why dont boxers fight at their natural weight?

[Sam Donald]

when the two current best, pac n may, have shown to be successful in doing so

why dont more fighters do the same?

also, did more old timers fight at their natural weight

[Capaedia]

Money.

Old timers pretty much had to fight at their proper weight.

No diuretics, and same day weigh-ins meant no-one could pull the **** Chavez Jr. or Margarito did.

[TBear]

Money.

Old timers pretty much had to fight at their proper weight.

No diuretics, and same day weigh-ins meant no-one could pull the **** Chavez Jr. or Margarito did.

True, plus during a time when there was one champion at each weight, moving up usually meant a fighter would have to fight the best at that weight. They didn't have four champions to pick which style best suited you or which you were sure to beat. Also, once upon a time, vacant titles weren't available so often. Now you can move up and get a vacant title or beat someone that just did.

[Sugarj]

when the two current best, pac n may, have shown to be successful in doing so

why dont more fighters do the same?

also, did more old timers fight at their natural weight

Another factor is that fighters used to fight much more often than now, so they tended not to deviate much from fight weight the year round.

These days only the most dedicated world class fighters seem to keep close to their fight weight between fights (Froch, Mayweather, Pacquiao etc).

Its also down to advances in the science of weight making and replenishment between then and fight night. Some fighters gain over a stone in this time and is really can benefit them in the fight. The likes of Canelo and Chavez Jnr look huge for their weights!

[Anthony342]

Money.

Old timers pretty much had to fight at their proper weight.

No diuretics, and same day weigh-ins meant no-one could pull the **** Chavez Jr. or Margarito did.

Speaking of diuretics, Chavez Jr. even has a no contest on his record because of a diuretic being found in a post fight drug test.

[FightFit]

when the two current best, pac n may, have shown to be successful in doing so

why dont more fighters do the same?

also, did more old timers fight at their natural weight

The jump in weight class is much easier these days because of 2 resons Theres alot of belts And theres not that much of a big weight gap between some divisions,126lbs 130lbs 135lbs 140lbs 147lbs thats Featherweight,Jnr lightweight,Lightweight,Jnr welterweight,and Welterweight,thats 5 weight classes each containing 4 or more belts!!! if you get a good young talent lets say he starts at 126lbs hes 18yrs old that kids gona naturally grow threw that division if his bodys capable of the growth,by moving threw the weight division he gets more money and more prestige on a P4P basis.

[FightFit]

when the two current best, pac n may, have shown to be successful in doing so

why dont more fighters do the same?

also, did more old timers fight at their natural weight

The older boxers more often than not had no choice but to stay at there natural weight,its important to recognise that in there time you had only 8 weight divisions and 8 belts so vacating your world title could be suicidle for some champions if you look at the 1950s sandy saddler was featherweight champion of the world if he wanted to move up a division he would have to go straight to lightweight and face the world champion at that time Ike williams! now if he wanted to move up 2 divisions and face the Welterweight champion of the world he would be facing Sugar ray robinson!! see what i mean about it been suicidle for some boxers,and thats before you even bring weight gain into the conversation.Only very special fighters moved threw divisions in the good old days.