re: Wladimir Klitschko retires from boxing

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Even as bad as it has been (no where near as bad as the late 80s when Tyson ruled basically unchallenged), it is still by far the most difficult. I've routinely watched heavyweights give up more than 50lbs to an opponent. Tyson Fury is 6'9, there was a 7ft Russian heavyweight. Could you imagine a middleweight or lower division guy giving up over 6 inches in height and 50 lbs in weight to an opponent? Mayweather wouldn't even go up 8 to fight GGG..

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I understand what you mean but in the lower weight divisions, giving up weight to an opponent is a much bigger deal since a pound is a greater percentage of their body weight. A 147 lb Mayweather would be seeing a GGG weighing 175 on fight night. Percentage-wise hat's pretty close to what you describe in a heavy weight giving up 50 lbs to an opponent.

It's not reasonable to expect that kind of absolute weight difference in the lower classes. In fact no sanctioning body would approve of a bout between a flyweight and a middleweight, which is a 50 lb weight difference.