Moving up or down in divisions/weight class - which is more difficult?

[PainfromUkraine]

Simple question - what is harder to do and what has more effect on a fighter - moving up in division/weight class or down? I mainly mean when someone is established in a weight class and then drastically changes, rather than natural progression of filling out with age.

Lets hear your opinions NSB

Discuss and vote in the poll

[Nights King]

Down, it seems to have a large negative effect on fighters e.g Chad Dawson.
However we have a winner in Curtis Stevens who turned Pro at light heavy weight and moved down.

[PainfromUkraine]

Down, it seems to have a large negative effect on fighters e.g Chad Dawson.
However we have a winner in Curtis Stevens who turned Pro at light heavy weight and moved down.

Depends, it can affect some individuals more than others - If you make weight easily you can move down with relatively little trouble and you could be bigger than the average fighter in that weight class, clearly up is easier but the fights may be harder as the opponents will have natural advantages too.

[TRTboy]

Down lol. Almost all pro's cut a significant weight for the weigh ins and majority dehydrate themselves. There are some that fight close to their walk around weight like pac and mayweather.

Let's say if Andre ward who has been fighting at 168 for a very long time. Going down to 160 would be suicide. He'd be a zombie.

[Larry the boss]

Answer me this,which is harder, gaining weight...or losing weight

[PainfromUkraine]

Down lol. Almost all pro's cut a significant weight for the weigh ins and majority dehydrate themselves. There are some that fight close to their walk around weight like pac and mayweather.

Let's say if Andre ward who has been fighting at 168 for a very long time. Going down to 160 would be suicide. He'd be a zombie.

Ok, think of it this way - what will be more damaging for Cotto - moving up to fight Martinez when he hasn't fought at middleweight before, or the move back down after he gains and cuts weight (which is known to be damaging to the fighter)?

[PainfromUkraine]

Answer me this,which is harder, gaining weight...or losing weight

I don't mean it in the sense of what's easier in terms of changing your weight, clearly you can just get fat (but then again you can lose vast amounts of weight if you lose muscle mass as it weighs more), but more in the sense of where it is more difficult to fight - a division higher or lower than your natural or main weight.

[Larry the boss]

I don't mean it in the sense of what's easier in terms of changing your weight, clearly you can just get fat (but then again you can lose vast amounts of weight if you lose muscle mass as it weighs more), but more in the sense of where it is more difficult to fight - a division higher or lower than your natural or main weight.

do you feel stronger eating or starving yourself?

[PainfromUkraine]

do you feel stronger eating or starving yourself?

Losing weight is not always about eating much less or starving yourself... a lot is hydration and also muscle weight as I said...it's a complex issue. In any case - who knows - you could be a fighter that just about makes a weight and should move up or someone that barely makes a weight class and would be better off moving down.

[Pacquiao'd]

Moving up in weight of course. Smh at the clowns saying down ignoring the opposition as well. Well in terms of being competitive.

Based purely on health risks - down.