Catchweights should be banned, and replaced with 10% rehydration clauses instead!

Catchweights need to banned full stop, as they more than often give an advantage to the A side. Instead, there should be rehydration clauses of 10%, above the set weightclass limit. Instead of making fighters rehydrate 24 hours before the fight, they should instead be allowed to weigh in up to 10% above the limit the day before the fight. For example if there was a fight for a Welterweight Title, both fighters should be allowed to weigh 14.7lbs above the Welterweight limit of 147lbs, at the weigh in before the day of the fight. E.g 161.7lbs The only flaw in this model, is that it could mean that Fighter A (Welterweight) weighs in at 160lbs, at the weigh in and then comes into the ring at 167lbs. In order to prevent this, Fighters must be weighed 30 days, and then a week before the fight, and on both occasions weigh below the rehydration limit. For Example: Canelo vs GGG (Both fighters can weigh up to 176lbs, if they were fighting at 160) this is absolutely ridiculous, forget rehydration, the initial weigh in isn't even at the required limit in your model lol The best solution is, keep the day before weigh in but impose a clause where the rehydration can be no more than 5lb. 10% is too much, especially at the higher weights. A 5lb rehydration clause for all fighters, across all weights, except heavy of course.

Fighters should have to weigh in hydrated, and thus actually fight within their weight class. Greent. Best post I have ever read.

Consider those bracketed weight classes a different sport, enjoy them for what they are. You are seeing the best at that weight range. Is roman Gonzalez better than kovalev in reality? Of course not but roman is very accomplished and provides great entertainment. I understand your point completely, but for the sport to be inclusive and popular it needs different divisions. Otherwise, like you said, the bigger stronger guy would always win and it would be boring. Boxing is different than other sports. Enjoy the brackets for what they are. People should enjoy whatever they enjoy. I'm personally far more interested in Klitschko vs Fury than I would be in Canelo vs GGG because finding out who the best fighter on the planet is interests me more than finding out who the 900th best fighter on the planet is. I'm not saying people shouldn't enjoy the lower weight classes if they enjoy them. I'm saying that intellectually they don't make any sense and so when issues arise, such as catch weights, dangerous weight cutting, incredible rehydration, etc etc, people should accept that these issues have no solution. They are problems created by the very nature of trying to restrict someone from being the best athlete they can be, something that would never occur in other sports. For all we know, a 6 foot & under basketball league with an 8 foot hoop would be incredibly entertaining and if promoters had created one a hundred years ago, we might be watching it right now without thinking about how silly it is. Weight divisions in boxing are no different. People are used to it and people tend to go with the flow. I'm simply pointing out the philosophical absurdity of it to help people realize that some of the common bickering revolving around weight is pointless as there is no way to solve it. The very nature of weight classes makes these problems unavoidable as it's completely unnatural to restrict an athlete's weight to begin with.

Other sports have weight classes. Weightlifting and combat sports the obvious ones but also sports like rowing, sailing and even karting.

With no weight limit, the best man would win and the best man would obviously be tall and heavy. No different than other physical sports. If we don't have 17 basketball leagues with different height limits, is that fair to shorter players? If we don't have 17 football leagues with different weight limits, is that fair to lighter players? There is no doubt that artificially created restrictions can lead to entertainment. Just like midget wrestling or the little league world series. But whenever people are upset about catchweights, weigh in issues, etc, I think they should be reminded that it's not natural for an athlete to have to suppress his athletic potential by restricting how good of an athlete he can be to fit into a weight category. Doing so allows people who normally wouldn't have the opportunity to be a professional athlete to have the chance to compete, but as long as their size is being restricted, issues will arise. So if a fan is frustrated by catchweights, missed weight, rehydration clauses, killing yourself to make weight only to put on 25 pounds in 24 hours, etc, they need to realize these things are unavoidable and if you don't enjoy the show, don't watch. I personally enjoy watching the best in the world and human limits pushed to their maximum. I don't enjoy welterweights anymore than I enjoy the WNBA. I want to see the best. Anything lower than heavyweight is simply a promotional gimmick. A successful promotional gimmick, I'll give you that, but a promotional gimmick nonetheless. A 6 feet & under basketball league would be laughed at. A 200 pounds & under football league would be laughed at. Etc. Consider those bracketed weight classes a different sport, enjoy them for what they are. You are seeing the best at that weight range. Is roman Gonzalez better than kovalev in reality? Of course not but roman is very accomplished and provides great entertainment. I understand your point completely, but for the sport to be inclusive and popular it needs different divisions. Otherwise, like you said, the bigger stronger guy would always win and it would be boring. Boxing is different than other sports. Enjoy the brackets for what they are.

There is nothing to discuss with a guy who's on record admitting he doesn't like to watch boxing . everything you post here is seen through the lens of pro wrestling , i challenge you to find me a single boxing fan who shares this point of view. You're still not addressing any of my points. All you're posting is personal attacks and empty rhetoric. If my arguments weren't sound, you'd be attacking them instead of me.

If there was no weight limits heavyweights would win every fight. For the sport to work it has to be fair for all those involved. Also, more product equals more money. You're basically arguing against the whole organization of the sport and how it would exist. If they did what you suggested nobody would care about legendary small fighters because they'd be fighting for nothing and be in total obscurity. You'd have missed Barrera-morales, Vargas-Trinidad, etc because nobody would care about them due to them being irrelevant in a ranking system dominated by bigger men. It has to be a bracketed sport for it to be competitive. The flaw is suggesting a 160 pound guy is the best fighter. He can be accomplished and achieved a lot, but he's only the best in his bracket. With no weight limit, the best man would win and the best man would obviously be tall and heavy. No different than other physical sports. If we don't have 17 basketball leagues with different height limits, is that fair to shorter players? If we don't have 17 football leagues with different weight limits, is that fair to lighter players? There is no doubt that artificially created restrictions can lead to entertainment. Just like midget wrestling or the little league world series. But whenever people are upset about catchweights, weigh in issues, etc, I think they should be reminded that it's not natural for an athlete to have to suppress his athletic potential by restricting how good of an athlete he can be to fit into a weight category. Doing so allows people who normally wouldn't have the opportunity to be a professional athlete to have the chance to compete, but as long as their size is being restricted, issues will arise. So if a fan is frustrated by catchweights, missed weight, rehydration clauses, killing yourself to make weight only to put on 25 pounds in 24 hours, etc, they need to realize these things are unavoidable and if you don't enjoy the show, don't watch. I personally enjoy watching the best in the world and human limits pushed to their maximum. I don't enjoy welterweights anymore than I enjoy the WNBA. I want to see the best. Anything lower than heavyweight is simply a promotional gimmick. A successful promotional gimmick, I'll give you that, but a promotional gimmick nonetheless. A 6 feet & under basketball league would be laughed at. A 200 pounds & under football league would be laughed at. Etc.

You weren't able to counter any of my points, so you resorted to a personal attack. My arguments are logically sound, but if you disagree, I'm happy to discuss it. By attacking me instead of my argument, you're essentially conceding. There is nothing to discuss with a guy who's on record admitting he doesn't like to watch boxing . everything you post here is seen through the lens of pro wrestling , i challenge you to find me a single boxing fan who shares this point of view.

So are you suggesting there should be an open weight class where fighters of any size can fight for the belt? don't you think boxing would be way less interesting if there was only heavyweights competing at the highest level? I'm suggesting that there will never be a solution to how to handle weigh ins, catchweights, rehydration clauses, 30 day weigh ins, 7 day weigh ins, etc because having a weight restriction in a sport is inherently silly and leads to various problems that can't be solved. We have weight divisions because promoters were able to convince the public to care about who is the "best" at various arbitrary limits, that if applied to any other sport, would obviously be considered ludicrous. Sports are entertainment. People should sell whatever they can convince the public to pay for. But let's stop whining about the complications that come along with weight classes because the whole premise is ridiculous to begin with.

Why don't we have a basketball league for people under 6 feet tall to even the playing field? Why don't we have a soccer league for people that are overweight and can't run well to even the playing field? Why don't we have 17 football leagues each with a different weight limit to even the playing field and protect players from bigger players? Weight limits are a scam to create more "champions" and generate revenue with inferior fighters. Boxing is entertainment and if promoters can get the public to care about the 800th best fighter in the world by arbitrarily creating "weight classes" to create the illusion that he's a top fighter, great for the promoters. But day in and day out when people whine about catchweights, rehydration, clauses, etc, maybe they should stop for a moment and think about how silly weight classes are to begin with. They're a promotional gimmick. Like midget wrestling. Just because promoters were successful in convincing fans to care about the 800th best fighter in the world doesn't mean it isn't silly. If there was no weight limits heavyweights would win every fight. For the sport to work it has to be fair for all those involved. Also, more product equals more money. You're basically arguing against the whole organization of the sport and how it would exist. If they did what you suggested nobody would care about legendary small fighters because they'd be fighting for nothing and be in total obscurity. You'd have missed Barrera-morales, Vargas-Trinidad, etc because nobody would care about them due to them being irrelevant in a ranking system dominated by bigger men. It has to be a bracketed sport for it to be competitive. The flaw is suggesting a 160 pound guy is the best fighter. He can be accomplished and achieved a lot, but he's only the best in his bracket.

Jesus , no wonder Konnan got rid you from the podcast. You weren't able to counter any of my points, so you resorted to a personal attack. My arguments are logically sound, but if you disagree, I'm happy to discuss it. By attacking me instead of my argument, you're essentially conceding.

Why don't we have a basketball league for people under 6 feet tall to even the playing field? Why don't we have a soccer league for people that are overweight and can't run well to even the playing field? Why don't we have 17 football leagues each with a different weight limit to even the playing field and protect players from bigger players? Weight limits are a scam to create more "champions" and generate revenue with inferior fighters. Boxing is entertainment and if promoters can get the public to care about the 800th best fighter in the world by arbitrarily creating "weight classes" to create the illusion that he's a top fighter, great for the promoters. But day in and day out when people whine about catchweights, rehydration, clauses, etc, maybe they should stop for a moment and think about how silly weight classes are to begin with. They're a promotional gimmick. Like midget wrestling. Just because promoters were successful in convincing fans to care about the 800th best fighter in the world doesn't mean it isn't silly. http://www.quickmeme.com/img/68/68a685255348097e81a4460393f7c18743fe72cb83482906300d539d7e92e5e1.jpg

Why don't we have a basketball league for people under 6 feet tall to even the playing field? Why don't we have a soccer league for people that are overweight and can't run well to even the playing field? Why don't we have 17 football leagues each with a different weight limit to even the playing field and protect players from bigger players? Weight limits are a scam to create more "champions" and generate revenue with inferior fighters. Boxing is entertainment and if promoters can get the public to care about the 800th best fighter in the world by arbitrarily creating "weight classes" to create the illusion that he's a top fighter, great for the promoters. But day in and day out when people whine about catchweights, rehydration, clauses, etc, maybe they should stop for a moment and think about how silly weight classes are to begin with. They're a promotional gimmick. Like midget wrestling. Just because promoters were successful in convincing fans to care about the 800th best fighter in the world doesn't mean it isn't silly. So are you suggesting there should be an open weight class where fighters of any size can fight for the belt? don't you think boxing would be way less interesting if there was only heavyweights competing at the highest level?

Why don't we have a basketball league for people under 6 feet tall to even the playing field? Why don't we have a soccer league for people that are overweight and can't run well to even the playing field? Why don't we have 17 football leagues each with a different weight limit to even the playing field and protect players from bigger players? Weight limits are a scam to create more "champions" and generate revenue with inferior fighters. Boxing is entertainment and if promoters can get the public to care about the 800th best fighter in the world by arbitrarily creating "weight classes" to create the illusion that he's a top fighter, great for the promoters. But day in and day out when people whine about catchweights, rehydration, clauses, etc, maybe they should stop for a moment and think about how silly weight classes are to begin with. They're a promotional gimmick. Like midget wrestling. Just because promoters were successful in convincing fans to care about the 800th best fighter in the world doesn't mean it isn't silly. Jesus , no wonder Konnan got rid you from the podcast.

Weight limits even the playing field for guys within a certain weight range and protects fighters from bigger fighters. This is one of the dumbest ****in things I've ever read on here. Why don't we have a basketball league for people under 6 feet tall to even the playing field? Why don't we have a soccer league for people that are overweight and can't run well to even the playing field? Why don't we have 17 football leagues each with a different weight limit to even the playing field and protect players from bigger players? Weight limits are a scam to create more "champions" and generate revenue with inferior fighters. Boxing is entertainment and if promoters can get the public to care about the 800th best fighter in the world by arbitrarily creating "weight classes" to create the illusion that he's a top fighter, great for the promoters. But day in and day out when people whine about catchweights, rehydration, clauses, etc, maybe they should stop for a moment and think about how silly weight classes are to begin with. They're a promotional gimmick. Like midget wrestling. Just because promoters were successful in convincing fans to care about the 800th best fighter in the world doesn't mean it isn't silly.

weight limits are silly and all of the catchweights being used to protect titles are upsetting fans because it's making fans realize how silly weight limits are. get rid of weight limits and none of this would matter. Weight limits even the playing field for guys within a certain weight range and protects fighters from bigger fighters. This is one of the dumbest ****in things I've ever read on here.

Catchweights need to banned full stop, as they more than often give an advantage to the A side. Instead, there should be rehydration clauses of 10%, above the set weightclass limit. Instead of making fighters rehydrate 24 hours before the fight, they should instead be allowed to weigh in up to 10% above the limit the day before the fight. For example if there was a fight for a Welterweight Title, both fighters should be allowed to weigh 14.7lbs above the Welterweight limit of 147lbs, at the weigh in before the day of the fight. E.g 161.7lbs The only flaw in this model, is that it could mean that Fighter A (Welterweight) weighs in at 160lbs, at the weigh in and then comes into the ring at 167lbs. In order to prevent this, Fighters must be weighed 30 days, and then a week before the fight, and on both occasions weigh below the rehydration limit. For Example: Canelo vs GGG (Both fighters can weigh up to 176lbs, if they were fighting at 160) Fighters should have to weigh in hydrated, and thus actually fight within their weight class.

weight limits are silly and all of the catchweights being used to protect titles are upsetting fans because it's making fans realize how silly weight limits are. get rid of weight limits and none of this would matter.

Glad someone mentioned the ibf 10 pound day after weight in limit, what time does it take place? Saul would merely have to be at 170 at that weigh in before gaining another 5 pounds by the time he is in the ring.

Catch weights are simply a form of rehydration limits I don't see a significant distinction.