WBC May Create New Division, Split Heavyweight Class in Two

[Ruthless-RKO]

One of the bigger stories coming out of the most recent annual convention from by World Boxing Council, is the possibility that the sanctioning body will create an 18th division.

According to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, his organization is exploring the idea of splitting the heavyweight division in two - heavyweight and super heavyweight.

Sulaiman explained that the new weight class would be created above the cruiserweight limit of 200-pounds, but where it would end and where the super heavyweight limit would begin is still very far away from being determined.

The WBC is in the early stages of exploring the idea, but it's not the first time where someone brought up the idea of creating a super heavyweight division.

The cruiserweight division was created for the same purpose, when it was pitched during the 1970s - to prevent fighters who were over 175-pounds from facing heavyweights. The weight class limit was originally set for 190-pounds and raised a decade or so back to 200-pounds so smaller heavyweights could move down to cruiser - and many did. The WBC was the first sanctioning body to recognize the cruiserweight division.

"We will ask the World Boxing Council's medical team to do a study on the weight of heavyweight fighters. There are some who weigh 210 pounds and there are others that exceed 250 pounds, and that's a world of difference. But we will inquire about how fighters are doing with such a difference of weight," said Sulaimán to ESPN Deportes.

The WBC says the process of exploring this move will last at least six months or more before they make a decision on whether or not they intend to go in that direction. The want to get as much information as possible before presenting this idea to boxing commissions.

Of course bigger is not better. Countless smaller heavyweights, like Chris Byrd, Evander Holyfield, David Haye, Mike Tyson and others were able to find success against much bigger opponents.

[rm1]

I would prefer a recalibration the light heavyweight limit is ridiculously low and should be raised to 185 lbs as for cruiser raise that to 210 and then over 210 can remain at heavy.
What is absurd is the idea that a 16 stone man is not at a disadvantage against an 18 stone man and small heavies that are able to surmount this are the exception and will I am certain be increasingly rare as the average in the division gets bigger.

[skanksta]

We need less divisions not more

[Stuarty]

The WBC are a fuckin riot. They can fornicate off with this stupid idea. More weight classes isn't something we need in the sport. Keep the two heavyweight classes for the ams!

[Horse]

The heavyweight division should always be the heaviest division.

Add a super cruiserweight division if necessary.

[TopGun]

Something I actually agree with albeit I hate the logistics, politics that go with it and the extra weight classes BUT from a health point of view it makes sense. I have sparred people in this division who have been 4 stone plus heavier than me. People are getting taller and bigger and nobody likes seeing people seriously hurt.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The heavyweight division should always be the heaviest division.

Add a super cruiserweight division if necessary.

Idea

WBO already call the cruiserweight division Junior Heavyweight

[skanksta]

I would prefer a recalibration the light heavyweight limit is ridiculously low and should be raised to 185 lbs as for cruiser raise that to 210 and then over 210 can remain at heavy.
What is absurd is the idea that a 16 stone man is not at a disadvantage against an 18 stone man and small heavies that are able to surmount this are the exception and will I am certain be increasingly rare as the average in the division gets bigger.

Why not a complete overhaul while we're at it ?

Flyweight, super-fly and bantam - 3 divisions covering 6lbs !? ?!


Something like..

Minimum 108
Straw (paper ?) 112
Fly 116
SuperFly (gotta keep this division, cos "SUPERFlY ) 120
Bantam 125
Feather 130
LW 135
LIGHT-WELTER (cos Super LightWeight sounds like someone who can't handle their drink - as crap as SuperFly is cool) 140
140
WELTER 147

Light-middle
Middle
Super-middle (MW should be the only weight to have light AND super)
155 165 175
LightHeavy 185
Cruiser 205

Haven't totally thought this through, but something to recognise people are getting bigger and make the jumps more logical while reducing the total number of divisions would be great

[Sklar]

Said for years that the UFC have the right amount of divisions and their weight limits are good. Copy them.

[Sklar]

I'd go with....

55kg strawweight
60 bantamweight
65 featherweight
70 lightweight
75 light welterweight
80 welterweight
85 light middleweight
90 middleweight
95 light heavy
100 cruiser
105kg+ heavyweight

[Supremo]

I am not in favour of new divisions but I think in terms of heavy weight there is some validity in arguments for a new division. People are getting bigger and stronger. In the heavyweight division size has been a major factor in wlad's domination and someone who naturally sits about 15stone is no man's land as they don't have a chance against folk the size of Joshua etc.

I fought at 91kg in amateur and sometime 91kg+. However I sparred regularly with a bona code 91+Kg club mate who probably was around 120kgs. He was a better boxer than me but the weights advantage (even though we were the same height) made it pretty impossible to keep him back off me. And when he opened up I felt it. A 25-30kg advantage is huge.

[PredatorHayds]

As mentioned we don't need new divisions just alter the limits of existing divisions.

[FastestHandsInThewest]

Sounds like a bad idea.

[leejonesjnr]

I'm onboard with reassessing the existing divisions rather than adding.
Heavyweight must remain the top division.
3lbs difference at the lower end and 25lbs jump from light heavy to cruiser is too much.
A gradual increase from the bottom to the top with heavy starting at 220.

[Stuarty]

I'm onboard with reassessing the existing divisions rather than adding.
Heavyweight must remain the top division.
3lbs difference at the lower end and 25lbs jump from light heavy to cruiser is too much.
A gradual increase from the bottom to the top with heavy starting at 220.

Yeah much better idea

[Tarkus]

There is absolutely no need for new division. It will dilute already thin heavyweight pool. If they were thinking of boxing they would try to reduce the number divisions not increase. All Suleiman is thinking about is how to squeeze out more money.

[nitro5912]

If they are going to mix it up. The problem isnt the heavies. Big guys have always been big.

It is the jump from LHW to cruiser to heavy.

LHW at 175lbs is a massive jump to 200lbs for cruiser.

Only way there is room for more divisions is if they knock some of the smaller ones together. 118lbs for bantam, 122bs for superbantam & 126lbs for featherweiggt is very close. Surely most 118lbs would ve able to make say 124lbs and knock the 3 together.

[Sklar]

There aren't that many small people, the skinny weights should be amalgamated.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

There aren't that many small people, the skinny weights should be amalgamated.

I remember Jose Sulieman explaining this in 'The Ring' back in the day and it made a lot of sense. He said strawweights at 7st 7lbs weren't for the European market but for places like the Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico where tiny men who box exist. I do heartily agree with a re-alignment of the weight divisions and 90kgs middleweights - a good idea.

[Ruthless-RKO]

"It is a change, that if it happens, it's going to have a lot of resistance - because you are going against history, all of the records, statistics, how they would be perceived - but all of that will always be secondary, because what matters is the security and the physical health of the fighter," Sulaiman said.

"The reality is that obviously there are fights where the physical difference [in weight] becomes dangerous. In the cruiserweight division, the limit is 200 pounds and then there is no limit."

"Recently the weight of the champions [at heavyweight] is 250 or 260 pounds and they fought with opponents who are about 205-210. I want to ask [the WBC's medical team] to do research on the side of medicine to collect data. We will conduct a weight study and perhaps establish the new division. We want boxers to be in the best position to protect their health."

Sulaiman's idea is still flawed. Because a fighter can weigh 250 and still face an opponent like a Nikolai Valuev who was over 300 pounds - which still would create a 50 pound or more weight difference.

Haye weighed 217 pounds when he challenged Valuev, who weighed 316, for the WBA title. Even with a 99 pound weight difference, Haye not only won but he came close to stopping Valuev in the final round.

Haye was also 210 when he scored knockouts over Audley Harrison at 253 and Dereck Chisora at 247.

[TheGman]

I would prefer a recalibration the light heavyweight limit is ridiculously low and should be raised to 185 lbs as for cruiser raise that to 210 and then over 210 can remain at heavy.
What is absurd is the idea that a 16 stone man is not at a disadvantage against an 18 stone man and small heavies that are able to surmount this are the exception and will I am certain be increasingly rare as the average in the division gets bigger.

I agree with the recalibration from light heavy to heavy upping the light heavyweight division. Hiw about putting a limit on heavyweight like the ufc do so they have to make weight

[tobyh5]

How about actually conducting better drug testing. May find less guys weighing 250 than

[dirk2686]

Far more danger with lower weights where fighters boil down and potentially face lethal punchers who balloon in weight.

There's only a 20 pound difference or so between big and small heavyweights. How many regularly go over 250?

[Terminator666]

A new division would be ok if there was only one champ per division- but that’s never going to happen

[brian13]

I am not against the idea but I would be more in favour of upping the weight limit of the weight classes from Super Middle to Cruiser.