Classes of Boxing

Boxing is divided into weight classes. This prevents a lean 105-pound boxer from fighting a large 200-pound boxer. It is a way of evening out the playing field and properly matching boxers. Good matching results in a more challenging boxing match that will be more entertaining to watch. There are nine categories of weight classes in boxing.

  1. Flyweight

    • Flyweight is the lightest weight class in boxing. It is broken up into four categories including mini flyweight, junior flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight. Boxers can weigh up to and including 105, 108, 112 and 115 pounds respectively. Mini flyweight is sometimes referred to as straw weight or minimum weight. Junior flyweight is sometimes referred to as light flyweight.

    Bantamweight

    • Bantamweight is the next lightest weight class. It is broken into two sub weights: bantamweight and super bantamweight. Bantamweights can weigh between 115 and 118 while super bantamweights weigh between 118 and 122. Super bantamweight is sometimes referred to as junior featherweight

    Featherweight

    • Featherweight is the next lightest weight class in boxing. It consists of true featherweights and super featherweights. True featherweights must weigh between 122 and 126 pounds while super featherweights can weigh between 126 and 130 pounds. Super featherweight is also called junior lightweight by some boxing organizations including the World Boxing Organization.

    Lightweight

    • Boxing lightweights are broken into two categories: lightweight and super lightweight. Lightweight boxers need to weigh in over 130 pounds but under 135 pounds. Super Lightweight boxers weigh in between 135 and 140 pounds. Super lightweight is also sometimes referred to as junior welterweight or light welterweight.

    Welterweight

    • Welterweight boxers are either true welterweight or super welterweight. True welterweight boxers weigh between 140 and 147 pounds. Super welterweights weigh in above 147 pounds and below 154 pounds. Super welterweights are sometimes referred to as junior middleweight and light middleweight.

    Middleweight

    • Middleweight boxers and super middleweight boxers need to weigh in between 154 and 160 pounds or 160 and 168 pounds respectively.

    Light Heavyweight

    • Light heavyweight boxers are the next heaviest boxing class. They weight between 168 and 175 pounds.

    Cruiserweight

    • Cruiserweight boxers weigh between 175 and 200 pounds. This is one of the broadest weight classes. The World Boxing Organization referred to this class as the junior heavyweight.

    Heavyweight

    • Heavyweight is the heaviest boxing class. Boxers in this class must weight over 200 pounds. This is the broadest boxing class in terms of pounds.