Do Junior Weight Divisions Water Down the Sport?

[Eff Pandas]

I disagree...the lower weight classes are quite popular in other parts of the world, especially Asia and Latin America.

I'm not in other parts of the world. I'm in the US. And I think there is a solid disconnect between sports fans & casual boxing fans & the lil guys who box. I mean most of these 135lb & less guys, which take up more than half of the divisions, are smaller than some of these people's 16 year old daughters. How can most people in the crowd take these guys who are damn near horse jockey sized boxers seriously? I don't think they can or do.

[BlakBread904]

So a three pound difference is fine because it's popular in Asia but why make 12-15 pound difference between Welterweight and Middleweight. And Middleweight to Light Heavyweight.

You do realize that a 3lb difference between boxers weighing under 120lb, is not the same as a 12-15lb difference between guys weighing above 147lb? 90% of these fighters walk around a lot heavier than their fighting weights anyway. And at 160+ it's not usually the weight that gives the smaller guys problems moving from MW to LHW, it's the height.

I'm not in other parts of the world. I'm in the US. And I think there is a solid disconnect between sports fans & casual boxing fans & the lil guys who box. I mean most of these 135lb & less guys, which take up more than half of the divisions, are smaller than some of these people's 16 year old daughters. How can most people in the crowd take these guys who are damn near horse jockey sized boxers seriously? I don't think they can or do.

Sorry to burst your bubble there, but boxing is a global sport. Two men using only their fists in bouts for the entertainment of others will outlast any borders drawn on a map. I am not sure exactly how or why you watch boxing, but size doesn't matter to me. Little dudes deliver knockouts and display skill worth viewing.

[DreamerUSA]

I'm not in other parts of the world. I'm in the US. And I think there is a solid disconnect between sports fans & casual boxing fans & the lil guys who box. I mean most of these 135lb & less guys, which take up more than half of the divisions, are smaller than some of these people's 16 year old daughters. How can most people in the crowd take these guys who are damn near horse jockey sized boxers seriously? I don't think they can or do.

Well size is certainly part of it, but also the fact that few Americans fight in those lower weight classes plays a part as well. I'm obviously a huge boxing fan and I could probably name only 10 guys below 135 that are American.

[Eff Pandas]

Sorry to burst your bubble there, but boxing is a global sport.

I didn't say it wasn't. I said most people in bigger sized people countries have average sports fans + casual boxing fans who don't give a f#ck about lil guys.

I am not sure exactly how or why you watch boxing, but size doesn't matter to me.

I don't think I mentioned myself in my post at all so I got no clue where you are coming up with my personal opinion on something I'm giving the opinion of what sports fans & casual boxing fans think. Come on bro reading is fundamental ffs.

Little dudes deliver knockouts and display skill worth viewing.

No f#cking ****. One of my favorite all time fighters is Ricardo Lopez & I always use him as my first example of guys to watch for anyone looking to learn about boxing.

Some of you guys love to act like someone is saying something different than what they are saying so you got a easy comeback & can try to insult another person.

[Eff Pandas]

Well size is certainly part of it, but also the fact that few Americans fight in those lower weight classes plays a part as well. .

I'd agree with that. There aren't many US guys to root for right out of the gate doesn't help matters. I do remember Michael Carbajal had a nice following at one point, but it seems like he's the only US real lil guy who ever got much attention. Or least that I can recall of the top of my head.

[Holystroke3]

Do they "water down" the sport? Yes. Are they bad for the sport? I don't think so. Just look at the divisions we have now and the fights not happening. Rarely do fighters run out of opponents in their division, they're just not fighting the other top guys.

4 titles per division is more of an issue than too many divisions. With less belts we could have more mandatories against top fighters and more title eliminators

[HandsofIron]

I don't have a problem with the other divisions, what needs to be fixed is the Heavyweight division. We got some big ass, super giants who are around 6'9 & about 260 lbs and up, fighting guys who are around 6'1 & 220 lbs. A clear weight disparity right there that needs to be addressed.

[Dean_Razorback]

watching the olympics (which uses 10 weight classes) i only noticed a few cases in which size was clearly a major factor. personally i think 12 divisions spaced between 108 and 225 would be the sweet spot

but i think the size difference doesn't show up there that much because they have to make weight every day whereas in the pros you make weight just once and you have 24 hs plus to recover

[Eff Pandas]

4 titles per division is more of an issue than too many divisions.

Can't argue with that. I'd be a fan of less divisions, but for sure less champions in each division is more needed. 17 divisions with 1 champion, beats 8 or 9 divisions with 4 champions all day every day.

I don't have a problem with the other divisions, what needs to be fixed is the Heavyweight division. We got some big ass, super giants who are around 6'9 & about 260 lbs and up, fighting guys who are around 6'1 & 220 lbs. A clear weight disparity right there that needs to be addressed.

I think boxing should hijack a bunch of the things the UFC does & one of them is putting a limit on the HW division (265lbs) & for the most part making these freakishly big mfers lose some weight as the 265+lb division is a MMA wasteland where few fighters compete at & almost exclusively in minor league MMA outfits.

[HEND]

doN't think so

actually 130 is much better than 135
154 is much better than 160


as of right now

it depends on the actual form...