Weight cutting has long been a sticking point in combat sports. It is a practice in which athletes gradually lose weight in order to compete at a lighter class in the hopes of gaining a physical advantage in the ring. However, cutting too much weight, or going the wrong way about it, can exhaust the athlete or see them tire rapidly in competition, and can cause health problems.
King in the Ring has worked to combat poor weight cutting practices since 2018, when a gradual weigh-in process was introduced.
The restrictions put in place allow fighters to be 10 per cent over the fight weight 30 days out from the weigh-in, six per cent 15 days out, and five per cent seven days out.
These were developed alongside a nutritionist to find a level that would be both safe and effective, and diet plans are available for fighters who needed to cut weight safely.
It’s a system Remihana said works well in ensuring the fighters aren’t trying to lose drastic amounts of weight in short periods of time, but it was still up to fighters to know their bodies and just how much weight they could cut and still perform to their best of their abilities.
For Remihana, that was something he got a good grasp on with his foray to middleweight.
He was relishing a return to light heavyweight into Saturday night’s eight-man eliminator in what is a very talented field, with top local talents such as Terrence Montgomery, Chris Eades and Mandela Ale among the seven other fighters in the tournament.
“When I cut to 72kg, it was a bit full on — I’ll probably never do that again. 80kgs is a good comfortable weight,” he said.
“I was just depleted. I was dieting for weeks; I did everything properly, but those last few kgs just drained me. I had no energy.
“80kg is a good weight; speed, power, plus I always try to put on a good show.”
