WBC Bridgerweight Title Struggles for Recognition After Three Years
Introduction: Three years after its creation by World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, the WBC Bridgerweight title continues to face a lack of recognition in the boxing world. Despite the good intentions behind its inception, the new weight division has failed to gain approval from record-keeping sources, including BoxRec. The WBC Bridgerweight Concept: The WBC introduced the Bridgerweight division as a bridge between the cruiserweight and heavyweight classes. This unique move was inspired by the heroic actions of young Bridger Walker, who saved his four-year-old sister from a dog attack. Sulaiman's hope was that this new weight category would garner attention and recognition within the boxing community. Challenges in Gaining Recognition: Despite the WBC's efforts, the Bridgerweight division has faced several challenges. The weight class's rankings have consistently fallen short of the forty-strong roster found in other significant weight divisions. Furthermore, notable boxers have been hesitant to enter the Bridgerweight division, contributing to the lack of interest. Notable Boxers' Reluctance: One prominent example of a boxer's reluctance to embrace the Bridgerweight division is Deontay Wilder. Despite being within the bridgerweight weight limit, Wilder declined the opportunity to compete for the title. This decision left fans wondering about the division's future and the recognition it would receive. The Void in Record-Keeping: A significant issue facing the WBC Bridgerweight title is the absence of recognition in record-keeping platforms. Notably, BoxRec, despite its partnership with the WBC, has not yet incorporated the new classification into its records. This absence has left a void in the historical documentation of world titles and victories within the division. WBC and BoxRec Partnership: The WBC's partnership with BoxRec has been aimed at enhancing the accuracy and completeness of boxing records. However, despite this collaboration, the Bridgerweight division's recognition remains a challenge. The WBC's rankings mention BoxRec each month, and the organization has contributed to the development of features like fight classification on the record-keeping site. The Road Ahead: The WBC's efforts to secure recognition for the Bridgerweight division face obstacles, especially since other major boxing organizations, such as the WBA, IBF, and WBO, have not included the weight class in their rosters. To ensure the division's long-term future, the WBC may need to consider alternative strategies, including attracting well-known fighters like Deontay Wilder or Oleksandr Usyk to compete in this weight class. Conclusion: The WBC Bridgerweight division, introduced with the noble intention of bridging the gap between cruiserweight and heavyweight, continues to struggle for recognition in the boxing world. Challenges in rankings and the reluctance of prominent boxers to embrace the division have hindered its growth. As the WBC works to gain recognition for Bridgerweight, the inclusion of this unique weight class in record-keeping platforms remains a crucial step toward its acceptance within the boxing community.
