‘Never’ – Turki Alalshikh doesn’t hold back in verdict over controversial boxing rule change

Turki Alalshikh has had his say on a controversial suggestion that the WBA could reintroduce 15 round fights.

Current WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez recently suggested that 15-round contests should be reintroduced for the first time since they were abolished in the 1980’s.

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In 1982, a fighter Kim Duk-Koo tragically died after sustaining fatal injuries in the 14th round of a WBA lightweight title decider against Rayn Mancini.

The WBC then declared they would move away from 15 rounders to just 12 periods, a rule which was rolled out widely in boxing by the end of the decade to protect the health of the fighters.

The WBA decided to ditch the 15-round rule in 1987, one of the later of the governing bodies to do so.

But incredibly in the present day, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza suggested they could make a U-turn and trial the 15-round format again in 2025.

He said in a statement released to social media: “WBA may think about approving it [undisputed fights for 15 rounds] in a trial mode for certain high calibre opposition between the boxers.”

Of course if the rules is imposed by the WBA, it would only affect undisputed bouts proposedly, of which they are often rare and far between.

But it could bring back gruelling and detrimental health effects on the fighters, at a time when the sport is starting to clear up it’s act and try to put them first.

Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh, a matchmaker who is integral to the sport in the present day, is far from keen on the WBA’s idea.

He responded: “No, I don’t support this idea in any way.

“This is bad for a fighter’s health and I would never be in favor of fights going back to 15 rounds.

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“In my opinion, even a 12 round fight could be too much for a fighter’s health, but 15 rounds is out of the question.

“A 15-round fight should never be allowed to happen.”

So it appears luckily for the fighters, the extra three rounds are unlikely to be added, with any undisputed fight having to need the approval of the four governing bodies.

It would mean the likes of Canelo Alvarez, who is set to fight in two undisputed clashes with William Scull and Terence Crawford in 2025, could be subject to 30 rounds.

Oleksandr Usyk’s two fights with Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight crown were extremely brutal, and could have been 30 rounds had the fights gone the distance with the rule change in place.

Deaths in the sport have recently been in the spotlight, with Irish boxer John Cooney recently passing away after sustaining a brain injury from a title fight.

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But despite controversy and large opposition to the rulings, Lopez believes it would benefit the sport.

“I have a question. Can we bring back 15-round fights?” Lopez claimed 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 per cent sanctioning fee, right? No fee. So why not add three more rounds for undisputed fights?”