RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Boxing Weight Classes Results:
Boxing Weight Classes: Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, Bantamweight, Flyweight, And Minimumweight
By:
Published: September 10, 2007
Boxing fans feel excitement and tense anticipation when watching two finely trained fighters face off in the ring. When strong and agile athletes intent on winning a fight meet in competition, rules must be in place to protect their safety and health. One widespread rule is the strict adherence to boxing weight classes.
Boxing weight classes determine the maximum weight allowed in a division of fighters. Boxing weight classes are recognized nationwide for professional boxers in the US, though other rules are governed by state.
Boxing weight classes are designed to keep boxers safe by ensuring one of the contenders will not have a large weight and power advantage over their opponent. A smaller person may be seriously injured or killed if they get hit full-force by someone that greatly outweighs them. Injuries still occur in matches where the contestants are similar in size, but the hope is the injuries will not be as severe. Women boxers do not have set standard weight divisions. There are 17 recognized weight divisions for men, and among them are the eight original boxing weight classes: Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Cruiserweight or Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight.
In Washington State, the weight difference allowed between two boxers in a match increases as boxers move up in the boxing weight classes. Boxers that fall in the Flyweight and Bantamweight boxing weight classes can only be separated by up to three pounds of weight. National rules for professional boxers declare Flyweights cannot exceed 112 pounds and Bantamweights must be 118 pounds or under. Olympic-style amateur fights have the same weight restrictions for Flyweights, but Bantamweights are allowed to weigh up to 119 pounds.
The next step up in the eight traditional boxing weight classes is Featherweight. Featherweight fighters may not exceed 126 pounds by professional rules. Boxers are considered Featherweights by amateur Olympic-style organizations only if they are under 125 pounds. In Washington State, Featherweights cannot outweigh their opponent by more than five pounds.
In contrast to the five pounds of difference in weight allowed for Featherweights, Lightweight fighters can outweigh an opponent by up to seven pounds by Washington State rules. Professional boxers that fall into the Lightweight category of boxing weight classes must be less than 135 pounds. Amateur Olympic-style boxers must stay even lighter in weight and may not exceed 132 pounds if they want to be considered this weight class.
Welterweight fighters are mid-range of the boxing weight classes and must stay under 147 pounds to fight professionally. Welterweight amateurs competing in Olympic-style bouts are allowed to be heavier than the professionals but must still weigh less than 152 pounds. Washington State law dictates Welterweights may not outweigh the other fighter by more than nine pounds.
A weight difference of 11 pounds is acceptable for competitors in the Middleweight division in Washington State – two pounds more than permitted for Welterweights. Middleweight fighters competing in professional fights must weigh in at 160 pounds or less. Olympic-style amateur matches require a Middleweight's weight to be 165 pounds or under.
The final division of the boxing weight classes that has a maximum weight for professional fighters is the Cruiserweight or Light Heavyweight division. Professional Cruiserweight fighters can weigh up to 190 pounds and amateur Olympic-style fighters in the Light Heavyweight division can be up to 178 pounds. In Washington State, Cruiserweight fighters can be separated by up to a whopping 20 pounds - almost twice what is allowed at the Middleweight level.
Professional boxing weight classes do not have an upper limit for Heavyweight fighters that weigh over 190 pounds. There is no restriction in Washington State for weight differences between fighters in the Heavyweight division. Amateur Olympic-Style Heavyweights can only be up to 201 pounds however. There is one more of the boxing weight classes for Olympic-style amateur fighters; Super Heavyweights are any competitors over 201 pounds.
Boxing weight classes and state laws help to ensure the safety of both professional and amateur boxers. The lighter boxing weight classes have agile, quick fighters that float around the ring and attack in rapid-fire movements. The heavier classes tend to have more power and force behind each punch while the contestants move a bit more slowly due to their mass. From Flyweight to Heavyweight, boxing weight classes are strictly enforced. Boxing weight classes are an essential part of the rules and regulations that govern the popular and exciting sport of boxing.
Sources:
"Boxing." CNE. cnenigeria.com. 21 Aug. 2007. http://www.cnenigeria.com/sports/boxing.htm.
"Boxing: weight divisions." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopaedia Brittanica Online. 21 Aug. 2007. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-229625/boxing .
Trickett, Alex. "Boxing By the Weights." bbc.co.uk. 25 Oct. 2005. BBC. 20 Aug. 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4721089.stm .
"WAC 36-12-020: Guidelines for boxing weight classes, weight difference and glove weight." Washington State Legislature. Access Washington: Official State Government Web Site. 21 Aug. 2007. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=36-12 -020.
Boxing weight classes are designed to keep boxers safe by ensuring one of the contenders will not have a large weight and power advantage over their opponent. A smaller person may be seriously injured or killed if they get hit full-force by someone that greatly outweighs them. Injuries still occur in matches where the contestants are similar in size, but the hope is the injuries will not be as severe. Women boxers do not have set standard weight divisions. There are 17 recognized weight divisions for men, and among them are the eight original boxing weight classes: Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Cruiserweight or Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight.
In Washington State, the weight difference allowed between two boxers in a match increases as boxers move up in the boxing weight classes. Boxers that fall in the Flyweight and Bantamweight boxing weight classes can only be separated by up to three pounds of weight. National rules for professional boxers declare Flyweights cannot exceed 112 pounds and Bantamweights must be 118 pounds or under. Olympic-style amateur fights have the same weight restrictions for Flyweights, but Bantamweights are allowed to weigh up to 119 pounds.
The next step up in the eight traditional boxing weight classes is Featherweight. Featherweight fighters may not exceed 126 pounds by professional rules. Boxers are considered Featherweights by amateur Olympic-style organizations only if they are under 125 pounds. In Washington State, Featherweights cannot outweigh their opponent by more than five pounds.
In contrast to the five pounds of difference in weight allowed for Featherweights, Lightweight fighters can outweigh an opponent by up to seven pounds by Washington State rules. Professional boxers that fall into the Lightweight category of boxing weight classes must be less than 135 pounds. Amateur Olympic-style boxers must stay even lighter in weight and may not exceed 132 pounds if they want to be considered this weight class.
Welterweight fighters are mid-range of the boxing weight classes and must stay under 147 pounds to fight professionally. Welterweight amateurs competing in Olympic-style bouts are allowed to be heavier than the professionals but must still weigh less than 152 pounds. Washington State law dictates Welterweights may not outweigh the other fighter by more than nine pounds.
A weight difference of 11 pounds is acceptable for competitors in the Middleweight division in Washington State – two pounds more than permitted for Welterweights. Middleweight fighters competing in professional fights must weigh in at 160 pounds or less. Olympic-style amateur matches require a Middleweight's weight to be 165 pounds or under.
The final division of the boxing weight classes that has a maximum weight for professional fighters is the Cruiserweight or Light Heavyweight division. Professional Cruiserweight fighters can weigh up to 190 pounds and amateur Olympic-style fighters in the Light Heavyweight division can be up to 178 pounds. In Washington State, Cruiserweight fighters can be separated by up to a whopping 20 pounds - almost twice what is allowed at the Middleweight level.
Professional boxing weight classes do not have an upper limit for Heavyweight fighters that weigh over 190 pounds. There is no restriction in Washington State for weight differences between fighters in the Heavyweight division. Amateur Olympic-Style Heavyweights can only be up to 201 pounds however. There is one more of the boxing weight classes for Olympic-style amateur fighters; Super Heavyweights are any competitors over 201 pounds.
Boxing weight classes and state laws help to ensure the safety of both professional and amateur boxers. The lighter boxing weight classes have agile, quick fighters that float around the ring and attack in rapid-fire movements. The heavier classes tend to have more power and force behind each punch while the contestants move a bit more slowly due to their mass. From Flyweight to Heavyweight, boxing weight classes are strictly enforced. Boxing weight classes are an essential part of the rules and regulations that govern the popular and exciting sport of boxing.
Sources:
"Boxing." CNE. cnenigeria.com. 21 Aug. 2007. http://www.cnenigeria.com/sports/boxing.htm.
"Boxing: weight divisions." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopaedia Brittanica Online. 21 Aug. 2007. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-229625/boxing .
Trickett, Alex. "Boxing By the Weights." bbc.co.uk. 25 Oct. 2005. BBC. 20 Aug. 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4721089.stm .
"WAC 36-12-020: Guidelines for boxing weight classes, weight difference and glove weight." Washington State Legislature. Access Washington: Official State Government Web Site. 21 Aug. 2007. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=36-12 -020.
Featured Boxing Weight Classes Products:
