Boxing loves to act like the entire sport revolves around heavyweights, influencer crossovers, and whatever grudge match has the best insult clips on social media. But the truth is simple: the forgotten weight classes — super-flyweight through to lightweight — are where boxing actually reaches its peak.
The problem? Nobody tells that story.
And because nobody tells it, casual fans never see it.
Heavyweights Get the Spotlight — But Not the Craft
Let’s tell the truth: most casual fans think boxing is a Rocky film.
You hit me. I hit you. Someone goes down in slow motion. Everyone cheers.
That’s the expectation.
But the smaller weight classes don’t fight like that — because they’re actually good.
They rely on:
- footwork
- feints
- timing
- jab variations
- angles
- slips and counters
- tempo changes
- distance control
It’s high-level chess with punches, not two lads trading until someone falls over.
To the trained eye, it’s magic.
To an untrained one? It looks like “nothing’s happening.”
And that’s where everything starts falling apart.
The Small Men Aren’t Boring — They’re Undersold
If you dropped a casual fan into an Estrada–Chocolatito fight without context, they’d probably enjoy it but not fully understand what they’re watching. Meanwhile, stick them in front of two heavyweights windmilling and suddenly it’s, “This is what boxing’s all about!”
Why?
Because promoters don’t sell the forgotten weight classes properly.
They don’t build narratives.
They don’t highlight the skill.
They don’t explain what fans should be watching for.
They don’t show slow-mo breakdowns or analysis packages.
They barely promote them at all.
Matchroom, Queensberry, Top Rank — all of them fall into the same trap.
If it’s under 135 lbs, it becomes under-promoted.
The fans aren’t bored.
The fans are under-informed.
And that’s on the promoters, not the fighters.
Super-Fly to Lightweight: The Best Divisions in Boxing — Full Stop
Super-Flyweight
Estrada–Chocolatito alone gave us a trilogy better than most heavyweight title fights of the past decade. Bam Rodriguez stepped into the mix and instantly produced fireworks.
These fights aren’t just good — they’re generational.
Featherweight & Super-Featherweight
These divisions are historically known for their violence. Navarrete alone delivers more action in a round than some heavyweights do in a fight.
But unless you follow sites like BoxingScene or Bad Left Hook you’d barely know these lads exist.
Lightweight
The most competitive division in the sport.
Loma. Teófimo. Haney. Stevenson.
Even their mediocre fights are better than half of the heavyweight schedule.
And yet the forgotten weight classes still get treated like an afterthought.
Why the Algorithms Bury the Good Stuff
Platforms like DAZN and TNT Sports rely on clicks.
Clicks come from chaos, drama, and heavyweights pushing each other off a stage.
A clip of two 18-stone men shouting at each other will always outperform a technical breakdown of Bam Rodriguez pivoting off the centre line and landing a perfect left hand.
And because algorithms reward noise, promoters lean into noise.
Skill gets ignored.
Storytelling disappears.
The forgotten weight classes get pushed further into the shadows.
It’s not a lack of interest — it’s a lack of investment.
Casual Fans Never Learn What to Watch
The cycle is brutal:
Promoters don’t teach casual fans
Broadcasters don’t highlight small divisions
Fans don’t appreciate the nuance
Promoters claim there’s “no demand”
The best divisions remain the least visible
If you showed fans why an Estrada angle-step is special…
If you explained why a Lopez feint draws reactions…
If you broke down why Navarrete’s awkwardness is genius…
They’d get invested.
Instead, promoters shrug and hide the forgotten weight classes on undercards.
This Hurts the Whole Sport
Boxing cannot survive on spectacle alone.
It needs technical excellence, proper matchmaking, and consistent storytelling.
By ignoring the forgotten weight classes, boxing:
- stifles its most talented fighters
- limits its own growth
- teaches new fans all the wrong things
- turns the sport into a highlight reel instead of an artform
And then people wonder why interest dips between heavyweight fights.
The Fix Is Simple — Start Selling the Right Fights
If boxing wants to grow again?
Start by spotlighting the divisions that actually deliver:
- put super-fly to lightweight fighters in main events
- give them proper promo packages
- build narratives around skill, not just size
- cut educational breakdowns like UFC does
- treat Estrada, Bam, Lopez, Haney and Navarrete as headline acts, not decorations
The forgotten weight classes aren’t niche — they’re elite.
They deserve to be front and centre.
Your Turn — Let’s Give These Divisions Their Flowers
If you’re sick of boxing acting like only heavyweights matter, share this piece. Tag a friend. Drop a comment about your favourite fighter from the forgotten weight classes.
And if you want straight-talking boxing content without the hype machine, head over to CMBoxing — proper opinion, no nonsense, every week.
Let’s help the best divisions in boxing get the spotlight they’ve earned.