Chris Eubank Jr. missed weight by just 0.05lbs (23 grams) ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Conor Benn last weekend — a tiny margin that cost him a massive £375,000. But why does such a minuscule weight difference (roughly the weight of four sheets of A4 paper) matter so much in combat sports?
Boxing, like most combat sports, uses weight classes to keep competition fair, strategic and safe. These classes exist to ensure that skill, not brute size, determines the outcome of a fight.
By grouping fighters based on weight, the sport encourages more balanced match-ups that test a combination of power, speed, reach, endurance and skill.
