How much credit should you get for beating smaller guys?

[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!!

[Trainer Monkey]

Pac really doesnt look undersized.
Technically you could say Hopkins was the smaller man when he beat the snot out of Tarver. Funny everyone points to Trinidad and Wright(both fights he was supposed to lose) when they say Hopkins only fought smaller opponents,but nobody points to Tarver to say he beat the snot out of the technically bigger opponent
Tarver was champion at the time and everything.
I like Hatton more then Pac admittedly,because I like brawlers,but I dont think Pac's size will take anything away from it if Hatton wins,and honestly as slick as Manny is I wouldnt place bets either way.

[JonesJrMayweather]

for me its how much smaller..one weight class isnt that big a deal and could be equal..but two and up then you start to lose credit...IMO

[Taeth]

People underappreciate the strength smaller guys have, if your a heavywieght and you fight a guy who hits really hard at 175 you are going to feel it.