The disparity in weight increased as one went up the classes in those days ( 6 lbs. between flyweight and bantamweight, 8 between bantam and feather, 9 between feather and light, 12 between light and welter, 13 between welter and middle, 15 between middle and light heavy and there was even a time when there was still no light heavyweight when the weight gap between the middle and the heavyweight was awfully huge, once one was already over 175, he was already considered a heavyweight.
The catch weight was instituted to allow smaller fighter to vie for championship in higher weight class with him being given the allowance to just come near or within the weight range/limit of the next higher division. There was no restriction however to the weight of the bigger opponent as long as it was still within the limit of the division being fought for. This was the compromise as in the case of Henry Armstrong who went from featherweight to the lightweights and the welterweights weighing an average of 132 lbs.. As I said there was no strict cap on the opponent's weight during the DAY OF THE FIGHT WEIGH-IN as long as it was still within the limit. When Armstrong fought Barney Ross for the welterweight title, he weighed in at 133 while Ross was 142 in his quest for the middleweight title vs. Ceferino Garcia , he weighed his highest of 144 lbs which was well within the welterweight but below the middleweight while Garcia came in at 154 lbs. well within the middleweight.
The catch weight concept changed with the rationalization of the weight classes and the institution of more divisions to narrow the gap between divisions The first celebrated test case under the new concept where a common catch weight was set and agreed upon was when then middleweight champ Sugar Ray Leonard fought light heavyweight titlist Donnie Lalonde both for Lalonde's 175 lbs. title and the newly created super middleweight belt ( 168 lbs.) of the WBC.where both were required to meet the common ctach weight of 168 lbs. at weigh-in. It was later reported that Leonard managed to meet the weight by lining his shorts with metals which was of course cheating at the expense of the poor Lalonde who had to dehydrate to meet the common catch weight. As a result, Lalonde lost by TKO to Leonard who had come at a more comfortable weight level approximating his best fighting weight at fight time.
The common catch weight as instituted since that time has been intended to equalize the result of a bigger fighter coming down where he would lose power with the result of a smaller fighter coming up in weight where he would lose his speed.
But Bob Arum through the catch weight fights of Manny Pacquiao even bastardize this by forcing his bigger foes to come down to meet the supposed catch weight under the penalty of fine if he failed to do so while Pacquiao was not required to meet the same so that he could fight at his optimum best at fight time. That's grossly unfair!
Yes catch weight fights in this era where there are 17 weight classes with each separated by between 3 lbs. at least and 7 to 8 lbs. at most from flyweight to super middleweight and light heavyweight in this day of day before the fight weigh-in compromise the integrity of boxing. More so when the bigger foes are required to meet the supposed common catch weight without any sanction on the smaller fighter if he fails to meet the same as in the case of Manny Pacquiao vs. Cotto and Margarito.
Catchweight was being used even during the time of those ATG. It is more to satisfy the craving of the boxing public who want to see the two fighters in the different weightclasses fighting its other. What really compromises the integrity of the sports were those fighters who completely disregard the contracted weights and come in over. I can not justify the results especially if the winner is the fighter who violated the rules and just pay the fine. Some champions lost their title in the scale but I never heard of any fight that was cancelled because one protagonist can not make the weight. It is an outright cheating in the highest degree.
I do not always agree with them. The fighter coming down usually suffers because he is weight drained and generally fights at the higher weight because he couldn't make the lower weight. Now he is fighting an elite fighter and the scale.
Best example of how this isn't good for me was Pacquiao/ Cotto. Cotto did not want to put his belt on the line at a catchweight. Promoter Bob Arum, ho promoted both guys sacrificed Cotto to build the Pacquiao legacy.
Floyd did the same thing to Canelo, and Canelo did lose gas but he never was in it either.
Yes I agree. Lara should get stripped of his title.
Why?Fights are fights it does not matter the weight of the fighters.
No, as long as it is mutually agreed by both parties.
Seems to be ok when Floyd makes his opponent do it, but not when other boxers make their opponents do it. Strange that.
It seems, that if the money is right, two boxers can create a fight without any regard for official weight classes..??
I have always had a reserved view regarding catchweight fights..
What I don't buy is.... If two title holders of a marginal different weight class, choose to fight at a catch weight, the loser still goes home with the world title strap... that just doesn't seem right to me??
As an old school boxing fan, I believe that a boxer should strive to be the best at his weight, be that at domestic, European, or world class level...
Don't get me wrong, I love the catch weight fights....usually two big names slugging it out.. Don't make it right though..
Your opinions please Gentlemen..
