Comments Thread For: In the Corner with Russ Anber: Why are we playing fast and loose with weight divisions?

[BoxingUpdates]

Russ Anber, a highly respected trainer and cut-man, opines on fighters competing or being expected to compete well beyond their natural weight classes.
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[Thatmanox]

While I get the argument, I don’t know why it’s not being mentioned that Crawford got a questionable decision against madrimov?

[lilacp]

While I get the argument, I don’t know why it’s not being mentioned that Crawford got a questionable decision against madrimov?

The fact that it was a close fight doesn't make it a questionable decision. You're playing fast and loose here with reality, how many boxing experts actually had Madrimov winning. One thing is to say that Crawford didn't look great, another is to suggest he somehow actually lost that fight. The most I could see is a draw, and that's giving the benefit of the doubt to Madrimov in close rounds where he should have been more active.

[M111]

While I get the argument, I don’t know why it’s not being mentioned that Crawford got a questionable decision against madrimov?

Because it doesn’t sell the fight to say the older guy with all the disadvantages might just be on the slide too.

[PNUT901]

While I get the argument, I don’t know why it’s not being mentioned that Crawford got a questionable decision against madrimov?

I didn't see it as questionable at all. It was a close fight but Crawford clearly won. I've not heard of anyone making a convincing case that Madrimov won that fight.

[DeeMoney]

A lot of this stems from so many fans inability to evaluate the greatness of a fighter outside of givens fighters resume. Most notably, denying a fighters greatness unless they are truly challenged.
Problem ends up being, that when a fighter cleans out there own division so many claim they are not great because it was easy. So to prove they are really great they should move up in weight to be challenged.
We've created this ideal in boxing where a fighter is forced to move up to 'prove their greatness'. Which is asinine. If moving up makes you less great, relatively speaking, then why move up? So you can perform on a sub optimal level just to show you arent perfect? Makes no sense. And as the author already showed, once a veteran fighter moves up, it aint easy to move back down.
I get it, if the fighters goal is to chase a lucrative payday. But doing so because some fans think thats the inly way to be great is wrong

[Rigpig]

I think the reason this fight makes sense is physically Crawford is similar size to Canelo. He’s a little taller has longer reach but Canelo has been fighting at 168 for awhile so he has more mass. Crawford walks around at 180+ tho and he is extremely strong there’s videos of him deadlifting over 400lbs in a pair of jeans. He didn’t look great against Madrimov but his style is extremely awkward not many people look good against a style like that. It’ll be a good fight I don’t think he’ll just show up for a paycheck like Scull did.

[sege64]

Well said, good article, but we all know money, corruption, and causal fans rule, even over safety. Depressing.

[Tibburon245]

Maybe make a rule a fighter can only move up one division at a time & stay at that weight for 1 yr or so? But money buys anything & Turki wants the Crawford fight.

[landotter]

I guess if Alvarez can fight twice at 175, Crawford can sneak up to SMW for one fight. Events sell, and you need an event to get casual fans to spend money. This is an event. I still am not really excited for it, but I will be in the vast minority.