17 divisions and counting. Fact, as Fenster says.

[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