which one is more difficult...

[Heru]

dominate in a single weight division (beat "the man", clean up & take on all comers... like duran & monzon...

OR

jump through the weight divisions & collect belts... like dela hoya & pacquiao...?

what say you historians?

How about dominate in a single weight division and jump through weight classes like Duran?

It's honestly harder to dominate a single weight division because when you can go to a given division and fight a David Diaz and then claim you were a champ, it's easy for even a good fighter that can carry the weight to do, let alone a great fighter. Just look at Humberto Soto.

[talip bin osman]

How about dominate in a single weight division and jump through weight classes like Duran?

It's honestly harder to dominate a single weight division because when you can go to a given division and fight a David Diaz and then claim you were a champ, it's easy for even a good fighter that can carry the weight to do, let alone a great fighter. Just look at Humberto Soto.

calzaghe over MP?

pudwill over davd diaz??

[Heru]

calzaghe over MP?

No because Pac beat a few Hofers while he was jumping through weight classes. He's a legit 4 division champ and Calzaghe's a legit 2 division champ.

[Juce]

replay

Professional boxing is watching, 35, who see who fear came at the age of 40 May see who fear. HuoYa so fat also were killed, tyson's Krishna, was finally third-rate once unbeatable player. But if he's back, kratos, and richie between winners will probably go to dozen mayweather.

[Left2body]

today its much easier to jump through several divisions, i dont think its even up for debate. just look at some of the ppl carrying titles, theres basicly a highly average fighter with a title in each division so u can cherrypick your way to titles in diffrent weightclasses without challenging yourself. back in the day when arguello, hearns and leonard were moving up and down divisions it was a diffrent thing though. they usually went for the best titleholder and even the title holders considered weak could fight their ass of back then.

Great post. Back then there was A Champion, now there are Titlist. (Green K) However that just highlights the difference between multi-weight champions of yesteryear to those of today.

Back to the OP.....It really depends on the fighter, his division and his agenda/motivation. If your leaving a loaded division then the answer is staying in the same weight class is harder. If your leaving a cleaned out division to fight against the Champion(s) (Not titlist)of a higher weight then going up in weight is harder.

There are many examples of both.

[Left2body]

What I give Armstrong credit for is holding those three belts simultaniously.....that isn't something any modern day "belt collector" can claim. I personally prefer to see fighters rule their weight class until biology dictates they can't make the weight anymore.

Poet

Not always my friend. I would've prefered to have seen Kosta Tzu try his hand in a loaded WW class. Or to have seen Hopkins step up in the 90's and fight at 168lbs against Nigel Benn, Gerald McClellan, Chris Eubank or to rematch RJJ fight Michael Nunn, James Toney......etc etc.

You can't tell me you prefer him defending (not even unifying) the IBF titles for years to him going up in weight?

[StarshipTrooper]

Not always my friend. I would've prefered to have seen Kosta Tzu try his hand in a loaded WW class. Or to have seen Hopkins step up in the 90's and fight at 168lbs against Nigel Benn, Gerald McClellan, Chris Eubank or to rematch RJJ fight Michael Nunn, James Toney......etc etc.

You can't tell me you prefer him defending (not even unifying) the IBF titles for years to him going up in weight?

Hand in hand with it is my preference for 8 weight classes and 1 title per weight class

Poet

[Toney616]

I personally prefer to see fighters rule their weight class until biology dictates they can't make the weight anymore.

Poet

What aspect of biology decides when a fighter should move up?

[Left2body]

What aspect of biology decides when a fighter should move up?

I think its pretty clear that many fighters are forced out of weight classes because they just can't competitively make the weight anymore. Castillo, Corrales, Morales and Cotto are all good examples of this. Its different with each fighter though.

[Jabroni]

Cleaning out a division is always good and taking on mandatories. How about moving down in weight and challenging the divisions lower than you? That seems to get less credit around here if any, but I would imagine it is just as difficult due to having to adjust to your body.