WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman plans to make another change just below the heavyweight division.
First, he announced the creation of what he’s calling “bridgerweight,” between the current cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. The weight limit will be 224 pounds, which he says will serve smaller heavyweights who can’t compete with the division’s behemoths.
And, now, he says he plans to lower the cruiserweight limit from 200 pounds to 190 in time, meaning those between 191 and 224 will be the parameters of the new weight class.
The cruiserweight limit was raised from 190 to 200 a decade ago.
“We are eventually looking into moving it back to 190 pounds,”Sulaiman told Pro Boxing Fans. “[WBC cruiserweight titleholder Ilunga] Makabu just called me. He’s preparing for his title defense at 200 pounds but … he can do … 190 pounds.
“It’s a continuous effort to see what is more reasonable, but not be unjust to a fighter who has been competing in that weight. We’re talking to all cruiserweights and heavyweights. There’s also a good universe of fighters that have been calling to see if they can be rated in the division.
“We’re looking at maybe doing 20 fighters ratings instead of the 40 that we have in each division, but it’s all going to depend. Rankings are [based] upon merit and quality and that’s something that will not be changed.
“In December, we’re going to have the rankings for bridgerweight.”
It’s not clear whether the other sanctioning bodies will follow the WBC’s lead in creating the new division and lowering the cruiserweight limit.
“Bridger” is named for Bridger Walker, a 6-year-old who was injured protecting his sister from a dog attack. The name “super cruiserweight” has been floated as a long term option.