Light Heavyweight - The Fighters Start Getting Big

[ProBox1]

When he won the IBF middleweight title back in 1995, who knew that Bernard Hopkins would hold longer than any other 160 pound champ in history. Not too mention that his most celebrated title defenses would be against Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya, fighters who moved up from lower weight divisions to challenge him. Which has led some fans and critics to admonish him for never doing the same.

Saying if he was really great he'd move up in weight and try to capture a title. Today, too many writers and fans are enamored with fighters who win titles in multiple weight divisions. With all the different weight divisions in boxing today, a fighter can move up 10 pounds and cover three weight classes.

Fighters move up in weight for all different reasons. Some legitimately outgrow their division, some move up so they can fight in a less talented one. And some fighters and champions are not willing to pay the price and sacrifice to stay at the weight where they're probably at their optimum physically. The truth is many of them are just lazy. [details]

[tri4ben2]

In this article, there is no mention of the Super-Middleweight class. There are certainly fighters today that could go from 160 to 168 and then perhaps fight at 175.

Also, Hopkins want to go up to 175 and be the man at that weight class rather than a random belt holder. At 160 or so pounds, he could give up 20 or so pounds and still win a decision against the 175 pound belt holders.