17 divisions and counting. Fact, as Fenster says.

[beenKOed]

I do not know what the original number was but we had 8 divisions for many years. Now it seems many of us want a Super Heavyweight division.
18 seems like too many, especially when we still have that catchweight division you can use anywhere the (big) money will allow, but we are not talking about catch weights here.
I have seen similar threads a few times, but what do you think today? Do we have too many weight divisions in pro boxing? if you think so, which ones would you like to see go?

Someone should scrap this thread and set up a poll. Yes or no we have too many divisions, and a list of the divisions so we could vote on the ones we think we should drop. I nominate Fenster, IamInuit, or Spicoli to set up the poll, anyone except Brock. I am not sure Brock should even be allowed to vote.
Hey, throw catchweight and Super Heavyweight in there too. If I think of anything else, I will let you know.

[erics44]

fenster doesnt say fact does he

[Fenster]

I am the walrus

[Fenster]

Unfortunately you can only have 10 poll options.

It would probably be great for us fans to go back to 8 divisions but there's not an actual fighter or person in the business that would agree. More divisions, more titles, more chances, more readies for everyone. Simple. Fact.

[beenKOed]

Unfortunately you can only have 10 poll options.

It would probably be great for us fans to go back to 8 divisions but there's not an actual fighter or person in the business that would agree. More divisions, more titles, more chances, more readies for everyone. Simple. Fact.

Since when has hard cold facts ever stopped a boxing fan from talking about something or taking a poll. The 10 poll options is a problem but I have confidence in you, you will figure something out. Fact, as you say. Get busy!

Hey, it was just a suggestion.

[TitoFan]

Instead of throwing darts at it, as we fans sometimes tend to do, let's make it the subject of some sort of scientific study.

What is the optimum distance between weight divisions for the purpose of safely holding equitable and competitive boxing matches?

Let's begin with the absurd extremes. Twenty pounds is way too much, for instance. A guy whose frame is meant for a fit 160 pounds shouldn't be asked to either lose 10 pounds to make the 150-lb weight division, or gain 10 pounds to be competitive at the 170-lb division. Anything less than what we have now moves toward the ridiculous. Not so much because of the inane number of weight divisions, which bores fans... but because it's ridiculous for professional athletes to expect to have one-pound division increments.

So taking body frames and physiology into account.... what is the scientifically-calculated, optimum difference between weight divisions? Also, does this difference maintain itself up and down throughout the weight spectrum? Probably not... and right now it doesn't. There's 3 pounds difference at the strawweight level, and up to 8 pounds from middleweight to super MW.

It's worth a crack.

[erics44]

Instead of throwing darts at it, as we fans sometimes tend to do, let's make it the subject of some sort of scientific study.

What is the optimum distance between weight divisions for the purpose of safely holding equitable and competitive boxing matches?

Let's begin with the absurd extremes. Twenty pounds is way too much, for instance. A guy whose frame is meant for a fit 160 pounds shouldn't be asked to either lose 10 pounds to make the 150-lb weight division, or gain 10 pounds to be competitive at the 170-lb division. Anything less than what we have now moves toward the ridiculous. Not so much because of the inane number of weight divisions, which bores fans... but because it's ridiculous for professional athletes to expect to have one-pound division increments.

So taking body frames and physiology into account.... what is the scientifically-calculated, optimum difference between weight divisions? Also, does this difference maintain itself up and down throughout the weight spectrum? Probably not... and right now it doesn't. There's 3 pounds difference at the strawweight level, and up to 8 pounds from middleweight to super MW.

It's worth a crack.

youre talking about safety there arent you

maybe they should restructure the divisions based on science

[erics44]

Instead of throwing darts at it, as we fans sometimes tend to do, let's make it the subject of some sort of scientific study.

What is the optimum distance between weight divisions for the purpose of safely holding equitable and competitive boxing matches?

Let's begin with the absurd extremes. Twenty pounds is way too much, for instance. A guy whose frame is meant for a fit 160 pounds shouldn't be asked to either lose 10 pounds to make the 150-lb weight division, or gain 10 pounds to be competitive at the 170-lb division. Anything less than what we have now moves toward the ridiculous. Not so much because of the inane number of weight divisions, which bores fans... but because it's ridiculous for professional athletes to expect to have one-pound division increments.

So taking body frames and physiology into account.... what is the scientifically-calculated, optimum difference between weight divisions? Also, does this difference maintain itself up and down throughout the weight spectrum? Probably not... and right now it doesn't. There's 3 pounds difference at the strawweight level, and up to 8 pounds from middleweight to super MW.

It's worth a crack.

youre talking about safety there arent you

maybe they should restructure the divisions based on science

plus opposing the 20lb gap and expecting fighters to drop too much weight between divisions, there is always the temptation taht if the next division is only a few lbs away to just drop one more class

in the interest of safety, is that any safer?

[TitoFan]

Instead of throwing darts at it, as we fans sometimes tend to do, let's make it the subject of some sort of scientific study.

What is the optimum distance between weight divisions for the purpose of safely holding equitable and competitive boxing matches?

Let's begin with the absurd extremes. Twenty pounds is way too much, for instance. A guy whose frame is meant for a fit 160 pounds shouldn't be asked to either lose 10 pounds to make the 150-lb weight division, or gain 10 pounds to be competitive at the 170-lb division. Anything less than what we have now moves toward the ridiculous. Not so much because of the inane number of weight divisions, which bores fans... but because it's ridiculous for professional athletes to expect to have one-pound division increments.

So taking body frames and physiology into account.... what is the scientifically-calculated, optimum difference between weight divisions? Also, does this difference maintain itself up and down throughout the weight spectrum? Probably not... and right now it doesn't. There's 3 pounds difference at the strawweight level, and up to 8 pounds from middleweight to super MW.

It's worth a crack.

youre talking about safety there arent you

maybe they should restructure the divisions based on science

I'm saying let's base it on something other than what the old-timers want, what the fighters themselves would like.... or what us armchair warriors throw out as guesses. Right now the divisions don't seem to be too outlandish, although I think maybe 3 pounds at the low end seems a bit "fine-toothed comb" for me. Difference between 112 and 115 for me robs some of the interest in the lower classes. But I'm not an expert in anatomy or physiology, so there may well be a perfectly good reason why we need those two classes, for instance.

[Master]

17 divisions and still we see more and more catch weight fights?