Boxing has seen a new weight class emerge in recent years, and though it is still in its early days, has seen well-known names such as Lawrence Okolie and Alen Babic enter the division.
The Bridgerweight division is the newest division in boxing. It sits between the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
The WBA President, Mauricio Sulaiman said the division was created to “serve the large number of boxers who are between 200 and 224-pounds”.
It is still very new, but boxing’s 18th division has already begun to gain traction, though it was its first champion who has the most interesting story – a six-year-old boy from America.
Bridgerweight division owes its name to six-year-old hero who saved sister from vicious attack
Bridger Walker was just six when he was forced to save his four-year-old sister from an attack from a vicious stray dog in 2020.
Bridger’s father spoke on the incident: “Bridger was in front of Brielle, got in front of Brielle, she very much used him as a shield, as her protector. He said the dog just kept biting, and it just kept biting. I said ‘Why didn’t you run?’ and he said ‘Dad if somebody should die I thought it should’ve been me.'”
According to Boxing Scene, Sulaiman said of Bridger and the new weight division: “This name is inspired by that hero of humanity, that six-year-old boy who heroically saved his four-year-old sister from an attack by a wild dog during the pandemic; yes, this new division is inspired by Bridger Walker.”
The division has seen Lawrence Okolie become a champion after blitzing Lukasz Rozanski, who destroyed Alen Babic, in one round. Okolie has since moved to heavyweight.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Julio Cesar La Cruz fought Dilan Prasovic recently in a title eliminator to face Muslim Gadzhimagomedov for the WBA title.
Floyd Mayweather awarded Bridger Walker for his bravery
At the WBC convention Walker was given a hero’s welcome, announced as though he were a boxing champion, he was awarded a belt for his bravery, and the title of honorary champion in the bridgerweight division.
At the convention it was none other than Floyd Mayweather who present Walker with the belt. Oscar Rivas was also present at the convention and crowned the first official bridgerweight champion.
Rivas presented gifts to Walker’s family. When asked by Sulaiman if her brother was the champ, Walker’s sister Brielle said: “Yes.”
Like Vinny Pazienza’s return after a neck break, and Craig Bodzianowski who fought with one leg, Walker’s story is an inspiring one of resilience.