One thing for sure...

[Expug]

Heavyweights are sure popular around here.
Look at that board man .
What exactly is it that makes them so popular?

[BoxBuzz]

Poundage?

[kick asner]

I was never a big fan of the heavyweight division, but my favorite aspect of that weight class would be that even some of the lesser skilled heveyweights have a good punch. Makes it somewhat more exciting to be able to end it with one punch or at least turn the tide, but I still prefer the lower weight classes.

['Rocket'Rigby]

Unfortunately I think a lot of it is ignorance. Ask a person who they think the greatest boxer was and for those that don't even follow boxing or have any knowledge of its history will most likely say Muhammed Ali. This is basically because they either agree with the majority or simply because it's the most famous name they can recall, they then see a boxing forum and decide to sign up.

[I Feel Fine]

Well, I just go with whatever is being discussed in the thread's here, but I suppose the Heavyweight division is my favorite division. I certainly enjoy talking about the other weight classes, though.

I think most people know that Ray Robinson is the greatest fighter of all time, but Muhammad, along with Armstrong and Pep, is in the discussion. I have personally always gone with Robinson.

[Ezzard]

There is more written about them so people have more expertise on them so they feel more comfortable discussing them. That's how I see it.

['Rocket'Rigby]

I think most people know that Ray Robinson is the greatest fighter of all time, but Muhammad, along with Armstrong and Pep, is in the discussion. I have personally always gone with Robinson.

Most people may agree with Ray, but for an example I asked 3 people (2 men and 1 woman), all different in age and all with different knowledge of the sport, who they thought was the greatest boxer and all replied with Ali, so that was the basis for my example.

The point I am trying to make is that maybe because of the history of the Heavyweight crown and it's holders, that is what makes it more popular.

[KOJOE90]

I have started a number of non-heavyweight threads in the last few weeks and get little responce.

Yet if you start a Tyson vs Marciano thread (again) in runs for weeks.

['Rocket'Rigby]

I have started a number of non-heavyweight threads in the last few weeks and get little responce.

Yet if you start a Tyson vs Marciano thread (again) in runs for weeks.

To be completely honest, my boxing knowledge is very limited and of which it is mostly of Heavyweight's. So whereas I would read and comment on a Heavyweight topic I would simply read any other topic a) to see if I knew anything in regards to the topic then I could post a reply or b) simply to read it and learn from it.

Most of what I now know probably came from this site, so for that I am gratfeul to all of you. That is the only other reason that I can think of. People may not want to post and sound as though they know something they don't and may simply be reading it to remember it for next time.

[p4p1]

i think the heavyweight division has the mystique that interests people because alot of great champions have gone up a weight or 2 to have a go at heavyweight title

[Ambling Alp]

As had already been touched on, much of the appeal of the heavyweight division is that these are the best fighters, though often not in a pound for pound sense.

You see more devastating knockouts in heavyweight fights which you don't have as much with the lower weights. There is certainly a lot of appeal in this.

I know fans of lower weight classes will cringe at this, but throughout history the heavyweight division usually had better average depth than the majority of the other weight classes, which helps make it more interesting. Often a particular lower weight class don't have a lot of depth in large part because there simply aren't that many fighters in that weight class.
ie- There are more heavyweights than flyweights, Jr Bantamweights and Bantam weights combined. The odds are that there are going to be more good heavyweights than any one of these weight classes.
With the increased amount of weight classes in the last few decades, there are even more diluted fields.

Another thing that helps make the heavyweight division is that it usually has more stability. Fighters (especially in the last few decades with the increased weight classes) in the lower weight classes are constantly moving up in weight.
Lets say that you try to follow the lighthweight division. Within two years, several of the top 10 fighters will have moved up in weight class and out of the division. You don't have that with the heavyweight division.
Heavyweights careers on average are longer as well.

Having said all of this, it would be nice to talk about the other weight classes more often. More attention should be spent on the heavyweights that other weight classes, but not certainly the heavyweight division gets about 80-90% of the attention, which is excessive. There are so many great fights and fighters that don't get near the attention that they deserve because so much attention is given the heavyweights.

[bill.lockhart]

The answer lies in John L. Sullivan's claim " I can lick any son of a bitch in the house". Their are weight classes in boxing for a reason.

[dempseyfire]

The crapiest heavyweight will usually beat the best middleweight.

Not true at all.

[dempseyfire]

As had already been touched on, much of the appeal of the heavyweight division is that these are the best fighters, though often not in a pound for pound sense.

You see more devastating knockouts in heavyweight fights which you don't have as much with the lower weights. There is certainly a lot of appeal in this.

I know fans of lower weight classes will cringe at this, but throughout history the heavyweight division usually had better average depth than the majority of the other weight classes, which helps make it more interesting. Often a particular lower weight class don't have a lot of depth in large part because there simply aren't that many fighters in that weight class.
ie- There are more heavyweights than flyweights, Jr Bantamweights and Bantam weights combined. The odds are that there are going to be more good heavyweights than any one of these weight classes.
With the increased amount of weight classes in the last few decades, there are even more diluted fields.

Another thing that helps make the heavyweight division is that it usually has more stability. Fighters (especially in the last few decades with the increased weight classes) in the lower weight classes are constantly moving up in weight.
Lets say that you try to follow the lighthweight division. Within two years, several of the top 10 fighters will have moved up in weight class and out of the division. You don't have that with the heavyweight division.
Heavyweights careers on average are longer as well.

Having said all of this, it would be nice to talk about the other weight classes more often. More attention should be spent on the heavyweights that other weight classes, but not certainly the heavyweight division gets about 80-90% of the attention, which is excessive. There are so many great fights and fighters that don't get near the attention that they deserve because so much attention is given the heavyweights.

135-175 (lightweight to about super middle/light HW) has always had the most depth b/c in-shape that's where the majority of the population lies.

Historically the welterweight and middleweight divisions really stand head and shoulders above the others in terms of consistant depth.

[generic screen name]

I like the lighter weight guys, because of any slippage whatsoever can hinder you, which makes it for more dramatic fights. A bad lightweight fight beats a bad heavyweight fight 99.9% of the time.

[Ezzard]

As had already been touched on, much of the appeal of the heavyweight division is that these are the best fighters, though often not in a pound for pound sense.

You see more devastating knockouts in heavyweight fights which you don't have as much with the lower weights. There is certainly a lot of appeal in this.

I know fans of lower weight classes will cringe at this, but throughout history the heavyweight division usually had better average depth than the majority of the other weight classes, which helps make it more interesting. Often a particular lower weight class don't have a lot of depth in large part because there simply aren't that many fighters in that weight class.
ie- There are more heavyweights than flyweights, Jr Bantamweights and Bantam weights combined. The odds are that there are going to be more good heavyweights than any one of these weight classes.
With the increased amount of weight classes in the last few decades, there are even more diluted fields.

Another thing that helps make the heavyweight division is that it usually has more stability. Fighters (especially in the last few decades with the increased weight classes) in the lower weight classes are constantly moving up in weight.
Lets say that you try to follow the lighthweight division. Within two years, several of the top 10 fighters will have moved up in weight class and out of the division. You don't have that with the heavyweight division.
Heavyweights careers on average are longer as well.

Having said all of this, it would be nice to talk about the other weight classes more often. More attention should be spent on the heavyweights that other weight classes, but not certainly the heavyweight division gets about 80-90% of the attention, which is excessive. There are so many great fights and fighters that don't get near the attention that they deserve because so much attention is given the heavyweights.

135-175 (lightweight to about super middle/light HW) has always had the most depth b/c in-shape that's where the majority of the population lies.

Historically the welterweight and middleweight divisions really stand head and shoulders above the others in terms of consistant depth.

Thing with middles and welters is that you can have 2 very different top 10 lists for both divisions and both can be plausible. There are a lot of top names in these divisions who can all compete for the top 4-5 spots.

[Ambling Alp]

As had already been touched on, much of the appeal of the heavyweight division is that these are the best fighters, though often not in a pound for pound sense.

You see more devastating knockouts in heavyweight fights which you don't have as much with the lower weights. There is certainly a lot of appeal in this.

I know fans of lower weight classes will cringe at this, but throughout history the heavyweight division usually had better average depth than the majority of the other weight classes, which helps make it more interesting. Often a particular lower weight class don't have a lot of depth in large part because there simply aren't that many fighters in that weight class.
ie- There are more heavyweights than flyweights, Jr Bantamweights and Bantam weights combined. The odds are that there are going to be more good heavyweights than any one of these weight classes.
With the increased amount of weight classes in the last few decades, there are even more diluted fields.

Another thing that helps make the heavyweight division is that it usually has more stability. Fighters (especially in the last few decades with the increased weight classes) in the lower weight classes are constantly moving up in weight.
Lets say that you try to follow the lighthweight division. Within two years, several of the top 10 fighters will have moved up in weight class and out of the division. You don't have that with the heavyweight division.
Heavyweights careers on average are longer as well.

Having said all of this, it would be nice to talk about the other weight classes more often. More attention should be spent on the heavyweights that other weight classes, but not certainly the heavyweight division gets about 80-90% of the attention, which is excessive. There are so many great fights and fighters that don't get near the attention that they deserve because so much attention is given the heavyweights.

135-175 (lightweight to about super middle/light HW) has always had the most depth b/c in-shape that's where the majority of the population lies.

Historically the welterweight and middleweight divisions really stand head and shoulders above the others in terms of consistant depth.

Yes, a high % of the general population is at 135-175. However, that includes 7 different weight classes. What % of the general population weighs more than 130 but not more than 135? It has to be less than the amount that is over 175.
What % is more than 154 but not more than 160? Has to be less than are over 175.
My point is that with so many weight divisions the talent pool is split up. Usually, there are more heavyweights than other one weight class, especially in the United States, which historically had the majority of the best fighters.

I disagree that historically the welterweight and middleweight divisions are head and shoulders better than the heavyweight division.

Yes the heavyweight division is pathetic right now. However, if you go through the years, there has almost always been several pretty good fighters.

The middleweight division has had almost no depth since the 1960's. Often it has been a complete joke. It certainly was great in the 1950's and in other periods, but it hasn't always been loaded with depth.

The welterweight division has had some great eras but also some mediocre and even poor eras in terms of depth.