Why can't we go back to just 8 weight classes

Well, if you could convince all but one of the innumerable alphabet orgs to **** off, we would appreciate it.

 

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That's your answer.

 

We need 8 weight classes over 25 lbs at the lighter weights so every few years some fella who weighs less than a dog can be heralded as P4P KING.

 

I am ok with reducing the number of belts. Having two belts per division and mandatory unification fights every two years will suffice.

8 weight classes? There are guys too small for heavyweight and too big for light-heavyweight. Jerry Quarry was a great example of this. Although Quarry beat some bigger more powerful heavyweights like Lyle and Shavers, Quarry ultimately lacked the size and power to beat the larger men. I have no doubt that a guy like him could have done better at cruiser than at heavy.

I can understand not having a 168 lb division. But cruiserweight is vital. Some guys are too big for light-heavy and not large enough for heavyweight.

 

£ and opportunity.

Theres what 20000 active Pro boxers in the world. So if we go down to just 8 weights and 1 belt then it would lead to less people taking part in the sport as the odds of getting to the top would be a lot lower.

I'm not defending it I'm just explaining consequences of actions.

That's without all the orgs making there cash with sanctioning fees.

 

Would be the saving of Boxing....To many Belts means to much Corruption it has never been worse in Boxing.....Sadly the Horse has bolted never be able to claw it back now...

 

Because the sanctioning bodies are too content to rake in their sanctioning fees / kickbacks.

 

Here:

* Tyson Fury is the best Heavyweight ... everyone knows it.

* Artur Beterbiev is the best Light Heavyweight ... everyone knows it.

* Canelo Alvarez is the best Middleweight ... everyone knows it.

* Errol Spence is the best Welterweight ... everyone knows it.

* George Kambosos is the best Lightweight ... everyone knows it.

Nobody below Lightweight really matters because they hand out belts every three pounds or so.

The rest is all smoke, and plastic belts and politics ... and nothing to waste time on.

 

Yes i can see the argument.

I think Ali was a bit bigger than that. Ali was 25 before he was banned and he was about 215 lbs for Williams fight in 1967. You naturally fill out in your late 20's. If Ali was allowed to continue fighting, he likely would have peaked at 27-28 years of age and and between 215-220 lbs. So pretty much the same size as Usyk.

Now i agree that cruisers are cutting down too much. I would be ok with same day weigh ins so cruisers come in under 205 lbs.

I also think the way the game is referred is too in favour of larger men. Larger men like Wlad were allowed to excessively lean and clinch their opponents. This gives a disproportionate advantage to guys who are 6'5 250 lbs over 6'2 and 6'3 guys who are about 220 lbs.

Larger men also have bigger bodies which makes their ribs a good target for smaller heavies. However, because of how high the big men wear their shorts, they are able to protect themselves from body shots by claiming that perfectly legitimate body shots are "low" due to wearing their shorts so high. This is in addition to excessively leaning on smaller opponents which allows them to wear down smaller men while simultaneously conserving their own energy.

Every now and then you will get a marvelous fighter like Usyk who can break the mold and beat the bigger men. But the way the game is refereed is disproportionately in favour of very large heavies. This essentially forces reasonably big heavies (220 lb guys) to fight at cruiserweight.

Solution:

1) Same day weigh ins so cruiserweights are actually cruiserweights

2) Disqualify fighters like Wlad (who is obviously retired) and other large heavyweights for excessive leaning and clinching. Once they have 1-2 DQ losses each, they will learn to behave themselves and smaller and larger heavies will be more evenly matched up.

3) Body shots. If you are a big man, your body is fair game. Stop wearing your shorts above your belly button. Body shots to your ribs are legit and not low. DQ any fighter for wearing shorts above their belly button.

 

Quarry had a chance to win the WBA title in 1968, but lost to Jimmy Ellis, a guy his own size who had come up from middleweight.
Quarry 195, Ellis 197.
The following year Quarry got a shot at Joe Frazier's NYSAC version of the world title. Frazier outweighed him a mere 5 pounds and was same height and reach. Quarry lost. Quarry 198, Frazier 203.

Quarry had two chances to pick up a recognised version of the world heavyweight title, against guys who he really wasn't undersized against at all.
He just wasn't good enough.

 

Exactly.