Well, for starters, the numbers are in, and the outcome was surprising.
The total combined weight of the champion foursome of George Springer, Josh Hart, Mike Minor, and Jose Ramirez fell just 4 pounds short of the magical number required to make the 2018 World Heavyweight Champion. That’s 60 pounds in 4 weeks. That’s more than most people lose in a month.
With just two more weeks until the official weigh-in, there’s still plenty of time for the remaining teams to turn things around and make the right impression. Especially since the champ is only a #3 seed. He still has a huge stage to defend.
Why Do We Care About The Little Things?
In years past, the weigh-in for a major heavyweight title bout was one of the big events at the end of the 12-week season. The champion would fight another day or two to defend his title, usually against a bigger and more experienced challenger. Then there would be a press conference for the media, who covered every aspect of the challenger’s win.
Those were the “good old days.” Back then, the big fights were against other champions or at least top-notch contenders. The press conferences were epic events, and the afternoons of sitting and discussing sports with the champion were the gemstone of the offseason.
Nowadays, the press conferences are more of a formality. The focus is on the little things that matter – the training, the diet, the superstitions. The weigh-in isn’t even an afterthought anymore. It’s like saying you’re going to the movies if you’re not really that into sports. The press conferences are usually a formality, because the fights are more about the numbers. And the numbers don’t lie.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
In years past, bigger meant stronger and faster. Bigger muscles were also thought to be more masculine, and therefore better. The standards have changed. Today, bigger isn’t necessarily better, and it might even be better to be small.
Springer is the perfect example. At 6’5″, he towers over most of his opponents and gives them a big height and reach advantage. But he also has a much smaller carbon footprint than the average big man. He’s much more efficient at using the oxygen in the air to fuel his body, and his muscles have atrophied to make way for more brainpower. He’s simultaneously one of the smartest and the dumbest men alive. One of his coaches said that if it wasn’t for George’s height, he wouldn’t even be in the same conversation.
Jose Ramirez is also a perfect example. At 6’3″, he’s among the elite shorties in the heavyweight division, and his specialty is taking down large men with a sneaky uppercut or a series of straight rights. But when the fight starts, he looks more like a wolverine than a bear. His face is constantly covered in snarls and his eyes are practically glowing with hate. When he fights, he doesn’t have time for niceties like a press conference. He wants to tear something down. And in the process, he helps rebuild something better.
Wolverines And Tigers Are Mixing It Up
As I’ve already mentioned, the number of smaller champions is on the rise. Every single one of those men stands a good chance of beating the reigning king of the hill. That’s the exciting thing about sports. Anything can happen.
Josh Hart is another perfect example. At 6’3″, he towers over most of his opponents and gives them a size and reach advantage. But he also has a much smaller carbon footprint than the average tall man. He’s much more efficient at using the oxygen in the air to fuel his body, and his muscles have atrophied to make way for more brainpower. He’s simultaneously one of the smartest and the dumbest men alive. He wants to prove that size doesn’t matter, and that it’s all about the heart. When he fights, he doesn’t have time for niceties like a press conference. He wants to tear something down. And in the process, he helps rebuild something better.
The point is that there’s no typical “monster man.” They all have their perks and their drawbacks. It’s all about what you look for in a man and what you’re willing to sacrifice. That’s what makes sports so much fun. Every man is an individual, and that’s what makes the game so much richer.