The jumping weights issue....w/reference to Calzaghe/Wright/Hopkins.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Calzaghe's movement was reduced and his flexibility decreased.

It's easier for me to make Middle than Light Middle, but I'm at my optimum at Light Middle.
Just because he's more comfortable making the weight does not necessarily mean that he will perform better.

Well as soon as my injury heals im going to try Middleweight because i walk around at that weight so i'll let you know how that goes. I don't think the weight had anything to do with it personally, i never thought Calzaghe had much flexibility in the upper body as for his movement i don't think his movement was too bad.

I think it was mostly age catching up to Calzaghe plus a bad style match up, Calzaghe's defense is leaky though and he has always had those problems its just he hasn't ever really fought against a good solid counter puncher before who could take advantage of it, especially when Calzaghe throws those flurries wide he leaves himself open for a straight shot right down the pipe, thats why he was floored by Salem for that exact reason.

I fought at 160 between the ages of 16 and 18. I then dropped to Light Middle and can honestly say that I'd obliterate a Middleweight version of myself because of the flexibilty and speed diference.

Some guys have an optimum weight.
Winkys is clerly 154 and Calzaghes 168.

Hope the foot heals well.

[RozzySean]

I think it depends on the fighter - both there body and there style. Cotto, for example, was weight drained at 140 and is a far superior fighter at 147. Also, it depends on when you start fighting and if your body is still naturally filling out. Some guys are are just late bloomers and as they hit their mid to late 20's there frames fill out to the point that there old weight is not correct for them anymore. Pac is and example of this, Hearns and Cotto, too. I don't think Roy Jones lost much going up in weight from Middle to LH.

I think Wright pushed his limit when he decided to fight at 170. I agree that Winky was best and most natural at 154 and Calzaghe was better and most natural at 168. Still, Calzaghe trains pretty old school, I think. If Joe had a Mackie Shillstone type to help him with his conditioning, he would have probably looked better at 175.

I don't blame fighters for moving up in weight to make bigger fights. Shane Mosley could have stuck around 135 longer, but everybody wanted to see him fight ODLH. Mosley moved up and was very good, though probably not as good as he was at LW. Hatton on the other hand is a pure natural LWW and this, combined with his style, won't let him move up effectively.