The for main governing bodies of professional boxing--the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF--recognize 17 weight classes within the sport. These classes are sometimes listed under different names but they all follow the same weight guidelines. A boxer's weight determines the bouts in which he is eligible to fight; many boxers achieve different fighting weights in order to compete for different titles. Professional boxers are allowed to fight above their weight class but not below it.
Heavyweight
A heavyweight boxer must way over 200 lbs. The heavyweight class is the only class that has no upper weight limit. Muhammad Ali was arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer, while Mike Tyson was perhaps the most notorious.
Cruiserweight and Light Heavyweight
A cruiserweight boxer fights between 175 lbs. and 200 lbs. The cruiserweight class is known as the junior heavyweight class by the WBO. The light heavyweight division, meanwhile, has an upper limit of 175 lbs. and a minimum of 168 lbs. Many light heavyweight boxers will eventually move up to the higher weight divisions.
Middleweight
There are three middleweight classes: super middleweight, middleweight and light middleweight. Middleweight boxers often move among the three middleweight categories. The super middleweight class falls between 160 lbs. and 168 lbs. while a standard middleweight class fighter must weigh between 154 lbs. and 160 lbs. Light middleweights, also known as super welterweights, fall between 147 lbs. and 154 lbs. Notable middleweights include Sugar Ray Robinson, Marvin Hagler and Nigel Benn.
Welterweight and Lightweight
The standard welterweight class falls between 140 lbs. and 147 lbs. A lighter class, known as light welterweight or super lightweight, weighs in between 135 lbs. and 140 lbs. Below this is the lightweight class which sits between 130 lbs. and 135 lbs. Sugar Ray Robinson, one of the greatest boxers of all time, fought in the welterweight class.
Featherweight
The super featherweight class, known as the junior lightweight by the WBO and IBF, is for boxers weighing between 126 lbs. and 130 lbs. Below this is the featherweight class which encompasses weights between 122 lbs. and 126 lbs. Marco Antonio Barrera and Naseem Hamed were both featherweight fighters.
Bantamweight
Sitting between 118 lbs. and 122 lbs. is the super bantamweight class, also known as the junior featherweight class. Below this is the standard bantamweight class which falls between 115 lbs. and 118 lbs.
Flyweight
The flyweight class is divided into three categories: super flyweight, flyweight and light flyweight. Super flyweight falls between 112 lbs. and 115 lbs. Below this is the flyweight class which lies between 108 lbs. and 112 lbs. and the light flyweight class which falls between 105 lbs. and 108 lbs.
Strawweight
The strawweight class is the lightest class in professional boxing. Also known as mini flyweight or minimum-weight fighters, these boxers weigh in at 105 lbs. or under.
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