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

[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?