Making weight

[80/20]

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2013/scales-calum-cooper

Reading this article it amazed me to see that a fighter thinks that cutting down on water does not result in dehydration !

Do the board really do enough to educate trainers/boxers ect on this ?

Id like to hear thoughts

[Terminator666]

He sounds pretty sensible-I would say most boxers cut water just before the weigh in.

[Trojans44]

Yeah he's flatly wrong about this. Cutting fluids in this way is extremely dangerous - the brain is surrounded and cushioned by fluid.

Its not just fighters but the appalling advice they often get from trainers on the dangers of consussions and blows to the head. In every impact sport I'm aware of other than boxing there is a huge emphasis on concussion reduction, recovery and management. In boxing we regulalry allow clearly concussed fighters e.g. shaky legs, not sure where the corner is to fight on. That is just barbaric and hugely damaging to the fighter's future health. Most often its to no positive effect whatsoever because fighters rarely recover from that sort of state to win. How often have you seen a fight continue after a knockdown and been absolutely positive the fight would end in the next few seconds?

Boxing really needs to raise its game in this regard but its a real cultural issue in the sport. We often say that X fighter's punch resistance has gone as if its just a skill that has been lost. But that means is that X's brain has taken so much punishment that it is irretrievably damaged to the point where it cant take the punishment it once did!

There's a great documentary on all this called 'Head Games'. A neurologist was asked when its safe to compete again after just one concussion. The doctor's reply was that it was never safe to compete again. Each concussion lowers reisitance and makes you more susceptible to the next one.

[tallsdav]

The board dont really care at all. They're pretty useless really, it's all just posturing and front when they talk about the safety of fighters.

Boxing is years behind in terms of sports science too. As the lad in the article says he's still doing his roadwork to make weight. Dark ages stuff.

[Coco]

I think all fighters dehydrate to make weight.

[canonball1234]

Be like me do the weight easy always helps

[frankgreaves]

Be like me do the weight easy always helps

Are you taking the piss?? :)

[jonp]

Liam that has genuinly made me lol I didnt know you had that kind of humour in you

[pnejon]

Be like me do the weight easy always helps

Do u want to do one of these features Liam?

[canonball1234]

Yeah deffo

[canonball1234]

Ha ha alway through amateurs have always struggled with weight, always going down a weight I should be at

[tear up]

A nightmare makin weight use to kill me

[andeeholden]

Yeah he's flatly wrong about this. Cutting fluids in this way is extremely dangerous - the brain is surrounded and cushioned by fluid.

Its not just fighters but the appalling advice they often get from trainers on the dangers of consussions and blows to the head. In every impact sport I'm aware of other than boxing there is a huge emphasis on concussion reduction, recovery and management. In boxing we regulalry allow clearly concussed fighters e.g. shaky legs, not sure where the corner is to fight on. That is just barbaric and hugely damaging to the fighter's future health. Most often its to no positive effect whatsoever because fighters rarely recover from that sort of state to win. How often have you seen a fight continue after a knockdown and been absolutely positive the fight would end in the next few seconds?

Boxing really needs to raise its game in this regard but its a real cultural issue in the sport. We often say that X fighter's punch resistance has gone as if its just a skill that has been lost. But that means is that X's brain has taken so much punishment that it is irretrievably damaged to the point where it cant take the punishment it once did!

There's a great documentary on all this called 'Head Games'. A neurologist was asked when its safe to compete again after just one concussion. The doctor's reply was that it was never safe to compete again. Each concussion lowers reisitance and makes you more susceptible to the next one.

Great post

[stevedoc]

all fighters have to dehydrate a bit to make weight or you end up fighting guys bigger than you . 6/7 pounds isn't that much i don't think, i'd lose that in one training session

i think he's saying that he cut back on liquids but not to the point of damaging himself .

[Jeff Thomas]

In my view, cutting is fine providing you have sufficient time to rehydrate properly. Read about it. Understand it. Practice it. Know your body. IF YOUR FIGHT IS ON THE SAME DAY AS YOUR WEIGH-IN DO NOT CUT!!

[bripez]

I think all fighters dehydrate to make weight.

Despite what people have said boxers should or should not do, I reckon that the above is true.

The likes of Kerry Kayes has helped a lot of boxers, but I reckon most still "dry out" like 20 years ago - the old wear a bin bag for training and if you want a drink suck on an ice cube.

I read that Arturo Gatti used to make weight by spitting - I don't know if this is true (and he must have just spent all day spitting to get rid of fluids).

It would be really interesting to hear how real life boxers actually make weight, as the vast majority walk around at a higher weight than their fighting weight.

It would also be good to hear from the likes of Kerry Kayes to give a giude as to how it could / should be done - unless it is a great secret, surely it would be good to discuss this openly ?

[whiskey]

I think it was Jason 2 smooth Booth, who was telling us that he was that hungry making weight, he used to look forward to brushing his teeth just to taste something.

[mickey1975]

I think it was Jason 2 smooth Booth, who was telling us that he was that hungry making weight, he used to look forward to brushing his teeth just to taste something.

I first heard that years ago in a great Ring Magazine article on the subject. I think it was Jeff Fenech who said it that time, he was a big drainer. Booth also reckons he used to box pissed up, that's a lot of empty calories.

[Terminator666]

The fight is about 36 hours after weigh in. Plenty of time to rehyhdrate then. If you wake up in the morning having to make 140 pounds and your bang on the weight, then obviously you are not going to spend the rest of the day consuming pints of water.

[Shirow]

Yeah he's flatly wrong about this. Cutting fluids in this way is extremely dangerous - the brain is surrounded and cushioned by fluid.

According to Margaret Goodman that is a myth. I'd always believed the same thing until i read an interview (or might have been in Ring Magazine when she had a column there) in which she said that the body won't give up any of the fluid around the brain until it is gone from everywhere else. So a boxer wouldn't be capable of walking to the ring if he was so dehydrated he had lost any brain fluid.

I've said for a while that at least in title fights of any kind there should be a maximum weight gain % after the weigh-in in the interests of health & fairness. 5% is plenty as i reckon that's could conceivably be lost during a long sweaty work out.

[bripez]

I've said for a while that at least in title fights of any kind there should be a maximum weight gain % after the weigh-in in the interests of health & fairness. 5% is plenty as i reckon that's could conceivably be lost during a long sweaty work out.

Although I don't disagree with the sentiment, this could never happen - imagine a title fight being called off on the day because one boxer has regained 6% ?

It is ironic that the procedure of weighing in the day before was made to help this problem has actually made this worse, as boxers take bigger risks in the belief that they will have more time to recover before the fight.

[Shirow]

I've said for a while that at least in title fights of any kind there should be a maximum weight gain % after the weigh-in in the interests of health & fairness. 5% is plenty as i reckon that's could conceivably be lost during a long sweaty work out.

Although I don't disagree with the sentiment, this could never happen - imagine a title fight being called off on the day because one boxer has regained 6% ?

It is ironic that the procedure of weighing in the day before was made to help this problem has actually made this worse, as boxers take bigger risks in the belief that they will have more time to recover before the fight.

Calling a fight off wouldn't have to happen. It could be treated just like coming in overweight now. The opponent has the option of not fighting but would probably negotiate a cut of the overweight boxer's purse and be the only one fighting for the title. Maybe it a % of purse per pound fine could be set so everyone knew what they had to lose.

[jimglen]

Yeah he's flatly wrong about this. Cutting fluids in this way is extremely dangerous - the brain is surrounded and cushioned by fluid.

Its not just fighters but the appalling advice they often get from trainers on the dangers of consussions and blows to the head. In every impact sport I'm aware of other than boxing there is a huge emphasis on concussion reduction, recovery and management. In boxing we regulalry allow clearly concussed fighters e.g. shaky legs, not sure where the corner is to fight on. That is just barbaric and hugely damaging to the fighter's future health. Most often its to no positive effect whatsoever because fighters rarely recover from that sort of state to win. How often have you seen a fight continue after a knockdown and been absolutely positive the fight would end in the next few seconds?

Boxing really needs to raise its game in this regard but its a real cultural issue in the sport. We often say that X fighter's punch resistance has gone as if its just a skill that has been lost. But that means is that X's brain has taken so much punishment that it is irretrievably damaged to the point where it cant take the punishment it once did!

There's a great documentary on all this called 'Head Games'. A neurologist was asked when its safe to compete again after just one concussion. The doctor's reply was that it was never safe to compete again. Each concussion lowers reisitance and makes you more susceptible to the next one.

BUMP...

not so bad with enough time before Fight Night but hell on earth with short notice, Dangerous and Limiting for the fighter having to make the weight!

who do we know of lately who has been most effected by this?

[Boxing Prospect]

Yeah he's flatly wrong about this. Cutting fluids in this way is extremely dangerous - the brain is surrounded and cushioned by fluid.

Its not just fighters but the appalling advice they often get from trainers on the dangers of consussions and blows to the head. In every impact sport I'm aware of other than boxing there is a huge emphasis on concussion reduction, recovery and management. In boxing we regulalry allow clearly concussed fighters e.g. shaky legs, not sure where the corner is to fight on. That is just barbaric and hugely damaging to the fighter's future health. Most often its to no positive effect whatsoever because fighters rarely recover from that sort of state to win. How often have you seen a fight continue after a knockdown and been absolutely positive the fight would end in the next few seconds?

Boxing really needs to raise its game in this regard but its a real cultural issue in the sport. We often say that X fighter's punch resistance has gone as if its just a skill that has been lost. But that means is that X's brain has taken so much punishment that it is irretrievably damaged to the point where it cant take the punishment it once did!

There's a great documentary on all this called 'Head Games'. A neurologist was asked when its safe to compete again after just one concussion. The doctor's reply was that it was never safe to compete again. Each concussion lowers reisitance and makes you more susceptible to the next one.

BUMP...

not so bad with enough time before Fight Night but hell on earth with short notice, Dangerous and Limiting for the fighter having to make the weight!

who do we know of lately who has been most effected by this?

Ryo Miyazaki? He looked like a zombie before his last fight...and was like a zombie IN his last fight

[Broomhall]

I would think most championship level fighters walk around at at least 20lbs over their fighting weights, and I wouldnt be surprised that for middle weight plus the average weight loss from start of camp to finish would be around 30-40lbs.

When I was boxing amateur at 54kg I would easily weigh around 65 kg out of season or between bouts and I dont think I was unusual.

I would dream of eating cold ice cream milk shakes and drinking cold water.

Most people say fighters get damaged in mismatches etc-they dont-the majority of fighters who suffer brain injury are championship level and I think these are the reasons why

1. They are likely to have been star amateurs and been making weight since junior championship boxing., often from 11 years old.
2. They will box as amateurs (subject to progress as a pro) and pro better quality opposition and are therefore in more demanding fights more often after making weight more often.
3. They will box longer fights after making weight eg area title fights, eliminators, title fights etc