making weight?

[rightsideup]

just wondering are todays fighters physically bigger than fighters of the 40's through eighties because of the weigh in differences now compared to than. For example Camacho jr fights at middleweight and is much heavier in the ring. So are fighters a traditional class bigger than the past or a jr class bigger?

[f15bone]

Depends on the fighter...

Generally speaking I would say 8-10 lbs over the contracted weight would be right about average...However it differs from fighter to fighter & fight to fight...

[Rockin']

since the same day weigh ins were banned yes fighters are stepping in to the ring to fight much bigger than before.

[Humean]

just wondering are todays fighters physically bigger than fighters of the 40's through eighties because of the weigh in differences now compared to than. For example Camacho jr fights at middleweight and is much heavier in the ring. So are fighters a traditional class bigger than the past or a jr class bigger?

I'd say more like a jr class heavier on average than they were before the change to the day before weigh in. Greater knowledge also allows fighters to be able to dry out more effectively than in the past. Fighters can also build themselves up better than yesteryear. Then again you did have plenty of fighters in say the 40s who were big at the weight and if they had been arround today would be built up and therefore heavier. Zivic is probably an example of that, he looked like a skeleton as a welterweight and would likely be a fully fledged middleweight if he was around today. However he'd likely fight for a while as a welterweight today as well, he'd just be heavier in the ring.

[Ray Corso]

Their not bigger now they just have the luxury of rehydration and fighting in a lower class they shouldn't be in. The best example is Chavez Jr. no way is he a Middleweight or "super" middle. But he is getting away with dehydrating because of the 40 hours they get to rehydrate.

When you cnsider that Sugar was 5'11" at 147 and then at 160 he is taller than any welter or middle who's active today.

The "junior" weight classes should be for prelim bouts for young guys coming up who are "inbetween" weight classes as they mature.

The promoter use the junior/super garbage to promote more titles! The fans buy it, so there you go.

Dempsey is considered small for a heavy these days yet we just wen5t through an era when Tyson was the number 1 guy and Dempsey was bigger in height
and reach.

Ray

[The Old LefHook]

Interim, super, silver, regular, emeritus, diamond...

Is that all? We could do better than that. There are not enough champions, is the problem. Make a new division every two pounds, then we will have the champions we deserve. Every fight should be between champions. Why watch mere contenders tussle? We can find titles for some of these guys. C'mon, even club fighters with losing records deserve some kind of title. Let's give 'em one, so they can fight on with the pride of a champ. Bust out the ruby and saphire belts, you stingy orgs. The fire opal belt. The oldtimers belt. The seniors' tour champion. Where is the platinum belt? Where is the belt for fastest hands in the division? We have a ways to go.

[Ben Bolt]

Interim, super, silver, regular, emeritus, diamond...

Is that all? We could do better than that. There are not enough champions, is the problem. Make a new division every two pounds, then we will have the champions we deserve. Every fight should be between champions. Why watch mere contenders tussle? We can find titles for some of these guys. C'mon, even club fighters with losing records deserve some kind of title. Let's give 'em one, so they can fight on with the pride of a champ. Bust out the ruby and saphire belts, you stingy orgs. The fire opal belt. The oldtimers belt. The seniors' tour champion. Where is the platinum belt? Where is the belt for fastest hands in the division? We have a ways to go.

A post drooling of irony. And why not?

We're a lot, and I mean A LOT, that are totally fed up with how the sanctioning bodies have been, and are, allowed to dictate boxing.

But, who allowed them to take charge of the sport? I don't blame the sanctioning bodies as much as I blame the later generation of boxing journalists. Because if the latter had stand up against the alphabet organization's stupidity, which has turned the sport of boxing into ridicule with this unlimited portions of 'world champions', we wouldn't have had the situation we have today.

During the 1980s, former Ring editor Bert Sugar fought a war on the mag's editorial page against the devious WBC, WBA and IBF – at times leading to The Ring being barred from enter some events – the kind of independent, brave journalism I'd wish we would see today.

No discredit to today's boxers, though. They're as game as their forerunners.