One year ago the whole world was deeply moved by the heroics of six-year-old Bridger Walker, who risked his life to save his younger sister from a dog attack. Upon learning of Bridger’s courageous action, the World Boxing Council not only sent him an iconic green belt and named him an honorary world champion, they named a new weight division after him. “We at the WBC are so honored to name Bridger our honorary champion, for his immense courage. It represents the very finest values of humanity,” said a WBC statement.
Top Boxing News
PLEASE READ
We have a few rules to make our comment section more enjoyable for everyone.
1. Keep comments related to boxing.
2. Be respectful, polite and keep it clean.
3. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
Offending posts will be removed.
Repeat offenders will be put on moderation.
We have a few rules to make our comment section more enjoyable for everyone.
1. Keep comments related to boxing.
2. Be respectful, polite and keep it clean.
3. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
Offending posts will be removed.
Repeat offenders will be put on moderation.
Wouldn’t doubt it if the WBC charges this young boy a sanctioning fee for having the green belt.
Rob, that was rude.
I’d be surprised if they didn’t do that, actually. Poor kid will be paying some kind of strange tax for the rest of his days.
You exaggerate only slightly!
Yup, the WBA and WBC are a joke, as they created interims, gold, silver, emeritus, super, and regular champions for more sanctioning fees. Another reason why the WBC creates these elaborate belts when a mega fight happens so they can charge for a sanctioning fee, despite a WBC belt not being on the line. Crooked sanctioning bodies! They are making the IBF and WBO more legit, and that is saying a lot as they have had their own crooked histories. Ridiculous! Just as ridiculous as the WBC using an unfortunate situation and naming a new weight class Bridgerweight, trying hard to get it accepted. Adding a new weight class brings in more sanctioning fees.
There all as bad as each other. The IBF & WBO have International/Inter-continental/Interim & even a European belt.
Do you think the Bridgerate division will be around to see it’s second anniversary? …I think not. Kind of a cool story how they got the name “Bridgerweight”…I thought it was because it bridged the gap between larger and smaller heavyweights. It is kind of a weird way to reward the kid for his act of bravery though- “Son, in honor or your heroics, we’re going to name a useless, ridiculed new boxing weight division after you that nobody will ever know or care about”…He’s like- can’t I just go to Disneyland instead?
If that kid knew anything about the WBC, he probably wouldn’t want them using his name.
FWIW, I also thought the name Bridgerweight referred to Bridging the gap between Cruiser and Heavyweight. As much as I don’t like the idea of yet another weight class, there is a decent argument for this one. The other sanctioning bodies surely won’t mind having another belt from which they can collect fees (or 5 more belts in the case of the WBA)
There is definitely a legit need and purpose for this division, but it just won’t fly. This was attempted over 20 years ago without much success. Guys who weigh in the 200-220lb range are kinda screwed; Mike Hunter is a current example. In recent years Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers, Bj Flores, would have all been shining examples of Bridgerweight stardom. Haha!…can you imagine if Holyfield went as high as Bridgerweight and never fought as a heavyweight?
It is kind of hard to imagine Holyfield having never fought at Heavyweight. Him at Bridgerweight probably would have looked a lot like his time at Cruiserweight…with him unifying.
Wilder managed to have a pretty long reign as Heavyweight champion, and he was below 220 for some of his title defenses. I believe he was 214 for Ortiz 1, and 213 for Fury 1. Wilder has the height and freakish power though. The guys you mentioned….Hunter, Chambers, Byrd….are good examples of why there’s a need for the Bridgerweight divison.
All these ridiculous weight classes are a major reason for the decline of boxing as a mainstream sport. When there were eight weight classes everyone knew who the champions were before all these sanctioning organizations each created their multiple champions. No need for a new class every four pounds. There have always been small and large heavyweights-big was often not talented and was beaten by the smaller guys.
“When there were eight weight classes everyone knew who the champions were before all these sanctioning organizations each created their multiple champions. No need for a new class every four pounds.”
Agreed Michael, but how does this get fixed though? The sanctioning bodies aren’t voluntarily going to go away, and won’t be changing their ways for the better (number of weight divisions, number of belts, crooked ratings, etc.) Personally, I’d like to see it go back to the original 8 weight classes, plus Cruiserweight, and maybe Bridgerweight. Cruiser is an absolute necessity IMO. Would like to hear more debate on Bridgerweight. There has to be a way to clean this sport up, but nobody seems willing to make a serious effort to do so.
Not only will it be around but will likely be joined by junior and senior bridgerweight divisions.
It’s a shame boxing is over loaded with weight classes because with heavyweights getting bigger and bigger a Bridgerweight division makes sense
Jennifer, I don’t care!
Horrible stuff , why not put money in to dog education? No add more weight classes, great way to honour the young lad
WBC = We Be Criminals (or We Be Collecting) per Teddy Atlas.
Now the story is that “Bridgerweight” is named for a six year old kid? Give me a ****ing break. That division is a ****ing joke, its name is a bigger joke (especially when you announced it, only then it was as a “bridge” from Cruiserweight to Heavyweight), and the WBC is a complete ****ing joke.