How much credit should you get for beating smaller guys?

[Kel]

Depends, Pac looked great at 147 but never looked like a much smaller guy at all, only in height obviously. He looked ripped too. If Hatton beats him it's a very good win IMO.

Hopkins has beaten a lot of big names but some of them were much smaller and it was clearly visible in the ring. Trinindad and De La Hoya both looked fleshy and were clearly lacking in size and strength. Even Winky Wright looked undersized somewhat. Three VERY good fighters, all out of their depth though in reality because along with size Hopkins is/was a skilled technician with very good power. So not too much credit for these wins for me.

Even Calzaghe and Pavlic moved up to fight him

Hatton beating Pac would indeed be a very good win for him. It just wouldn't elevate his p4p status like a win over say... Cotto, would. Why? 'Cause of the size element. Pac may have looked ripped, but it doesn't change the fact that he was way over his natural weight. Major props to Pac.

And yes... Hopkins did beat a Trinidad and a De La Hoya who were both over their peak fighting weights at 160, whereas Hopkins had been a MW practically his entire career. But as the previous poster indicated, Trinidad had been on a KO binge, even KO'ing William Joppy in his first 160-pound fight. And Joppy had been MW champion. So Hopkins' stock went up even though he had beaten a naturally smaller man.

What about the RJJ fight? Did his stock go up too? or was it exactly the same? A bigger guy beating a smaller guy?

[Taeth]

I think it depends on how good the guy is, I am sure everybody onhere who has foughten somebody smaller than them that is really good would atest to the fact that sometimes size and weight means almost nothing.

[Kel]

I think it depends on how good the guy is, I am sure everybody onhere who has foughten somebody smaller than them that is really good would atest to the fact that sometimes size and weight means almost nothing.

When you get two guys at different weights with the same skill rate it makes a big difference.

[Taeth]

skill level is subjective. Look at Leonard-Duran I, and Leonard-Duran II. It depends on who can get the other person to fight their fight. Unless two guys fight the exact same style it really depends. If some guy is on the same skill level as the bigger guy, but is faster in relation to how much smaller he is sometimes he can use that speed a huge advantage, if the bigger guy is really good at cutting off the ring or is a pressure fighter than they can really use that to their advantage, but if you watched how Hopkins fought Oscar De La Hoya I don't think he used his size at all in that fight.

[ukansodoff]

Ive said this before. Pacquiao is superior to Hatton in most ways, no dig at Hatton i think hes great too. But Pacman is P4P.

But when you got 2 boxers in their prime, fighting fit and ready to go and 1 is naturally 140 and 1 has built up their smaller frame to make the weight unless theres a huge gulf in class the bigger guys guna win.

Im a huge Hatton fan, i realise that if Hatton wins he doesnt get the opinionated P4P crown. I think Hatton will win this fight quite easily (not 2 easily). But I accept that its mainly the size difference that has helped.

If Pacquiao was a natural lightwelter too hed be the best there is, better than Hatton but he aint.

Though if Pacquiao does win this and not on cuts it seems people wont be suprised and that they expected it. I think Manny would need a hell of alot more credit than that. it would be a sublime achievment.

[fan johnny]

There is really nothing notable in size difference between Pacquiao and Hatton. It's pretty much even when they step into the ring. Even though pacquiao is coming up in weight from previous fights he's already a solid jr welterweight. Pacquiao will carry 150lbs walk around weight so I don't really see where you are getting 130lbs natural weight from. That was yester year and not today. So your premise is off. Hatton pulls off a win it will carry a lot of credit and nothing is lost due to size difference.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Unless i have the info on what a fighter is going through to make weight, i really can't comment on the issue of 'Natural Weight'...

[HattonTheHammer]

The exact same credit you should get for beating someone bigger than you.

If someone is naturally taller it suggests to me they have to weight drain themselves just that bit more than you do to make the weight.

Calderon, Pacquiao, Griffin, duran - are/were great fighters that just naturally adapated to fighting guys who are taller than them and in durans case stronger!!