Why not lite-heavyweight? Announcers could give a little pause or catch in the throat between the hyphen to avoid confusion.
The name is terrible. The idea is terrible. And as others have said, it radically deletes the talent pool at heavyweight. In the WBC ratings alone, the champ is Fury, the Interim champ is Povetkin (who would fit in the new class), the #1 contender is Wilder (who would fit in the new class) and the #2 contender is Usyk (who would fit in the new class). Hunter, who has a draw with Povetkin, at #10 also fits. Why do you need a new division if the top heavyweights in the world would fit in the new division? Seems to me like a way for the WBC to clean out the rated veterans at the top of their ratings and let connected guys like Dubois and Hrgovic shoot up a half-dozen spots and become the new top contenders REALLY fast - by just removing all the veterans above them. Who would be left to get in the younger fighters' way? Andy Ruiz? It will be interesting to see what the first ratings in this new division look like and if all the top contenders they rate just tell them to screw off, and they are left with guys like Gassiev and Huck fighting for the belt.
Why stop at just making Bridgerweight? What about junior bridgerweight and super bridgerweight, then heavyweight, super heavyweight, massive weight, super massiveweight.
Exactly. Hopefully the other orgs will leave this one alone. Although, they do all love those sanctioning fees.
They know about the name Super Cruiserweight (most people like it) and Tigerweight (I prefer it, but didn't get public approval). Not sure why they intentionally annoy fans by adding an unpopular name. A Champion likes to be Super Cruiser or a Tiger...not a Bridge!
Mauricio Sulaiman is the biggest scourge on boxing with all of his made-up belts simply created for sanctioning fees. Now a new made-up weight class where it isn't required... Just takin the ****. I hope he gets locked up for this criminal level of greed and shamelessness.
What about a body fat % heavyweight title? Butterbean and some other fatties can make a return and win a world title.
So if someone weighs 224 or less, can they still fight for the WBC heavyweight belt? Or would they have to bulk up to 225 to be eligible?
More like lets get Dubois and Hrgovic to the top of the heavyweight ratings by "building a bridge" over guys like Povetkin, Wilder and Usyk rated above them. Bridgerweight = getting slow, heavy guys with top promoters to the front of the heavyweight ratings because they can't beat the lighter guys in front of them. What a train wreck.
Ive changed my mind. Its obvious what should be done by the wbc, from 105 to 280 make a weight class for each pound. Thats 175 weight class chanpions, 175 franchise champions, 175 silver champions, and 175 interim champions. It makes the most sense I cant wait for the 188 lb franchise champion to be called a coward for calling out the smaller 187 lb and 186 lb champions while ducking the king at 189 lbs.