Does Boxing need a Super Heavyweight Division of 225 +

[juggernaut666]

You can keep cruiser but introduce a regular heavyweight division from 200-220. You'd have a lot of good fighters in there. Kudryashov, chakhiev, huck, haye, wilder, Cunningham, kovalev, beterbiev(eventually). The division sucks now because there is too great of a weight difference from 200-260+.

I agree but I would still eliminate Cruiser and just make a light heavy weight class of 190/200.

[Tom Cruise]

Some of Klitschko's best wins have been against sub 225lb'ers.

David Haye was 213lb vs Klitschko
Ruslan Chagaev was 224lb
Ibragimov 219lb
Chris Byrd 213lb

Povetkin was only just above at 226lb.

Corrie Sanders weighed a pudgy 225lbs when he knocked out klitschko.

Pretty sure Deontay Wilder weighed in below 225 for his fight with Stiverne.

I think we need to get away from the idea that weight = quality in the HW division. Its an asset, just like speed, power, timing etc but it wont win you fights by itself.

Was Tyson better at HW as a 215lb'er (the weight he was vs Holmes) or at 230+ pounds later in his career?

So no. I think 200lb division limit is fine.

[vorgaphe]

Some of Klitschko's best wins have been against sub 225lb'ers.

David Haye was 213lb vs Klitschko
Ruslan Chagaev was 224lb
Ibragimov 219lb
Chris Byrd 213lb

Povetkin was only just above at 226lb.

Corrie Sanders weighed a pudgy 225lbs when he knocked out klitschko.

Pretty sure Deontay Wilder weighed in below 225 for his fight with Stiverne.

I think we need to get away from the idea that weight = quality in the HW division. Its an asset, just like speed, power, timing etc but it wont win you fights by itself.

Was Tyson better at HW as a 215lb'er (the weight he was vs Holmes) or at 230+ pounds later in his career?

So no. I think 200lb division limit is fine.

Of course you'll find quality at Heavyweight just over the divisional limit. However, there is an increasing disparity in weight in this division which gives some fighters an advantage because, as you mentioned, weight is an asset. Furthermore, as people in general are only getting bigger this will continue to grow as a problem.

[PainfromUkraine]

I would rather the Heavyweight divisional limit were moved upwards. It was set years ago when people were on average much smaller so should eventually be changed to reflect the changing times.

Yes, this is actually a very good point. For example, heavyweight could be 215lbs+ instead of 200. I doubt too many fighters would be bulking themselves up to barely hit 215 if that wasn't natural for them, and the division would be full of naturally big guys making competition more equal. It could also make the Cruiserweight division better with more talent.

There are points for and against all this, but in reality I doubt any of this will happen anytime soon. Interesting debate though.

[Tom Cruise]

Of course you'll find quality at Heavyweight just over the divisional limit. However, there is an increasing disparity in weight in this division which gives some fighters an advantage because, as you mentioned, weight is an asset. Furthermore, as people in general are only getting bigger this will continue to grow as a problem.

I just dont see the need, based on results, for the heavyweight limit to be changed. Wilder was 219lb vs Stiverne, he looked powerful and fast. If he fought klitschko and lost it would be because he lacked skill, not because of size. Same goes for Haye.

Im pretty sure Tyson Fury would be an underdog vs Wilder and Fury could have 40lbs over him.

Actually I think a lot of heavyweights could do with coming in lighter.

[bojangles1987]

When was the last time a 200 pounder of remotely 200 pounds beat even a 220 pounder?when did a 220 pounder beat a top 230 plus pounder...again one needs to look at actual ranked fighters. not what small guys used to do on occation with bigger HW's..yester year is long gone.

Chris Byrd and Eddie Chambers didn't have a problem. Steve Cunningham dropped Fury and beat Adamek. David Haye was like 215 220 or so and beating up big guys. Jennings is around 220, and he won't lose to Wlad because he's smaller.

Smaller heavies aren't losing because of size. They're losing because they aren't good enough.

[bojangles1987]

Some of Klitschko's best wins have been against sub 225lb'ers.

David Haye was 213lb vs Klitschko
Ruslan Chagaev was 224lb
Ibragimov 219lb
Chris Byrd 213lb

Povetkin was only just above at 226lb.

Corrie Sanders weighed a pudgy 225lbs when he knocked out klitschko.

Pretty sure Deontay Wilder weighed in below 225 for his fight with Stiverne.

I think we need to get away from the idea that weight = quality in the HW division. Its an asset, just like speed, power, timing etc but it wont win you fights by itself.

Was Tyson better at HW as a 215lb'er (the weight he was vs Holmes) or at 230+ pounds later in his career?

So no. I think 200lb division limit is fine.

Exactly. Besides, how many 230-250 pound heavyweights are out of shape and would be better coming in lighter? It takes credit from Wlad and suggests he is only winning because he's bigger, when that simply isn't true.

[////]

Hell no. 260 pound fatasses have been getting beat down by 200 pounders since the 1920s. It still happens today. Size isn't preventing current heavies from winning.

Most 240+ pound men in the early 1900s were either unhealthy giants with pituitary gland disorders (including Primo Carnera) or morbidly obese.

That simply isn't the case today, there are guys all over the place who weigh 240 and have better physiques than lightweights.

I don't think we're quite at the point where splitting the HW division would be a good thing... Perhaps right at the tipping point.

A lot of the larger-than-typical-stature European countries could dry up as the ex-USSR continues to recover economically and turn soft like America, which is already dwindling. It might be far less of an issue if the division migrates southeastward away from the US/Europe and Hws actually get smaller (at least temporarily).

I would only consider splitting them if it was totally 100% dominated by huge guys... Right now its really at a tipping point. Take someone like Povetkin who has in his own right beaten a large swath of the division but will NEVER get past Klitschko's jab. He would likely be a dominant champion at 225.

[HanzGruber]

Just get rid of cruiserweight

[KnockoutNed]

Examples of some of the smaller men who have succeeded in this era:

Chris Bryd 2 time HW champ---> Former MW
David Haye WBA HW champ---> Former CW
Tomasz Adamek former Top contender---> Former LHW
Eddie Chambers former Top contender---> Former CW
Steve Cunningham Top contender---> Former CW
James Toney WBA HW champ---> Former MW



Size to an extent has become quite overrated imo. Kudryashov could come up from CW right now and KO most of the current HW crop, Usyk could move up right now and easily outbox nearly the entire division. Size at a point becomes a detriment, otherwise Nikolai Valuev would be the greatest boxer of all time.