Former heavyweight contender Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas has the distinction of being the WBC’s first #1 rated bridgerweight (200-224lbs) in the just released December ratings. Here are the top 15 in boxing’s newest weight division. The world title is vacant.
1. Oscar Rivas
2. Ryad Merhy
3. Kevin Lerena
4. Dmitry Kudryashov
5. Evgeny Romanov
6. Bryant Jennings
7. Artur Szpilka
8. Alen Babic
9. Joel Tambwe
10. Shigabudin Aliev
11. Marco Huck
12. Bilal Laggoune
13. Samuel Kodje
14. Rashid Kodzoev
15. Isaac Chamberlain
I know alot of people are opposed to new weight classes and 4-??? new belts but the silver lining is with a tourney we should get some good fights coming out of it.
I still say that if they could convince him, Michael Hunter could maybe run this division for a couple of years – him vs Rivas would be excellent imo. I think he’d probably have to lose a big fight or two at heavyweight in order to convince him to drop down, however.
It’s odd that Hunter is not on that list.
He publicly said that he wasn’t interested in the division. I think that may’ve had something to do with it and, given some of the names on that list, I would think the WBC probably reached out to the fighters to see what level of interest they had.
Don’t like the name, but think it’s not a bad idea to have a division for 200-225 fighters.. And above for HW.
Or maybe just introduce a Super HW above 225?
What’s crazy is Wilder could actually fall in this lower weight class by keeping an eye on his weight. He has already KO’d Szpilka ranked at #7 in dominant fashion.
Not so dominant, ended with a brutal KO, I agree, but Szpilka was giving Wilder all kind of troubles before that. At this point I am afraid he is almost a shot fighter though.
Yes, will be interesting to see how Wilder comes back to perform as a fighter.
This move is in the interest of the WBC but not in the best interests of boxing. This kind of thing makes me sick.
Cold on, I agree.
Another step in making titles even less meaningful.
Where is Jarrell Miller?
Not sure but try the nearest Dunkin Donuts.
He just opened up a “Fat Burger” in Cleveland…
Wait a minute so if This was a weight division back in the day George Foreman would of only been a heavyweight in his return in 94 gtfoh!
Ali an Frazier could have been in this category too I guess.
Not a fan of naming weight divisions after people. But this gives us an option instead of all these stupid “junior” or “super” divisions. For example, junior middleweight could be changed to derevyanchenkoweight. Are you listening Mauricio?
I see 15 guys on the list who have now set their sights on the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO Heavyweight championship.
And the Cruiserweights become even less relevant.
Strictly by weight, this seems like a necessary move, but the Heavyweights were huge in the 80’s and 90’s and Tyson and Holyfield handled it. Arguably the hardest puncher in this crop is Deontay Wilder and with the exception of his last fight with Fury he has been below 220. In his first fight against Fury he was 212 and had the goliath on the canvas twice.
Final note: after Usyk unified the Cruiserweight Titles most of you still felt he needed to fight Heavyweight contenders prior to getting a shot at the Heavyweight Championship. Personally, I didn’t agree, but if you felt that way about Usyk, then what’s the point of a Bridgerweight Champion?
What a damned joke.
Stupid idea. Any heavyweight as big as 240lbs can make this weight for the weigh in 24 hours before the fight. The only top heavyweight who cant is 270 lb Tyson Fury. I hope no one fights for the belt.
Where’s Michael Hunter on that list?
The idea is not really bad, but should be a limit for HW too, because this could lead to have more fit athletes with a more healthy and controlled diet. The name sounds odd and inappropriate, what about “Semi Heavyweight ” ?
What about 1 weight class past heavy. We cld call that Obese weight. Instead of a belt, it could be a ring they fight for. Save money on all thr material it takes to make a belt lmao
And then someone wins the title and then chooses to jump to heavyweight for a bigger purse smh
Reading these comments, I get the distinct impression the new division is already growing on some of you. This is how the corruption of boxing spreads–through the complicity of deluded fans.
Wow. Isnt that a list of whos, who as in who the fark are most of them
Belts are a dime a dozen now days
no no no this is just another lame name division they should have added super heavyweight but why isnt Usyk #1 IMO your gonna just add more multi weight class champions and in the end the F cares
Son of One Eye,what is this ?Rather give us a Super Hvy belt.
I thought this was the FBI most wanted list….