Expert: Joe Hofer - 12/18/2007

Question
If a middleweight fighter is skilled enough to fight a heavyweight and beat him, why couldn't the fight be arranged? I know a heavier man can potentially put more weight into each punch, but look at how Mike Tyson overpowered guys much bigger than him!

Answer
It is not allowed under any state or sanctioning body.  Heavyweight has no limit as long as they are over the cruiserweight limit of 190.  There are too many risks.  It sometimes happens at the gym during sparring to possibly increase the heavier fighters speed.  There is good reason, due to safety.  In fact when some of the fighters move up in weight just to fight in the heavier classes in most cases it costs them and they are not successful.  Roberto Duran a great lightweight, but not near as effective and rarely got knockouts at the heavier middleweight.  There are many more examples, and these fighters put on the weight to fight at the other classes.

Thanks,

Joe