WELTERWEIGHT

'Welterweight' is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system. In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.

Contents

Boxing

Professional boxing

Olympic champions

Professional Boxing Champions

Kickboxing

Muay Thai

Shoot boxing

Mixed martial arts

Taekwondo

References and Notes

Boxing

Professional boxing

A welterweight boxer weighs in at between 140 pounds and 147 pounds (63.5 kg and 66.7 kg). The weight limit fluctuated between 142 and 145 pounds until it was stabilized at 147 pounds during the reign of Jack Britton in 1920.^[1]
Paddy Duff was the first welterweight champion. He won the title in 1888. Henry Armstrong holds the division record for most title defenses at 18. Freddie Cochran was the longest reigning champion, holding the title four years, six months, and three days (although Jose Napoles comes in a close second at four years, six months, and two days). Sugar Ray Robinson is generally considered to be the greatest welterweight of all time.
Notable welterweights include Joe Walcott, Barney Ross, Jackie Fields, Henry Armstrong, Fritzie Zivic, Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Carmen Basilio, Emile Griffith, Jose Napoles, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Pernell Whitaker, Félix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley , Zab Judah, and current welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr..

Olympic champions

★ 1904 –

★ 1920 –

★ 1924 –

★ 1928 –

★ 1932 –

★ 1936 –

★ 1948 –

★ 1952 –

★ 1956 –

★ 1960 –

★ 1964 –

★ 1968 –

★ 1972 –

★ 1976 –

★ 1980 –

★ 1984 –

★ 1988 –

★ 1992 –

★ 1996 –

★ 2000 –

★ 2004 –

Professional Boxing Champions

★ List of welterweight boxing champions

Kickboxing

The weight devision system is different in each organizations. So the kickboxing weight devisions of some international organizations vary:

★ World Kickboxing Association (WKA) fixed 140–147 pounds (63.5–67 kg) for welterweight.

★ International sport Karate Association (ISKA) set 142.1–147 pounds (64.6–66.8 kg) for welterweight.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai has fixed its weight division as similar to boxing. According to World Muay Thai Council (WMC), its welter weight is from 140 pounds (63.5 kg) to 147 pounds (66.6 kg). And World Muay Thai Federation (WMF) which is the official amateur organization fixed from 63.5 to 67 kg for adult. The Junior category is the same as adult.

Shoot boxing

The official rule of shoot boxing says between 65 and 67 kg (143.3 to 147.7 lb) is welterweight.

Mixed martial arts

Main articles: Welterweight (MMA)

Taekwondo

In the sport of olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between 158.8 pounds and 171.1 pounds (72-78 kg). At the weight classes for the olympic games it is 149.9 - 176.0 lb (68-80 kg)

References and Notes

1. Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing, , Harry, Mullan, Carlton Books, ,