In an effort to combat unsafe weight cutting procedures, the WBC is moving forward with an expansion to its guidelines for weight checks before a fight.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman announced that the sanctioning body has implemented a new weight-check program that will have the WBC monitor fighters' weights more closely in the weeks leading up to a fight.
The first aspect of this new program is that fighters must notify the WBC of their weight at the time of a fight being finalized. There is also a new weight check system for the weeks before a title fight takes place. Originally, fighters were weighed in 30 and seven days before the fight, but now fighters must also measure their weights 14 days before a fight.
The new system goes as follows:
- 30 days before a fight: Boxers cannot weigh more than 10 percent of the official weight for the fight.
- 14 days before a fight: Boxers cannot weigh more than five percent of the official weight for the fight.
- Seven days before a fight: Boxers cannot weigh more than three percent of the official weight for the fight.
The WBC also stated it reserves the right to impose any of the following penalties for non-compliance:
- A warning
- Fines up to $5,000
- Withdrawal of sanctioning of a bout
- Up to 30 percent penalty on the purse
"One of the top priorities of the WBC for 2019 will be the introduction of the new Weight Management Program, which is intended to protect the health of the fighters above everything. We will need the collaboration from promoters, matchmakers, managers, trainers, boxing commissions, boxing federations, press and of course the fighters themselves," Sulaiman said.
The WBC is the latest organization to implement such changes to help prevent health issues stemming from weight management. The Association of Boxing Commissions voted for a second-day weigh-in for all sanctioned championship fights starting in 2019. The Japanese Boxing Commission also voted for more severe punishment for missing weight as there had been multiple cases of boxers missing weight in big fights in Japan.
