WBC Prez Reveals New Weight Management Program

[Ruthless-RKO]

One of the top priorities of the WBC for 2019 will be the introduction of the new Weight Management Program, which is intended to protect the health of the fighters above everything. We will need the collaboration from promoters, matchmakers, managers, trainers, boxing commissions, boxing federations, press, and of course, the fighters themselves.

The Weight Management Program is as follows:

1. Mandatory disclosure of both fighters weight at the time of agreement for a fight.


The promoter must require each boxer and their management to submit to the WBC the precise weight that he/she has at the time of signing a bout.

2. Safety weigh-in 30-14-7.

The WBC will continue with the 30 and 7-day weigh-in but we also instituted a 14-day weight check and the percentages have been modified as follows:

· 30-day weigh-in 10%
· 14-day weigh-in 5%
· 7-day weigh-in 3%

The WBC will circulate a memo with the updated fine and penalties for non-compliance.

3. The promoter must arrange with the local boxing commission and WBC supervisor to have a scale ready at the site of the bout in order to have both boxers weigh upon arrival the day of the fight.

Boxers must not exceed 10% from the official weigh-in.

4. The WBC reserves the right to impose any of the following penalties for non-compliance:

· Warning
· Fines up to $5,000 dollars for numbers 1 and 2.
· Withdrawal of sanctioning of a bout.
· Up to 30% penalty on the purse on number 3.


The WBC will have continuous communications with the promoter in every single event to support the administration of this Weight Management Program.

[Mexi-Box]

This is really stupid. There is no reason to change what we have now. I think it's more dangerous putting all these stipulations since it invites fighters to just dehydrate to just meet these percentages. If the WBC is so concerned about this, just institute a same-day weigh-in. This is just a half-measure that I think is more dangerous than good.

Do they have any experts setting these rules and researching the benefits of this or are they just pulling this out of their ass?

[oogiebe]

This is really stupid. There is no reason to change what we have now. I think it's more dangerous putting all these stipulations since it invites fighters to just dehydrate to just meet these percentages. If the WBC is so concerned about this, just institute a same-day weigh-in. This is just a half-measure that I think is more dangerous than good.

Do they have any experts setting these rules and researching the benefits of this or are they just pulling this out of their ass?

Yeah but more revenue for sanctioning body. Arses.

[lazboy]

Something needs to be done because the size difference between fighters (at times) has become ridiculous. But who knows how safe this is. Surely there would have to be some safety standard before enforcing.

[oogiebe]

Something needs to be done because the size difference between fighters (at times) has become ridiculous. But who knows how safe this is. Surely there would have to be some safety standard before enforcing.

Maybe I'm not understanding this process, but it appears to me that the % allowance still provides for large weight discrepancies. 10%? From the time of weigh-in?

[Mexi-Box]

Something needs to be done because the size difference between fighters (at times) has become ridiculous. But who knows how safe this is. Surely there would have to be some safety standard before enforcing.

It's pretty much a rehydration clause with that 10% stipulation post-weigh-in. I think these are the most unsafe stipulations invented. You're pretty much limiting how much a fighter can rehydrate, which is the most vital aspect. I don't think these account for fighter safety. Then you also have all these weigh-ins leading up to the final weigh-in. Fighters will just dehydrate themselves each independent weigh-in.

As I said, I have to wonder if they brought in a unit of independent neurologists or medical researchers to really weigh the benefits of this. It looks like they're just doing this as they go. I can't see how this is an improvement for fighter's safety.

Fighters should not be limited in how much they rehydrate. You can say they shouldn't be fighting at that weight class, but it's going to happen no matter what. The only thing I can think of that *might* stop this is same-day weigh ins.

[lazboy]

Something needs to be done because the size difference between fighters (at times) has become ridiculous. But who knows how safe this is. Surely there would have to be some safety standard before enforcing.

Maybe I'm not understanding this process, but it appears to me that the % allowance still provides for large weight discrepancies. 10%? From the time of weigh-in?

I don’t fully understand it and from what mexi said it does sound unsafe. 10% of 160 is 16 pounds. So they could be max 176. Which does sound big but i reckon that’s the least of what we see.

[JohnMcMinn]

Maybe you knowledgeable people can help me understand why there are no real limits on rehydration. For example, naturally bigger guys like Hurd and Munguia cut tons of weight to make 154, then rehydrate and enter the ring on fight night as light heavyweights. This seems unfair/unsafe for opponents who are natural junior middleweights. Shouldn't these bigger guys fight at middleweight or even super middleweight?

It doesn't really seem like these new WBC rule will do much to change the situation either.

[oogiebe]

Maybe you knowledgeable people can help me understand why there are no real limits on rehydration. For example, naturally bigger guys like Hurd and Munguia cut tons of weight to make 154, then rehydrate and enter the ring on fight night as light heavyweights. This seems unfair/unsafe for opponents who are natural junior middleweights. Shouldn't these bigger guys fight at middleweight or even super middleweight?

It doesn't really seem like these new WBC rule will do much to change the situation either.

I'm not so knowledgeable, but your points are correct. Gamache/Gatti always comes to mind. Official weigh-in weights were only 1/2 pound difference. Fight weights were ridiculous as Gatti rehydrated a full 19 pounds and fight weight was Gatti 160-Gamache145. Gamache was brutally kayoed and ended his career. A lot of fuss occurred after that fight, but as you can see...nothing was done to resolve the issue. I still cannot understand how Gamache handlers let that fight take place. [/quote][/quote]

[KiwiRider]

The fines are not enough for the top guys. Alvaroid blows his nose with 5 grand.
I like how they are trying to address it, but not how they are going about it. Plus when there is more than their belt in the line, what is to say that one or other fighter ignores it.
It happens with the fight day weigh in- happens that some fighters don't bother.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Abner Mares has said he won’t fight Gervonta if he comes on over the limit.. never mind how much Gervonta might weigh on fight night. Mares is much smaller.

[oogiebe]

Abner Mares has said he won’t fight Gervonta if he comes on over the limit.. never mind how much Gervonta might weigh on fight night. Mares is much smaller.

And who could blame him (Mares). I don't know how they could regulate fight night weight. Last minute cancellations would be tragic.