Why do fighters fight so far below their 'normal' weight?

Because they think the extra weight will help them, when it actually hurts the elites, that's why many fighters become more durable when moving up. Young guns get away with it sometimes but it always hurts eventually

 

It's called cheating. They want to fight smaller guys and have unnatural advantages in strength, height, reach. Then when they go up in weight and fight guys their own size, people will call them heroes.

 

You guys who think it's cheating have absolutely no clue.

 

Great post

 

You can get KTFO swimming? :scaredas:

 

I wouldn't go that far to call it cheating but itt is most definitely taking advantage of the rules.

They should go to same day weightings, that will make sure the same size guys are fighting each other.

 

Yeah it's not, "cheating/ cheating"! I used to compete in the ARMY in GERMANY. Was 139lbs. & that was coming down from 151 start weight. I could make the weight alright BUT.. if it was daily weigh in then I was IN TROUBLE. My first loss was due to WEIGHT.
It's always good to get down to your lowest weight. I moved up to 147lbs soon after the 1977 USAREUR. Went back down only once that I can remember (decision New Mexico GG champ Mark Garcia)/ & with going up what happen with me was I soon was forced up to 156lbs. I did well at that weight and wind up staying (really rare picked up some 147lb matches. Few 165 & one 178 did..).
When I turned pro they remembered that I was "willing" to go catchweight. Thus..they put me in "all" heavier matches.
Terry Norris is one excellent boxer who -musta not- "cut weight". I mean...he was always coming in four pounds below the limits.
The size is big difference. Taking off 12 lbs of water weight is normal thing. I don't know about the non-weight brackets comment. But....boxing.. first thing you MAY learn is to
"Cut weight"!
One quart of water weighs two pounds. Every eight hours w/o intake you gonna dry-out two pounds. And, it's always the liquids you have to keep in check. These ARE NOT "calorie count type" diets. That's something completely different and deals with FAT.

 

True...look at Michael Phelps, the p4p #1 of his generation and on the GOAT shortlist, and he shredded a lot at 6'4" to achieve 4% body fat.

Archetypal "swimmer's body" - very lean but thickly muscled but with even distribution and no bulk in any one area.

 

If he were a boxer he would be a superheavyweight and ideally probably 35-40lbs more than his swimming weight.

 

The weight cutting is bad, especially when they force it on youngsters in highschool sports too.

 

Michael Phelps made SWIMMING EXCITING! I remember that for him! He opened the world's eyes to his Sport.