WBA Unanimously Approves 'Super Cruiserweight' Division

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA Executive Committee Unanimously Approves Formation of 'Super Cruiserweight' Division

A second sanctioning body has joined the movement to provide boxing with an eighteenth weight division.

The WBA is the latest to come around the concept of a ‘tweener division for oversized cruiserweights who aren’t quite big enough to compete with the true heavyweights. A unanimous vote was reached to form the ‘Super Cruiserweight’ division, which will carry a weight range of 201-224 pounds.

“The World Boxing Association (WBA) Executive Committee approved the creation of the super cruiserweight division in a vote called by the president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza,” the organization announced Wednesday. “This new division will be between 200 and 224 pounds, while it will be located between the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.

“The pioneer organization made several analyses during the last months before thinking about the request and in the end it was submitted to a vote, in which it was approved by the unanimous vote of the executive committee. The creation of this new weight will mainly help to avoid bouts in which the fighters enter the ring with excessive weight differences, as tends to happen at heavyweight occasionally, where there can be differences of 20 pounds or more.”

The move mirrors that of the WBC, who formed the ‘Bridgerweight’ division in 2020. The division—whose weight range is 191-224 pounds—is named after Bridger Walker, who was six years old at the time he risked his life to save his younger sister from a vicious dog attack.

It was a well-intended concept by the WBC, who pitched the idea of recruiting undersized heavyweights such as Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder, among others. Neither took the bait, as the Mexico City-headquartered group was left with Oscar Rivas as its inaugural champion after his win over Ryan Rozicki in their October 2021 thriller.

The reign did not feature a single successful title defense, as injuries and other cancelations beyond Rivas’ control limited his ability to return to the ring.

Poland’s Lukasz Rozanski claimed the vacant belt with a first-round knockout of Alen Babic in their April 22 battle of unbeaten bridgerweights. He has yet to make a successful defense, which has left the WBC with just two sanctioned fights in the division’s three-year history.

The WBA will likely run in to similar problems, although its vote mirrors a recent decision made by the Australian National Boxing Federation during its annual meeting on November 18.

“Fighters considered ” small heavyweights” will have the option to move down to super cruiserweight and seek opportunities against more balanced weight opponents, in the quest to make the sport increasingly fairer,” noted the WBA. “The WBA ranking committee has already begun working on the creation of the rankings for this weight and the first divisional match-ups will be announced soon.

“The WBA will continue to work on making boxing a fairer sport that provides opportunities and fairness to all involved, especially the boxers.”

Ironically, the decision contradicts the WBA’s ongoing title reduction campaign which recently saw its number of secondary titlists reduced to four. Devin Haney announced that he was severing ties with the lightweight division, which removed his ‘Super’ title from existence. Gervonta Davis is now the division’s lone recognized WBA titlist.

The Top 15 rankings for the newly formed weight class will likely roll out during the WBA’s annual convention this coming December 11-15 in Orlando, Florida.

To date, the IBF and WBO have not yet declared any plans to follow suit.

[funso banjo baby]

Shame Babic was destroyed so quickly by Rozanski....and then Rozanski goes into hibernation after two stunning 1st round ko`s?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shame Babic was destroyed so quickly by Rozanski....and then Rozanski goes into hibernation after two stunning 1st round ko`s?

In it's 3 year history, there has been 2 fights.

[joshj909]

The WBC rankings:
Champ: Rozanski
Interim champ: Lerena
1) Merhy
2) Balski
3) Tabiti
4) Babic
5) Terzievski
6) Welch
7) Barriere
8) Gomes
9) Teslenko
10) Gashi
11) Pesic
12) Nedbei
13) Wright
14) Nistor
15) Welch

How many of these guys have even fought at this weight class? Which of these guys will the WBA make their champ because it's going to be an inferior champion to the WBC champ? Which of these guys will actually bring in significant money or attention?

Most of these guys are fringe top 50-100 in their original division. It looks like they're almost entirely poorly disciplined Cruiserweights in terms of natural size who don't want to cut weight. With the heavyweight division as thin and sloppy as it is, this does nothing to help the depth of the Cruiserweight or heavyweight divisions.

[jwfg]

There was a lot of naysaying when Cruiserweight came into existence.

[gregregegg]

So stupid. If your going to change make cruiser 190 super cruiser 210…


225 is massive. No diet and a water weight cut 80 % of top heavies can make that.

Diet and a water cut 90% can.

It’s just B grade heavyweight.

[joshj909]

So stupid. If your going to change make cruiser 190 super cruiser 210…


225 is massive. No diet and a water weight cut 80 % of top heavies can make that.

Diet and a water cut 90% can.

It’s just B grade heavyweight.

I would be much more likely to get behind this

[tiny_acres]

Here comes Richard Torrez first world title.
He's made fir that division

[joshj909]

Let's say the new division was taken seriously, which I imagine is what the governing bodies want, who remains at heavyweight because they can't make 225? After the top 5 you are looking at some very fat and unskilled heavyweights.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BW was created for the likes of Wilder and Usyk.

BW is not HW.

HW is the real deal.

[gilgamesh]

If all 4 governing bodies approve of it. They can do as they please.

I will never watch a fight in this Weight class. It's an abomination and a bastardization of Boxing.

And any 200 to 225 pound fighter that's worth watching would be the first one to say "I'm a f*cking Heavyweight!"

Doesn't matter who holds what belt. Doesn't matter what name comes into this division. It'll never matter to me. I'll never support it.

[AngryGoon38]

This super cruiserweight(201-225)division sounds good and it makes sense imo.
Although, I Do think that 201-221 would be the ideal perfect range, therefore requiring someone to be at least 222 lbs in order to box at HW.

Now it's time to make a Junior Cruiserweight division.

176-187 sounds about right, imo.

Regular/Standard Cruiserweight Should therefore be 188-200.

[pilight]

BW was created for the likes of Wilder and Usyk.

BW is not HW.

HW is the real deal.

Also BW is 115-118 lbs

[Ruthless-RKO]

BW was created for the likes of Wilder and Usyk.

BW is not HW.

HW is the real deal.

Also BW is 115-118 lbs

Bridgerweight I was referring to

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBO Head Disagrees With WBA’s New Weight Class: ‘Sometimes Prescriptions are Worse Than The Disease’

Apparently at least one sanctioning body has no desire to follow the latest trend.

The WBA announced Wednesday that it had ratified the creation of a new weight class, the “super cruiserweight” division, which ranges from 200 to 224 pounds. According to a statement, the decision was made to shore up the severe weight disadvantages that smaller heavyweights often face. Some of the top heavyweights, such as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, can weigh more than 250 pounds on fight night.

The WBA is now the second sanctioning body (out of the major four) to create a new weight class, following on the heels of the WBC, which created its “Bridgerweight” class in 2020 for the same reasons.

But the WBO appears to be in no mood to follow suit.

On his social media account, Paco Valcarcel, the president of the Puerto Rico-based organization, warned against the creation of a new weight class, saying it could do more damage than good. The WBA stated that the super cruiserweight division would “make the sport increasingly fairer.”

“Having 17 divisions in professional boxing is more than enough,” Valcarcel wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The Jr. Heavyweights or cruisers, from 175 to 200 is a fairly ‘colorless” division,’ imagine another ‘extended cruiser’ … The changes are not always good and many times trying to improve, we damage the image of boxing.”

In a reply to the WBA’s official post about their announcement, Valcarcel wrote, “My friends…Sometimes prescriptions are worse than the disease…”

The WBA’s decision ironically comes at a time when it has tightened up the number of title belts it offers in each division. The WBA has been strongly criticized for watering down the sport because of the dizzying number of “interim” titles it offers.

The IBF has thus far not indicated if it has similar plans to create a new heavyweight class.

[Syntax Error]

I'm surprised it took them this long.

So far we have two different names for boxing latest dead division.

One thing I am looking forward to is what the WBO and IBF are going to call theirs; that will be more interesting than the division itself will probably be.

[tiny_acres]

I'm surprised it took them this long.

So far we have two different names for boxing latest dead division.

One thing I am looking forward to is what the WBO and IBF are going to call theirs; that will be more interesting than the division itself will probably be.

When the cruiserweight division first came out.
The WBC called it Cruiserweight and the WBA called it Jr. Heavyweight.
It was the bastard division of boxing for years, But has produced some very entertaining fights over the years. Hopefully the Bridgers will produce some entertaining fights as well. I don't care what they call it. I just hope some decent match making is done in it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'm surprised it took them this long.

So far we have two different names for boxing latest dead division.

One thing I am looking forward to is what the WBO and IBF are going to call theirs; that will be more interesting than the division itself will probably be.

When the cruiserweight division first came out.
The WBC called it Cruiserweight and the WBA called it Jr. Heavyweight.
It was the bastard division of boxing for years, But has produced some very entertaining fights over the years. Hopefully the Bridgers will produce some entertaining fights as well. I don't care what they call it. I just hope some decent match making is done in it.

The WBO still call it jr. Heavyweight..

Also, WBO prez has dissed the WBA for this decision

[Contendeh]

Trash. Completely.

All for the sanctioning fees.

Another nail.

[SportsRatings]

Not sure why ppl hate this concept so much. Eventually it's going to be a thing.

I don't see today's "small" heavyweights going for it, as mentioned Usyk and Wilder have enough success at HW

I think the division will build up over time from guys who don't want to bother to cut to 199 to make Cruiserweight. They'll start fighting at Bridger/SuperC and eventually the weight class will take form. Not from ex-heavies but from new guys naturally at that weight range, and Cruisers who might move up to it.

Cruiserweight took a long time to really get a toehold, and it's still considered sort of an "in-between" today in some ways.

The only drawback is the rankings, the weird "WBC doesn't want Boxrec ranking their Bridgerweights as heavies" etc, I think Boxrec should rank guys in both divisions for a while if they're over 200 and fight as Bridger/SuperC

[pilight]

BW was created for the likes of Wilder and Usyk.

BW is not HW.

HW is the real deal.

Also BW is 115-118 lbs

Bridgerweight I was referring to

It's gonna need a different abbreviation, if they don't change the name to SuperCruiserWeight

[AngryGoon38]

Not sure why ppl hate this concept so much. Eventually it's going to be a thing.

I don't see today's "small" heavyweights going for it, as mentioned Usyk and Wilder have enough success at HW

I think the division will build up over time from guys who don't want to bother to cut to 199 to make Cruiserweight. They'll start fighting at Bridger/SuperC and eventually the weight class will take form. Not from ex-heavies but from new guys naturally at that weight range, and Cruisers who might move up to it.

Cruiserweight took a long time to really get a toehold, and it's still considered sort of an "in-between" today in some ways.

The only drawback is the rankings, the weird "WBC doesn't want Boxrec ranking their Bridgerweights as heavies" etc, I think Boxrec should rank guys in both divisions for a while if they're over 200 and fight as Bridger/SuperC

Good point, also as I've previously alluded to, a junior cruiserweight division Really Needs to be implemented.
That would be for guys that struggle to make 175, and would find it Much Easier to just be in a weight division that instead, ranges from 176-187(Jr Cruiserweight).
Standard Cruiserweight Should be 188-200. Super Cruiserweight Should be 201-221. And therefore, one Must Weigh At least 222 lbs to campaign at Heavyweight.
Junior Cruiserweight would be a Hot Division I think. Basically, you'd have Piles of 180-185 lb Boxers, feeling comfortable and Strong, and Many would Thrive in this particular division. There would be virtually no weight cutting lunatics/self harmers/weight bullies.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBC Pleased With WBA’s Adoption Of Bridgerweight: Our Initiatives Lead To Boxing Adopting Them

The WBC's introduction of the bridgerweight division has been met with mixed reviews ever since it was announced in 2020.

Boxing executives, media, fans, and organizations alike have given little credence to the addition of boxing’s 18th weight class, which is sandwiched in between the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.

But in December, the WBA joined the trend when an executive committee unanimously approved the formation of a super cruiserweight division.

The WBC's bridgerweight class is designed to give smaller heavyweights a chance to compete between 191 to 224 pounds, while the WBA's super cruiserweight division gives boxers a chance to compete from 200 to 224 pounds.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán views the WBA following in its footsteps as a welcome addition to the sport.

“It's very good. It's very positive,” Sulaimán told BS.com in an interview. “The bridgerweight division has proven to be a necessity for boxing because there are many small heavyweights that give up too much of a weight advantage. The fights that we’ve sanctioned at bridgerweight have all been very competitive and very exciting … Most of the WBC's initiatives in history have led to the boxing world adopting them.”

The WBO and IBF have not followed the trend yet.

“That's their decision and their prerogative. We have no problem with that,” said Sulaimán.

Outside of former titlist Deontay Wilder, who weighed 213 pounds in his last fight, and unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, a former cruiserweight who weighed 221 pounds in his last fight, other top heavyweights have weighed 240 pounds and upward in their previous bouts: Joseph Parker (245 pounds), Anthony Joshua (251 pounds), Andy Ruiz (268 pounds), Tyson Fury (277 pounds), and Zhilei Zhang (287 pounds).

Daniel Dubois recently scored a stoppage win against Jerrell Miller, even though Dubois gave up a 94-pound weight advantage against the 333-pound Miller.

"The creation of this new weight will mainly help to avoid bouts in which the fighters enter the ring with excessive weight differences, as tends to happen at heavyweight occasionally, where there can be differences of 20 pounds or more," the WBA stated during its announcement. "Fighters considered 'small heavyweights' will have the option to move down to super cruiserweight and seek opportunities against more balanced weight opponents, in the quest to make the sport increasingly fairer."

In recent months, notable fighters like former super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight champion Badou Jack have expressed interest in joining the bridgerweight division.

In April, Lukasz Rozanski became the second-ever WBC bridgerweight titlist when he scored a first-round TKO win against Alen Babic. Oscar Rivas first won the belt in 2021 but vacated the title due to an injury without ever defending it.

On Dec. 12, Evgeny Tishchenko (13-1, 8 KOs) became the WBA's first super cruiserweight champion by defeating Leon Harth (22-6-1, 13 KOs) via sixth-round knockout.

Boxrec.com, the official recordkeeper of boxing, does not recognize bridgerweight or the super cruiserweight class and its champions.

In November, the WBC announced during its annual convention in Uzbekistan that it would suspend cooperation with Boxrec.com.

[margaret thatcher]

hell ya, can we get dat tischenko vs rozanski unification battle to crown the goat

[Lackeos]

Hell yes! Can't wait for boxrec to acknowledge it. ... Or, more likely, pretend that the fighters don't exist.