By Ron Jackson
It has been reported that South Africa’s Keven Lerena who holds the IBO cruiserweight belt will meet Bilal Laggoune from Belgium for the newly created WBC Silver bridgerweight title on March 13 at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park.
The World Boxing Council recently announced that they were adding an 18th weight class to the existing 17 divisions in boxing, with the bridgerweight limit at 101,605 kg (224 lbs).
This weight class will be between the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions and could end up being called the super-cruiserweight class.
None of the other major organizations have indicated that they will also create this new division.
The 28-year-old southpaw Lerena (26-1, 13 KOs) should be quite comfortable at this new weight limit as he has just come off an easy fifth round technical knockout win over American Patrick Ferguson on 19 December when he weighed in at 95,82kgs.
Laggoune (25-2-2, 14 KOs) also 28-years-old has been fighting as a pro since October 2011 and in his most recent fight, he lost on a majority points decision against Tommy McCarthy 16-2 in a clash for the vacant EBU cruiserweight title.
The only other loss on his record came against Doudou Ngumbu 35-7 in February 2017 when he lost on a split decision in a bout for the WBC Francophpne light heavyweight title.
The new WBC bridger weight world championship division has Lerena listed at No. 3 and Laggoune at No. 12.
The No. 1 and 2 positions are held by Oscar Rivas (Colombia) and Ryad Merhy (Belgium).
Winning the Silver title could put Lerena in a strong position to challenge for the main belt.
2 virtual unknowns fighting for a ‘world title’
All praise the WBC, for watering down the already diluted sport a bit more.
Lerena isnt unlnown. The Super Sports channel gets him all the African continent and rights in Sri Lanka and German SuperSports. The Arslan fight got over a million views.
Adz – You know you South African, Africa, and more, boxing. Your opinion though – Is Lerena not moving up too high in weight fighting in BW against 224 lb opposition?
You may be right. His last fight he looked as big as he can get. I’d prefer to see him at cruiserweight vs Arsen Goulamirian. The last fight against Ferguson wasnt great. Not sure what other African boxers you follow but Roarke Knapp looks a little like Ricky Hatton lately stylewise. My favourite at the moment is Jabulani Makhense.
Really enjoy watching Knapp, very busy exciting style. Brandon Thysse was just too big size wise in the fight Knapp lost, by the looks of it. Will watch some more of Makhense (on Supersport channel, replay)
thank goodness boxing is finally willing to add more divisions. In fact, the fight game needs several more classifications and titles that can further separate fighters on the basis of reach, height and shoe size. * maybe weigh ins should also include ounces.
Not only adding a new division, but adding a silver to that.
The WBC lost their sanity decades ago and boxing suffers…
I expect the WBA to follow soon that way they can have 3 more champions in another weight class
I appreciate the WBC but what a horrible idea.
Looks like the wbc found a way to channel all the smaller heavyweights his way and pay sanctioning fees. No one else is doing it. So all the $$ goes to him.
Manuel Mahmoud Charr should be elevated as Bridgerweight emeritus Champion. Then if a few years he may consent to fight a top Bridgerweight.
The Fres Oqendo cab challenge the winner to be undispute Bridgerweight
Hey, someone is finally going to pay the sanctioning fees. Several other attempts to make a super cruiserweight division have been made. Ridiculous! And the fact that the division is named after someone with no ties to boxing makes it more obsurd.
Better yet- this is for the WBC “Silver” bridgerweight title!!!
they have to many weight class,now days. period/
Bridgerweight Silver. ha hahaha AAAAHAHHHAAAAHHHAA
There may be too many weight classes in boxing. However, the last place criticism is warranted is in this division. If there is one place boxing needed another division, it’s here. You can’t consistently have guys giving up 50 lbs to opponents and not think it poses an enormous safety risk. If anything, they probably should have extended the division to 230-235. But of all the divisions in boxing, I think this one has real merit. A fight between a guy who is 210 vs a guy who is 270 is not at all a fair fight, if all else is equal. Also, it may encourage those fighting at 235-245 to drop down in weight and actually get into better shape as it’s more fitting to their size.
Like any other division, when it first starts, you’re not going to have a lot of top guys there, but in time, it may actually fare decently well. This is especially the case because guys who are 200-225 often put on far more exciting fights than immobile “super” heavyweights.