Is there a minimum weight for heavyweight these days?

Question

I've heard that if you're over 200 lbs, you MUST fight in HW class. But what if you're, say, 180 and you want to?

Is there a minimum weight?

Answer 1

I think RJJ fan hit the nail on the head. . . but I don't think maurice is "wrong". . . . just stating his opinion.  He's saying that someone SHOULDN'T fight heavy if they aren't 200. . . .not that they CAN'T.  

Roy is the PERFECT example for this theory. . . .another is Billy Conn who fought Joe Louis while being the lightheavyweight champion. . .well under the 200 limit.

Answer 2

To answer your question, yes a fighter can fight a heavyweight (201 or above) while being slightly under the limit. Is doesn't happen often though, perhaps due to the smaller fighter possibly worrying about the power difference in the fight. The only problem with that is that in situations like that, championship titles will not be put on the line for one or both fighters.

There have been a few light-heavyweight fighters who have fought James Toney, while Toney himself was actually weighed in at crusierweight. Also, I just want to point out something about the Jones and Ruiz fight. Yes, Jones was at 193 pounds at the weigh-in, but he was still considered a heavyweight, because the crusierweight limit was still at 190 pounds back in 2003. Cruiserweight limit didn't go up to 200 pounds until a year or two later.

Answer 3

Maurice  - what  are you telling him ?

200lb is the upper limit for Cruiserweight, which is a recent category introduced between light heavyweight (175 lbs maximum) and heavyweight (unlimited).

You can alwatys box in a category above your weight - the weight limits are a maximum.

A recent example is Roy Jones Jr, who weighed 193 lbs when he fought and beat John Ruiz (226 lbs) for one of the heavyweight belts.

Answer 4

200 pounds is the minimum weight, if you can't make it, stick to your own weight class.

most middleweight could probably make it, but it doesn't mean that most will succeed in the division.