Welterweightis aweight classincombat sports.Originally the termwelterweightwas used only inbo xing,but other combat sports likemuay Thai,taekwondo,andmixed martial artsalso use it for their own weight division system to classify the opponents. If used, welterweight is typically betweenlightweightandmiddleweight.
Etymology
editThe 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 earlierwelter,'heavyweight horseman or boxer' from 1804, possibly fromc.15th centurywelt,meaning 'to beat severely'.[1]
Bo xing
editProfessional bo xing
editA professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds, and no more than 147 pounds (about 63–67 kg).[2]
Current world champions
editCurrent champions
| 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 |
Current world rankings
editThe Ringmagazine
editAs of August 24, 2024.[3]
Keys:
- CCurrentThe Ringworld champion
| 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) |
As of 29 July 2023[update].[4]
| 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 |
Longest-reigning world welterweight champions
editBelow is a list of longest-reigning welterweight champions in bo xing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career-total time as champion (for multiple-time champions) does not apply.
| Name | Title reign | Title recognition | Successful defenses | Beaten opponents | Fights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Félix Trinidad | 6 years, 8 months, 14 days | IBF | 15 | 15 | [5] |
| 2. | Terence Crawford | 6 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 5 days | WBO | 7 | 7 | [6] |
| 3. | Errol Spence Jr. | 6 years, 2 months and 3 days | IBF, WBC | 6 | 5 | [7] |
| 4. | Antonio Margarito | 5 years, 3 months, 28 days | WBO | 7 | 7 | [8] |
| 5. | Ike Quartey | 4 years, 7 months, 30 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | [9] |
| 6. | Freddie Cochrane | 4 years, 7 months, 03 days | NYSAC, NBA | 0 | 0 | [10] |
| 7. | José Nápoles | 4 years, 6 months, 2 days | WBA, WBC | 10 | 8 | [11] |
| 8. | Sugar Ray Robinson | 4 years, 1 month, 26 days | NYSAC, NBA | 5 | 5 | [12] |
| 9. | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | 4 years, 1 month, 18 days | WBC | 5 | 4 | [13] |
| 10. | Pernell Whitaker | 4 years, 1 month, 6 days | WBC | 8 | 7 | [14] |
| 11. | Pipino Cuevas | 4 years and 16 days | WBA | 11 | 10 | [15] |
Top 10 most title defenses
editBelow is a list of most title defenses by welterweight champions in bo xing measured by the individual's reign with the most title defenses. Career-total title defenses as champion (for multiple-time champions) does not apply.
| Name | Title reign | Title recognition | Successful defenses | Beaten opponents | Fights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Henry Armstrong | 2 years, 4 months, 3 days | NYSAC, NBA, Ring | 19 | 15 | [16] |
| 2. | Félix Trinidad | 6 years, 8 months, 14 days | IBF | 15 | 15 | [5] |
| 3. | Pipino Cuevas | 4 years and 16 days | WBA | 11 | 10 | [15] |
| 4. | José Nápoles | 4 years, 6 months, 2 days | WBA, WBC, Ring | 10 | 8 | [11] |
| 5. | Jack Britton | 3 years, 7 months, 13 days | World | 9 | 8 | [17][18] |
| 6. | Pernell Whitaker | 4 years, 1 month, 6 days | WBC | 8 | 7 | [14] |
| 7. | Simon Brown | 3 years, 7 months, 6 days | IBF | 8 | 8 | [19] |
| 8. | Kid Gavilán | 3 years, 5 months, 2 days | NYSAC, NBA, Ring | 7 | 6 | [19] |
| 9. | Donald Curry | 3 years, 7 months, 14 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | [20] |
| 10. | Ike Quartey | 4 years, 7 months, 30 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | [9] |
Amateur bo xing
editOlympic champions
editThe currentOlympicmale welterweight division is set at 63.5–71 kg (140–157 lb).[2]
Kickbo xing
editThe weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickbo xing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:
- International Kickbo xing Federation(IKF), welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1–147 lb or 64.5–66.7 kg.[21]
- International Sport Karate Association(ISKA), welterweight 142.1–147 lb or 64.5–66.7 kg.[22]
- World Kickbo xing Association(WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit 147.7 lb or 67.0 kg.[23]
- InGlorypromotion, a welterweight division is up to 170 lb or 77 kg.[24]
- ONE Championship,welterweight upper limit 83.9 kg (185 lb).
Bare-knuckle bo xing
editThe limit for welterweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle bo xing:
- InBare 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
editOlympic wrestling
editPrior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling.[25]Since that time, amateur wrestling has namedits weight classesby upper weight limit in kilograms.
Professional wrestling
editIn the US and Canada, there was a 145 lb limit in the early 20th century at least until the early 1920s.[25]
In Mexico, thelucha librecommission's definition of thewelterweight weight classis between 70 kg (150 lb) and 78 kg (172 lb).
In the United Kingdom, the 1947Admiral-Lord Mountevans rulesset 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 the1930 All-In rules.[28]
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 ofSporting Chronicle(Manchester, England).[25]
Mixed martial arts
editThe welterweight limit, as defined by theNevada State Athletic Commission[29]and theAssociation of Bo xing Commissions[30]is 155 to 170 lb (70.3 to 77.1 kg).
Current champions
editThis table is not always up to date. Last updated July 28, 2024.
| Organization | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | July 27, 2024 |  Belal Muhammad
|
24–3 (5KO1SUB) | 0 |
| Bellator MMA | November 17, 2023 |  Jason Jackson
|
18–4 (6KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| ONE Championship | October 25, 2019 |  Kiamrian Abbasov
|
23–5 (8KO 4SUB) | 1 |
| Fight Nights Global | April 6, 2019 |  Dmitry Bikrev
|
13–3 (9KO 1SUB) | 3 |
| KSW | October 6, 2018 |  Roberto Soldić
|
20–3 (17KO 1SUB) | 2 |
| Titan FC | March 15, 2019 |  Michael Graves
|
9–1 (4KO 2SUB) | 1 |
| ACA | April 26, 2019 | Albert Tumenov
|
22–4 (14KO) | 1 |
| Legacy Fighting Alliance | August 21, 2020 | Jaleel Willis
|
13–2 (5KO) | 0 |
| Cage Warriors | August 21, 2020 |  Tyler Cummings
|
20–3 (7KO3SUB) |
12 |
Other sports
editOther sports to include a welterweight division include the following:
- Muay Thaihas fixed its weight division similarly to bo xing.
- International Kickbo xing 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 ofshoot bo xingdefine welterweights as between 65 and 67 kg (143 and 148 lb).
- In Olympictaekwondo,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).
References
edit- ^"welterweight | Origin and meaning of welterweight by Online Etymology Dictionary".etymonline.
- ^ab"Classes & Divisions".Retrieved5 February2021.
- ^"The Ring ratings: welterweight".Retrieved24 August2024.
- ^"BoxRec ratings: welterweight, active".Retrieved11 April2022.
- ^ab"Professional bo xing record: Felix Trinidad".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Terence Crawford".Retrieved18 January2022.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Errol Spence Jr".Retrieved10 January2021.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Felix Trinidad".Retrieved12 April2020.
- ^ab"Professional bo xing record: Ike Quartey".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Freddie Cochrane".Retrieved8 July2024.
- ^ab"Professional bo xing record: José Nápoles".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota on February 15, 1951 · Page 11".Newspapers. 15 February 1951.Retrieved2022-03-03.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Floyd Mayweather Jr".Retrieved12 April2020.
- ^ab"Professional bo xing record: Pernell Whitaker".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^ab"Professional bo xing record: Pipino Cuevas".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Felix Trinidad".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Jack Britton".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Jack Britton, p. 80"(PDF).The Bo xing Register: International Bo xing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book.International Bo xing Hall Of Fame.Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^ab"Professional bo xing record: Kid Gavilán".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"Professional bo xing record: Donald Curry".Retrieved23 November2022.
- ^"IKF WEIGHT CLASSES".IKFKickbo xing.Retrieved20 April2013.
- ^"INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE & KICKBOXING ASSOCIATION"(PDF).ISKAWorldHQ.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 10 March 2016.Retrieved20 April2013.
- ^"WKA USA - Official Rulebook".WKAUSA.Archived fromthe originalon 29 August 2018.Retrieved20 April2013.
- ^"Fighters Rankings".gloryworldseries.Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2015.
- ^abcWeight Divisions in Professional WrestlingWrestling-Titles Retrieved March 31 2023
- ^"The History of British Wrestling: Part One".Bleacher Report. 2010-06-10.Retrieved2012-07-09.
- ^The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery: Classic British Professional Wrestling: THE WEIGHT DIVISIONS in British Professional Wrestling
- ^Blue Blood on the Mat-Atholl Oakeley,S Paul, 1971 - Appendix:Rules of All In Professional Wrestling
- ^"Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT".www leg state nv us.Retrieved2007-02-20.
- ^"UNIFIED RULES OF MMA".ABCBo xing.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-05.Retrieved2012-07-15.