The idea of bringing back 15-round fights has sparked debate in the boxing world, with high-profile names weighing in on the potential rule change.
WBA President Gilberto Mendoza recently suggested that undisputed title fights should be extended from 12 to 15 rounds—an idea that has gained support from current WBA super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez.
Lopez believes that longer fights would add to the prestige of undisputed clashes, arguing that modern fighters should be pushed to their limits, just as past greats were.
The 15-round format was once a staple of boxing but was abolished in the 1980s following the tragic death of Kim Duk-Koo.
Safety concerns led governing bodies to reduce championship bouts to 12 rounds, a standard that has remained in place for decades.
The WBO President also weighed in recently on the idea of 15-round contests.
While some see a return to 15 rounds as a way to separate the best from the rest, not everyone agrees.
Turki Alalshikh Critical of 15-Round Idea
Turki Alalshikh has spoken out against the proposal. He believes that extending fights could pose serious risks to fighters’ health.
He said: “”This is bad for a fighter’s health and I would never be in favor of fights going back to 15 rounds.”
“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.
He concluded: “A 15-round fight should never be allowed to happen.”
For any rule change to happen, all major boxing organizations would need to agree, but the debate highlights an ongoing divide—should boxing prioritise tradition or fighter safety?
This comes ahead of Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev’s rematch, with the winner becoming the undisputed light-heavyweight champion, an accolade Beterbiev is currently in possession of.
