Catchweights?

[Fenster]

Gatti-Ward trilogy was at a catchweight. Does that detract from the epic story because they weighed in between 140 and 147? Of course not.

[corvette]

Gatti-Ward trilogy was at a catchweight. Does that detract from the epic story because they weighed in between 140 and 147? Of course not.

You just killed this thread.

[Primo Carnera]

Gatti-Ward trilogy was at a catchweight. Does that detract from the epic story because they weighed in between 140 and 147? Of course not.

That's a pretty strong argument, I could be corrected here but you could counter it by saying Hagler-Hearns and Leonard-Hearns and all the other fights in that era were for titles and NOT catchweights. I mean, we have to decide what's more important , Catchweights and putting certain fights on , or Titles. I have an open mind on it, maybe we get rid of all the governing bodies and have TV and Promoters putting on Prize fights. It's kinda going full circle really. Interesting.

[AdamGB]

Gatti-Ward trilogy was at a catchweight. Does that detract from the epic story because they weighed in between 140 and 147? Of course not.

No, but when people talk about those fights they talk about the bouts themselves. Titles should be left out of it.

How can you be 147 champ if you won't let people fight you at 147

There have been dozens of catchweight bouts in history, it's now closer to dozens a year.

More weight divisions, more catchweights? It makes no sense...

[Fenster]

I'm saying the title means virtually nothing to me.

I agree it's silly that - for example - Miguel Cotto is masquerading as the middleweight champ when he's clearly not a middleweight or the best in the division. So the fact he's defending his title at a catchweight means nothing to me.

[Fenster]

Leonard-Duran 3rd fight was a catchweight for the WBC supermiddle title. Duran weighed 158/Leonard 160

Hearns-Leonard II was a catchweight for the WBO/WBC supermiddle titles. Leonard 160/Hearns 162

[Beanflicker]

Gatti-Ward trilogy was at a catchweight. Does that detract from the epic story because they weighed in between 140 and 147? Of course not.

Nobody is saying catch weight fights can't be great, exciting fights. And Gatti/Ward is a different case because there was nothing at stake, it wasn't about a belt or rankings, it was about seeing two guys throw bombs at each other for 10 rounds. Nothing else really mattered with that fight, you could have set the weight limit at 200lbs, nobody would have cared. It was a special attraction.

When catch weight fights get really lame are when they mean something. Usually they are made to have a bigger guy weight drain himself (DLH/Pac, Dawson/Ward, ect) or just pettiness to throw a guy off of his game.

Do I think it's fucking lame that Miguel Cotto is the lineal 160lb champ even though he's never fought at 160lbs? Yeah, and anyone who appreciates boxing and it's great history should too.

If two guys of the same size in a non title fight get together and say "hey, it's hard for both of us to make the limit, let's just set a catch weight at 2-4lbs over so we don't have to kill ourselves making the weight", I don't see a big deal with that. If you're the smaller guy and you want to fight a bigger guy, but only if he'll weight drain himself, that's a shit move IMO. Ray Robinson never demanded Lamotta come down and meet him at a catch weight: he went to 160 and beat his ass 5/6 times. Same with Leonard, he didn't request Hagler meet him at a catch weight, he went up to 160 and pulled off one of the greatest wins in boxing history.

[beenKOed]

I think that a bigger problem is a guy weighing in at 142 and putting on 20 pounds by fight time.

Same day weight-ins would solve that problem real fast.

[Fenster]

Quite surprising Leonard didn't demand a catchweight against Hagler considering his history. They both weighed 158.

[Beanflicker]

I think that a bigger problem is a guy weighing in at 142 and putting on 20 pounds by fight time.

Same day weight-ins would solve that problem real fast.

You'd see a lot more serious injuries though because guys are going to try to cut as much weight as possible regardless.

[Primo Carnera]

Leonard-Duran 3rd fight was a catchweight for the WBC supermiddle title. Duran weighed 158/Leonard 160

Hearns-Leonard II was a catchweight for the WBO/WBC supermiddle titles. Leonard 160/Hearns 162

I did say "I could be corrected here." And I accept that my point was that there have many great fights that haven't been catch weight. My problem is people with titles fighting catchweight. Either you're defending your title or not? Otherwise there's no point in titles. This isn't aimed at one particular fighter, I think it just happens way too much now.

[Fenster]

Not correcting you, just highlighting how mad it looks. 158/160 fighters for a 168 title.

Chavez-Sweet Pea - P4P no.1 and 2, WBC welterweight title, 145 catchweight

Hopkins fought Oscar, Winky and Pavlik in catchweights, three of his most notable wins.

[Primo Carnera]

Not correcting you, just highlighting how mad it looks. 158/160 fighters for a 168 title.

Chavez-Sweet Pea - P4P no.1 and 2, WBC welterweight title, 145 catchweight

Hopkins fought Oscar, Winky and Pavlik in catchweights, three of his most notable wins.

I wasn't getting funny, I just had a feeling at the back of my mind , that's why I said I might be wrong. it does all look crazy though .

[SlimTrae]

Seems in a few more years, when we've all become the old geezers, catchweights will be the norm to fans watching boxing in 2018 & beyond.

Not sure who the Atomweight champ in Asia will catchweight with...