By Gerardo Granados: It was recently announced by the WBC in their last congress, that they were studying the possibility of the creation of a new weight division, between the cruiserweight and the heavyweight divisions.
There will be studies on the matter for the next months, and the new weight division could be set tentatively between 200 and 225 pounds.
This announcement sparked many adverse comments on social media. But, I fully agree with the creation of this new weight division. If the reader is against the idea because of refusing the mere idea of having not only the eighteen weight division but also to have four new belts, well, then, in that case, you should just skip this article.
A friend of mine asked me if there is a real justification for the WBC to create a new heavyweight division. I replied to him that it all depends on who you ask. I think that the boxing purist will cry foul play from the WBC. I doubt that the promoters or the TV Networks would complain at all. I have never seen them complain about any of the many bogus belts, be it the silver, gold, interim, super, diamond, or the lousy franchise trinket.
I guess that the average fight fans could agree or disagree. I am sure that the hardcore bloodthirsty fight fans only want to see a good scrap regardless of the weight division. The average sports fan or be it the casual boxing fan won’t understand the implications at all. But I would like to know what the prizefighters have to say, especially those who fight at the heavyweight division that isn’t average 250 pounds 6 feet 6 inches tall.
Suppose the reader understands the fact that it is not possible to go back in time to the boxing glory days. If you know why that era is gone, then maybe you could accept the idea of giving to a group of boxers, the chance to level the field to compete and earn a living without the need to surrender to their opponent’s considerable physical advantage.
It is a fact that players in different contact sport have got bigger, faster, and stronger. Maybe nutrition has helped them. Perhaps physical conditioning has improved their bodies too. But for sure, it would not be fair to see a welterweight fight against a light heavyweight, expecting that due to tradition, the smaller boxer could compete and beat a bigger foe on diary bases.
The creation of this new weight division is needed to level the field for heavyweights that aren’t mammoths sized. Years ago, the average top heavyweights were around 6’2″ and weighed around 225 lbs. And those boxers were considered big by all means. Floyd Patterson and Rocky Marciano were heavyweight champions, but now a day they would be simply too small for the current heavyweight division.
Let’s see the following list of the top current heavyweights:
- World Champion Tyson Fury 6’9″. In his last four fights, Fury weighed 256.5 against Deontay Wilder in their first fight, Tom Schwarz 263, Otto Wallin 254.25, and Wilder II 273 for an average of 261.68 pounds.
- Former titlist Wilder 6’7′. In his last four, he weighed versus Fury I 212.5, Dominic Breazeale 223.25, Luis Ortiz 219.5, and Fury II 231 for an average of 221.56 pounds.
- Titlist Anthony Joshua 6’6″. In his last four fights, he weighed 242.2 lbs against Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin 246, Andy Ruiz I 247.8, and Ruiz II 237.8 for an average of 243.45 pounds.
- Former titlist Andy Ruiz Jr 6’2¨’2¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Joshua II 283, Joshua I 268, Johnson 252.2, and Dimitrenko 262. For an average of 266.3 pounds.
- Former belt holder Alexander Povetkin 6’2¨’2¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Price 222, Joshua 222, H Fury 225.7, and Hunter 229.3 For an average of 224.75 pounds.
- Top contender Dillian Whyte 6’4¨’4¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Parker 259, Chisora II 246.5, Rivas 254, and Wach 271. For an average of 257.62 pounds.
- Contender Dereck Chisora 6’2¨’2¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Whyte II 246.2, Gashi 259, Szpilka 259, and Price 260.25. For an average of 256.11 pounds.
- Former belt holder Luis Ortiz 6’4¨’4¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Wilder II 236.5, Cojanu 241, Kauffman 241, and Hammer 238.75 For an average of 239.31 pounds.
- Former belt holder Joseph Parker 6’4¨’4¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Joshua 236.7, Whyte 242, Leapai 243.33, and Winters 245.4 For an average of 241.85 pounds.
- Contender Kubrat Pulev 6’4¨’4¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Johnson 255.5, H Fury 240.5, Dinu 249.8, and Booker 248.25 For an average of 248.51 pounds.
- Contender Martin Bakole 6’6¨’6¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Wach 263.5, Perea 262.3, Johnson 264.5, and Hernandez 263. For an average of 263.32 pounds.
- Former belt holder Charles Martin 6’5¨’5¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Kownacki 246, Corbin 254.5, Martz 253.3, and Washington 254. For an average of 251.9 pounds.
- Contender Robert Helenius 6’6¨’6¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Whyte 248.7,
- Washington 243.4, Osorio 235, and Kownacki 238.5. For an average of 241.4 pounds.
- Contender Adam Kownacki 6’3¨’3¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Martin 263.25, Washington 258.5, Arreola 266.25, and Helenius 265.2. For an average of 257.62 pounds.
- Contender Joe Joyce 6’6¨’6¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Stiverne 265, Ustinov 261, Jennings 256, and Wallisch 270. For an average of 263 pounds.
- Contender Dominic Breazeale 6’7¨’7¨. In his last four, he weighed versus Wilder 255.25, Negron 256.5, Molina 255.4, and Joshua 255. For an average of 255.63 pounds.
These sixteen fighters average a combined weight of 249.62 pounds. There is no way that it is fair for a 220 heavyweight to have to compete giving on times plus 25 pounds advantage.
If a fighter average 235 pounds, looking chubby, well maybe if he trains hard could be in top shape at a 225 limit. It could offer us the potential for better fights in terms of stamina, punch output, and work rate. Also, the 225 Champion could get to fight either the cruisers or super heavyweights titlists. So fight fans could have the potential of many more competitive fights to be arranged between the Cruisers challenging the new 225 heavies. And the 225 challenging the mammoth-sized heavies.
Some might think it would be better to raise the limits on the light heavyweight and the cruiserweight divisions, but that wouldn’t fix the issue. Instead, it would create a big gap between super middle and light heavy.
Consider that if the strawweight – minimumweight division was created at 105 pounds, just three pounds below the light fly 108. Then how is it possible to think that a gap of 25 pounds is safe, fair, or logical to accept as competitive.
Yes, these fighters at straw and light fly are small, averaging 5’3 ‘3 ¨ tall, but those 3 pounds only represent a 2.04% body mass difference between straw and light fly. For a 6’2 ‘2 ¨ tall and 225 pounds heavyweight boxer, the gap in weight up to 250 represents an increase of 11.11% body mass.
It is a fact that we are never going back to the original eight weight divisions and one world champion. Those days are gone, and pro boxing must adapt and consider that there is a big gap between the cruiser limit and the new heavyweight’s standards.
The fact that Deontay Wilder can compete is just an exception caused by his freak punch power. But not all boxers are god-given with that gift. If you have fought against a bigger opponent, then you know firsthand that when the skills are even that the size can give you an edge.
I agree with the creation of this new weight division. But what about the readers, why would you disagree?