No more Junior and Super Divisions?

[Feint]

Like a lot of people here I agree with keeping the divisions but having only one champion. Let's have the word "champion" mean something again.

[Scott9945]

it was an example of a non title fight because of the matchup and skill of the fighters being more entertaining than a title fight which makes you shake your head and wonder how one is a champ and the other one a top contender.

how about morales-pacquiao I? that was a non-title fight. burton-ward?

just because they say title fight doesn't mean more people will watch. people watch because they are fans of the fighters. that goes with boxing and non-boxing fans alike. the organizations like having 17 divisions because that guarantees 17 division champs that pay sanctioning fees. vazquez-marquez could've still happened they just wouldn't have been title fights. it's one thing to jump from 122 to 126 it's another to jump from 126 to 135. instead of guys having to jump in weight to chase the moneymakers they could all be fighting at the same weight in my opinion. very few guys can jump from division to division with less divisions. wouldn't you want to see juan manuel and pacquiao and barrera stay all at 126 and fight it out with guzman , valero , john , vasquez?

Morales-Pacquiao 1 wasn't a title fight, but it was not coincidently fought at the junior lightweight limit of 130. That was an exception because of the star power of both fighters. Ward-Burton was simply a clubfight shown on ESPN. We have a fundamental disagreement about what is good for boxing. I am certain that the weight divisions create more interest, more opportunities, and more fights on TV that might not normally be shown. I also think it is more fair to fighters moving up in weight.

[MANGLER]

No way. There's too many fighters that can only go so high or stay so low without havin physical health issues strugglin with the weight. The key to gettin more clarity about boxing's best fighters ain't ****tin on super/junior divisions, it's gettin rid of all the extra belts that are clouding the issue and costing fighters their hard earned cash.

[pfcwintergreen]

Part of the thrill of heavy-weight boxing(in years past) is the often substantial weight differences...and watching the smaller, faster guys pick apart larger, slower guys. Which is why I oppose a super heavy weight division generally...

But perhaps a line has to be drawn somewhere; I'm looking in Valuev's direction.
At some point, things just get ridiculous (say beyond 300 god damn pounds)
If in the future we suffer a glut of freakishly large, possibly roiding giants in boxing, I think we need to consign them to a "freak" division of some kind.

Lets say 300 pounds+ = Freak Division. Its where James Toney will be fighting in a year or two.

[Rockin']

but difference in power IS part of the sport! just like difference in speed. the smaller guy will sometimes be the faster guy isn't that an advantage as well?

if you are overpowered at 147 then you're probably a small 147 and should try to cut it to 135. if you can't make it at 135 then you deal with the cards you're dealt with.

If one was overpowered at 147 then why would we want to watch him be severly overpowered by a man weighing 154.

Keeping the weights close helps to keep fights close. Ofcourse the weight lose game plays apart in it.

Speed is a power. But let me tell you that the weight makes a considerable difference in the fight and its not only in punching power. What about in the clinches, the smaller man will be worn down. Also in reciving a shot?

Ya know though, I had fights as a pro at 140,147 and 154 all in a rather short period of time and let me tell you that they all hit hard, to some degree.............Rockin'

[Left Hook Tua]

If one was overpowered at 147 then why would we want to watch him be severly overpowered by a man weighing 154.

Keeping the weights close helps to keep fights close. Ofcourse the weight lose game plays apart in it.

Speed is a power. But let me tell you that the weight makes a considerable difference in the fight and its not only in punching power. What about in the clinches, the smaller man will be worn down. Also in reciving a shot?

Ya know though, I had fights as a pro at 140,147 and 154 all in a rather short period of time and let me tell you that they all hit hard, to some degree.............Rockin'

i guess i could never change anyone point of view on this. i try though. there's still a few of us that long for the days when there weren't so many divisions.

i just think that size advantage or disadvantage is a part of the game within reason. that's why you outquick stronger guys and overpower quicker ones. as far as fair nothing in life is fair neither should it be a goal in boxing.

bantam 118 to feather - 8 lbs.
feather 126 to light - 9 lbs.
light 135 to welter - 12 lbs.
welter 147 to middle - 13 lbs.
middle 160 to light heavy - 15 lbs.

these are not astronomical weight disadvantages. the older guys were fine with it. harder for bigger guys to cut weight in divisions way too small for them as well. if they make it they'd be severely weight drained and would lack stamina against fighter more natural to the division.

but that's me. i guess i'm old school for a young guy. maybe that's why i'm a GOPer. ha ha ha