that because my knowledge of the politcal wranglings in that part of the world is limited. All I know is that I saw an interview on fightnews with one of the fighters & he said he was keen to unify with the other two belt holders & seemed pretty optimistic about it.

 

Because a lot of guys hold belts hostage down there. The majority of little men are Asians/Hispanic, and the Asians often like to camp out at home which don't exactly make for appealing environments for a hispanic fighter to travel to.

Money is also an issue in these weights. You don't really make much more for a unification, so they'll milk their guy to the limit.