What if . . .

[Dempsey-Louis]

. . . we went back to the original eight weight classes and adjusted the weights to compensate for people getting larger (as they did at the turn of the 19th-20th century; FW went from 122 to 126.)

So what if we went back to the holy eight? This is how I think they should be adjusted.

FW - 112 ->118

BW - 118 -> 125

FW - 126 -> 135

LW - 135 -> 145

WW - 147 -> 155

MW - 160 -> 170

LHW - 175 -> 190

HW - Unlimited

Of course today in prize fighting there is no need to make such adjustments, when needed, someone just creates a new sanctioning body who then creates a new weight-class; I think there are 17 to 18 of them now (maybe I am exaggerating).

[Ben Bolt]

I liked Boxing Digest's rankings before the magazine closed down.
They added cruiserweight to the original eight.

[BKM-]

. . . we went back to the original eight weight classes and adjusted the weights to compensate for people getting larger (as they did at the turn of the 19th-20th century; FW went from 122 to 126.)

So what if we went back to the holy eight? This is how I think they should be adjusted.

FW - 112 ->118

BW - 118 -> 125

FW - 126 -> 135

LW - 135 -> 145

WW - 147 -> 155

MW - 160 -> 170

LHW - 175 -> 190

HW - Unlimited

Of course today in prize fighting there is no need to make such adjustments, when needed, someone just creates a new sanctioning body who then creates a new weight-class; I think there are 17 to 18 of them now (maybe I am exaggerating).

Interestingly MMA has 10/15 extra pounds on your adjusted weights for those devisions. I wonder why there's such a huge difference between the two sports.

[HOUDINI563]

This is how I would fix boxing. ONE CHAMPION in each of eight weight divisions, 15 round championship bouts, ALL fighters tested thoroughly for PEDS.

With only one way to the championship and one set of contenders per division skills stop being watered down. 15 round championship distances cause fighters to come into these fights in top shape. If you can't go 15 rounds your not championship material.

This certainly would revive interest in a sport where few can name the champion in any one division.

[Ben Bolt]

ONE CHAMPION in each weight division. [Original quote by Houdini563: ONE CHAMPION in each of eight weight divisions]

It would be so easy, if the most respectable boxing journalists (they know each other, if not in person so by name) joined together and would agree on THE champion and independent rankings.

I’ve written several letters/mails through the years to different boxing mags/sites (BoxingScene included), but it seems everyone wants it’s own agenda.

So, the four orgs are allowed to continue dictating. It’s close to bottom marks for today’s boxing journalists, because they prefer to refer every alphabet titlist as a ‘world’ champ, instead of using their combined power to change things.

PS. I don't like 17 weight divisions, but I can't argue against someone saying it's for safety reasons. Boxing is a dangerous business.

[HOUDINI563]

I don't believe for a second we have 17 weight divisions for safety reasons. The more divisions and the more champions the more championship bout which in turn provides more sanctioning fees. It's all about money.

Few journalists know boxing history and fewer care.

You know if we were smart we could figure out a way to do this ourselves and in the process make some good money FIXING the sport we love.

[Ben Bolt]

Few journalists know boxing history and fewer care.

I believe they know, but don’t care about history (because they choose to adjust to survive on a shrinking market? My guess, but it’s shameful …)

In Britain, Boxing News and Boxing Monthly probably are the most important voices of boxing (but of course, they print separate rankings …)

Graham Houston, a living legend amongst boxing reporters, is the editor of Boxing Monthly. I wrote to BM, wondering about its explanation to its rankings: “Boxing Monthly’s world ratings recognize the world champions with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO only.”

Only? 17 weight classes, yet some 60 ‘world’ champions. The reply I got from BM didn’t do me any wiser …

I do miss Bert Sugar, who as an editor of The Ring and later fought a war against the alphabet organizations (he didn’t receive much back up from his writing colleagues).
Was he the last honest reporter in his occupation?

[HOUDINI563]

Never liked Sugar although he was one of a very few voices of boxing history.

We need someone who in earnest wants to fix boxing. I've watched the sport since 1971. Love its rich history. Don't watch too much of it anymore. Too confusing. I need to know who the champion is and THERE AINT NO FIVE CHAMPIONS PER DIVISION. If I can't figure out who the champion is anymore in each division ITS ALL OVER! It's not something I will follow. Big important fights sure but that's it. Right now pro boxing is broken more than likely beyond repair.

[Ray Corso]

106
112
118
126
135
147
160
175
191
Open

10 classes, two federations, with each Champion fighting one another every two years with 2 contender bouts each year.
Champions fight at least 3 times in two years and 10 round non-title bouts mixed in if they want them.

Ray

[HOUDINI563]

One federation. The public, the lay public, needs to be able to point to ONE champion in each division. There are no TWO champions of the world. There is (or should be) ONLY ONE.