Realistically, do you think Juan Manuel Lopez would stand a chance if he was to fight Andre Berto? The Weight difference is roughly 21 pounds.
What do you think would happen if Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan or Devon Alexander were to be matched with any of the top ten middleweight contenders? This weight difference would be roughly 20 pounds.
The obvious answer to both questions is that the smaller man would lose and lose badly. Anyone who follows combat sports knows that when everything else is equal, size matters. The larger the disparity in weight and reach, the more the size advantage matters.
To expect a fighter who has outgrown the Cruiserweight Division with a maximum weight limit of 200 pounds, to be able to effectively compete with the top heavyweights of today, who in top shape can come in at over 240 pounds is just not realistic and it’s downright dangerous.
Since worldwide people are getting larger the need is now to establish a Professional Superheavyweight Class. The Heavyweight Division would have a maximum weight limit of 225 pounds. Above that division would be the Superheavyweights with an unlimited maximum weight.
If people keep growing maybe in about fifty years there’d be a need for a 250 pound weight division. Maybe they’d have to call that one the Godzilla Division. But let’s stick to the present for now.
Looking at the top ten Heavyweight contenders it’s easy to see the huge size disparity and the need for another weight division.
In their most recent fights Wladimir Klitschko came in at 247 pounds, while Vitali came in at 251 pounds. David Haye weighed in at 210½ pounds for fighting Audley Harrison.
Is there really any question as to why David Haye is finding the reasons that a fight with either Klitschko cannot be made? He’s outsized. Although he’d never admit it, I doubt he’d be as reluctant to fight the Brothers K if they were each 3 inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter.
Another telling statistic is the height differences of the fighters.
In Boxing reach matters. Anyone who has been on the end of a long jab to the nose has experienced firsthand the advantage that a taller, longer Boxer carries into the ring.
This is the rundown for the heights and weights for The Ring Magazine’s current Heavyweight Divisions top ten at their most recent fights.
Wladimir Klitschko: 6’6”½, 247 lbs
Vitali Klitschko: 6’7”½, 251 lbs
David Haye: 6’3”, 210½ lbs
Alexander Povetkin: 6’2”, 229 ¼ lbs
Tomasz Adamek: 6’1”½, 216 ½ lbs
Ruslan Chagaev: 6’1”, 232lbs
Eddie Chambers: 6’1”, 209 ½ lbs
Denis Boytsov: 6’1”, 220 ½ lbs
Nicolay Valuev: 7’0”, 316 lbs
Alexander Dimitrenko: 6’7”, 260 lbs
Chris Arreola: 6’4”, 256 lbs
The figures speak for themselves.
We have two weight divisions currently listed under the Heavyweight Divisions top ten ratings. At 6’4” and taller a fighter in shape will weigh 230 lbs or more. At 6’3” or shorter, again in shape, the fighter should weigh less than 225 lbs. Of course this is generalizing. There will always be exceptions.
I just now read that Tomasz Adamek has signed to fight one of the Klitschko brothers later in the year. Adamek is a very brave, smart, skillful fighter. But the size difference is far too much to expect him at 6’1”½ to be able to do anything with one of the Brothers K.
I’ll predict it right now, and I’m not going out on a limb stating that Adamek vs. either Klitschko is a mismatch and a dangerous one at that.
I’d much rather see Adamek in against David Haye. At least the size of the fighters would be similar and it would be a contest.
The reasons for a new weight class at 225 lbs are too numerous to list here. The bottom line is Boxing does need a Superheavyweight Division and that’s all there is to it.
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Boxing quote of the day: “If Johnson threw the fight, I wish he’d thrown it sooner. It was hotter than hell down there!” Jess Willard answering claims by Jack Johnson that Johnson threw a fight with Willard by being knocked out in the 26th round.
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B.L. Morgan is the author of Blood and Rain, Blood for the Masses, Blood on Celluloid and Night Knuckles through Speaking Volumes http://speakingvolumes.us/authors_ebooks.asp?pid=79
He is also the author of Blood and Bones & You Play, You Pay through StoneGarden.net Publishing. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!