Shame On You World Boxing Council!

Last night, the World Boxing Council (WBC) dropped on the boxing world the unveiling of a new weight division.

The “Bridgerweight” division. The division is a new weight class to be slated in between 200-224 pounds.

The name comes from six-year-old Bridger Walker, who suffered injuries while risking his life to protect his younger sister from a vicious dog. But let’s not let the cute inspirational story disguise the act that this is all a crock to make a new weight class for more sanctioning fees.

As I mentioned last night when this story broke, they should call this what it really is, a cash grab.

They spelled Cash Grabweight wrong

This is such a ? move. #boxing https://t.co/oYLPFae7OO

— Marquis Johns (@weaksauceradio) November 10, 2020

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman reasoning for this, of course, is because fighters over time have been going up in weight.

“We have decided to create a new division inspired by the hero of humanity, just six years old, who saved the life of his little sister,” Sulaiman told the Herald of Mexico.

“10 years ago, the WBC decided to move the limit of the cruiserweight division from 190 to 200 pounds, considering the weight of the athletes, since they have undoubtedly grown in an extremely impressive way. The highest division, heavyweight, means the highest glory. The world champion in this category has been traditionally recognized as the most important athlete in the world, the invincible one, the gladiator.

So while Sulaiman and the WBC’s logic are to keep up with the growing weight and the times, it misses the point and seems pretty transparent that this is just another gimmick from the same sanctioning body who gave us “Franchise champions.” At least Sulaiman’s explanation using the sad kid story as a beard is a lot better explained than the Franchise debacle.

Cliff Roid, Managing Editor over at Boxingscene, pointed out that David Haye fought at heavyweight in recent memory with no problem and took on every challenger above this Bridgerweight weight class.

Fun Fact: David Haye was 5-1 at heavy after moving up from cruiser. Fought between 210-22. Every foe above 224. Only lost to Wlad who was just, well, better in THE heavy super fight of the first half of that decade. So needed @WBCBoxing

— RoldBoxing (@RoldBoxing) November 10, 2020

Current heavyweight Michael Hunter joked on his Twitter morning that he is currently just a bit outside of this made-up weight class by a few pounds.

Woke up 228lbs.

Blown up Bridgerweight.

— Michael Hunter ll (@MichaelHunterII) November 10, 2020

Needless to say, the reception to this at best is poor and is just another bad idea by the sanctioning body that already has too many designations. Now making another weight class on top isn’t solving the problem, it’s making it worse. During the pandemic, the WBC said they would be reducing fees across the board, but making a new checkpoint on said board is a bait and switch a used car salesperson would envy.

Using a sob story about a six-year-old is low. Come correct and stop with this nonsense.