The sport plumbs new depths

Not sure if this has been covered before but, if it's true, it means the WBC middleweight champ refusing to defend it at middleweight.... catch-weight becoming the norm needs to be knocked on the head. It's becoming embarrassing. Canelo, if you're not willing to fight at the weight just drop the title and stop pretending to be the champ!

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/03/canelos-trainer-says-wont-fight-ggg-160/

Rather a one-sided article. I agree entirely though. He comes into the ring at 170+ so there's absolutely no reason to demand a catchweight other than gaining an advantage. Catchweights for titles should be banned and if the WBC allow Canelo to keep his title it'll be an utter farce.

Bit of hyperbole here I see. It's not good but it certainly ain't new depths.

Didn't Manny cause a lot of this with him being a huge star and setting his own rules, for which governing bodies allowed in order for him to sanction their belts?

Its largely a one sided article because it's nigh on impossible to defend the other side. As I said on q seperate forum. Canelo went up against Mayweather and Cotto and received a Masters in Negotiations/Divametrics 100

I love the line in there that if GGG forces it we will give him the belt but he won't get the fight.

So basically Canelo would rather not be champion if it means he actually has to defend his title at the weight.

Lance,I agree a bit of hyperbole but it is truly odd that the champ is saying he won't defend as the weight his title is at. Can you imagine Usain bolt saying, you know what, I'm better over 150m so I'll defend my 200m title at that distance.

I know it won't happen but, they should strip him of the title if those are his terms as it no longer makes the governing body in control of the requirements for their own belt.

I know they won't, as money talks.

Hardly any different to Tony Canzoneri many many years ago.

Lance wrote:Bit of hyperbole here I see. It's not good but it certainly ain't new depths.

Didn't Manny cause a lot of this with him being a huge star and setting his own rules, for which governing bodies allowed in order for him to sanction their belts?

Ray Leonard did this catch weight title fight nonsense back in the 80's, way before Manny came along.

A man who weighs over 170lbs when he fights but refuses to defend his 160lb title above a 155lbs limit in an era where there is over 20 weight classes. I dont this hasnt happened much at all in the history of boxing. Alvarez is taking things to a new level.

Thanks catchy! I thought I was going crazier thinking this was more extreme.

There's a thread about Jimmy Wilde... Puts his exploits into perspective.

If the WBC allow it, you may as well ask what's the point in weight categories, if the holder can pick which he wants to fight at?

Tweet from Tom Loeffler:

GGG weighed 164 for @WBCBoxing 30 day weighin, Canelo 167.8 for 30 day weighin for Cotto fight, who's the bigger Middleweight Champion?

i could understand mannys case to a certain extent, as he was a smaller man fighting bigger fighters. not sure what canelos excuse is as he's the bigger fighter more often than not