One of the distinguishing characteristics of kickboxing (and other fighting sports) is the existence of weight divisions. These sports with limitations on weight create pocket sports from within. Middleweight kickboxers, for instance, use all the techniques that heavyweights use and follow the same rules, yet they don’t compete against the heavyweights and have their own champion. They may appear on the same event although the most successful kickboxing promotional company today sees aesthetic and bottom line value in keeping them separated.

The diversity of the heavyweight division is its most obvious appeal. A 100kg fighter and a 120kg (or more) fighter can be an even match due to individual advantages. The adage “styles make the fight” supports the belief that two different styles will produce a more exciting bout than two fighters who are similar. Non-heavyweight fighters aim for the weight limit of their divisions. This means that a fighter’s opponent will nearly always be the same weight. Although no weight divisions can claim to be as diverse as the heavyweights, fans of the other divisions can enjoy a fair amount of style variety. A 180cm middleweight, for example, will have a different game plan from a 165cm middleweight.

In boxing, convention and cooperation have come together to unanimously decide all the weight divisions.

Kickboxing, on the other hand, is too young for conventions. Also, sanctioning orgs have very rarely cooperated. In fact, every new sanctioning organization that springs on the kickboxing scene boasts being different from its peers and drafts its own weight divisions. Here are some of the divisions:  

By now, it is undeniable that weight limits are nothing more than arbitrary numbers. They are conceived by so-called great decision makers and imposed upon the rest. A quick look at the business of sanctioning events and the number of weight divisions will expose an interesting cause-effect relationship. Sanctioning organizations tend to be ignored by a promoter until said promoter comes to believe that a title (especially a world title) will bring more attention to his ace fighter. The promoter will then start shopping for world titles. In response, sanctioning orgs have created a glut of weight divisions to present a shopper friendly atmosphere.  

Adult men do not need 20 weight divisions. Even boxing fans feel 16 is too many. Safety is a word that creeps into conversations on this topic. The less pragmatic believe that a 66.818kg welter would be at a dangerous disadvantage against a 70kg super welter. Real world witnesses know that the 66.818kg welter spends his average day between 75 – 77kg. If the welterweight division were eliminated, the effect would not be undersized men getting thrashed in the Super Welterweight division. We would merely observe athletes cutting weight to 70kg instead of 66.818kg.

The role of the Central Kickboxing Organization is to monitor kickboxing activity. We do not govern the sport. The ISKA, WKN, WKA, IKF, WAKO, etc claim this authority. They can deem a fighter unworthy to fight for a title while the CKO had to witness and chronicle Hoost vs. Sapp for the #1 rank.

There are 2 options available to begin tracking activity outside the heavyweight division.
1- Create 7 weight divisions and start tracking.
2- Wait until there are 7 divisions agreed upon by the kickboxing community and start tracking.

Option one looks easy at first glance. Here are 7 divisions: -60, -65, -70, -75, -80, -90, +90. The numbers are easy to remember and the heavier divisions have wider weight spreads than the lighter divisions. The problems, however, are that these divisions are just as arbitrary as those of the sanctioning orgs and such an action is not truly a creation of 7 weight divisions. It is an addition of 7 weight divisions to the unorganized mess we suffer from now. Option 1 is also an action reserved for sanctioning bodies. They govern the sport.

Option 2 relies on the kickboxing community. This group can be divided into:

1- fans
2- fighters (and their teams)
3- promoters
4- sanctioning organizations.

Each group feels their own opinion holds more weight than the other groups. Fans feel their numbers give their own views priority. After all, Tokyo Dome has never had 70,000 fighters under its roof. Fighters believe that putting their bodies in potentially dangerous situations outweighs the others who never shed a drop of blood. Promoters see themselves at the top of the ladder because they face financial risk and are responsible for paying all the relevant parties regardless of the show’s success or failure. Sanctioning bodies feel they are responsible for maintaining the quality and representing the sport. Each group has different goals and priorities. To have each of the groups reach an agreement for change is impossible. Compromise is a possibility, but all the groups would have to see the compromise as a step up from the status quo.

Muay Thai

Some Muay Thai fighters transfer well to kickboxing. There is a lot of overlap between the sports and many kickboxers are trained by Muay Thai coaches. The games themselves are different however. The use of elbows and the long clinch create aesthetic differences and the scoring is holistic rather than round-by-round (ten-point system). The largest difference is the authority. Muay Thai is the property of the government of Thailand . Kickboxing, on the other hand, is not pierced with the flag of any country. The CKO does not track Muay Thai. We have never requested permission from the government of Thailand to do so. We will never track their sport without permission not only because it would be disrespectful, but also because they would still possess the power to dismiss the list and render it officially invalid.

Heavyweight Muay Thai is nearly non-existent. We see posters advertising it, but heavyweights have little interest in elbow strikes since the birth of kickboxing mega promoter K-1. Many of these events in fact offer MTR (Muay Thai Rules) which despite the similarity in the name, forbid elbow strikes and use a 10-point must system. Depending on either their market research or their gut instincts, promoters will refer to these events as K-1 Rules, Muay Thai, Muay Thai Rules, or Modified Muay Thai.

Outside the heavyweight division, more fighters participate in both Muay Thai and kickboxing. Even with a handful of events the K-1 promotional company stages at 70kg, nearly all fighters at that weight accept Muay Thai matches at a higher ratio than kickboxing.

Data Collection

One of the most difficult facets of maintaining a ranking list is data collection. There are several data gathers worldwide who provide a tremendous help to keep the CKO up to date, but the majority of the information is still gathered from research. In other words, the CKO still finds the majority of its information rather than the information finding the CKO. Optimism says things will change for the better and more information will drift our way. Until then, data collection will continue to be an issue.

Quality of information is also a concern. Fight reports frequently fall short of giving all the necessary information.

 -Names only
Red defeated Blue

 -manner of victory
Red defeated Blue by KO-2

 -date
2006/01/31 Red defeated Blue by KO-2

 -Place and promoter
2006/01/31 Red defeated Blue by KO-2 (ABC Promotions) ( London , England )

 -rules
2006/01/31 Red defeated Blue by KO-2 (ABC Promotions) ( London , England )(Modified Muay Thai)

 -weight class
2006/01/31 Red defeated Blue by KO-2 (ABC Promotions) ( London , England )(Modified Muay Thai)(70kg)

In brief, if kickboxing news sites collected and posted more detailed results, the door would be open for not only the CKO but other ranking organizations to track more weight divisions.

Professional Weight Range

Many fighters outside the heavyweight division fight in several weight divisions. This is due to not only the number of sanctioning organizations but also the number of divisions within each body.

This poses a few problems. The #2 and #3 ranked fighter in one weight division (say welter) could meet at a higher division (middleweight). According to the CKO system, that bout would not count as activity in the division where they boast high ranks (welter). If that were the only fight for one of the fighters for a full calendar year, inactivity penalties would be issued.

Other Questions

What if Blue failed the weigh in for ABC sanctioning body but was at the correct weight for the CKO? If Blue took a point deduction or had to wear heavier gloves, would the CKO regard this as a fight or would we recognize it as a non-ranking bout as we do tournament semi finals and finals?

What if Red and Blue wear fighting for a 90+ kg title with ABC sanctioning org and both fighters by chance weighted less than 90kg? Would the CKO count the fight as a 90+ kg ranking bout or a 90- ranking bout?

Conclusions

Tracking weight classes outside the heavyweight division is a very worthwhile goal. It is also very complicated in today’s kickboxing environment. Quality information is difficult to find. Lighter fighters often cross weigh boundaries and rule styles. There is no agreement or cooperation between sanctioning bodies. Optimism, however, says that there will be a day when the CKO will monitor all 7 weight divisions, whatever they may be.