Sirb: 24hr weigh-ins a failure!

[Puya]

Sirb: 24hr weigh-ins a failure!
October 12, 2006

Greg Sirb, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission and former President of the Association of Boxing Commissions, has joined the fray on the weigh-in crisis that has plagued the sport in the last 12 months.

With fighters not making weight for at least five high-profile bouts (Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Diego Corrales, Jorge Barrios and Wandee Singwangcha, many are calling for stricter monitoring of fighters' weights before big fights. Sirb, who requires same-day weigh-ins in the state of Pennslyvania, believes it is best to do away with 24-hour advance weigh-ins altogether.

In a letter to the ABC membership, Sirb wrote:

"Once again our sport was embarrassed by one of our big name boxers failing to make weight. This is truly become a sad and somewhat dangerous situation for all of us involved in professional boxing. For me, as most already know, the biggest problem is this ill-conceived "day-before-weigh-in". The reason these boxers are not making weight is that they are not competing at a natural weight – not even close. Corrales nor Castillo are NOT lightweights but because we as Commissions allow this weigh-in the day before an event these boxers have a false sense of security that they can indeed starve themselves because they think they can adequately replenish within the 24-hours before the fight.

"Let's face it what is more important, the weight of the boxer 24-hours before the fight or the actual weight of the boxer at the time of the fight!

"I truly believe the day before weigh-in has created an atmosphere that actually encourages rapid weight loss, encourages dehydration and after the weigh-in allows binge eating – none of which should be in our sport. Also our sport and our boxers suffer from ill advised weight loss and weight loss practices. By granting them the privilege to weigh in well before the event we are only encouraging boxers to starve so that they can regain, sometime large amounts of weight, so that by the time the actual competition takes place the true weight class of the boxer becomes a farce.

"The current system is wrong for both boxers. For the boxer who starves and dehydrates and then after weigh-ins gains 10-15 pounds this is simply not healthy. For the boxer who, because of his make-up, or because he has decided to fight at a more natural weight, and thus does not gain weight after the weigh-ins but is forced to compete against some one outside their weight class is just not fair or safe.

"Detractors of this idea say boxers must have time to re-hydrate – I say "hey stupid" they should not be dehydrating in the first place

"If a boxer needs to dehydrate to any degree in order to make weight – that is nature's way of saying move up to the next weight class. We have (16) different weight classes, I could see if you were a light-weight at 135 and the next weight class was say middle-weight at 160 you would want to stay at 135 but now we have 140, 147, 154 – pick a weight class that is much more natural to your bodies weight.

"My thoughts are that if we go back to the day of weigh-in (as is now the case for all collegiate wrestlers – the NCAA banned the idea of day-before weigh-ins) boxers such Corrales and Castillo will know there will be no chance of making that weight on the day of the fight while also being physically ready to fight so they would then move up to 140 lbs. – which is where they belong.

"The day before weigh-in has FAILED – it is time to change!!!"

[Puya]

IT makes sense I Agree on this

[Majesty]

I dont agree with it. If a fighter is drained enough the day of the weigh in to be conditioned 24 hours later why throw a drained fighter in the ring 5 hours after he weighed in. It doesn't make any sense. There's a reason there's 24 hour weigh ins. Safety. And I really don't want to see two drained fighters fighting 5 hours after the weigh in.

No sense at all to me

[Puya]

I dont agree with it. If a fighter is drained enough the day of the weigh in to be conditioned 24 hours later why throw a drained fighter in the ring 5 hours after he weighed in. It doesn't make any sense. There's a reason there's 24 hour weigh ins. Safety. And I really don't want to see two drained fighters fighting 5 hours after the weigh in.

No sense at all to me

The Idea is for faighters fight in a more natural weight or at least close to it and not drained so much.

[Majesty]

I dont agree with it. If a fighter is drained enough the day of the weigh in to be conditioned 24 hours later why throw a drained fighter in the ring 5 hours after he weighed in. It doesn't make any sense. There's a reason there's 24 hour weigh ins. Safety. And I really don't want to see two drained fighters fighting 5 hours after the weigh in.

No sense at all to me

The Idea is for faighters fight in a more natural weight or at least close to it and not drained so much.

They'll still be drained a bit, and do you really want them fighting 4 or 5 hours later?

I think everyone jumps the gun and says "lets go back to same day weigh ins" but forget that its 24 hours for a reason. People that have more knowledge in the field of health then those "sports writers" ever will. Know what I mean?

[SigmaMu]

I agree with this article. This whole weight thing is a farse and a joke. Not fair to people who are a natural weight.

[Puya]

I see your point CC, what really bother me is fighters draining that much to fight in weight class that is to low for their weight and my first example is Cotto, JLC, Corrales,


I for once am very happy to see Cotto move up in weight and the above mention

[Galaxy]

I agree with the article, I think day of the fight weigh ins would cause more fighters to fight closer to their natural weight!

[ender]

Same day weigh ins would make EVERYONE more accountable the way "open scoring " would. It would legitamize things a lot more.

I heard a horror story about a bout of Jorge Arce's in Mexico where he was literally carried into the wigh in, plopped on the scale, made weight and then passed out and started twitching. His handlers carried him away and he went out and got a win the next day. A lot of Roberto Beltran's fighters have that problem. He keeps them at unnatural weights to gain advantage. Ricardo Lopez, Jose Luis Castillo , and Arce to name a few big names.

We need to take a long look at many thigns we are doing wrong here. 24 hours weigh ins and open scoring being two of the top in my opinion.

Dump those hypocritical sanctioning bodies as well.

[Lords Gym]

I agree with the article. I believe a fighter should be at his fighting weight 1 week before the fight and stay at the weight until the fight. its the healthy and logical way to be a fighter. a fighter that trains correctly during camp will weight proper and be more effective the night of the fight. these guys that starve and dehydrate to make weight and then bulk up 14-15 pounds is really unfair to themselves and their opponent. to themselves in that the fluid that protects the brain from the skull is depleted and takes some 36-48 hours to re hydrate, leaving the fighter more susceptible for brain related injuries . and to his opponent who comes in correct who should not have to face someone that ways 14-15 lbs heavier (Gatti- Vs Gamache comes to mind). . I like the idea of fighters weighting in the night of the fight, its the right thing to do, and any good responsible training camp knows this and should make the proper adjustments.

[Lords Gym]

Same day weigh ins would make EVERYONE more accountable the way "open scoring " would. It would legitamize things a lot more.

I heard a horror story about a bout of Jorge Arce's in Mexico where he was literally carried into the wigh in, plopped on the scale, made weight and then passed out and started twitching. His handlers carried him away and he went out and got a win the next day. A lot of Roberto Beltran's fighters have that problem. He keeps them at unnatural weights to gain advantage. Ricardo Lopez, Jose Luis Castillo , and Arce to name a few big names.

We need to take a long look at many thigns we are doing wrong here. 24 hours weigh ins and open scoring being two of the top in my opinion.

Dump those hypocritical sanctioning bodies as well.

#14 on the weight in - However open scoring is tricky for me. I would hate a fighter to know they are way ahead on the cards and then avoid action for the remained of the fight. I would be in favor of making the rings a standard size of 18 foot and no bigger , so that a fighter could not completely stay on his heels and run.. A fighterwould still be forced to engage the remainder the fight. Can you imagine a guy knowing for sure the other guy needs a knockout to win ? its to easy with the larger rings for a good fighter to go into cage mode , not take chances and thus not get hit with anything big. but I would like judges to be accountable for their actions, it would be great to catch the crocks on the round when it happens and say what F#$@ are you watching.

[Lords Gym]

#107 Puya for the artical