The British Boxing Board of Control consider new light-cruiserweight division

BBBofC consider brand-new weight class

The British Boxing Board of Control are currently considering introducing a new weight class for male professional boxing at 185-pounds.

The light-cruiserweight division is designed to close the largest gap between any two weight limits in professional boxing.

The proposed division would sit between light heavyweight, capped at 175 pounds, and cruiserweight, capped at 200 pounds.

General Secretary Robert W. Smith has contacted the board’s licence holders to gather feedback before any final decision is made.

Smith explained the safety reasoning behind the new idea, “One of the reasons is the present 25lbs between 12st 7lbs light heavyweight and 14st 4lbs cruiserweight, which is the largest of all divisions. The fact that modern-day athletes are larger, stronger, etc., the Stewards feel this would be a significant change in relation to health and safety.”

The bridgerweight was introduced just a few years back, a new division created above cruiserweight to bridge the gap toward heavyweight. However, it was only ever taken up the WBC initially, then the WBA, who have now abolished the division with immediate effect.

This new proposal works differently, filling a gap further down the scale instead, between light-heavyweight and cruiserweight.

Whether other governing bodies like the WBC or WBA would adopt a matching division remains an open question. For now, the proposal is still under review, and no timeline for a decision has been announced.