Boxing sanctioning body, the WBA, is considering bringing back 15-round fights in light of Teofimo Lopez’s recent comments.
Up until the 1980s, world title fights were contested over 15 rounds.
For decades, the last title fight scheduled for less than 15 rounds had been a 10-rounder between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey in 1927.
In the years that followed, the only title clash that was not scheduled for 15 rounds was a 20-round showdown between Joe Louis and Abe Simon in 1941.
This all changed in 1982 when Kim Duk-Koo tragically passed away from the injuries he sustained during a 14th-round knockout loss to ‘Boom Boom’ Ray Mancini for the WBA lightweight crown.
In the immediate aftermath, the WBC issued a statement declaring that they would be reducing the number of rounds from 15 to 12 for bouts contested for their version of the world title.
The WBA followed suit in 1987 while the IBF did the same a year later.
These changes were made due to concerns about fighter safety.
However, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza claims the major sanctioning body he oversees is considering trialling 15-round fights.
“WBA may think about approving it (undisputed fights for 15 rounds) in a trial mode for certain high calibre opposition between the boxers,” he said in a statement released on the WBA’s X account.
Mendoza was responding to Lopez’s pleas for 15-round fights to be brought back for undisputed showdowns.
“I have a question. Can we bring back 15-round fights?” Lopez said on the Ring Magazine podcast.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s just something I’m curious about.
“When you’re fighting for undisputed status, how about making those fights 15 rounds?
“Let’s add three more rounds, and then we’ll find out who the real champion is.
“I think it would be symbolic because it truly shows the significance of what we’re fighting for.
“Plus, you’re not taking a 3% sanctioning fee, right? No fee. So why not add three more rounds for undisputed fights?”
In a sport in which there are already 13 fatalities a year on average, the decision to bring back 15-round fights would be a highly controversial one.
