The Ugly Truth: Weight Classes Are An ABSOLUTE FARCE.

[bewitched]

what about when two fighters who have to meet up at a catch weight to fight when they normally fight in different weight classes?

[Wiley Hyena]

I was watching the Pacquiao-Barrera card closely this weekend. While watching, I took particular notice of the fighters' weights. The following are actual fight-night weights. Not the fake "weigh-in" weights.

Panchito Bojado was 159 on fight night, and Steve Forbes was 156. For a (supposedly) Junior Welterweight bout.

Antonio Davis was 140 for a featherweight bout.

Marco Antonio Barrera was 138 for his SFW bout.

MANNY PACQUIAO WAS 144 POUNDS COMPLETELY RIPPED.

Now, we have all known for awhile that the weigh-in procedures need to change. But the weigh-in for a big fight has become (appropriately) another marketing event, and it is hard to do that on fight day. At least for a big PPV fight.

Further, Arturo Gatti was 159 lbs and destroyed Gamache. Miguel Cotto was often in the high 150's, and Ricky Hatton has stated that he likes to be 154 on fight night for his JWW bouts, and he was closer to 160 for Collazo.

For their weight-disputed fight at lightweight, Castillo and Corrales were 148 amd 149, respectively.

Joshua Clottey has been nearly 170 pounds on fight night. Oscar Delahoya was 166 pounds for 'The World Awaits'.

I think the pound-for-pound rankings are CLEANER when guys are actually fighting people their own size. For example, nobody thinks it is "unfair" for Mayweather to fight Baldomir & Delahoya who outweigh him by nearly 20 pounds. But the perception would be that it would be "unfair" for PBF to fight Pacquiao, a man four pounds his junior. If Pac can fight a guy six pounds lower, why not four pounds higher? Nahmean?

On Dec 8th, Ricky Hatton will outweigh FMJ by six to eight pounds. The same advantage that Floyd would have on Steven Luevano, WBO titlist @ 126.

Zab Judah is 150 on fight night. He can slide down to 140 and make a rematch with Witter, or a "Battle for Brooklyn" with Malignaggi. He is too small for Cintron and Margarito, etc.

Bernard Hopkins played a "weight game" by having a lower weigh-in than Oscar. In truth, Hop turned pro at LHW and now admits that he was stripping himself for years to make middleweight.

Personally, I don't care what division a guy fights at. I use the true number of fight-night weights to determine who can and should be fighting each other. Would it be "fair" for PBF to dry out on fight week and to go dominate a bunch of lightweights?

I would prefer to have "day of" weigh-ins, or at least get rid of all the "junior thises" and "super thats". Go back to the classic divisions: 126, 135, 147, 160, 175, Cruiser, and heavy. You will notice that I added in Cruiser. Because I do not feel that it would be "fair" for Bernard Hopkins to decide to move up in weight, and have to go fight Shannon Briggs or Wlad. The new heavies are too damn big. 175 to 250++ is just too big a jump.

You're right. They should go back to the classic weight division and get rid of all that super and junior crap. In short, too many titles water down the game.

[dino]

I was watching the Pacquiao-Barrera card closely this weekend. While watching, I took particular notice of the fighters' weights. The following are actual fight-night weights. Not the fake "weigh-in" weights.

Panchito Bojado was 159 on fight night, and Steve Forbes was 156. For a (supposedly) Junior Welterweight bout.

Antonio Davis was 140 for a featherweight bout.

Marco Antonio Barrera was 138 for his SFW bout.

MANNY PACQUIAO WAS 144 POUNDS COMPLETELY RIPPED.

Now, we have all known for awhile that the weigh-in procedures need to change. But the weigh-in for a big fight has become (appropriately) another marketing event, and it is hard to do that on fight day. At least for a big PPV fight.

Further, Arturo Gatti was 159 lbs and destroyed Gamache. Miguel Cotto was often in the high 150's, and Ricky Hatton has stated that he likes to be 154 on fight night for his JWW bouts, and he was closer to 160 for Collazo.

For their weight-disputed fight at lightweight, Castillo and Corrales were 148 amd 149, respectively.

Joshua Clottey has been nearly 170 pounds on fight night. Oscar Delahoya was 166 pounds for 'The World Awaits'.

I think the pound-for-pound rankings are CLEANER when guys are actually fighting people their own size. For example, nobody thinks it is "unfair" for Mayweather to fight Baldomir & Delahoya who outweigh him by nearly 20 pounds. But the perception would be that it would be "unfair" for PBF to fight Pacquiao, a man four pounds his junior. If Pac can fight a guy six pounds lower, why not four pounds higher? Nahmean?

On Dec 8th, Ricky Hatton will outweigh FMJ by six to eight pounds. The same advantage that Floyd would have on Steven Luevano, WBO titlist @ 126.

Zab Judah is 150 on fight night. He can slide down to 140 and make a rematch with Witter, or a "Battle for Brooklyn" with Malignaggi. He is too small for Cintron and Margarito, etc.

Bernard Hopkins played a "weight game" by having a lower weigh-in than Oscar. In truth, Hop turned pro at LHW and now admits that he was stripping himself for years to make middleweight.

Personally, I don't care what division a guy fights at. I use the true number of fight-night weights to determine who can and should be fighting each other. Would it be "fair" for PBF to dry out on fight week and to go dominate a bunch of lightweights?

I would prefer to have "day of" weigh-ins, or at least get rid of all the "junior thises" and "super thats". Go back to the classic divisions: 126, 135, 147, 160, 175, Cruiser, and heavy. You will notice that I added in Cruiser. Because I do not feel that it would be "fair" for Bernard Hopkins to decide to move up in weight, and have to go fight Shannon Briggs or Wlad. The new heavies are too damn big. 175 to 250++ is just too big a jump.

MAYWEATHER IS SOO GOOD, THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF HIM FIGHTING MORALES BARRERA CASAMAYOR J.DIAZ OR PACQUAIO, THESE GUYS ARE SIZE DIFFERNTIAL IS NO DIFFERENT FROM MAYWEATHER-DE LA HOYA/ AND MAYWEATHER-BARRERA.

[Red_Menace]

I think there should be fewer weight classes. The actually weight ranges for those classes should change, but it would be tough for historical reasons. All of these "greatest middleweight" arguments would be impossible, if the old middleweight limit fell 10 or 20 lbs short of the new limit.

Weight draining should stop. Doctors should observe the fighters and call it off if they're dehydrating severely. The slow guys will always try to weight drain and put on extra pounds to get an advantage in punching power. Floyd fights at a lower weight than his opponents because his advantage is speed, so the lower weight is beneficial. I don't think the extra weight is necessarily advantageous, depending on the style you fight. In any case, it should stop.

Same day weigh-ins are tough, because no one likes to see a fight get cancelled a couple hours before it's supposed to start. That's a risk the promoters don't want to take. Really, boxing needs a commission with a real standard monitoring process and some real impartial doctors to make sure people are making weight in a healthy manner and that fights aren't going to be cancelled at the last minute.

Good thread, Dios.

[BmoreBrawler]

I think the system is fine, there is no real alternative besides day-of weigh ins because no one in their right mind would come to a fight totally weight drained.

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

The reason that there is such a long time to replenish after the weigh in is to avoid the damage that is caused through slimming down.

Lets face it - cutting water weight is common practice. It is also very dangerous to the brain - as it is surrounded by water. Look at most instances of fighters with brain damage from a fight - often they've sweated down in weight immensly.

Carry on with the weigh in days before the fight i say - and lets not go and watch any fighters get permenantly damaged.

[Unseen]

You're right. They should go back to the classic weight division and get rid of all that super and junior crap. In short, too many titles water down the game.

for a general sporting public, they don't know the difference. aslong as they hear a championship fight then it sounds more appealing.

also the fact that there have been soem great champions in the junior and super weight classes. a few pounds makes a difference in soem cases and we may miss out on some champions.

[pesticid]

I somewhat agree but if you have the weigh-ins on the same day as the fight you'll still have big guys drying themselves out and I think it will become even more risky business for the fighters damage-wise.

[pesticid]

I somewhat agree but if you have the weigh-ins on the same day as the fight you'll still have big guys drying themselves out and I think it will become even more risky business for the fighters damage-wise.

**** that though! If amateurs can do it so should pros. So yeah, Dominicano I am with you on this one.

[Steak]

forget it, just leave it how it is. There will be weight cutting no matter what.

I think that they should do day of fight weigh ins all the time though, it just shouldnt really count, or prevent the fight from happening. Then people could judge who actually has the weight advantage come fight night...because what you weigh during the fight is all that really matters.

speakin of which, is there any way to see how much fighters weigh on the night of the fight? like a record or somethin? Im curious to how much Calzaghe and Kessler weighed, or even Marquez and Juarez