The British Boxing Board of Control has approved a new light cruiserweight division with a championship limit of 13st 5lbs (187lbs), to take effect from January 1, 2027. The Board confirmed the change in a notice published on September 15, saying the division “will bridge the current largest weight gap between two divisions in the sport” and will be available across Area, English, Celtic and British titles.
The new class will sit between light heavyweight, which in Britain has a limit of 12st 7lbs (175lbs), and cruiserweight at 14st 4lbs (200lbs). The 25lb gap between those two divisions is the biggest anywhere on the professional scale, where most neighbouring weight classes are separated by three to seven pounds.
According to BoxingScene, the idea was put to Board general secretary Robert Smith by trainer Pat Barrett earlier this year and was backed by fellow trainers Adam Booth, Jamie Moore, Andy Lee and Robert McCracken before being approved unanimously by BBBofC-licensed trainers. Manchester trainer Joe Gallagher had also proposed a similar division to the WBC at its annual convention in Bangkok last December.
“What you’re left with are fighters that are too big for light heavyweight but not big enough to be cruiserweight,” Gallagher said at the time. “If we create a weight class in the middle it makes it much safer.”
Smith told BoxingScene that boxers can contest bouts at the new limit immediately, but it will not become an official championship division until January.
