Category:Welterweight Division

Adapted from horse racing terminology, the ‘welter’ division first came into being in America in order to bridge the gap between light and middle, and was initially seen as being between 140 and 146lbs. Paddy Duffy is generally recognised as the first bare-knuckle champion under London Prize Ring Rules after beating Bob Lyons by an 11th-round kayo in April 1884 (Boston, Massachusetts).

Having successfully defended the title against Bill Young, via a second-round kayo win in March 1886 (Baltimore, Maryland), he next claimed to be the division's first Marquess of Queensberry Rules' (MoQ Rules') champion, but that claim was disputed by Johnny Reagan, albeit at a heavier weight

Weight Band/Amendments

140lbs to 146lbs (1887 to 14 April 1898)

140lbs to 148lbs (On 14 April 1898, Mysterious Billy Smith extended his welterweight claim to take in 148lbs)

140lbs to 150lbs (After Joe Walcott and Young Peter Jackson contested the welter title at 150lbs on 18 June 1903, the new British welterweight class also began operating up to that weight)

135lbs to 147lbs (On 11 February 1909, in London, the NSC formally stipulated that the lightweight class limit would be 135lbs and that the new welterweight division would be set at 147lbs)

140lbs to 147lbs (On 15 November 1922, the NBA launched the junior welterweight class for men between 135lbs and 140lbs)

Title Contests