why does weight matter so much in boxing?

[Pension-Killer]

Can someone with some knowledge explain how if a guy weighs 175 and fights a guy weighing 170 that will make a difference in the fight....I understand when guys weigh 120 or 130 a couple pounds is a decent percentage of their weight but 160+ weight divisions whats the big deal?

In prize fighting every 1% to make you better counts. It can mean the difference from a win or a lost.

[DIB42]

so then what is the point of such restrictive weight divisions?

Are you even really looking for an answer or just trying to raise some hell?

[Spray_resistant]

The point is to make the competition as fair and as even as possible.

Even if that difference between equality and inequality in size is marginal.

Why should smaller guys have to fight anyone even slightly bigger if there is a way they don't have to?

That is the way I look at it.