Catchweights Cheat The Sport

Boxing has had weight limits for years and if you weigh over a particular limit you were considered to be out of that weight class. For instance if you fought in the Welterweight Division the weight limit is 147lbs. If you weigh anything over 147lbs but less than 154lbs you are considered a Junior Middleweight. However in recent years catchweights are coming up more and more. Catchweights came about to have two fighters who are in different divisions meet in the middle to make the fight happen, sort of like a win-win situation. The thing I hate about catchweights is the fact that fighters are trying to use catchweights in Championship fights. Last year, Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi fought at a catchweight of 139. So the fight was fought in the Junior Welterweight division just one pound under the Junior Welterweight weight limit of 140. There was no major championship on the line and it was a decent fight so no issues. Floyd Mayweather Jr. came out of retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez at a catchweight of 144lbs. Marquez came in at 142lbs and Mayweather came in at 146lbs. Mayweather paid a $600,000 fine as stipulated in their contract and proceeded with the fight. Many people were upset because Mayweather had an unfair weight advantage that went against the contract. However I had no issues with that because why should a fighter give in to a catchweight when he is still under the weight division limit? Why should a fighter drain himself in order to make someone else happy.The Mayweather-Marquez fight was not for a championship so not a lot of drama came after. The issue I and many other true boxing fans are having is catchweights in Championship fights. The king of catchweights is Manny Pacquiao. As Pacquiao has gone up in weight he has began to request catchweights in order to fight the bigger guys in bigger fights. December 2008, Pacquiao fought Oscar De La Hoya at the Welterweight limit of 147 and won by KO. No issues there except Oscar killed himself to make weight, but that was his choice saying he could make that weight. Pacquiao goes back down to 140lbs in May 2009 to fight Ricky Hatton and again he won by KO. No issues with that fight because Pacquiao fought within the weight limit. However, November 2009 Pacquiao challenges Miguel Cotto for the WBO Welterweight Title. In the contract Pacquiao and his team requested that Cotto weigh 145lbs, a clear two pounds under the Welterweight limit of 147lbs. Then in the contract there are penalties if the fighter does not meet the catchweight even if he is under the weight limit of the division. Now less than a year ago, Pacquiao fought De La Hoya and had no issues fighting at the full weight limit, but against Cotto he couldn't. After a lot of back and forth Cotto agreed to come in at 145lbs. Cotto ended up getting KOd in that fight and many believe part of the reason was due to his weight loss. Cotto, who was already having issues making 147lbs, was contractually required to come down an additional two pounds when the Welterweight limit is 147lbs. In March 2010, Pacquiao fought Joshua Clottey but did not ask for a catchweight and he won the fight with no issues. However the issue that is approaching again is Pacquiao is going to fight Antonio Margarito in November for the WBC Junior Middleweight Title and require a catchweight. Junior Middleweight limit is 154lbs but Pacquiao wants the fight to be fought at 150lbs. 150lbs is four pounds under the limit. Why are sanctioning bodies allowing catchweights to happen? The weight limits that each division has are the catchweights. If we didn't have pre-existing weight limits then we would have guys 200lbs trying to fight guys 140lbs. So if we already have weight limits why are fighters trying to give themselves unfair advantages? Why are these catchweights being allowed especially in Championship fights? Weight limits are the catchweights and should be treated as so. Never should a fight be contracted for a World Title under the weight limit of that weight division. If the fighter weighs in above the weight limit, the sanctioning bodies already have penalties along with the atheltic commission in the states where these fights take place. Someone needs to take a stand and stop these catchweights from cheating the sport. If you can't fight at the limit of a weight division and if you dont want the other fighter to do so then you shouldn't be fighting in that weight division. Simple as that. Lets abide by the rules and limits set in place and not cheat the sport. Weight limits = Catchweight. Any Questions?