Boxing Weight Classes

The rules and regulations of boxing have altered throughout the sport’s history. While heavyweight battles still attract massive crowds and generate huge amounts of money, the differences in boxing weight classes provide plenty of additional intrigue.

Changes to the classification of boxers over the decades have brought around new titles. It opens up opportunities for other boxers to shine under the bright lights.

Boxing weight classes

British boxers are some of the best in the world. Over the years, Brits have won world titles across various boxing weight classes, and we have often seen Brits go head-to-head in some marquee bouts.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been two of boxing’s biggest stars of the 21st century, becoming famous around the world in the process.

Let’s learn a bit more about boxing weight classes.

Professional boxing weight classes

Boxing traditionally had just seven weight classes. There’s been significant change in modern time, though, with 17 professional weight classes recognised by governing bodies since 2015.

It’s worth noting that the rules around weigh-ins vary depending on the governing body. The IBF, for example, has a unique policy for title fights which requires fighters to weigh-in the day before and the morning of the fight.

• Minimumweight, 105 pounds (48kg)
• Light Flyweight, 108 pounds (49kg)
• Flyweight, 112 pounds (51kg)
• Super Flyweight, 155 pounds (52kg)
• Bantamweight, 118 pounds (53.5kg)
• Super Bantamweight, 122 pounds (55kg)
• Featherweight, 126 pounds (57kg)
• Super Featherweight, 130 pounds (59kg)
• Lightweight, 135 pounds (61kg)
• Super Lightweight, 140 pounds (63.5kg)
• Welterweight, 147 pounds (67kg)
• Super Welterweight, 154 pounds (70kg)
• Middleweight, 160 pounds (72.5kg)
• Super Middleweight, 168 pounds (76kg)
• Light Heavyweight, 175 pounds (79kg)
• Cruiserweight, 200 pounds (91kg)
• Heavyweight, unlimited

Amateur boxing weight classes

There are some notable differences in amateur boxing weight classes. If you’ve followed boxing at the Olympics, you will be familiar with the terminology and weights amateur boxers are categorised by.

The numbers listed below are the upper limits for a fighter’s weight. So, if a fighter weighs in at 180 pounds, they would be a heavyweight rather than a light heavyweight.

• Light Flyweight, no more than 108 pounds (49kg)
• Flyweight, 115 pounds (52kg)
• Bantamweight, 123 pounds (56kg)
• Lightweight, 132 pounds (60kg)
• Light Welterweight, 141 pounds (64kg)
• Welterweight, 152 pounds (69kg)
• Middleweight, 165 pounds (75kg)
• Light Heavyweight, 178 pounds (81kg)
• Heavyweight, 201 pounds (91kg)
• Super Heavyweight, any weight over 201 pounds (91kg)

Difference between amateur and professional boxing weight classes

There are seven fewer weight classes in amateur boxing than in the professional version of the sport. Professionals fall into one of 17 weight categories from minimumweight to heavyweight.

Amateur boxers fall between light flyweight and superheavyweight. Of course, amateur boxing weight classes are larger to compensate for having just 10 weight classes, meaning there can be a greater weight disparity between fighters.

Boxing weight class champions

Professional boxing has four major sanctioning bodies:

• World Boxing Association (WBA)
• World Boxing Council (WBC)
• International Boxing Federation (IBF)
• World Boxing Organisation (WBO)

Boxing magazine “The Ring” also awards its own titles, and has done for several decades, but this isn’t usually included among the major titles.

There are four champions in each weight class, which can be confusing. Often, a fighter will own multiple belts from these sanctioning bodies, but you can end up with four different champions in a class.

For instance, Oleksandr Usyk holds three of the world title belts, with Daniel Dubois currently as the IBF champion. Mahmoud Charr is the WBA ‘regular champion’ and Joseph Parker is the WBO ‘interim champion’.

Women’s boxing weight classes

Women’s boxing has increased in popularity over the last 10 years or so. Like in men’s boxing, there are 17 weight classes in women’s boxing.

The higher weight classes have several vacant titles at the moment. Claressa Shields is the WBC heavyweight world champion, but no other heavyweight belts are held currently.

The Olympics has played a massive role in the growth of women’s boxing. There were six weight classes for the 2024 Games in Paris.

• 50kg
• 54kg
• 57kg
• 60kg
• 66kg
• 75kg