Words by Matt Lucas
The WBC Muay Thai is a sanctioning body. What does that mean? The easiest way to explain it is quality control. The Green and Gold creates a standard for legitimate champions.
There are rules and regulations from weigh ins, to the fight night, to the officiating, to mandatory defenses.
For example there are mandatory pre bout weigh ins. This is to ensure both fighters are close to the fight weight safely.
The fighters’ weight should be as follows:
- 30-day weigh-in: 30 days before the bout, the fighter’s weight should not exceed 10% of the weight limit for the bout.
- 14-day weigh-in: 14 days before the bout, the fighter’s weight should not exceed 5% of the weight limit for the bout.
- 7-day weigh-in: 7 days before the bout, the fighter’s weight should not exceed 3% of the weight limit for the bout.
For fight night there are established rules. For example No automatic TKO after three knockdowns. Mandatory 8 counts after a knockdown.
For officiating the referees and judges are WBC Muay Thai trained. They score according to a 10 point must system looking at Domination, Damage, and Diffusion. The winner of the round is given to the athlete that highlights those attributes.
Finally champions must defend their belts.
World Champions must defend within eight (8) months of winning or last defending their title.
International Champions Must defend within ten (10) months or notify WBC MuayThai of a confirmed defense.
Regional champions may keep their title for ten (10) months without a responsibility to defend the title.
So how do you become a champion?
Rankings!
Matt Lucas
Tomorrow we talk about how and why the WBC Muay Thai rankings are so important