BoxRec

How come some great fighters cannot move up a weight yet others can? Is it genetic or some other reason? Hatton is an example, a slight increase in weight to welterweight and his punch didn't have the same effect and the punches of a normally light punching Collazo were hurting him. He moved back down for his next fight.

Or why do some big punchers loose something when they move up, when you would think the extra weight would be an advantage. Nigel Benn is an example, an absolutely devastating KO puncher at middleweight, the ability to knock people out with either hand yet when he moved upto super-middleweight, although still fairly successful, his punch didn't have the same effect.

Yet Tommy Hearns went from welterweight right upto cruiserweight and was still flattening people. And how can he Hearns get wobbled and stopped at lighter weights, yet then bulk up and take bigger shots from naturally bigger fighters? His chin is the same he was just heavier.

A bit long winded I know but any thoughts or ideas?

Simple fighters fight DOWN from their natural weight, which leaves them the option of "not having to drop weight" to compete if there's an opportunity at fights in the next division.

in the past fighters were very near their natural weight so dropping in weight was usually with in reach (time permitted of course), today MW's are really CW's 6' plus walking around at 185-200 lbs, but with months and even a year to make weight they get down to 160lbs, kind of BS if you ask me.

Try finding you TRUE weight stay close to that and consistantly fight in a higher division where you belong and see if you are REALLy as good as the past greats. Not naming names (Bernard Hopkins)

anyway that's the answer Fighters fight DOWN, much, much more so now than ever before...in the past fighters were eager and encouraged to step UP showing their true credibility.

Very good point Dec, you are right!

But it is also true 'most' fighters are fighting at, at least 1 division lower than they would have all those wonderful years ago!

Jim.

jimglen wrote:
anyway that's the answer Fighters fight DOWN, much, much more so now than ever before...in the past fighters were eager and encouraged to step UP showing their true credibility.

I see what your saying however it doesn't answer why some fighters loose their punch when they move up and others don't. Or how some can still take punches from much bigger fighters and others can't.

Benn could still bang at super-middleweight but no way near what he did at middleweight. There's only around half a stone difference and you would have thought the extra weight would be a bonus. Hearns went from welter to cruiser but was still ko'ing opponents.

RJJ and Toney both went right upto heavyweight and beat naturally bigger fighters and took punches from them, yet other middleweights wouldn't be able to do that.

Guys who rely on speed and defence do better moving up. Guys who rely on power have their advantage compromised (to some extent) by moving up. Swarmers struggle too but not as much as punchers IMO.

Guys like Whittaker have speed, reflexes and defence to their advantage and these traits aren't hindered by fighting at a higher weight. Physical traits like power, endurance and punch resistance are definitely eroded as fighters move up the weight classes.

As to why some guys seem to retain more pwoer than others I have no idea.

I agree with Jim that most fighters today fight down to gain a percieved physical advantage.