If the same two fighters are fighting, does it matter what weight it is at?

[Fox McCloud]

Excluding heavyweights of course, and forget draining and stuff like that.

Would Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor be different if they fought at the cruiserweight limit? They would still have the option of coming in at whatever weight they wanted under 200, so... doesn't that just maximize the possibilities of how a fighter can fight?

Now, I can understand if a fight is at a lower weight that it can take a toll on a fighter's body getting down there, but if they have the option to come in heavier against someone else who is in their normal weight class, would it really matter that much?

Testify!

[Vladimir303]

Excluding heavyweights of course, and forget draining and stuff like that.

Would Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor be different if they fought at the cruiserweight limit? They would still have the option of coming in at whatever weight they wanted under 200, so... doesn't that just maximize the possibilities of how a fighter can fight?

Now, I can understand if a fight is at a lower weight that it can take a toll on a fighter's body getting down there, but if they have the option to come in heavier against someone else who is in their normal weight class, would it really matter that much?

Testify!

It wouldn't matter but it wouldn't make boxing what it is. Besides they have an entire day to rehydrate. They both might come in at 175 by fight time OR one might blow up to 175 while the other only gains 2 pounds.

Fact is they both have to sacrifice and be at the same weight on a particular day. That's the price they have to pay.

If you don't wanna do that, do what James Toney did and move up to 200+ where the weight doesn't matter.

[macman]

Depends very much on body type.

A number of fighters have the right body type, along with the backing of a big team to provide top nutricionists, etc., so they can weigh in 25 lb's under their normal weight.

Other fighters fight pretty close to it - don't have the right body type or the big backing.


With the likes of Pavlik & Taylor, don't think it will make that much difference between them - both are big guys with the backing of big teams.

All that allowing them to come in at much higher than usual would probably result in them trying to bulk up in order to get the advantage & probably slow them down.