Boxing Weight Classes: A Guide
Introduction
Boxing weight classes are a set of weight ranges for boxers. The lower limit of a weight class is equal to the upper weight limit of the class below it. This helps to ensure that boxers are competing against opponents of similar size and strength.
History of Boxing Weight Classes
There were traditionally eight weight divisions in men's boxing. More divisions were added over time, and professional governing bodies now recognize a total of 17 weight classes.
The 17 Boxing Weight Classes
The 17 boxing weight classes, from heaviest to lightest, are:
- Heavyweight
- Cruiserweight
- Light Heavyweight
- Super Middleweight
- Middleweight
- Junior Middleweight
- Welterweight
- Junior Welterweight
- Lightweight
- Junior Lightweight
- Featherweight
- Junior Featherweight
- Bantamweight
- Junior Bantamweight
- Flyweight
- Junior Flyweight
- Minimumweight
Notable Fighters from Each Weight Class
Some of the most notable fighters from each weight class include:
- Heavyweight: Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Mike Tyson
- Cruiserweight: Evander Holyfield, David Haye, Tony Bellew
- Light Heavyweight: Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr., Sergey Kovalev
- Super Middleweight: Joe Calzaghe, Andre Ward, Canelo Alvarez
- Middleweight: Sugar Ray Robinson, Bernard Hopkins, Gennady Golovkin
- Junior Middleweight: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Terence Crawford
- Welterweight: Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Errol Spence Jr.
- Junior Welterweight: Kostya Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, Terence Crawford
- Lightweight: Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Vasyl Lomachenko
- Junior Lightweight: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Gervonta Davis
- Featherweight: Naseem Hamed, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Junior Featherweight: Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Gervonta Davis
- Bantamweight: Nonito Donaire, Naoya Inoue, Guillermo Rigondeaux
- Junior Bantamweight: Hozumi Hasegawa, Naoya Inoue, Donnie Nietes
- Flyweight: Manny Pacquiao, Roman Gonzalez, Donnie Nietes
- Junior Flyweight: Akira Yaegashi, Kazuto Ioka, Donnie Nietes
- Minimumweight: Hekkie Budler, Donnie Nietes, Hiroto Kyoguchi
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