Beefy case for Bridger Weight as huge heavyweights tip the scales

A substantial weigh in of very large heavyweights totaling  almost five hundred and ten pounds, demonstratively confirms the case for the new Bridger Weight Division.

Martin Bakole Ilunga (born in Congo, based in Scotland) this Saturday night fights Russia’s Sergey Kuzmin this Saturday at The SSE Arena, Wembley, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Ireland and on DAZN in the U.S. and more than 200 countries and territories on its just-launched Global platform on the undercard of Joshua-Pulev big event.

The staggering weigh in, accommodated in London, which fully tested the scales, indicted:

Sergey Kuzmin 258.450 Lbs (kgs 117.250)

Martin Bakole 251.400 Lbs (kgs 114)

by Matchroom Boxing UK

December 12th in London, UK

For the vacant WBC International Heavyweight Championship

After Filip Hrgovic relinquished this title on a voluntary basis, the Committee has approved this “Big Fight” for the vacant belt.

Both fighters have a similar record, with Bakole (15-1-0, 12) and Kuzmin (15-1-0, 11). Both rated by the WBC are complying 100% with WBC requirements.

Prior to the introduction of Bridger Weight,  the Cruiserweight Division limit only reached two hundred pounds.  This meant that a fighter weighing two hundred and one pounds could have been facing the daunting prospect of facing an opponent nearly sixty pounds heavier…or even more enormous. Remember seven foot tall Nicolai Valuev, who at his peak sorely tested the scales at three hundred and twenty eight pounds!

Decades earlier Rocky Marciano was fighting at one hundred and eighty two pounds. Back then cruiserweight didn`t exist.  Anyone over the one hundred and seventy five pounds light heavyweight limit, was a heavyweight.

Bridger Weight is a necessary step, which spans a behemoth and potentially dangerous gulf, as it dovetails in, by providing a two hundred to two hundred and forty four pounds requirement.  Bridger Weight necessarily bridges the gap.

Change in Boxing is seldom comfortable or easy. The evolution of size in different eras, isn’t static. Rather, it`s  ongoing and it`s inevitable. Our response to it is timely, and it`s necessary in order to protect  the health, safety plus current and future wellbeing of boxers.