The Solution: Create a Superheavyweight Division FAST!

[brocktonblockbust]

Guys this is the solution to the heavyweight division's doldrums.

1. Fairness: how in Buddha's name is it fair for a 6'7" man to fight a 5'11" man, and also outweigh him by 50 pounds, and outreach him by 15 inches? Please.... Just imagine Rocky Marciano trying to fight the K brothers....or Floyd Patterson trying to fight Lennox.... or Joe Frazier trying to fight Andrew Golota. It just isn't a fair fight. Why stop at heavyweight when people have gotten much bigger DUE TO GMO FOODS, GROWTH HORMONES IN THE FOOD, ETC....

2. Lighter guys can come up and reasonably fight at heavyweight, which they wouldnt do now due to these huge Michael Grant-sized creatures.

3. Make anybody over 240 pounds and/or 6'5 inches forced to fight at Superheavyweight.

[titleist905t]

But then there will only be 5 or 6 guys in the entire planet in the Super heavyweight division.

[bzkfn]

Yeah I don't see the point of this. You'd basically be encouraging guys like Arreola not to train to become a world champion. The 3 world champions at Heavyweight would likely not compete at Super-Heavy, so all these tall, tubby fighters you speak of have yet to taste success. Creating another division wouldn't help, as you'd just have fans moaning that 2 divisions sucked.

When the Klitschko's and Haye retire, the division will probably get alot better. Adamek has pretty much cememnted his place near the top of the division just by defeating some mediocre opposition. The reason people have taken notice to him is because he's kept winning and he's been a champion in 2 weightclasses. The solution will either be that top stars from lower divisions move up or some quality amateur boxers go pro and move through the system.

If the Klitschko's and Haye retire, Andre Ward's dream of beconming a Heavyweight Champion some day might just be a reality.

[Kev]

A superheavyweight division is not even remotely needed as beyond a certain weight boxers are shit.

Did it escape you that the biggest fighter of them all in Nikolay Valuev was beaten by a guy coming up from cruiserweight and thus one of the smallest?

Beyond a certain critical mass size offers more disadvantages than advantages in reduced mobility. You can't use your size in boxing like you can in MMA. If Valuev could lie on top of David Haye he might have been able to use his size to some effect but as all he could do was punch, (and he punches slower than molasses) he was a relatively easy opponent to defeat. In fact most saw Evander Holyfield beating Valuev as well, another small former cruiserweight fighter, as well as a grandfather and likely brain damaged.

Creating an even bigger weight class would just allow the biggest guys to have a shot of winning world titles that they currently cannot.

Certainly they are not a factor in the division at the moment, in fact most of the best fighters are little guys, Haye, Adamek, Chambers.

[Kev]

Guys this is the solution to the heavyweight division's doldrums.

1. Fairness: how in Buddha's name is it fair for a 6'7" man to fight a 5'11" man, and also outweigh him by 50 pounds, and outreach him by 15 inches? Please.... Just imagine Rocky Marciano trying to fight the K brothers....or Floyd Patterson trying to fight Lennox.... or Joe Frazier trying to fight Andrew Golota. It just isn't a fair fight. Why stop at heavyweight when people have gotten much bigger DUE TO GMO FOODS, GROWTH HORMONES IN THE FOOD, ETC....

2. Lighter guys can come up and reasonably fight at heavyweight, which they wouldnt do now due to these huge Michael Grant-sized creatures.

3. Make anybody over 240 pounds and/or 6'5 inches forced to fight at Superheavyweight.

Just a quick point by point.

1. The weight limits have gone up since Marciano's time. If Marciano was fighting now and weighing what he did back then he wouldn't be in the heavyweight division he would be a cruiser and thus fighting people his own size.

2. Michael Grant got beat last time out by Thomas Adamek, who came up from not one but two weight divisions below and was much smaller. His size didn't seem to be a problem.

4. Wlad can make 240 and maybe even Vitali at a push so they would likely just become two weight world champs. There are zero fighters bigger than the Klits who are any good whatsoever. As for putting a height limit? Really, there is no height limit in any other weight class in boxing......

[Taeth]

I think it's more that smaller heavyweights have to stop being lazy. Sure they will be a big size disadvantage against the klitschko's, but I think it's more of a case that the Klitschko's are special talents then anything. I mean look how many guys have beaten Valuev who are around six feet tall. What's special about the brothers is that they are smart, very athletic, economic and they get the most out of their natural advantages.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I think some people are forgetting that Heavyweights are so isolated from the cruiser-weight division. Not only that but not many Light-Heavyweights travel up to Cruiser-weight these days either...

It would benefit boxing if there was a Re-Hash somewhere along the line... Maybe the Cruiser weight division could go back to 190lbs and maybe a super-cruiser weight division with a limit of 210lbs could be introduced?

I know that straight away most septics would immediately assume that because the Cruiser-weight division is shit, that the Super-Cruiser-weight would be just as shit but you have to look at the bigger picture... More fighters from Light Heavyweight could fight at Cruiser-Weight.... Not only that but you would probably find that a lot of fighters from Super Middleweight would also (realistically) aspire to fight regularly at Cruiser-weight.

So you can see that straight away the Cruiser-Weight division becomes a more illustrious division simply because it becomes more accessible from both above and below.

So then obviously, logic dictates that the Super-Cruiser-weight division is afforded the same privileges when it has a melting pot of both the aforementioned pedigree of the division below and of course, fighters who currently fight at around 220lbs-230lbs who could easily make 210lbs if they wanted to.

Current and Historical fighters (1980's onwards) such as:

David Haye
Michael Spinks
Tomasz Adamek
Antonio Tarver
James Toney
Alexander Povetkin
Michael Moorer
Denis Boytsov
Evander Holyfield
Timur Ibragimov
Chris Byrd

Now it's easy to see what kind of division the Super-Cruiser-weight could be, as long as it was properly made to accommodate all the other divisions around it (i.e lowering the Cruiserweight limit back to 184lbs) but also, there are some truly gifted fighters who could of really found a home there.... Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd, Tomasz Adamek & David Haye all could of been regarded as GREAT at that division because that is probably their best weight to fight at and obviously it would be great if all their opponents were the same weight right?

So there you have it, I have officially changed my mind. I no longer want a Super Heavyweight division, I want a Super Cruiserweight division

[brocktonblockbust]

great points on the super cruiser thing. i dont think guys who normally weigh-in at an in-shape 230 could make 210, however. tha's a huge drop for a guy that size.

[bzkfn]

Jimbo, again a Super-Cruiser division is pointless, as the likes of Haye would continue to fight at Heavy because of the glamour and financial aspect associated to the "Heavyweight Champion" name. Adding the word "Super" to it doesn't make either division sound more appealing, and the general public will once again be more confused at the distorted view of boxing.

Remember, another division means countless more champions. Do we really need anymore?

[AdamGB]

Whether you call them Heavyweights or Super Heavyweights doesn't matter... the prestige will always be for the heaviest division... whatever name you give it.

Creating a Super Cruiser weight or a Super heavyweight won't change the fact that the biggest guys are horrible and in my opinion just adds even more unnecessary weight classes.

[brocktonblockbust]

imagine Willie Pep against Valuev

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

great points on the super cruiser thing. i dont think guys who normally weigh-in at an in-shape 230 could make 210, however. tha's a huge drop for a guy that size.

I disagree but that's not the point. It could be jiggled around in some way, to make it accessible...

The main point is, that it brings all the top 5 divisions A LOT closer together.

Jimbo, again a Super-Cruiser division is pointless, as the likes of Haye would continue to fight at Heavy because of the glamour and financial aspect associated to the "Heavyweight Champion" name. Adding the word "Super" to it doesn't make either division sound more appealing, and the general public will once again be more confused at the distorted view of boxing.

Remember, another division means countless more champions. Do we really need anymore?

I think this is a slightly short sighted response. (No offense buddy!)

Firstly, Haye no doubt is a glory hunter but you forget that he fought at Cruiserweight for as long as he could. Do you honestly think he wouldn't of preferred to fight without a 200lbs limit for a while before snatching a belt off a Heavyweight? Of course he would, and look at the potential match up's there could of been...

Secondly, I have absolutely no doubt that most of the boxers around the 225lbs mark would prefer to fight at Heavyweight but then I have no doubt that they would want to fight at 210ish either, especially if it meant picking up a strap from a division that could easily have the likes of Andre Ward, Chad Dawson, Tomasz Ademek & David Haye in it... That's a fantastic division right there!

I'm of the thinking that if the weight classes are brought together and made more accessible so that fighters around the 200lbs are mixing in better company with fighters BOTH bigger and smaller then you start to then add more prestige to all the weight classes in and around it... Including most importantly the Heavyweight division.

***Edit***AdamGB and such like peoples....
If you truly believe boxing has too many weight classes, then look to the bottom of the pile. 3 and 4 pound differentials... I agree, it's a joke.
However, there's a real problem at the top of the scales that needs to be re-addressed IMHO, the gap needs to be bridged from 175 upwards.

[Kev]

In my opinion people are trying to look for a solution without there being a problem.

The big freaks in the heavyweight division aren't even close to taking the division over. On the contrary they routinely get out boxed and beaten up by blown up cruisers.

What giant heavyweights are ruining boxing exactly?

The Klitchsko's are dominating boxing because they are by far the best boxers in the division. They turn up motivated, in shape, they have talent and ability and respect the sport enough to make sure they give 100% inside and outside the ring.

Whether you find them boring or not they are worthy world champions. Surely the fact that the guys given the greatest shot at beating them are also some of the smallest fighters at the weight shows it's not about size.

[El Kabong]

Brock, you bring up Michael Grant....who may I ask just beat him? Former light heavyweight and cruiserweight Tomaz Adamek.

The Klitschko's rule not only because of their size but more so their skill and determination.

There may be hope for excitement in the division yet there are once again a few solid American prospects out there: Deontay Wilder, Joe Hanks, and some other dude that Dan Rafael is high on.

[AdamGB]

great points on the super cruiser thing. i dont think guys who normally weigh-in at an in-shape 230 could make 210, however. tha's a huge drop for a guy that size.

I disagree but that's not the point. It could be jiggled around in some way, to make it accessible...

The main point is, that it brings all the top 5 divisions A LOT closer together.

Jimbo, again a Super-Cruiser division is pointless, as the likes of Haye would continue to fight at Heavy because of the glamour and financial aspect associated to the "Heavyweight Champion" name. Adding the word "Super" to it doesn't make either division sound more appealing, and the general public will once again be more confused at the distorted view of boxing.

Remember, another division means countless more champions. Do we really need anymore?

I think this is a slightly short sighted response. (No offense buddy!)

Firstly, Haye no doubt is a glory hunter but you forget that he fought at Cruiserweight for as long as he could. Do you honestly think he wouldn't of preferred to fight without a 200lbs limit for a while before snatching a belt off a Heavyweight? Of course he would, and look at the potential match up's there could of been...

Secondly, I have absolutely no doubt that most of the boxers around the 225lbs mark would prefer to fight at Heavyweight but then I have no doubt that they would want to fight at 210ish either, especially if it meant picking up a strap from a division that could easily have the likes of Andre Ward, Chad Dawson, Tomasz Ademek & David Haye in it... That's a fantastic division right there!

I'm of the thinking that if the weight classes are brought together and made more accessible so that fighters around the 200lbs are mixing in better company with fighters BOTH bigger and smaller then you start to then add more prestige to all the weight classes in and around it... Including most importantly the Heavyweight division.

***Edit***AdamGB and such like peoples....
If you truly believe boxing has too many weight classes, then look to the bottom of the pile. 3 and 4 pound differentials... I agree, it's a joke.
However, there's a real problem at the top of the scales that needs to be re-addressed IMHO, the gap needs to be bridged from 175 upwards.

I was actually going to say this... but didn't think it was 100% relevant, I have a hard time taking a lot of the lighter weights seriously when the difference is like 4 pounds.

When they weight difference is the same as taking a crap/not taking a crap you have to worry.

I know the argument here is - if those guys need 4 pounds then bigger guys shouldn't have to have differnces of 20,30,40 pounds.

But I think Bilbo is right... Heavyweights reach a critical mass... the big ones tend to either be shite or plain out of shape. There simply isn't enough legitimate big men to need a whole new division.