WBC to consider a super heavyweight division: Is it a good idea?

By Boxing News - 10/10/2017 - Comments

Image: WBC to consider a super heavyweight division: Is it a good idea?

By Gerardo Granados: As a result of the WBC 55th annual Convention that took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, the idea of making a new weight division took place; a proposed super heavyweight division was analyzed by the members of the council. It didn’t take much time before I saw comments made by those who disagreed or simply opposed the idea at first glance. I want to ask the readers to take more than two seconds before discarding the proposed idea.

Yes, I know very well that there are too many weight divisions already and also that there are too many boxing organizations. But in this particular case, I would like to hear the opinion of the boxers that could be affected or benefited, it’s them who should be heard first before disregard or approve the idea.

Thru the years the heavyweights have got bigger and larger, and now a day we can find mammoth size fighters who make a 218 pounds boxer look tiny next to them. Be it that the food, sports medicine or training has improved their physique; but the reality is that nowadays the heavyweights fighters are not necessarily more skilled but they do are physically more impressive than ever.

You can see the increase in size in other sports as well. Back in the eighties, the linemen weren’t as big as they are now a day. The Hogs were the bigger offensive line that was put together averaging 273 pounds (Redskins circa 1982) but under today standards they are quite small. Hey, even the Quarterbacks are getting huge, if you compare the size of Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton they both are bigger larger than the seventies or eighties lineman.

I want you to take in consideration that former boxing Greats weren’t as big as today big lions. Max Baer was average 212 pounds, Floyd Patterson 187, Rocky Marciano 186, Sonny Liston 212, prime Muhammad Ali 218, Joe Louis 202, prime Big George Foreman was 224, Larry Holmes 217, prime Iron Mike Tyson 218 and Evander Holyfield 213. The bigger historic heavies came in the latest era (no, Carnera isn’t included due that he isn’t at the level of the next), Riddick Bowe 242, Lennox Lewis 245, Vitali Klitschko 247, Wladimir Klitschko 245, Tyson Fury 250 and Anthony Joshua 245 pounds.

I bet that the reader at least once has fought against a bigger larger foe. So, you know firsthand that at times it is not only up to your fighting skills to defeat an opponent. I think that you must agree with me that size does matter, and to give or have 25 pounds edge on times can make the difference.

The WBC will do an in-depth study before making any decision on the subject. But how could it affect the current heavyweight landscape? Who would be considered the lineal heavyweight champion? Maybe the door could be left open for both heavyweight divisions to fight between them? Perhaps to be a boxing purist can be overlooked to benefit boxers?

Right now the heavyweights who could be moved up to the proposed super heavyweight division could be most of the top ten contenders and also the man to beat Anthony Joshua, probably leaving Deontay Wilder at the new heavyweight division.

Let’s say that Sergey Kovalev or Adonis Stevenson tried to move up to the heavyweight division to challenge Anthony Joshua, just by the size I would have them as the clear underdog 5 to 1. In the past, the then light heavyweights Michael Spinks and Michael Moorer did it with success, but under today heavyweight size and physical conditioning, it might have been harder to achieve.

Also, Roy Jones Jr and James Toney did it, moving from 160 up to the heavyweight division. But they are boxing greats and we cannot expect that it was easy for them or that it means that anyone can do it.

Five years ago you might remember have seen former cruiser champion Marco Huck (209 pounds) fight against then-heavyweight belt holder Alexander Povetkin (229 pounds), Huck looked small compared to Povetkin and you could notice, who was the bigger man inside the ring just by the effect of the punches in each fighter

The main reason to split the heavyweights could be to see boxers who aren’t so big or the ones who can shed extra weight to compete and to be more athletic inside the ring. Also, we have a bunch of heavyweights who precisely look like traditional heavies, so it could be possible for smaller heavies to earn a living and to compete under more level ground in a weight division in which they won’t give too much size advantage.

I like the idea of creating a super heavyweight division. But how about the reader, do you think it is a good idea?