Would you favor "same day" weigh-ins?

Tonight's fight between Sergio and Junior got me thinking.....

Is it within the spirit of the sport to have such a size difference between fighters? Was it just me? Or did Junior look twice the size and weight of Martinez in the ring? Martinez boxed circles around Junior. Made him look like an amateur.... beat the shit out of him..... won every round by a wide margin. And yet (with some credit to Junior's chin), Martinez couldn't get him outta there. A fighter the same size as Martinez, and Junior's sheer ineptitude, would've been blown out in 4-5 rounds. That Junior finally caught Martinez in the last round and put some drama into the fight, isn't due to any great skill of Junior's. It's the law of averages. Eventually, you're bound to get caught with a good punch during a 12-round prize fight. And yet.... Martinez didn't turn and run. He stayed and traded with the much bigger Junior, risking a certain victory to another stray shot from Junior.

One question: Did it strike anyone else as strange to see the contrast between Junior's weigh-in pictures from yesterday, and his size tonight? They looked like two different fighters. The weigh-in Junior looked weird, with his stomach sucked in. He looked smaller than Martinez. All of a sudden, tonight..... he's a cruiserweight again. Just like for the Andy Lee fight.

Is this within the spirit of boxing? What is the purpose of weight divisions, if one of the fighters is going to gain over 20 pounds from one day to the next? Why can't we have "same day" weigh-ins?

If you're a professional boxer, and have the discipline to work your way down to make weight for the current weigh-in..... you should have the same discipline to make weight for a "same day" weigh-in. And if you have to seriously dehydrate to make the weight, and this weakens you for the fight...... that's your own damn problem..... and obviously you didn't do it right. Making weight shouldn't be a matter of dehydrating yourself to the point of making yourself starved and sick. It should be a gradual, controlled, studied process to get you to the desired weight. There's no reason why there should be such a size difference in the ring, unless of course you're a heavyweight, which is of course an open-ended division.

It makes me favor "same day" weigh-ins, although like with anything else, it would take some getting used to..... and the kinks would have to be worked out. How does everybody else feel?

I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to give the gigantor Junior too much credit for having made the fight exciting at the end. The gap between him and Martinez as fighters is like from here to the moon. I'm glad someone finally got rid of his fake, manufactured "0".

Yeah I'm in favor of same day weigh ins, it'd be similar to what we do in the amateurs to make for fairer fights. Seeing the size difference in Martinez and Chavez was very compelling to how much worse the fight should of been for Jr.

I would, but you can forget it! Supposedly, the reason they stopped the same day weight-in, was to protect the fighters who were so drained making weight it was dangerous for them to fight. I think the reason Chavez looked so much bigger is the fact that he is so much bigger, plus Chavez is one of those individuals who can rehydrate around 20 pounds in 24 hours. Martinez could fight at 154 but you'll never see Chavez at that weight again, he's too big.

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Originally Posted by beenKOed

I would, but you can forget it! Supposedly, the reason they stopped the same day weight-in, was to protect the fighters who were so drained making weight it was dangerous for them to fight. I think the reason Chavez looked so much bigger is the fact that he is so much bigger, plus Chavez is one of those individuals who can rehydrate around 20 pounds in 24 hours. Martinez could fight at 154 but you'll never see Chavez at that weight again, he's too big.

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If we had same day weigh ins, Martinez would be fighting at 160 against many of the current 154 pound division. Chavez Jr. would be struggling mightily at 168 with same day weigh ins.

And it isn't 24 hours. The weigh ins are closer to 28 hours from fight time for the main event fights. The time Chavez Jr. got onto the scale was 6:45 pm eastern. Fight doesn't start until 11:15 pm eastern the next night.

I definitely would be in favor of same day weigh-ins and have been for many years now. I have heard the argument that it is to protect the fighters, but does anyone realize how unhealthy and dangerous it is to cut weight like they do to make a class that they are too big for? Plus I find it hard to believe that a fighter or his management team would let their fighter get into the ring looking as weight drained as they do the day before the fight. They would think twice about putting them in weight classes they have no business in, and then we get to see fights that don't look like one guy is three weight classes higher than the other.

i'm still amazed at how fighters can perform at all the way they look at the weigh ins. Erik Morales at 122 and 126 still comes to mind. He looked like death.

Dunno if it might actually change the sport as we know it. Habits, regiments and training are so entrenched now and I think alot of guys have come to rely on adding weight. It might cause chaos with the networks and cancellations, more wheeling and dealing just to get a show on.

I wrote a paper partly on this subject a few years ago.
To put it simply the advent of weigh-ins the day before seems to coincide with the biggest post-war reduction in ring-deaths worldwide.
Conversely, the reduction from 15 to 12 rounds has been shown to have had a negligible effect.

Gatti was another one that used to blow up massively. Same conversation was had when he fought Gamache
for those that remember http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPAl0WAhg6Q

thing is if Chavez had won in the last round there would have been far more fuss made about this.

Are the US fighers supposed to be monitored in terms of losing weight steadily coming in to a fight?

Why change something that has been in place since forever. EVERYONE is allowed to do the same. If a fighter can make weight the day before the fight what's it to you how many pounds they gain the next day? ... If anything it worked in Martinez favor because he was much faster than his heavy opponent.. But of course this is another bullshit ANTI Chavez and ANTI Mexican views from you. Many fighters in history have done this but all of a sudden you have a problem with it... lol hilarious.

It's an equal playing field. They all have the ability to drain and re hydrate. Not having enough time to hydrate properly will without a doubt create a dangerous precedent. People will always try to use edges. Making those allowable edges more dangerous in a sport where you are already risking your life just climbing through the ropes would be foolhardy.

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Originally Posted by beenKOed

I would, but you can forget it! Supposedly, the reason they stopped the same day weight-in, was to protect the fighters who were so drained making weight it was dangerous for them to fight. I think the reason Chavez looked so much bigger is the fact that he is so much bigger, plus Chavez is one of those individuals who can rehydrate around 20 pounds in 24 hours. Martinez could fight at 154 but you'll never see Chavez at that weight again, he's too big.

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Yeah that was the reason they put out there but its ridiculously flawed. If anything threatens the safety of fighters its allowing natural middles to fight at welter and at times against natural welters and you can trace weight disparity in pretty much all the divisions. What the real motive was and is to support the reality of 17 division and all the extra sanctioning fees. In the end its clear that they don't give a shit about a boxers safety. If they did they would have done something after Gatti/Gamache and they would have started a pension plan for boxers years ago.

I'll never forget what Morales used to look like when he was at 122 at the weigh ins. Like grim death and a pound away from skeletor. Come fight night he was a full fledged lightweight. In the end you are right that they will never go for it collectively. Right now only the Ibf and Wbc have a same day rule that is not really a same day rule at all. The Ibf is perhaps the best as they only allow a 10 pound gain the day of the fight and even then they are done with enough time left for continued weight gain prior to the bout.

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

It's an equal playing field. They all have the ability to drain and re hydrate. Not having enough time to hydrate properly will without a doubt create a dangerous precedent. People will always try to use edges. Making those allowable edges more dangerous in a sport where you are already risking your life just climbing through the ropes would be foolhardy.

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Absolutely.
In regards to same day weigh-ins people have said that if a fighter cannot rehydrate in time and therefore is fucked for the fight it is their own stupid fault.
I say that as the risk associated with this 'stupidity' is an increased likelyhood of death/serious injury it is unacceptable.
Fighters will try to push the boundaries even knowing the risks. Therefore there must be systems in place that protect them from themselves (and those around them more concerned with matters other than the fighter's safety).

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Why change something that has been in place since forever. EVERYONE is allowed to do the same. If a fighter can make weight the day before the fight what's it to you how many pounds they gain the next day? ... If anything it worked in Martinez favor because he was much faster than his heavy opponent.. But of course this is another bullshit ANTI Chavez and ANTI Mexican views from you. Many fighters in history have done this but all of a sudden you have a problem with it... lol hilarious.

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Just a note - Same day weigh-ins were not removed until the 1980s.

If we bring in same day weigh ins..get rid of catchweights!

The higher weight divisions have less jumps after the weigh ins, a lot of the fighters are at their fight weights a few days before and stay there.

The whole boiling down to weight has to stop, the sad thing is it wouldn't and fighters would just boil down on the day instead.

If same days were to be the norm how many guys wouldn't have to bother with re hydrating massivly but simply go up a division and train accordingly? Trinket grabbing certainly cannot help. It would be a massive shake up. It wouldn't happen overnight but surely the safety concerns would lessen likewise, at least as far as re hydrating etc. The safety of a fighter is paramount but there has to be accountability or consequence for a guy packing on 20lbs 'unofficially' facing an opponent that maintains much closer to weight legitimately and 'division' initially agreed to. Who's looking out for their saftey and the 'everyone does it so you can do it to' unwritten rule really doesn't float. I'm waiting for Buffer to start announcing "weighed in last night at but tonight he weighs... ;D This isn't a Chavez thing for me and as Missy reminds its certainly nothing new. But it 'tis false advertising I believe.

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Originally Posted by ryanman

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Why change something that has been in place since forever. EVERYONE is allowed to do the same. If a fighter can make weight the day before the fight what's it to you how many pounds they gain the next day? ... If anything it worked in Martinez favor because he was much faster than his heavy opponent.. But of course this is another bullshit ANTI Chavez and ANTI Mexican views from you. Many fighters in history have done this but all of a sudden you have a problem with it... lol hilarious.

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Just a note - Same day weigh-ins were not removed until the 1980s.

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And that's not since forever? LMFAO I wasnt even born till the late 80s. This has been in place for so long.. It's like saying well before boxing went on unlimited rounds till the other boxer was KOed. Rules came into place for a reason. Like youngblood stated.. It would be dangerous to not let a boxer re hydrate themselves. A boxer starving himself till the fight date seems idiotic to me. ... In that case let's bring back 15 rounds and let Chavez knock the fuck out of Martinez... :P ;)

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Originally Posted by imp

If we bring in same day weigh ins..get rid of catchweights!

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Another pet peeve of mine. I mean why have 17 divisions. If you cant fight at a certain weight then don't fight at it. This is particularly disturbing when a challenger somehow makes the champion drop in weight to defend his title.

Basically, it is this. Your brain is encased in fluid. This serves many purposes, but most important to this discussion is that of a shock absorber; to lessen the force with which your brain slams into your cranium. Which to anyone who boxers, tends to happen. A lot.

It isn't just that it weakens your entire system with a lack of water(but it does), it is moreso that the area around your brain also gets drained and the distance to impact increases. So the force increases..

Here is an article for those interested: Brain damage risk from dehydration | Sports Injury Bulletin

So while it is an understandable assumption to think same day weigh ins will force everyone to change how they do things, where trainers, promoters and yes fighters themselves wouldn't try to use that sort of risk as an edge....I ask you. In this sport? Really?

I favour them, the closer they are to the weight and title they are fighting for the better. They should check that both fighters are healthy and make the weight with ease by checking every few weeks and then they will be healthy.

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Originally Posted by outspoken

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Originally Posted by ryanman

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Why change something that has been in place since forever. EVERYONE is allowed to do the same. If a fighter can make weight the day before the fight what's it to you how many pounds they gain the next day? ... If anything it worked in Martinez favor because he was much faster than his heavy opponent.. But of course this is another bullshit ANTI Chavez and ANTI Mexican views from you. Many fighters in history have done this but all of a sudden you have a problem with it... lol hilarious.

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Just a note - Same day weigh-ins were not removed until the 1980s.

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And that's not since forever? LMFAO I wasnt even born till the late 80s. This has been in place for so long.. It's like saying well before boxing went on unlimited rounds till the other boxer was KOed. Rules came into place for a reason. Like youngblood stated.. It would be dangerous to not let a boxer re hydrate themselves. A boxer starving himself till the fight date seems idiotic to me. ... In that case let's bring back 15 rounds and let Chavez knock the fuck out of Martinez... :P ;)

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Mate - I agree. You didn't read my other posts. I was just making a side note about when they went out.

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Originally Posted by Master

I favour them, the closer they are to the weight and title they are fighting for the better. They should check that both fighters are healthy and make the weight with ease by checking every few weeks and then they will be healthy.

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This is precisely the point. Why do fighters necessarily need to arrive at the weigh-in dehydrated and borderline sick? If "same day" weigh-ins were implemented... additional controls would also be needed to ensure that weight losses by fighters to get to the weight were done naturally and gradually, not coming in like a starving child poster and then rehydrating back to 20 pounds over the weigh-in weight. This current practice makes weigh-ins almost meaningless, 'cause the fighters are not the same size in the ring, which is not the intent.

Same day weigh in at Midday !

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Why change something that has been in place since forever. EVERYONE is allowed to do the same. If a fighter can make weight the day before the fight what's it to you how many pounds they gain the next day? ... If anything it worked in Martinez favor because he was much faster than his heavy opponent.. But of course this is another bullshit ANTI Chavez and ANTI Mexican views from you. Many fighters in history have done this but all of a sudden you have a problem with it... lol hilarious.

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So should I take that as a "No" vote?

Same day weigh ins for me!! Makes it fair for the smaller framed guys.

No, I don't see the point. If Chavez wants to starve then let him, if another wants to keep in trim and not balloon then he can do that too.

The system is what it is and you act in response to it.

You will always have your Mayorga's, Hatton's and Chavez Jnr's who will balloon, but you have to expect it and act accordingly. If you don't like the weight then move to another one.

We all know what the system is and it is no surprise.

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Originally Posted by ryanman

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Originally Posted by outspoken

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Originally Posted by ryanman

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Why change something that has been in place since forever. EVERYONE is allowed to do the same. If a fighter can make weight the day before the fight what's it to you how many pounds they gain the next day? ... If anything it worked in Martinez favor because he was much faster than his heavy opponent.. But of course this is another bullshit ANTI Chavez and ANTI Mexican views from you. Many fighters in history have done this but all of a sudden you have a problem with it... lol hilarious.

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Just a note - Same day weigh-ins were not removed until the 1980s.

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And that's not since forever? LMFAO I wasnt even born till the late 80s. This has been in place for so long.. It's like saying well before boxing went on unlimited rounds till the other boxer was KOed. Rules came into place for a reason. Like youngblood stated.. It would be dangerous to not let a boxer re hydrate themselves. A boxer starving himself till the fight date seems idiotic to me. ... In that case let's bring back 15 rounds and let Chavez knock the fuck out of Martinez... :P ;)

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Mate - I agree. You didn't read my other posts. I was just making a side note about when they went out.

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My bad, I thought you said it sarcastically :-X .. my apologies. Seems like most people here are split about this issue. Surprisingly the poll is unanimous for same day.

Okay to the people in favor of this rule riddle me this. We have seen countless of times a fighter barely missing weight like half a pound such examples Mosley vs Canelo. Then they give them an hour or two to go lose that and then they come back and weigh them. How can a fighter do that on FIGHT NIGHT and still be able to go and perform at 100 percent. We will see a lot more fighters be stripped of the belts because they did not lose it or bother re hydrating back. Not to mention taking mental focus into account this is done before fight night so the fighter is 100 percent focus on his task not the press or cameras till that night. A fighter can literally just relax that day till he shows up at the arena. It baffles me that EVERY fighter has the ability to do this (gain weight on fight night) and you guys still have a problem with it. Next thing you guys will want to do restrictions on height.

The system is flawed in that it favours the bigger framed man who wants to take advantage of the smaller opponents. If Junior had to compete against super middles and even light heavies, he would be just a journeyman.