If You Could Set the Current Weight Divisions

[Tony1244]

If you were assigned to set weight divisions for boxing how would you do it? Current complaints are too many divisions, too many champions, people are getting bigger, so some weight divisions should be moved up. I believe it should be simplified, less divisions, and some weight divisions should be changed. I want to hear yours, here is my revised plan:


Flyweight 110 LB

Bantamweight 120

Featherweight 130

Lightweight 140

Welterweight 150

Middleweight 165

Light Heavyweight 180

Cruiserweight 205

Heavyweight 205+

[sucracristo]

i swear we have had this thread like 10 times in the past couple of weeks

[Tony1244]

i swear we have had this thread like 10 times in the past couple of weeks

I don't check all 89 pages. Just the page I was on. Enlighten us....

[sucracristo]

i swear we have had this thread like 10 times in the past couple of weeks

I don't check all 89 pages. Just the page I was on. Enlighten us....

for starters, on the very same page we are on right now
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 8#p4296444
and then the same thing in this thread maybe a week before
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=196051
with the same topic discussed in several other threads in the passt week.
you don't have to go back 89. how about this page and the last one or just use
the search thing on the top right?

[Tony1244]

i swear we have had this thread like 10 times in the past couple of weeks

I don't check all 89 pages. Just the page I was on. Enlighten us....

for starters, on the very same page we are on right now
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 8#p4296444
and then the same thing in this thread maybe a week before
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=196051
with the same topic discussed in several other threads in the passt week.
you don't have to go back 89. how about this page and the last one or just use
the search thing on the top right?

0 for 2 but nice try. Those subject headings were "Does boxing need a division between LH and HW?" and "boxing needs a makeover" respectively. Just the fact that some of the comments went off on a tangent doesn't mean the thread addressed what I addressed. They didn't. Never understood why people like you comment without commenting.

[sucracristo]

I don't check all 89 pages. Just the page I was on. Enlighten us....

for starters, on the very same page we are on right now
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 8#p4296444
and then the same thing in this thread maybe a week before
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=196051
with the same topic discussed in several other threads in the passt week.
you don't have to go back 89. how about this page and the last one or just use
the search thing on the top right?

0 for 2 but nice try. Those subject headings were "Does boxing need a division between LH and HW?" and "boxing needs a makeover" respectively. Just the fact that some of the comments went off on a tangent doesn't mean the thread addressed what I addressed. They didn't. Never understood why people like you comment without commenting.

don't take it personal. you just don't bother to look if a topic has been discussed to death
before posting another about it and then want to make it about the person who points it
out. the threads EXACTLY discuss every division and the need for them all, and there are
several others besides the two links i gave you. the fact that i took the time to give you
the links and anyone can see that they discuss the exact same stuff EXACTLY and you still
want to make it personal like you are hurt means you need some fresh air.

[actjac]

If you were assigned to set weight divisions for boxing how would you do it? Current complaints are too many divisions, too many champions, people are getting bigger, so some weight divisions should be moved up. I believe it should be simplified, less divisions, and some weight divisions should be changed. I want to hear yours, here is my revised plan:


Flyweight 110 LB

Bantamweight 120

Featherweight 130

Lightweight 140

Welterweight 150

Middleweight 165

Light Heavyweight 180

Cruiserweight 205

Heavyweight 205+

I agree....though stay with 200 for cruisers.....add one more above 225.....Boxing does not need 10 weight classes at 140lbs. and below.

[Tony1244]

for starters, on the very same page we are on right now
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 8#p4296444
and then the same thing in this thread maybe a week before
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=196051
with the same topic discussed in several other threads in the passt week.
you don't have to go back 89. how about this page and the last one or just use
the search thing on the top right?

0 for 2 but nice try. Those subject headings were "Does boxing need a division between LH and HW?" and "boxing needs a makeover" respectively. Just the fact that some of the comments went off on a tangent doesn't mean the thread addressed what I addressed. They didn't. Never understood why people like you comment without commenting.

don't take it personal. you just don't bother to look if a topic has been discussed to death
before posting another about it and then want to make it about the person who points it
out. the threads EXACTLY discuss every division and the need for them all, and there are
several others besides the two links i gave you. the fact that i took the time to give you
the links and anyone can see that they discuss the exact same stuff EXACTLY and you still
want to make it personal like you are hurt means you need some fresh air.

Fresh air is good and I didn't make it out too much today, so you may have something there.

But we recently got into it a bit on religion or politics or something of that nature. And I have noticed that people online tend to bring an argument back in another form. There were several different threads on Fury, Wlad, and yes weight divisions, so nothing real new here. But no there was not a thread on weight divisions in general other than mine on page one. Maybe there was on p 11 and 26, but I didn't look that far. If you want to present your own divisions do so. If you don't want to, don't. No problem either way. But I don't understand why people write, "lame" or "I've seen this all before." I don't like lower weight divisions, so I try my best not to go into those threads and complain, but I'm sure I've done so every now and then.

How you like that Joshua KO in 7?

[Badhusker]

Here's an idea......if you don't like the topic, don't respond to it. :idea:

[jezzamundo]

If you were assigned to set weight divisions for boxing how would you do it? Current complaints are too many divisions, too many champions, people are getting bigger, so some weight divisions should be moved up. I believe it should be simplified, less divisions, and some weight divisions should be changed. I want to hear yours, here is my revised plan:


Flyweight 110 LB

Bantamweight 120

Featherweight 130

Lightweight 140

Welterweight 150

Middleweight 165

Light Heavyweight 180

Cruiserweight 205

Heavyweight 205+

I agree....though stay with 200 for cruisers.....add one more above 225.....Boxing does not need 10 weight classes at 140lbs. and below.

I think the increments should go up in percentages - stepping up from 110lb to 120lb would be a much harder prospect than stepping up from 140lb to 150lb for instance. That said, I agree there are too many small weight classes.

As for the 225lb super heavy division - it's a terrible idea. Are you saying that boxing would be better off without matchups like Bowe-Holyfield? We just saw Povetkin stop the giant Wach and he could easily make 225lb, yet he's been one of the five best heavyweights in the world for the better part of a decade. Wlad did largely beat Povetkin using his extra size and weight, but that was largely due to the referee allowing him to. With more vigilant refereeing, extra size can become as much of a disadvantage as an advantage when you go north of 220lb.

[jezzamundo]

I think boxing has too much history to entirely rewrite the weight divisions, so I'd like to see a return to the classic divisions, plus cruiserweight back to its old 190lb limit, because the current 25lb gap from light heavy to cruiser is too big.

If we were going to start from fresh I would go with a consistent 6% increase in weight between each division:

Flyweight 112lb
Bantamweight 119lb
Featherweight 126lb
Lightweight 134lb
Super Lightweight 142lb
Welterweight 151lb
Middleweight 160lb
Super Middleweight 170lb
Light Heavyweight 180lb
Cruiserweight 191lb
Heavyweight 191lb +

[Grilling Machine]

I think boxing has too much history to entirely rewrite the weight divisions

Together with the historical names for each weight, that's the main problem. I'd be happy with 7-lb jumps up to 168, from 7.5 stones to 15:

1. Atomweight - 105
2. Flyweight - 112
3. Bantamweight - 119
4. Featherweight - 126
5. Lightweight - 133
6. Super-Lightweight - 140
7. Welterweight - 147
8. Super-Welterweight - 154
9. Middleweight - 161
10. Super-Middleweight - 168
11. Cruiserweight - 182
12. Super-Cruiserweight - 196
13. Heavyweight - 210
14. Super-Heavyweight - 210+

I don't like having more than two variants of each weight, which is why I've omitted the 'lights', and I've removed LH because I've never liked it being below cruiser. By the by, I've never liked the term cruiserweight, either. I think it implies sluggishness - boxers that are both weaker than those above them and slower than those below. And I don't like having 'lights' and 'supers', for implying degrees of worth. I'd rather have a unique name for each division, with Middleweight roughly in-between Light- and Heavyweight.

I think there's a strong anti-draining argument for jumps of 10 lb, too. For example, I weigh 152, so I'd box at 147. But if that was raised to 150, I'd go the other way and try to put on some more muscle first. I'd still drain 5+ lb, but I'd be doing it from - arguably - a healthier position.

[marvelous marv]

I think it would be cool if there was a weight division with no weight limit whatsoever. Sort of like heavyweight but with no minimum so any fighter could enter into the competition. If Roman Gonzalez woke up one day and thought he could beat Tyson Fury senseless he could go for it.

[Cent0089]

Flyweight 112lbs
Bantamweight 118 lbs (+8)
Featherweight 126 lbs (+8)
Lightweight 135 lbs (+9)
Welterweight 145 lbs (+10)
Light Middleweight 155 lbs (+10)
Middleweight 165 lbs (+10)
Super middleweight 175 lbs (+10)
Light heavyweight 185 lbs (+10)
Cruiserweight 200 lbs (+15)
Heavyweight 200+lbs

And one championship belt for each division

[Tony1244]

While there is near unanimous agreement that there are too many weight divisions, I think we should have 9, the word "Super" for a weight division really annoys me.

[jezzamundo]

Flyweight 112lbs
Bantamweight 118 lbs (+8)
Featherweight 126 lbs (+8)
Lightweight 135 lbs (+9)
Welterweight 145 lbs (+10)
Light Middleweight 155 lbs (+10)
Middleweight 165 lbs (+10)
Super middleweight 175 lbs (+10)
Light heavyweight 185 lbs (+10)
Cruiserweight 200 lbs (+15)
Heavyweight 200+lbs

And one championship belt for each division

I might even like this more than my own post

[Freedom2013]

Flyweight 110
Bantamweight 122
Featherweight 134
Lightweight 147
Welterweight 160
Middleweight 175
Light Heavyweight 200
Heavyweight over 200

And same day weigh-ins.

[IKSRTFO]

Flyweight 110
Bantamweight 122
Featherweight 134
Lightweight 147
Welterweight 160
Middleweight 175
Light Heavyweight 200
Heavyweight over 200

And same day weigh-ins.

Actually Perfect IMO

[Ilya Muromets]

I've gone into this plenty of times before. Weight classes should be done in a logical way with percentage increments from one to the next. My main concern is that boxing now very badly needs at least one additional heavy weight class - and it could well do away with all those ridiculous little weight classes for the little guys, separated by like 3 pounds.

[HomicideHenry]

I think people should fight within 5 pounds of their natural weight.

Heavyweight is the tricky problem. In some states the weight is set at over 195 pounds. In alot of places it is over 210 pounds. Considering the history of the division, with guys like Dempsey and others beating men much larger than themselves, its a hard proposition to gauge by because if Joe Louis can knock out Buddy Baer who was 6'7" and 245 pounds, etc then how do you set the weight classes? I would say the 196-200 is fine. Personally, if you are too small to compete with heavyweights then you need to be 175 or Cruiserweight. This era of rehydration has really put alot of people at serious risk.

[Ilya Muromets]

I think people should fight within 5 pounds of their natural weight.

Heavyweight is the tricky problem. In some states the weight is set at over 195 pounds. In alot of places it is over 210 pounds. Considering the history of the division, with guys like Dempsey and others beating men much larger than themselves, its a hard proposition to gauge by because if Joe Louis can knock out Buddy Baer who was 6'7" and 245 pounds, etc then how do you set the weight classes? I would say the 196-200 is fine. Personally, if you are too small to compete with heavyweights then you need to be 175 or Cruiserweight. This era of rehydration has really put alot of people at serious risk.

When I was boxing my natural weight was just over 200, maybe 205, no less no more (like it says on the famous Tombstone, AZ gravestone). Now the heavyweight division is dominated by giants who are about 6'6" and 250 pounds. A "little" guy like me is considered more or less of a joke in the heavyweight division now. Sure there is always an exception like the above, but if they want to play that game let it apply to the little guys too. Let's see the feller who weighs 120 fight the guy who weighs 150, because that is the same percentage difference between them as is 200 to 250.

[man]

While there is near unanimous agreement that there are too many weight divisions, I think we should have 9, the word "Super" for a weight division really annoys me.

[HomicideHenry]

I think people should fight within 5 pounds of their natural weight.

Heavyweight is the tricky problem. In some states the weight is set at over 195 pounds. In alot of places it is over 210 pounds. Considering the history of the division, with guys like Dempsey and others beating men much larger than themselves, its a hard proposition to gauge by because if Joe Louis can knock out Buddy Baer who was 6'7" and 245 pounds, etc then how do you set the weight classes? I would say the 196-200 is fine. Personally, if you are too small to compete with heavyweights then you need to be 175 or Cruiserweight. This era of rehydration has really put alot of people at serious risk.

When I was boxing my natural weight was just over 200, maybe 205, no less no more (like it says on the famous Tombstone, AZ gravestone). Now the heavyweight division is dominated by giants who are about 6'6" and 250 pounds. A "little" guy like me is considered more or less of a joke in the heavyweight division now. Sure there is always an exception like the above, but if they want to play that game let it apply to the little guys too. Let's see the feller who weighs 120 fight the guy who weighs 150, because that is the same percentage difference between them as is 200 to 250.

In my lone boxing match.... I drank a gallon of water and ate til I couldn't take it no more, and didn't dare take a piss.... just to make almost 160 pounds.... my opponent was 168 bone dry.... the next day he was 195 pounds.... I was 154 pounds.... Now, he was world's ahead of me in skills, I wouldn't have won regardless.... but the thought in my head to this day is had he been bone dry 168 pounds, his punches sure as hell wouldn't have been anywhere near as devestating as they were. I think it is all but criminal, to allow such things to take place in boxing or in any sport.

Now if you have two men who are experts at dehydration, and will both be 160 pounds on fight night, when at the weigh in they were 147 pounds, then let them fight. They are equal in size. But someone like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr being nearly 200 pounds naturally, and fighting at 154 pounds (against Martinez) or even 160 pounds.... should be illegal.

As for your argument, being that you were more or less a heavyweight... If you don't have the skills to offset someone's larger size, or have the speed to offset their power.... then yes, you are in for a world of hurt. Matchmakers should have some brains when making fights, and commissioners have some brains when sanctioning fights. Take for example, Adamek vs McBride. That was a perfectly acceptable fight to make, because Adamek had the world class ability and speed to fight a man that size. That's why I found it perfectly acceptable when Haye and Cunningham and others fought large men, because they had the necessary abilities--- proven time and again--- to deal with men larger than themselves.

[man]

Flyweight 110
Bantamweight 122
Featherweight 134
Lightweight 147
Welterweight 160
Middleweight 175
Light Heavyweight 200
Heavyweight over 200

And same day weigh-ins.

boxrec runs its own belt with these
weight classes and mandatories are
derived from their ranking. title fights
are televised with contracts on an
annual renewed basis with the highest
bidder.

and while i am at it: US republicans
stop blocking climate regulation.

[Ilya Muromets]

HH -

It is not possible to go from 160 to 195 in one day. 195 was close to my boxing weight. To think that I could get down to 165 by dehydrating and then back up to 205 - proportionally about the same - the next day is ludicrous. That being said, I don't like the way they are doing the weight and dehydrating thing and one guy showing up much bigger than the other. It is both unhealthy and unfair. They should do the weighing right before the fight and make it the responsibility of the fighter to know his correct weight before he shows up.

Regarding weight you are just repeating what you said before and not addressing my argument and if you want to play that game about a smaller man can beat a bigger man why should that only apply to heavyweights while the little fellers are catered to with teeny weeny little weight classes separated by three pounds? Don't the crooks who run boxing want to have more championship fights to peddle? So let's have a super heavyweight and a super super heavyweight div. or whatever you want to call it and they'll have two more!