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Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term welterweight was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the opponents. If used, welterweight is typically between lightweight and middleweight.

Etymology

The first known instance of the term is from 1831, meaning 'heavyweight horseman', later 'boxer or wrestler of a certain weight' by 1896. This sense comes from earlier welter, 'heavyweight horseman or boxer' from 1804, possibly from c. 15th century welt, meaning 'to beat severely'.[1]

Boxing

Professional boxing

A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds, and no more than 147 pounds (about 63–67 kg).[2]

Current world champions

Current champions

More information Sanctioning body, Reign began ...
Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA August 30, 2024 Eimantas Stanionis 15–0–0–1 (9 KO) 0
WBC June 18, 2024 Mario Barrios 29–2 (18 KO) 0
IBF November 9, 2023 Jaron Ennis 33–0–0–1 (28 KO) 2
WBO August 12, 2024 Brian Norman Jr. 26–0–0–2 (20 KO) 0
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Current world rankings

The Ring magazine

As of August 24, 2024.[3]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
More information Rank, Name ...
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Jaron Ennis 31–0–0–1 (28 KO) IBF
2 Eimantas Stanionis 15–0–0–1 (9 KO) WBA
3 Mario Barrios 29–2 (18 KO) WBC
4 David Avanesyan 30–5–1 (18 KO)
5 Brian Norman Jr. 26–0–0–2 (20 KO) WBO
6 Giovani Santillan 32–1 (17 KO)
7 Shakhram Giyasov 16–0 (9 KO)
8 Alexis Rocha 25–2 (16 KO)
9 Jin Sasaki 18–1–1 (17 KO)
10 Raul Curiel 15–0 (13 KO)
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BoxRec

As of 29 July 2023.[4]

More information Rank, Name ...
Rank Name Record Points Title(s)
1 Terence Crawford 40–0 (31 KO) 513.6 WBO, WBC,WBA
2 Errol Spence Jr. 28–1 (22 KO) 442.3
3 Keith Thurman 30–1 (22 KO) 155.7
4 Yordenis Ugas 27–5 (12 KO) 139.4
5 Kell Brook 40–3 (28 KO) 100.4
6 Mikey Garcia 40–2 (30 KO) 82.77
7 Vergil Ortiz Jr. 19–0 (19 KO) 79.61
8 Cody Crowley 21–0 (9 KO) 71.90
9 David Avanesyan 29–4–1 (17 KO) 70.84
10 Jaron Ennis 30–0–0–1 (27 KO) 46.31 IBF
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Longest-reigning world welterweight champions

Below is a list of longest-reigning welterweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career-total time as champion (for multiple-time champions) does not apply.

More information Name, Title reign ...
NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Félix Trinidad6 years, 8 months, 14 daysIBF1515[5]
2.Terence Crawford6 years, 5 months and 4 weeksWBO77[6]
3.Errol Spence Jr.6 years, 2 months and 3 daysIBF, WBC65[7]
4.Antonio Margarito5 years, 3 months, 28 daysWBO77[8]
5.Ike Quartey4 years, 7 months, 30 daysWBA77[9]
6.Freddie Cochrane4 years, 7 months, 03 daysNYSAC, NBA00[10]
7.José Nápoles4 years, 6 months, 2 daysWBA, WBC108[11]
8.Sugar Ray Robinson4 years, 1 month, 26 daysNYSAC, NBA55[12]
9.Floyd Mayweather Jr.4 years, 1 month, 18 daysWBC54[13]
10.Pernell Whitaker4 years, 1 month, 6 daysWBC87[14]
11.Pipino Cuevas4 years and 16 daysWBA1110[15]
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Top 10 most title defenses

Below is a list of most title defenses by welterweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's reign with the most title defenses. Career-total title defenses as champion (for multiple-time champions) does not apply.

More information Name, Title reign ...
NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Henry Armstrong2 years, 4 months, 3 daysNYSAC, NBA, Ring1915[16]
2.Félix Trinidad6 years, 8 months, 14 daysIBF1515[5]
3.Pipino Cuevas4 years and 16 daysWBA1110[15]
4.José Nápoles4 years, 6 months, 2 daysWBA, WBC, Ring108[11]
5.Jack Britton3 years, 7 months, 13 daysWorld98[17][18]
6.Pernell Whitaker4 years, 1 month, 6 daysWBC87[14]
7.Simon Brown3 years, 7 months, 6 daysIBF88[19]
8.Kid Gavilán3 years, 5 months, 2 daysNYSAC, NBA, Ring76[19]
9.Donald Curry3 years, 7 months, 14 daysWBA77[20]
10.Ike Quartey4 years, 7 months, 30 daysWBA77[9]
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Amateur boxing

Olympic champions

The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at 63.5–71 kg (140–157 lb).[2]

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Kickboxing

The weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickboxing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:

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Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit for welterweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

  • In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the welterweight division has an upper limit of 165 lb (75 kg).
  • In BKB™, the welterweight division has an upper limit of 83 kg (183 lb).

Wrestling

Olympic wrestling

Prior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling.[25] Since that time, amateur wrestling has named its weight classes by upper weight limit in kilograms.

Professional wrestling

In the US and Canada, there was a 145 lb limit in the early 20th century at least until the early 1920s.[25]

In Mexico, the lucha libre commission's definition of the welterweight weight class is between 70 kg (150 lb) and 78 kg (172 lb).

In the United Kingdom, the 1947 Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules set out seven weight divisions with maximum weight limits and called for champions to be crowned of each limit. This included Welterweight 11st 11 lb (165 lb or ~75 kg)[26][27] An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions - including Welterweight - existed under the 1930 All-In rules.[28]

Catch wrestling

From the 1870s to the 1910s, the weight limit was 10st 8 lb (148 lb) for Lancashire catch-as-catch-can wrestling under the rules of Sporting Chronicle (Manchester, England).[25]

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Mixed martial arts

The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[29] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[30] is 155 to 170 lb (70.3 to 77.1 kg).

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated July 28, 2024.

More information Organization, Reign began ...
Organization Reign began Champion Record Defenses
UFC July 27, 2024 State of Palestine Belal Muhammad 243 (5KO 1SUB) 0
Bellator MMA November 17, 2023 Jamaica Jason Jackson 184 (6KO 3SUB) 0
ONE Championship October 25, 2019 Kyrgyzstan Kiamrian Abbasov 235 (8KO 4SUB) 1
Fight Nights Global April 6, 2019 Russia Dmitry Bikrev 133 (9KO 1SUB) 3
KSW October 6, 2018 Croatia Roberto Soldić 203 (17KO 1SUB) 2
Titan FC March 15, 2019 United States Michael Graves 91 (4KO 2SUB) 1
ACA April 26, 2019 Russia Albert Tumenov 224 (14KO) 1
Legacy Fighting Alliance August 21, 2020 United States Jaleel Willis 132 (5KO) 0
Cage Warriors August 21, 2020 Australia Tyler Cummings 203 (7KO 3SUB)

12

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Other sports

Other sports to include a welterweight division include the following:

  • Muay Thai has fixed its weight division similarly to boxing.
    • International Kickboxing Federation (IKF): muay Thai welterweight (pro and amateur) 142.1-147 lb or 64.59-66.8 kg
    • World Muay Thai Council (WMC), welterweight range is from 140 to 147 lb or 63.5 to 66.6 kg
    • World Muay Thai Federation (WMF, the official amateur organization), fixed welterweight from 65.0 to 67.0 kg (143.3 to 147.7 lb) for adult and junior
  • The official rules of shoot boxing define welterweights as between 65 and 67 kg (143 and 148 lb).
  • In Olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between 74 and 80 kg (163 and 176 lb). At the weight classes for the Olympic games it is between 68 and 80 kg (150 and 176 lb).
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References

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