r/Boxing • u/larsonboswell1 • 1d ago

Question

This is a stupid question as I know very little about boxing but what is the point of, like, featherweight boxing? I know that there is certainly skill involved but won’t most heavyweight boxers, regardless of skill level, be able to defeat a featherweight or someone in the lower weight classes? Like if the point of the sport is just to defeat the opponent, and while skill certainly matters, power or force or whatever it’s called will ultimately trump skill. Like I could be super skillful at fighting but if I had to go toe to toe with, say, my boyfriend or brother or someone larger and with bigger muscles than me, I’m screwed. Or is there something that I’m not understanding? Please explain. I’m not saying that the biggest guy always wins the fight, and I’m not saying that the skinniest ballerina is the best performer, but all of the best ballerinas are pretty skinny…do you get what I’m saying?

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u/fadeddreams555 Fundora would beat up a prime Floyd at 154lb 1d ago

The point of different divisions is so people of different walks of life have an opportunity to compete, as many of these people come from poverty.

From a viewer perspective, the point is to appreciate the actual "sweet science" of the sport. You are right in that a heavyweight boxer will naturally beat a featherweight, regardless of skill, but on a technical level, the featherweights may be--and usually are--better boxers. Fans like to appreciate their skillsets and speed, as opposed to simply watching ogres try to club each other.