Your thoughts on the WBC Bridgerweight experiment?

[Las Vegas boxing guy]

It seems to me that the Bridgerweight division is not gaining much traction. Oscar Rivas is the current WBC belt holder. He has no title defenses scheduled since defeating cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki by decision last October.

The WBC Bridgerweight division doesn't even have a current # 1 contender.... and the # 2 contender is Evgany Romanov who has never fought outside of Russia.

I'm just curious how long this facade will continue. What do you think?

[margaret thatcher]

rivas vs romanov would be nice

[tiny_acres]

They need an exciting ko artist as champ

[KiwiRider]

Boxing didn't need another weight class, or more frigging belts.
It actually needs less of both.
It is far too confusing to lure in new fans. So eventually it will die.

[HomicideHenry]

Was unnecessary.

[Enlightened-One]

It seems to me that the Bridgerweight division is not gaining much traction. Oscar Rivas is the current WBC belt holder. He has no title defenses scheduled since defeating cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki by decision last October.

The WBC Bridgerweight division doesn't even have a current # 1 contender.... and the # 2 contender is Evgany Romanov who has never fought outside of Russia.

I'm just curious how long this facade will continue. What do you think?

https://wbcboxing.com/en/bridgerweight/amp/

[Wales]

I don’t mind it as I think many of the HWs and up and coming HWs are so big now… and will be big in the future

Imagine WBC welterweight champ Spence saying he was going to jump 4 divisions from 148 to 175 to fight WBC LHW champ Bertebiev. We’d think it was crazy.
But it’s only 2 inch height difference, 1 inch reach difference, 27lb weight difference.

If WBC cruiserweight champ mukabu stepped up 1 weight to fight WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury…
9 inch height difference, 11 inch reach difference and around 75 lbs weight



1955- Rocky Marciano goes 49-0, he’s 5ft 10, 188lbs, with 68” reach

2022 - Tyson Fury goes 39-0-1, he’s 6ft 9, 277lbs; 85” reach

Fighters are evolving,… let’s let the sport evolve too

[Wales]

Wonder if wilder could make 220 again…

[Ruthless-RKO]

Doesn’t get talked about as much or making any noise cus only one org are hyping it.

[Enlightened-One]

It seems to me that the Bridgerweight division is not gaining much traction.

Oscar Rivas only became the inaugural bridgerweight champion five months ago.

Oscar Rivas is the current WBC belt holder. He has no title defenses scheduled since defeating cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki by decision last October.

Yvon Michel revealed that WBC bridgerweight champion Oscar Rivas’ inaugural title defense against mandatory challenger Evgeny Romanov will take place this coming June in either Montreal or Colombia.

The WBC Bridgerweight division doesn't even have a current # 1 contender.... and the # 2 contender is Evgany Romanov who has never fought outside of Russia.

It seems you're unfamiliar with the WBC's website, because here's a list of their top-ten world-rated bridgerweight contenders:

1) Evgeny Romanov
2) Lukasz Rozanski
3) Alen Babic
4) Andrey Fedosov
5) Samuel Kadje
6) Shigabudin Aliev
7) Ruslan Fayfer
8) Artur Szpilka
9) Alfonso Lopez
10) Elvis Garcia

I'm just curious how long this facade will continue. What do you think?

"I'm just curious, how long" will you continue to make ficticious claims?

And for the record, I don't have a problem with people disliking the bridgerweight division, but at least do it for factually-accurate reasons... don't resort to blatant lies!

[bigjack]

I have no interest in it

[Enlightened-One]

Doesn’t get talked about as much or making any noise cus only one org are hyping it.

I’m confident that the WBA, WBO & IBF will eventually join the WBC’s bridgerweight bandwagon as soon as they realise there’s money to be made.

If someone commercially high-profile like Deontay Wilder, or heavens forbid, Canelo, one day decides to challenge for the WBC bridgerweight title and remain in that division for a few bouts, then we’ll inevitably see the WBA, WBO & IBF introducing their own 224lbs championships.

The first WBC cruiserweight world title bout took place in 1979, with the other governing bodies eventually following suit shortly afterward (i.e. WBA in 1982, IBF in 1983 and the WBO in 1989).

Oscar Rivas only became the inaugural WBC bridgerweight champion five months ago, which means it's far too soon to suggest that the other governing bodies won't eventually create their own 224lbs titles in the near future.

[AngryGoon38]

If i was given the priviledge and authority, i would revamp the weight divisions that are Above 168(SMW).
Actually, on second thought,I'd start by making SMW 161-171.
Next division would be titled "BridgerWeight". 172-184.
After that....
LightHeavyWeight, 185-195.
Cruiserweight ? (No more CruiserWeight. It sounds too stupid and just Off, imo)
Junior Heavyweight ! Sounds Way Better than CW imo. I'd have it be 196-216.
Heavyweight, or standard HW, I'd have at 217-237.
SuperHeavyWeight. 238+
Once you have someone that is near 240, and well-built at that weight, that level of Size can compete and overcome a man that outweighs him by 100 lbs.

[tiny_acres]

I remeber the days of people saying the Cruiserweight division would ruin boxing.
The Cruisers were either fat lightheavyweights or to small to compete with the real heavyweights.
Well the Cruiser division became a hot bed in the last few years and we have seen some excellent fights over the years. Eventually the Bridgerweight division may also become a hot bed of action. IT IS TOO EARLY TO PASS JUDGEMENT

[Wales]

Once you have someone that is near 240, and well-built at that weight, that level of Size can compete and overcome a man that outweighs him by 100 lbs.

I think only 5 HW world champions have been champions weighing over 260lbs. Of those 5 I’d only say two had an advantage due to size

Nikolai Valuev - 7ft and 318lbs - size advantage
Andy Ruiz - 6ft 2 and 283lbs - came in huge against AJ in rematch no real advantage being that short and that big
Tyson Fury - 6ft 9 and 273lbs - deffo size advantage
Shannon Briggs - 6ft 4 and 273lbs - big strong guy but I don’t think being 273lbs at 6’4 was a huge factor
Primo Carnero - 6ft 5 and 270lbs - at the time he was fighting in 1930s a huge advantage - but wouldn’t be now

[HomicideHenry]

Once you have someone that is near 240, and well-built at that weight, that level of Size can compete and overcome a man that outweighs him by 100 lbs.

I think only 5 HW world champions have been champions weighing over 260lbs. Of those 5 I’d only say two had an advantage due to size

Nikolai Valuev - 7ft and 318lbs - size advantage
Andy Ruiz - 6ft 2 and 283lbs - came in huge against AJ in rematch no real advantage being that short and that big
Tyson Fury - 6ft 9 and 273lbs - deffo size advantage
Shannon Briggs - 6ft 4 and 273lbs - big strong guy but I don’t think being 273lbs at 6’4 was a huge factor
Primo Carnero - 6ft 5 and 270lbs - at the time he was fighting in 1930s a huge advantage - but wouldn’t be now

Not sure if I agree with the last premise considering the Klitschko brothers were basically somewhere between 6'6"-6'8" in height and basically 245-250 pounds, so they're definitely was a comparable size to Carnera and they both certainly employed those physical differences to their advantage.

Certainly better all around technicians and punchers then the Italian giant for sure but since we are talking strictly about size I would say a man the size of Carnera would still have a pretty good advantage over quite a few heavyweights even today.

[Enlightened-One]

Once you have someone that is near 240, and well-built at that weight, that level of Size can compete and overcome a man that outweighs him by 100 lbs.

I think only 5 HW world champions have been champions weighing over 260lbs. Of those 5 I’d only say two had an advantage due to size

Nikolai Valuev - 7ft and 318lbs - size advantage
Andy Ruiz - 6ft 2 and 283lbs - came in huge against AJ in rematch no real advantage being that short and that big
Tyson Fury - 6ft 9 and 273lbs - deffo size advantage
Shannon Briggs - 6ft 4 and 273lbs - big strong guy but I don’t think being 273lbs at 6’4 was a huge factor
Primo Carnero - 6ft 5 and 270lbs - at the time he was fighting in 1930s a huge advantage - but wouldn’t be now

Not sure if I agree with the last premise considering the Klitschko brothers were basically somewhere between 6'6"-6'8" in height and basically 245-250 pounds, so they're definitely was a comparable size to Carnera and they both certainly employed those physical differences to their advantage.

Certainly better all around technicians and punchers then the Italian giant for sure but since we are talking strictly about size I would say a man the size of Carnera would still have a pretty good advantage over quite a few heavyweights even today.

There are 89 world title fights, where the victor weighed at least 240lbs, with 79% of those winners possessing a weight advantage over the losing opponent.

So I’m guessing you guys still sincerely believe that size/weight doesn’t matter?

[RScarf1]

I don’t believe the other major sanctioning bodies will get involved in a bridgerweight division as it is now. The WBC lowered the cruiserweight limit to its original weight limit of 190 pounds. If the WBC really believed in the evolution of these divisions and their weight limits, then it makes no sense to lower that limit. The only reason I can see is to make it easier for Canelo to win a cruiserweight title.

The other issue is the weight limit of this bridgerweight division which is 224 pounds. By decreasing the cruiserweight limit to 190, there is a 34 pound gap in between these divisions for the WBC only since the other sanctioning bodies have not lowered the cruiserweight limit and do not recognize the bridgerweight division.

I am not against having a bridgerweight division, but this has been done all wrong by the WBC in my opinion. If the WBC lowered the cruiserweight limit to 195 and then made the bridgerweight limit at 215, there would be a 20 pound gap between light heavyweight (175) and cruiserweight (195). There would also be a 20 pound gap between bridgerweight (215) and cruiserweight (195). This would make more logical sense and I believe that if the WBC did that, the other sanctioning bodies would agree to this because they want to make more money. 224 pounds is too high for a bridgerweight division.

If Evander Holyfield was young now and trying to move from cruiserwright to heavyweight, it would be more difficult to get above 224 pounds as opposed to 215. It seems that the WBC did not look at boxing history too closely. They were just saying heavyweights are getting taller and heavier, so this is what we are doing. As I stated, this was not done well. The WBC should have at least talked to the other sanctioning bodies and get feedback from them. They don’t seem to care because they are the prestigious WBC with their green and gold belt.

[margaret thatcher]

the last wbc cruiser title fight was makabu - mchunu, just this year, and that had a limit of 200 pounds, when is the switch to 190?

[RScarf1]

the last wbc cruiser title fight was makabu - mchunu, just this year, and that had a limit of 200 pounds, when is the switch to 190?

Probably when Canelo fights for the WBC cruiserweight title.

[gilgamesh]

I hope whoever had the idea to start up the Bridgerweight division dies in a fire. That's my thoughts on it.

[gilgamesh]

the last wbc cruiser title fight was makabu - mchunu, just this year, and that had a limit of 200 pounds, when is the switch to 190?

It's back in 2003

[Enlightened-One]

I hope whoever had the idea to start up the Bridgerweight division dies in a fire. That's my thoughts on it.

[Lackeos]

I think a bridgerweight division is a good, practical idea aside from it being pretty unpopular and having a dumb name. They have some decent talent like Rivas / Romanov / Milas / Teslenko; but not enough of it. I think if they're brave enough to stick with it for 10+ years, the backlash against it will start to fade, similar to the backlash against the 9th-17th weight divisions, and more talent will continue to trickle into the division. I also think that there's certain fighters who have an image of being not that great at heavyweight, who would seem a little stronger if they were competing at bridgerweight.

There's so many cruiserweights who feint like they're moving up to heavy and then they lose their nerve and stall out or find themselves falling like 50 slots down the rankings; like Huck, Gassiev, Tarver, and Cunningham. The bridgerweight division is the perfect transition so they can move up and comfortably sustain their world class status while they continue to grow into the larger size. Then, if they grow into bridgerweight, they can next move into heavyweight. It's ridiculous that there's a 3-pound difference between some divisions and then, going from LHW to CW to HW is like a 25 pound jump followed by a 40-pound jump. HW is pretty much unofficially the 240-pound division btw, in case you haven't seen what these guys really weigh. And it's not like 240 is even the limit.

I also think there's a bit of an untapped talent pool of guys who are like 6' 3", 215 pounds who figure they might as well not try to be a pro boxer because they're too big for cruiserweight and too small to succeed at heavy. And despite the stupid rhetoric of "If an utterly godly fighter like Usyk can succeed at heavyweight, then surely ANY cruiserweight can succeed against superheavyweights." Usyk is one belt away from being only the second man since 1983 to be a two-division undisputed champion; he is not the template for what literally any cruiserweight is capable of achieving. Usyk is achieving what he's achieving despite beint at an OBVIOUS and UNDENIABLE disadvantage. Anyways, the point of this paragraph is, with the bridgerweight division being in full force, we could see the collective talent pool increase among 176+ pound men; but I think there are some who have been choosing to sit on the sidelines due to being the wrong size.

[RScarf1]

I agree with Lackeos. Regarding wide weight gaps in between divisions, the WBC contributed to this by lowering cruiserweight to 190 pounds and making the bridgerweight limit at 224. That’s 34 pounds.