WBC adds extra fight-day weigh-in

[Ruthless-RKO]

The WBC has initiated a new rule to protect boxers and avoid massive overnight weight gains. The boxers must now weigh themselves in the dressing room of the venue where the fight will take place.

Although it’s an unofficial weigh-in, it must be done to monitor that the fighter doesn’t exceed the division limit by more than 10 percent.

The WBC started this policy during last Saturday’s super featherweight title clash between champion Miguel “Alacrán” Berchelt and Miguel “Mickey” Román.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This is better than the IBF same day weigh in, which takes place in the morning.

[Enlightened-One]

If the WBC are following the same new rules that they agreed to in July when the ABC announced second-day weigh-ins then this new stipulation will have minimal impact, because a welterweight fighter can still weigh as much as 161.7lbs on the morning of the fight (i.e. 147lbs + 10% = 161.7lbs) and still gain even more weight due to rehydration by the time they enter the ring.

The thing is, it’s extremely rare for 147lb-ers to enter the ring weighing much more than 165lbs, so it’s clear to see how very little impact this rule would have.

On a separate note, didn’t the WBC previously have a similar rule more than six years ago at least, where fighters had to weigh themselves before 9.30am on the morning of the fight and not weigh more than 10% of the limit of their respective weight division? This was in place for the Chavez-Martinez bout in 2012 I believe.

[Ruthless-RKO]

If the WBC are following the same new rules that they agreed to in July when the ABC announced second-day weigh-ins then this new stipulation will have minimal impact, because a welterweight fighter can still weigh as much as 161.7lbs on the morning of the fight (i.e. 147lbs + 10% = 161.7lbs) and still gain even more weight due to rehydration by the time they enter the ring.

The thing is, it’s extremely rare for 147lb-ers to enter the ring weighing much more than 165lbs, so it’s clear to see how very little impact this rule would have.

Thing is, they don;t weigh in the morning. They weigh themself in the dressing room in the venue, before they enter the ring. So there will be no time to put more weight on. TBH, I did misread the opening line myself. 10% is much different to 10 pounds. I thought it was 10 pounds at first. Until you wrote it.

[Enlightened-One]

If the WBC are following the same new rules that they agreed to in July when the ABC announced second-day weigh-ins then this new stipulation will have minimal impact, because a welterweight fighter can still weigh as much as 161.7lbs on the morning of the fight (i.e. 147lbs + 10% = 161.7lbs) and still gain even more weight due to rehydration by the time they enter the ring.

The thing is, it’s extremely rare for 147lb-ers to enter the ring weighing much more than 165lbs, so it’s clear to see how very little impact this rule would have.

Thing is, they don;t weigh in the morning. They weigh themself in the dressing room in the venue, before they enter the ring. So there will be no time to put more weight on. TBH, I did misread the opening line myself. 10% is much different to 10 pounds. I thought it was 10 pounds at first. Until you wrote it.

I haven't read anything specific from the WBC about the timing of the second day weigh-in itself, but the new ABC rules (introduced in July) they agreed to adhere to related specifically to morning of the fight. So that could theoretically take place in any venue, such as the fighters' dressing room. I could be wrong though...

You're absolutely right, the 10% weight-gain rule is a pretty big margin.

For instance: if we pretend the new rule was in effect for the cruiserweight bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tony Bellew, both men could weigh as much as 220lbs, which is what David Haye weighed for his final outing against the 'Bomber' Bellew.

Deontay Wilder's average weight, when he's competed against a top-ten The Ring rated opponent, is only 217lbs.

I doubt the fighters will be obliged by the WBC to weigh themselves immediately before their fights, because it's overly-onerous. I could be wrong though - it's just that I've never read anything specific from the WBC about the timing of the weigh-ins.

[Deleted_Scenes]

Totally against this.

Second weigh ins on the day of the fight increase the risk of fighters entering the ring without being properly hydrated, and therefore increase the risk of neurological injuries being sustained during the fight.

The is much more dangerous than having one fighter carry a big weight advantage into the ring (assuming both are properly hydrated). Although 10% is a big margin, this is a dangerous road to go down.

It's the reason weigh ins were moved to the day before the fight in the first place. People died, or were seriously injured, through dehydration.

A much better solution would be to keep weigh ins where they are, but add a hydration test alongside, to prove fighters are fighting at their correct weights, and not cutting too much water.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Totally against this.

Second weigh ins on the day of the fight increase the risk of fighters entering the ring without being properly hydrated, and therefore increase the risk of neurological injuries being sustained during the fight.

If you have to kill yourself to make that certain weight, you shouldn't be fighting at that weight.

[Deleted_Scenes]

Totally against this.

Second weigh ins on the day of the fight increase the risk of fighters entering the ring without being properly hydrated, and therefore increase the risk of neurological injuries being sustained during the fight.

If you have to kill yourself to make that certain weight, you shouldn't be fighting at that weight.

Exactly right. But as long as fighters are being paid, they'll try to do it anyway.

Weighing someone a second time only encourages them to drink less water after making weight, not to move up to their correct weight. That puts them at risk. Greater risk than the opposing fighter would face, if the heavy fighter was allowed to fully hydrate.

The solution is simple:

- Keep weigh ins the day before.

- Make fighters submit a urine sample at the weigh in, to prove they aren't dehydrated.

That forces weight bullies to move up, rather than giving them the option to remain at the lower weight, but with an increased risk of brain damage.

[Enlightened-One]

Fighters are willing to take significant health and safety risks in order to give themselves the best possible chance of victory. They are also responsible for the consequences of their own actions.

The only way to prevent physically “big” fighters from competing in “smaller” weight divisions is to drastically increase the amount and frequency of the official weigh-ins, but this has an associated cost against it, which someone inevitably has to pay.

The WBC’s new rule is simply a PR stunt. It won’t have a significant impact on the sport, because I suspect that many “big” fighters will find a way to continue being physically capable of entering the ring weighing their normal rehydrated weight, whilst ensuring that they're also able to adhere to these very flimsy rules.

It does make me laugh though, because I suspect that several of the current crop of 140lb-ers, definitely most 147lb-ers, are bigger than the vast majority of the middleweights that competed in the 1980’s, which includes the likes of Marvin Hagler.

[ewenhay]

If its being described as unofficial then it's officially a waste of time

[Deleted_Scenes]

Fighters are willing to take significant health and safety risks in order to give themselves the best possible chance of victory. They are also responsible for the consequences of their own actions.

The only way to prevent physically “big” fighters from competing in “smaller” weight divisions is to drastically increase the amount and frequency of the official weigh-ins, but this has an associated cost against it, which someone inevitably has to pay.

The WBC’s new rule is simply a PR stunt. It won’t have a significant impact on the sport, because I suspect that many “big” fighters will find a way to continue being physically capable of entering the ring weighing their normal rehydrated weight, whilst ensuring that they're also able to adhere to these very flimsy rules.

It does make me laugh though, because I suspect that several of the current crop of 140lb-ers, definitely most 147lb-ers, are bigger than the vast majority of the middleweights that competed in the 1980’s, which includes the likes of Marvin Hagler.

I agree with everything you're saying, except the paragraph on increased number/frequency of weigh ins being the only solution.

Stopping fighters cutting huge amounts of weight is very simple. One weigh in, but you must make the weight while still being adequately hydrated. A simple urine test would be enough. On-site analysis could be carried out immediately, by a single physician to cover all fighters on a card. The expense for that would be minimal.

One of the MMA orgs (I forget which one, but it's not one of the two big money ones) already goes further than this, forcing fighters to weigh in periodically, then taking an average of results to lock them into whichever specific weight class they naturally fall into. Water cutting is banned, and fighters must prove they are adequately hydrated at all times. With far more money available in boxing, my much simpler solution would not be at all difficult to implement.

Boxing's problem, is that nobody wants to ACTUALLY change anything, they all just want to be SEEN to want change.

[Perseus]

If the WBC are following the same new rules that they agreed to in July when the ABC announced second-day weigh-ins then this new stipulation will have minimal impact, because a welterweight fighter can still weigh as much as 161.7lbs on the morning of the fight (i.e. 147lbs + 10% = 161.7lbs) and still gain even more weight due to rehydration by the time they enter the ring.

The thing is, it’s extremely rare for 147lb-ers to enter the ring weighing much more than 165lbs, so it’s clear to see how very little impact this rule would have.

On a separate note, didn’t the WBC previously have a similar rule more than six years ago at least, where fighters had to weigh themselves before 9.30am on the morning of the fight and not weigh more than 10% of the limit of their respective weight division? This was in place for the Chavez-Martinez bout in 2012 I believe.

Some of the fight day weights are exaggerated.
For the second weigh ins the fighters often do not strip down like they do for the official weigh in. They just take off their shoes and step on the scale fully clothed, some don't even bother emptying their pockets.
147 while stripped down and drained the day before, 165 fully clothed and hydrated on fight day probably equals about 161 if they strip................................well within the 10% limit.
As you said this rule will have little if any impact.

[Mexi-Box]

Wow, that's a horrible rule. As I said before, either take a full measure or don't. These half-measures are just adding risk that fighters won't rehydrate fully. I'm not sure what ding-dong thinks this is a good idea.