FanPost

How do you feel about catch-weight fights at the top level?

Many people argue that Catch-Weights are not a good thing for boxing. They ask: are fighters legitimately winning titles in multiple weight classes when these weight stipulations are put on the title fights? Some even go so far as saying such fights makes a mockery of some of the world titles Manny Pacquiao fought for. I choose to disagree. Oh yes, I know they might give a somewhat tarnished impression of a pure divisional title, but as long as great fights can be made via this method, I like it. Pac Man has given me a lot of thrills as he has moved up through the divisions. Maybe what Manny is doing is using the catch-weight to hinder larger men, but since when does a bigger man coming down become hindered fighting a smaller man coming up? James Goyder states in a July 26, 2010 piece in bleacher report, "By making these diva-like weight demands Pacquiao is seriously detracting from his historic achievement of winning world titles in multiple weight classes. Pacquiao's place in boxing history is assured without him needing to bend the rules to exaggerate the extent of his own achievements. If Pacquiao wants credit for winning a world title at a certain weight his opponent must be allowed to step onto the scales at that weight."

Sergio Martinez seems inclined to use catch-weights as well.

Now then, in a sport that may be in trouble (at least in the U.S.), anything within reason that can be done to turbo-charge the interest should be a welcome addition. The Super Six Tourney, though not a new concept, has done this globally. Mega catch-weight fights, also not a new phenomena ( Julio Cesar Chavez, Henry Armstrong, and Emile Griffith have done it) are something to which I look forward--like Roy Jones fighting Tito at 171 or Manny moving up or down (but mostly up) to fight bigger guys like Margarito. Of course, one must be careful when talking about Armstrong because he had only 7 weight classes--not 17 like we have today.

And then there is Floyd who has all kinds of options but seems reluctant to get off the dime. Heck, what about Floyd fighting Martinez in the middle of a range of 147> 154 <160?

So for me, I am more interest in the fight than who lays claim to a title. How about you? How do you feel about this?

FanPosts are user-created content written by community members of Bad Left Hook, and are generally not the work of our editors. Please do not source FanPosts as the work of Bad Left Hook.