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Do you have any issues with the middleweight title (and not just an alphabet strap) being contested at 158lbs?
Lee Payton: I do have a problem with catchweights in legit title fights. If it's a fight between contenders, or even if it's for some ABC belt, I don't really care, but this is a bit much. Even weirder is the fact that the challenger, who is far from a big star/money-maker, dictated the terms. Why couldn't he just come to the ring at whatever weight he's comfortable? It's the Williams' camps attempt to gain a tiny edge, and it is quite lame.
Mark Lyons: Yes, title fight catch weights are becoming the rave and I wish they weren't. That kind of fight should be reserved for two guys with a division between them. The only thing they serve today is the advantage of the fighter with the most stroke. Enough already.
Andrew Fruman: Williams was once claiming to be the most avoided man in the sport, and now he's insisting on terms like this? I guess the ultimate responsibility is up to Martinez to say yes or no, but should Williams win, the accomplishment will have been cheapened just a bit.
Dave Oakes: Fighting for a world title at a catchweight is absurd. There are weight divisions for a reason and I wish the governing bodies would be stronger on this matter and force fighters to adhere to the rules. I’ve no problem with boxers fighting each other at a catchweight in a non title fight but it shouldn’t happen when a title’s on the line. It’s called the middleweight title, not the just under middleweight title.
Jason Karp: I take issue with catch weights in general, whether there's a title involved or not. Handicaps are better left to casual golfers and gamblers. If a bout cannot answer the question of which of the two fighters is best at their current physical peak, then any answers that fight can provide are not worth hearing. In this case, the fact that it's Williams, the challenger, who is trying to finagle his way onto the middleweight throne, is doubly disappointing. It also suggests that the Punisher was not nearly as sure of his points victory last December as judges Pierre Benoist and Lynne Carter.
Michael Nelson: I don't mind catchweights when they make sense. But seeing how Williams has previously fought at the 160 pound limit more than once, demanding this is bush league. The whole negotiation process was disappointing given Paul's 'anywhere, anytime' reputation.
Andrew Harrison: I have a fresh pile of splinters out back from grinding axe over catch-weight contests. Boxing at its best takes place between two fighters who are evenly matched (physically, similar age, similar career stage etc). A fight then hinges on something outside of the physical; courage, willpower, tactics for example, which can elevate a fight into something greater (without going all Joyce Carol Oates on y'all). As Andy has stated, as soon as one guy is saddled with a handicap, it takes something from the contest. The middleweight champ should be allowed to fight at 160 lbs for Stanley Ketchel's sake.
Corey Erdman: It's not exactly the ideal situation, but I'm also not going to pick this time to get completely furious about it, knowing that this type of weight-modifying has taken place before, even in title fights. (See: Taylor-Norris).
I choose to look at this within the context of the fight itself, because I'm far beyond complaining about the sanctity of our belts in boxing. Martinez was a champion at 154 just one year ago, and is plenty capable of making 158. He's had plenty of time to work toward the weight, and I have no doubt that he will make it comfortably. If he doesn't, relative to the rules in place, what can he complain about? "I shouldn't have to had to in the first place, because I'm champion," is a fair point, but not a valid excuse, and certainly not one that a man of Martinez's professionalism and dedication is going to make regardless.
Even if somehow Williams' camp and Dan Goossen were aware of Martinez ballooning in weight after the victory over Pavlik and quickly demanded a catchweight, that's not something new either. (See: Leonard-Duran II).
Lee Payton: I do have a problem with catchweights in legit title fights. If it's a fight between contenders, or even if it's for some ABC belt, I don't really care, but this is a bit much. Even weirder is the fact that the challenger, who is far from a big star/money-maker, dictated the terms. Why couldn't he just come to the ring at whatever weight he's comfortable? It's the Williams' camps attempt to gain a tiny edge, and it is quite lame.
Mark Lyons: Yes, title fight catch weights are becoming the rave and I wish they weren't. That kind of fight should be reserved for two guys with a division between them. The only thing they serve today is the advantage of the fighter with the most stroke. Enough already.
Andrew Fruman: Williams was once claiming to be the most avoided man in the sport, and now he's insisting on terms like this? I guess the ultimate responsibility is up to Martinez to say yes or no, but should Williams win, the accomplishment will have been cheapened just a bit.
Dave Oakes: Fighting for a world title at a catchweight is absurd. There are weight divisions for a reason and I wish the governing bodies would be stronger on this matter and force fighters to adhere to the rules. I’ve no problem with boxers fighting each other at a catchweight in a non title fight but it shouldn’t happen when a title’s on the line. It’s called the middleweight title, not the just under middleweight title.
Jason Karp: I take issue with catch weights in general, whether there's a title involved or not. Handicaps are better left to casual golfers and gamblers. If a bout cannot answer the question of which of the two fighters is best at their current physical peak, then any answers that fight can provide are not worth hearing. In this case, the fact that it's Williams, the challenger, who is trying to finagle his way onto the middleweight throne, is doubly disappointing. It also suggests that the Punisher was not nearly as sure of his points victory last December as judges Pierre Benoist and Lynne Carter.
Michael Nelson: I don't mind catchweights when they make sense. But seeing how Williams has previously fought at the 160 pound limit more than once, demanding this is bush league. The whole negotiation process was disappointing given Paul's 'anywhere, anytime' reputation.
Andrew Harrison: I have a fresh pile of splinters out back from grinding axe over catch-weight contests. Boxing at its best takes place between two fighters who are evenly matched (physically, similar age, similar career stage etc). A fight then hinges on something outside of the physical; courage, willpower, tactics for example, which can elevate a fight into something greater (without going all Joyce Carol Oates on y'all). As Andy has stated, as soon as one guy is saddled with a handicap, it takes something from the contest. The middleweight champ should be allowed to fight at 160 lbs for Stanley Ketchel's sake.
Corey Erdman: It's not exactly the ideal situation, but I'm also not going to pick this time to get completely furious about it, knowing that this type of weight-modifying has taken place before, even in title fights. (See: Taylor-Norris).
I choose to look at this within the context of the fight itself, because I'm far beyond complaining about the sanctity of our belts in boxing. Martinez was a champion at 154 just one year ago, and is plenty capable of making 158. He's had plenty of time to work toward the weight, and I have no doubt that he will make it comfortably. If he doesn't, relative to the rules in place, what can he complain about? "I shouldn't have to had to in the first place, because I'm champion," is a fair point, but not a valid excuse, and certainly not one that a man of Martinez's professionalism and dedication is going to make regardless.
Even if somehow Williams' camp and Dan Goossen were aware of Martinez ballooning in weight after the victory over Pavlik and quickly demanded a catchweight, that's not something new either. (See: Leonard-Duran II).
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