By Suzy Smith.
Geovana Peres (left), and Claire Hafner
On October 4th, in Auckland, New Zealand, the world's premier female Heavyweights will collide in a bout that LBC (LinealBoxingChampion.com) will recognise as for the vacant Lineal Heavyweight World Championship.
As per tradition in boxing, vacant World Championships should be decided by contests between the two leading contenders in a division. Canada's Claire Hafner, 4-1, is our #1 rated Heavyweight, and New Zealand based Brazilian, Geovana Peres, 7-1, is #2, and as such, their upcoming contest is worthy of crowning a new champion.
Women's professional boxing is increasing in popularity. Admittedly, it still lacks depth, particularly in the heavier divisions, but talented stars can and do exist, even in small pools. It's also important to remember that the current fighters are pioneers, paving the way for future generations, and helping the sport grow.
Any weight above 168lbs on LinealBoxingChampion.com is considered to be "Heavyweight" in women's boxing. Currently BoxRec lists no female boxers at Light Heavyweight or Cruiserweight, yet Hafner/Peres will be fought at an agreed upon weight limit of 175lbs (for the WBO Light Heavyweight strap). As professionals, Hafner has weighed between 181 - 191lbs, while Peres has tipped the scales no higher than 175.5lbs.
Our current Heavyweight top 5 is below. The lightest they have been in their professional careers is stated in brackets.
1. Hafner (181lbs)
2. Peres (171lbs)
3. Jimenez (167lbs)
4. Fox (182lbs)
5. Rivas (138lbs)
The above boxers, all under 6 feet tall, could likely all make 175lbs. Arguably the biggest framed woman of the five, 5'11" Jimenez (our former #1 Heavyweight), slimmed down in 2018/19, and had her last fight at Super Middleweight, weighing 167lbs.
The Light Heavyweight division in men's boxing was created in the early 1900s, at a time when Super Middleweight and Cruiserweight didn't exist, to bridge the size disparity between the Middleweights and the growing number of enormous Heavyweights, such as the powerfully built, muscular 6'2", 220lbs Jim Jeffries.
There is nobody in women's boxing who fights at a muscular 200lbs. In fact, Middleweight Christina Hammer (at 5'11" with a 71" reach), would have significant height, reach and size advantages over almost everyone in the division.
A Light Heavyweight division would simply split up and dilute, what is already a small pool of fighters above 168lbs. It is unnecessary. Cynics may suggest that the ABC companies (just the WBO at present) are once again exploiting a gap in the market, to create yet more belts and collect more sanctioning fees. Regardless, Hafner and Peres are the top 2 above 168lbs. It is a shame Hafner is having to drop down to 175lbs to make the fight happen, but weight shedding seems to be common place in women's boxing. Shields has plummeted from Super Middleweight to Junior Middleweight, and Jimenez has gone from 230lbs to Super Middleweight in recent years.
Rivas and Jimenez could more than likely make 175lbs in order to face the winner of Peres/Hafner, if that was specified in the contract. If a bigger, larger competitor emerged, who couldn't make 175lbs, in boxing, money talks - it is highly likely that such a fight would be negotiated, and at a weight that suited both participants.
Catch-weights and empty divisions are not what the sport needs. Before long, the ABC organisations may have created 8 "world titles" above 168lbs, crammed into to just two small divisions.
Only one division is needed: Heavyweight.
Only one World Champion is needed.
Forget what the sanctioning bodies say. On October 4th there will be a new Lineal Champion, and that woman will best the best fighter upwards of 168lbs.
The winner of Hafner/Peres will crown our inaugural Heavyweight World Champion, and will be one of only 3 Lineal Champions currently in women's professional boxing.