Are the lower weight classes strictly for the diehards?

[EMPOROAR]

Everybody likes to see heavies slug it out because one fight can change the outcome of the fight. The guys suck today, but 10 years ago we didnt have these slow, robotic, unathletic bums.

Coming 2nd would be welterweight and middleweight. Everyone loves those guys. hagler, hopkins, leonard, hearns, duran....i can go on and on.

[kayjay]

They ain't good fighters, they're just too small to hurt a man;

We're still in a 19th Century weight system, all the classes need to be bumped up 20 lbs and the bottom third should be eliminated. "Middleweight" should be about 180-5 lbs as that's a medium sized guy. Lightweight should be about 155-60 as that's a small guy. "heavyweight" should be around 230 and up. A 200 lb man is not big, he's maybe slightly above average

[EMPOROAR]

They ain't good fighters, they're just too small to hurt a man;

We're still in a 19th Century weight system, all the classes need to be bumped up 20 lbs and the bottom third should be eliminated. "Middleweight" should be about 180-5 lbs as that's a medium sized guy. Lightweight should be about 155-60 as that's a small guy. "heavyweight" should be around 230 and up. A 200 lb man is not big, he's maybe slightly above average

Too small to hurt a man? WTF you smoking? There is a rumour that Judah knocked out Busta Rhymes...Busta's probably 200+ lbs of muscle. These guys are trained to fight...how aren't they good fighters? You would have there way with them??? What, would you bring your diploma and pHd to the fight or something?

I dont get it.

[kayjay]

Too small to hurt a man? WTF you smoking? There is a rumour that Judah knocked out Busta Rhymes...Busta's probably 200+ lbs of muscle. These guys are trained to fight...how aren't they good fighters? You would have there way with them??? What, would you bring your diploma and pHd to the fight or something?

I dont get it.

Good fighters relative to the higher weight classes, not compared to me! It's a myth that the lower classes are more 'skilled'. The fact that they can't hurt each other changes the fight, and that's the difference. It's like saying the WNBA players are more skilled than NBA players. In fact watching bantamweights is lboxing's version of watching the WNBA.

[kayjay]

I'm sure you've heard this said oce or twice before, when talking to someone who watches boxing occasionally. Anytime I've had a conversation about the sport with a casual fan, they never seemed to know who anybody below 160-154 were. And when asked about why, they typically relpy with something about how the lower weight class guys can't hit hard, or can't fight well.

What the hell fighters are they watching? Once you go below 154lbs, and you get into the Welterweight division, Junior Welter, Lightweight, Junior Lightweight, etc... You find some of the best fighters in the sport today, period. I often find myself wondering why a casual fan who will watch a boring Heavyweight bout (Klitschko aside), won't go south a few pounds to find the heart of the sport.

I've been watching this sport for 15 years now, and the most exciting fights I've ever had the honor of watching all occured south of the Heavyweight division, aside from the classic Heavyweight bouts from the 70's and 80's.

I consider myself a diehard fan of the sport, and I just wanted other fan's opinions. Do you think that the lower weight divisions are strictly for the diehards?

It makes perfect sense to me, as the fighters in the lower divisions are so insanely small that it's not like watching a regular sport. How many grown men do you know who weigh below 140 lbs? I honestly can't think of any I know.

[EMPOROAR]

It makes perfect sense to me, as the fighters in the lower divisions are so insanely small that it's not like watching a regular sport. How many grown men do you know who weigh below 140 lbs? I honestly can't think of any I know.

I agree with you. I'd say most average men are at least 190 lbs. And sitting around 5'10''..

[neils7147933]

Below featherweight for the most part, casual fans aren't interested. That's why some of the bigger punchers like Arce, Darchinyan get attention, even if they're not the most skilled, because they bring rare excitement to people that can't necessarily tell you who the top 5 or 6 fighters at 108 are...

[ßringer]

It makes perfect sense to me, as the fighters in the lower divisions are so insanely small that it's not like watching a regular sport. How many grown men do you know who weigh below 140 lbs? I honestly can't think of any I know.

You make some very solid points, and far be it from me to judge otherwise. I just want to ask, have you ever watched any of the classic lower weight fights?

[kayjay]

You make some very solid points, and far be it from me to judge otherwise. I just want to ask, have you ever watched any of the classic lower weight fights?

Of course I have; but a lot of the intrigue is gone. It's still exciting to watch guys beat each other up if they know what they're doing. But the lower weights have 'classic' wars only b/c they can take each other's punches. That's what takes the drama out, the quality that makes it interesting is also the quality that ruins it.

Two big HWs have drama in every feigned punch, b/c a false move puts you out. You don't actually see the hands hitting the heads as frequently as in the lower weights, but to me there's more excitement over the possibilities

[ßringer]

Of course I have; but a lot of the intrigue is gone. It's still exciting to watch guys beat each other up if they know what they're doing. But the lower weights have 'classic' wars only b/c they can take each other's punches. That's what takes the drama out, the quality that makes it interesting is also the quality that ruins it.

Two big HWs have drama in every feigned punch, b/c a false move puts you out. You don't actually see the hands hitting the heads as frequently as in the lower weights, but to me there's more excitement over the possibilities

Any thoughts on the current Heavyweight division, and how and if it manages to hold your attention? Aside from Klitschko of course. I seriously don't like watching any other Heavyweight in this "era" because they lack the overall finesse and technique that the lower weight guys have.