Why did fighters stop trying to rule divisions and switch to winning as many belts in different weight classes as possible?
Because it’s just seen as more impressive winning belts in multiple weight classes. It’s more impressive being a Lomachenko for example winning belts at 126, 130 and 135 than dominating a division like GGG did.
A combination of being the fastest way to move up the p4p rankings and more options when it comes to match making.
Henry Armstrong was doing it in the 1940s. Armstrong, held undisputed championships in three weight classes SIMULTANEOUSLY - featherweight, lightweight and welterweight. He attempted to win the middleweight title as well but the title fight ended in a highly controversial draw.
At one time being a multiple division champion meant being undisputed in multiple divisions. This was very hard to do so very few people managed it. Now it is not as hard to do, so you get compared with genuine great fighters despite doing something not very hard. But as long as winning any belt makes you a "champion" this isn't going to change.
It is a combination of two factors. One, there are so many more belts to win these days that it is much easier to get the opportunity to win a belt in another division. Second, chasing a belt in another weight class almost always involves moving up in weight. That is a big lure to boxers who wouldn't have to go through the agony they go through to lose those last four or five pounds.
Saw an interview with Tom Aspinall recently and he pointed out that everyone says they want the hardest possible fights, but they obviously don't, or they wouldn't kill themselves to lose 30lbs to fight the smallest possible opponent they can. But some people, like Lomachenko or JamesToney, are so good that they don't need to do that. And, in Toney's case, he could just keep eating and moving up the divisions as he got fatter
Toney failed his post-fight drug test, testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. This led to the New York Athletic Commission changing one of his bout's official outcome to a "no-contest", deducting the win from Toney's career record and banning him from boxing for 90 days.
