A major change is coming to boxing in 2019 as it pertains to weight cutting.
The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) held its annual convention in Orlando this week, and one of the biggest items up for discussion was a new proposal that could have a major impact on extreme weight-cutting in the sport of boxing.
On Tuesday, the ABC passed that proposal, and the new regulations will go into effect on January 1st, 2019. These key details include:
- Second-day weigh-ins for championship fights, to be held on fight day.
- Championship participants are not to gain more than 10% of the contracted weight. The champion would be stripped of the title, whereas the challenger would be rendered ineligible to win the title.
- Reduction in ranking status for first offense. Outright removal from the rankings of the major sanctioning bodies for a full year if they are a repeat offender.
The full description of policy tweaks can be read below, courtesy of Erik Magraken of Combat Sports Law:
Any 8, 10, or 12 round championship Bout will be subject to a follow up weigh-in held at a time and place determined by the local commission. At this follow up weigh-in the boxers cannot exceed 10% of the Bout contract weight.
For example, if bout contract is 147lbs., 147×10% = 14.7lbs. Thus, this boxer cannot exceed 161.7lbs.
If the boxer misses weight at this second day weigh-in the bout shall continue as a title fight only for the boxer that has made weight. If the over-weight boxer wins this bout he/she cannot claim the title. If the champion is the over-weight boxer and he/she wins the bout, the title becomes vacant. It should be noted there is NO opportunity to lose weight at this Second day weigh-in. It is a onetime weigh-in.
There shall be a minimum FINE for missing weight on either day of at least 10% of the offender’s purse which shall go to the other boxer. Commissions may also choose to fine and/or issue a suspension to the offender.
The ABC shall recommend to the sanctioning organization(s) that any rated boxer who exceeds the contracted weight and/or the ten percent (10%) maximum allowable weight gain on the second-day weigh-in for any championship bout, be lowered in the ratings of any and all sanctioning organizations and not be allowed to participate in Championship bouts for twelve (12) months.
The ABC shall recommend to the sanctioning organization (s) that any rated boxer who exceeds the contracted weight and/or the ten percent (10%) maximum allowable weight gain on the second-day weigh-in for a second occasion for any championship fight, be excluded from the ratings of any and all sanctioning organizations for twelve (12) months.
These provisions shall be subject to and determined by any and all the sanctioning organizations.
While it wasn’t specified, the new rules would be implemented by all four major sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF), although smaller sanctioning bodies like the NABF, IBO, etc. can easily follow suit, making the changes more widespread.
Through the Muhammad Ali Reform Act, the ABC is able to make unilateral changes in boxing...
...We are only a few weeks removed from WBC junior welterweight title challenger Danny O’Connor being hospitalized after passing out on weigh-in day, as he unsuccessfully tried to shed the necessary weight to make the 140 lbs limit for his fight vs. Jose Ramirez. ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna reported that O’Connor was in the sauna for four hours before collapsing at his hotel.
Thoughts?
