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I was about to make a topic on this a couple of months ago when I first watched that fight.
It made no sense then, and it made no sense now. For that fight, both Leonard and Lalonde weigh in under the SMW but fought for both SMW and LHW belts.
How does that work? I am well aware that a fighter may choose to weigh in under the division limit if he so chooses, hell, he could even weigh in under the lower division's limit (to a severe disadvantage) if he wants to. Cotto could have weigh 154 or less against Martinez and still win the MW belt, as long as the boxer is not over the division's limit, all is well and they can fight for the division's belt, right?
Therefore you can have a welterweight (who is technically in weight to defend a WW title) fighting for a JMW belt AGAINST a jr middleweight.
scenario A: the welterweight's opponent is over 147. He could fight for the JMW belt, but not the WW belt. Logical enough.
scenario B (Leonard vs Lalonde, and likely Floyd vs TBA): Both guys under the WW limit. Technically they can both fight, for both belts, but I imagine there would be a catchweigh. No biggie, titles have been won at catchweights before.
But can a JMW title be won at a catchweight that FORCES you to weigh in UNDER THE JMW MINIMUM/AT WW MAXIMUM, the same way you're obligated to be 147 max for a welterweight fight??
A JMW catchweight fight at the welterweight limit. I got a name for that, a WELTERWEIGHT fight.
What I'm trying to say is that there is no logical argument (at least I can't see one) to justify fighting for a division's title belt when you're not allowed to be even a quarter pound over the previous division's limit.
The only valid reasoning imo, would be if both fighters willingly weigh in under the smaller division's limit, without an actual catchweight being forced on them.
I know, it sounds pointless and rhetorical, and it probably is. Money talks, and rules can be bent and broken. I'd just like to know the community's thoughts on the matter.
It made no sense then, and it made no sense now. For that fight, both Leonard and Lalonde weigh in under the SMW but fought for both SMW and LHW belts.
How does that work? I am well aware that a fighter may choose to weigh in under the division limit if he so chooses, hell, he could even weigh in under the lower division's limit (to a severe disadvantage) if he wants to. Cotto could have weigh 154 or less against Martinez and still win the MW belt, as long as the boxer is not over the division's limit, all is well and they can fight for the division's belt, right?
Therefore you can have a welterweight (who is technically in weight to defend a WW title) fighting for a JMW belt AGAINST a jr middleweight.
scenario A: the welterweight's opponent is over 147. He could fight for the JMW belt, but not the WW belt. Logical enough.
scenario B (Leonard vs Lalonde, and likely Floyd vs TBA): Both guys under the WW limit. Technically they can both fight, for both belts, but I imagine there would be a catchweigh. No biggie, titles have been won at catchweights before.
But can a JMW title be won at a catchweight that FORCES you to weigh in UNDER THE JMW MINIMUM/AT WW MAXIMUM, the same way you're obligated to be 147 max for a welterweight fight??
A JMW catchweight fight at the welterweight limit. I got a name for that, a WELTERWEIGHT fight.
What I'm trying to say is that there is no logical argument (at least I can't see one) to justify fighting for a division's title belt when you're not allowed to be even a quarter pound over the previous division's limit.
The only valid reasoning imo, would be if both fighters willingly weigh in under the smaller division's limit, without an actual catchweight being forced on them.
I know, it sounds pointless and rhetorical, and it probably is. Money talks, and rules can be bent and broken. I'd just like to know the community's thoughts on the matter.
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