Boxing weight classes are the standardized ranges of weight in which boxers compete. The upper limit of one division is the lower limit of the division above. A professional boxer cannot exceed the upper limit, although he can move up in class to fight. Amateur boxers cannot exceed the upper limit, nor can they drop below the lower. The weight divisions can come under different names in the four different sanctioning bodies: the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization, International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Council.
Governing Weights
Because a boxer's weight will vary between fights, the weight at he is fighting is recorded a weigh-in on the day before the fight. If either boxer does weigh in within the required range, he can try again later after attempting to work the excess weight off. If he does not get below the weight limit, the fight will either go ahead at a "catch weight"--an unofficial weight. The bout cannot decide a championship if a boxer has a catch weight. The organizers could postpone the match, and the sanctioning organization might discipline the offending fighter.
WBA and WBC Weight Classes
The World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council categorize boxers in several divisions. The are: mini flyweight, up to 105 lb.; light flyweight, up to 108 lb.; flyweight, up to 112 lb.; super flyweight, up to 115 lb.; bantamweight, up to 118 lb.; super bantamweight, up to 122 lb; featherweight, up to 126 lb; super featherweight, up to 130 lb.; lightweight, up to 135 lb.; super lightweight, up to 140 lb.; welterweight, up to 147 lb.; super welterweight, up to 154 lb.; middleweight, up to 160 lb.; super middleweight, up to 168 lb.; light heavyweight, up to 175 lb.; cruiserweight, up to 200 lb.; and heavyweight, over 200 lb. There is no upper limit in the heavyweight division.
WBO Weight Classes
The World Boxing Organization follows the same weight divisions as the WBA and WBC, but names some of the weight divisions differently. These differences are mini flyweight, up to 105 lb.; junior flyweight, up to 108 lb.; junior bantamweight, up to 115 lb.; junior featherweight, up to 122 lb.; junior lightweight, up to 130 lb.; junior welterweight, up to 140 lb.; junior middleweight, up to 154 lb.; and junior heavyweight, up to 200 lb.
IBF Weight Classes
The International Boxing Federation follows the same weight divisions that the WBO uses, except for calling the lightest division strawweight, up to 105 lb., and following the WBA and WBC in calling the division up to 200 lb. cruiserweight.
Amateur Weight Classes
The Amateur International Boxing Association defines weight categories in kilograms, and are adapting weight divisions in September 2010 to introduce a minimum weight, removing Featherweight (see Reference 5).
The current categories are: light flyweight, up to 48 kg; flyweight, up to 51 kg; bantamweight, up to 54 kg; featherweight, up to 57 kg; lightweight, up to 60 kg; light welterweight, up to 64 kg; welterweight, up to 69 kg; middleweight, up to 75 kg; light heavyweight, up to 81 kg; heavyweight, up to 91 kg; and super heavyweight, above 91 kg.
The changes as of September 2010 see light flyweight become 46 to 49 kg; flyweight includes up to 52 kg; and bantamweight covers up to 56 kg.
References
- Wordl Boxing Association: Bylaws
- World Boxing Commission: WBC Weight Scale
- World Boxing Organization: Regulations of World Champpionship Contests
- International Boxing Federation/ /U.S. Boxing Federation: Rules Governing Championship Contests
- International Boxing Association: Technical and Competition Rules
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