Weight Classes?… We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Weight Classes (Rios vs Murray)
By Alec Kohut, Max Boxing (Dec 5, 2011) Special to Doghouse Boxing (Photo © German Villasenor)
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Brandon Rios (R) boxing John Murray (L)
I guess the new Top Rank lightweight division limit is 147 pounds on the morning of the fight. So Brandon Rios made this new lightweight limit by half a pound on Saturday morning. Way to go, Brandon! Today, weight classes are not in place to protect fighters’ safety by avoiding size and power mismatches. No, silly, weight classes are there to create more “world champions” and more “title fights”- to make more and more money, period.
 
Throughout the history of boxing, more deaths and serious injuries have occurred due to numerous hard blows over the span of many rounds. A sustained beating of a “game” yet overmatched foe by a better and too often bigger fighter. It was bad enough when weigh-ins were moved to the day before a fight, creating a situation where fighters are routinely 15 pounds or more over the prescribed limit come fight time. Now it seems that even the limits themselves are not all that important.
 
The Brandon Rios vs. John Murray bout (featured on the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito undercard at Madison Square Garden) was a joke from the start. Murray “earned” his shot by getting knocked out by Kevin Mitchell. As Larry Merchant might say, “John Murray is one big win away from having a big win.” Rios is tough and hard-hitting but not with one-punch knockout power, the kind that wears down and punishes opponents over many rounds, kind of like Ray Mancini.
 
This was an obvious mismatch before and after Rios failed to make weight and only had to be at the welterweight limit at 9 AM on Saturday morning. It was a recipe for disaster but none of those inconveniences bothered the Top Rank brass or the NYSAC after all the fighters and teams “made a deal.” Why would one expect the NYSAC to get in the way of profit and profile for something as trivial as fighter safety? After all, money was trading hands.
 
When you get a chance, think of Joey Gamache and wish the best for him.
 
To no one’s surprise, Rios battered Murray for 11 long rounds. Murray’s eyes were black and swelled, his face bloodied while Rios looked as if he’d been wearing a helmet, with hardly a scratch. I don’t know what Rios weighed as he stepped through the ropes last night but it was a pretty sure bet he was a middleweight. When he did make weight against Anthony Peterson last year, Rios entered the fight at 152.
 
John Murray had his moments. He did land punches and was no doubt a “game” opponent. It seems that he escaped any serious injury or damage this time. Rest in peace, Duk Koo Kim.

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If there is a fight or fighter you feel deserves mention in the Regional Report, please contact Alec at maxboxingeast@gmail.com. You can also follow Alec on Twitter at www.twitter.com/alecmaxboxing and tune in to his weekly online show every Tuesday at 9:00 PM EST at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/aleckohut



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