Crawford entered ring at 152 lbs for Gamboa fight

By Boxing News - 06/29/2014 - Comments

crawford3By Chester Rivers: Last night in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A, WBO lightweight champion Terrance Crawford defended his 135 lb championship against challenger Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-1, 16 KO’s). The only problem was Crawford entered the ring unofficially 152 lbs. During their pre-fight instructions, there was no doubt as to who was the larger man. Crawford dwarfed the 5’5 1/2″ Gamboa as the two fighters stood nose to nose will receiving instructions from the referee. If ever there was a time to bring back the same day weigh in the time is now.

Weighing in on the same day ended in the early 1980’s. Because promoters were in fear of losing money when one fighter would come in overweight and the other fighter refusing to fight because of this issue.

It was proposed that the fighters would have a 24 hr weigh in window to make the agreed upon weight. At the moment either fighter make weight that would be his official weight for the fight regardless of his weight at the time he steps in the ring. Most fighters today take full advantage of this loop hole by campaigning nearly 20 lbs. lighter than their natural body weight.
What would be the impacted of this reform?

It would force fighters to fight at their natural body weight. Fighters such as Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Julio Caesar Chavez Jr and now Terrance Crawford would not have a 10 to 15 lb weight advantage over their opponent. It would also have a drastic change on who holds the title. Can you imagine Canelo Alvarez, who normally weighs around 167 on fight night campaigning at super middleweight? Would he still be as successful fighting guy his on size? Crawford knocked Gamboa down several times before knocking him out in the ninth was staggered by a Gamboa punch in the eight. What would have been the result if the both were the same size?

While others are arguing about reform in boxing because of perceived corruption with the commissions and judging, lets start with the reform that can protect the health of the fighters by bringing back the same day weigh in and forcing fighters to pick on guys their own size.



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