Are we starting to place too much significance on weight climbing?

SG16y ago

I mean, it's fantastic if a fighter can do it and a testament to their ability and physical make-up, but I don't really like that it's starting to become a pre-requisite for greatness. You ask someone "What does ________ have to do to be considered great?" and the answer you recieve is "Beat the champions in the division above him. Beat the champion in the division above that. Take on the champions in the division above that." In this age of Pacquiao, Mayweather Jnr., Jones Jnr. and De La Hoya as the flagbearers of achievement in our sport it seems we're starting to forget the implications of clearing out a division and defending your crown against the constantly emerging talent with an eye on your trinket for a period of time. I think a really salient example of this is Edwin Valero's latest career decision--to abandon lightweight and begin a campaign at junior welter with welter already on his mind. Yeah, the prospect of Valero versus Bradley or Alexander is mouth watering but I find it really disappointing that we've had to kiss excellent match-ups and tests of fortitude against fighters closer to his natural size such as Katsidis, Diaz, Funeka and Reyes goodbye. It's possible he moves back down if his bid for junior welterweight success falls short of the mark, but we all know the consequences of yo-yo'ing in weight in this sport and cutting muscle is something trainers and their fighters generally try to avoid at all costs. Just wondering if anyone shares these sentiments.

Comments (4)

JOMS

imho its significant, their is almost an imposibility that any current fighters be regarded or mentioned at the same sentence with the robinson's & the armstrong's with climbing up a weight or two ... Pacquiao's case, he move up in weight and fight top 1 or 2 in each weight class, only skipping 135 where he fought a top 5 opponent, it was the better choice for him from 122 to fight MAB & JMM @126, move up to 130 to fight EM, MAB & JMM, move up to LW and beat DD, move up to fight Hatton @140, move up again at 147 & fight odlh, cotto & clottey ... which division from 122-147 PAC should have closed and would be considered better than that success he is having wright climbing? IMHO If there is a weight class Manny should settle and close it is here at 147...

16y ago

Antonio

Good post. I like the example of Valero because I think he's making a mistake going up to 140 when he has plenty of great matchups at 135. Why not try to make your name in one division first? What has he really done at 130 or 135? He was off to a good start at 135 at least. I was hoping a fight with Soto, Juan Diaz, JMM, Katsidis was in my sights, but instead he's going into a division full of boxers and slick fighters. Not that moving up divisions isn't impressive or important. Considering this is also the age of day before weigh ins and fighters doing everything they can possibly do to fight at the lowest weight class, winning a title in two divisions should be almost expected from great fighters fighting at 175 and below.

16y ago

If you look at most ATG lists you will see most of the fighters on those lists were able to move up and dominate higher weight classes. True, but it can't all be attributed to the search for greatness. A lot of people just depleted the money supply in their current division or moved up as they grew older and got naturally heavier. These days I'm seeing fighters abandon divisions prematurely all too often for my liking, and leaving a lot of unfinished business. It's an important factor to being great, especially if there isn't really a lot of talent in your weight class. If there's a lack of talent or money in a division it's understandable if they've already proved their credentials - but just because there are no worthy contenders one year who's to say there won't be the next year?

16y ago

CarlosG815

If you look at most ATG lists you will see most of the fighters on those lists were able to move up and dominate higher weight classes. It's an important factor to being great, especially if there isn't really a lot of talent in your weight class.

16y ago