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

I think 8 divisions would be the absolute maximum.
If people want to keep cruiserweight, then take away flyweight.
All the 'junior' and 'super' divisions can go, of course.

I think we could go as low as 5 or 6 divisions and improve the sport that way.

 

Unfortunately it will never happen because there are generations of boxers, promoters, managers, broadcasters and fans who have grown accustomed to the whole mess. The regional and local governing bodies simply follow the nonsense of the world sanctioning bodies and the big promoters, and the boxers take whatever opportunity arise in their short careers.

 

The Ellis loss was a bad one. However, one loss doesn't diminish a good fighter.

As far as Frazier is concerned, Joe was unusually strong and had a major weapon (left hook) which had the power of a much bigger heavy. There are some smaller heavies who can compete against and beat much bigger guys if they possess the unusual power of a Marciano or a Frazier.

However, i will maintain that some fighters are more suited to cruiser than heavyweight as they aren't quite large enough for heavy and too big for light-heavy. I will always maintain that cruiserweight is a vital division to have.

 

I would be perfectly OK with pro boxing adopting the 8 Olympic weight classes:

Flyweight: 114lbs
Featherweight: 125lbs
Lightweight: 139lbs
Welterweight: 152lbs
Middleweight: 165lbs
Light Heavyweight: 178lbs
Heavyweight (Cruiserweight): 200lbs
Super Heavyweight (Heavyweight): +200lbs

Also, no "catchweights." If two guys from different weight classes want to fight, either one of them moves up or the other moves down. If neither of them are willing to do that, too bad so sad, the fight doesn't happen. And bring back same-day weigh-ins. This would force fighters to fight at their natural weights. And before anyone says anything, I'm aware of the safety concerns, but if you're foolish enough to drain yourself the day of the fight and end up becoming past-tense as a result, that's on you.

 

You want all the champs to just turn in their belts and for the alphabet organizations to take a 50% pay cut?

 

Naw, 4 belts is far too many. Anything more than one is nonsensical because it defeats the purpose of a World Champion. Hell, one belt is too many if it's being controlled by the alphabet soups.

 

I've been mulling starting our own boxing commission. How much does it cost to make one of those plastic belts? 10K? So 80K for 8 belts across 8 divisions. Another 20K for setting up the website, database and paperwork.

Our big difference aside from only having 8 divisions would be that we wouldn't charge sanctioning fee's. We'd have low overheads as we'd keep staffing at an absolute minimum. We'd only aim to break even by selling merchandise and using our champions as our advertisements.

Eventually we'd be the one true organization and become the WWE of boxing.

Alright, time to set up this go fund me page. Please donate your life savings or get a loan out on your house for the cause.

 

I'll go ask them.

 

Welll for starters I disagree.

Usyk, Bivol and Bud are the best in the divison at present.

The likes of Taylor and Inoue don't matter?

 

How can Usyk be the best in the division according to your famous CV algorithm? He has beaten Witherspoon, Chisora and Joshua.

Witherspoon is a non-entity. Chisora has lost now 12 times and has also been beaten twice by Usyk's rival in this discussion, Fury. Joshua was battered already by a fringe contender in a morbidly obese 182cm guy in Andy Rice Pudding Jr.

 

It's too late for that. They'll never roll it back because of $$$ and pride in having a belt. If anything we'll see more weight classes and belts in the future.

 

We don't need multiple "world championships" for that, however. Just create a strong regional system which establishes clear gradations, make competitive matchups, and have one guy at the top who has to defend against his top contender regularly.

 

Because that would be jus too simple
Tbf I don't mind the weight classes it's just how many different titles there is anyone can win a belt and depending on the organisation call themselves a champ for years without having one proper defence Kell brook comes to mind his defenses were a joke

 

Usyk beat the guy with clearly the best resume in the divison and has with 3 of the 4 world titles. After Usyk, AJ it's Whyte as the top 3.

Fury will hopefully finally step up to ight legit top quality opponent Whyte , which is something he hasn't done since Wlad in 2015.

I think it was reported that the 11th January is the purse bid so finger cross it happens.