How weight classes got their names ?

[revpickles]

Cruiserweight .

It was introduced as a class between light heavy and heavyweight. Heavyweight has historically not had a weight maximum while light heavy has generally been set at around 180 (178 under current rules). Up until the late 70's cruiserweight was used merely as a catch weight because most heavyweight champions such as Joe Louis or Rocky Marciano were under 200 pounds, but as boxers got bigger the need for a new weight class became evident. In 1980 the WBC held the first cruiserweight title match and the inaugural professional cruiser belt holder was Marvin Camel. The name cruiserweight comes from before the official belt was created and actually originates from naval terms. Cruisers are the second largest ships in a Western WWI era fleet behind Battleships. (so not including aircraft carriers). So because Cruiser Weights are the second largest weight class the name of the second largest ship was applied to the division.

So What about the rest?

How did Welterweight get it's name ?

How about 'Flyweight' ( Insects ) 'Featherweight' (Birds feathers?) 'Bantamweight' (Small Chicken- cock fighting)

I would love to know how the weight classes got there names, who named them and where are the facts?

This must be in a book somewhere ?

Surely Floyd Mayweather knows what his weight class means ? 'Welt' could it be German, or could it be 'Welter' taken from a heavyweight horseman ?

Who knows?

Answers on a postcard to Pickles

[Ruthless-RKO]

Very interesting.

[revpickles]

Very interesting.

I'd love to know the answer Ruthless , i have books going back hundreds of years-but nothing to point me towards the answer.

From the birth of the National sporting club of great Britain right back to the old Milling men of the 20th century, somebody invented the weight classes somewhere, somebody gave them a name for a reason...


...But who and why?

[oogiebe]

Bantam-weight. Bantam gets its name from a feisty chicken originally from Bantam in Java. Just looked it up.

[goose 5]

Does welter come from horse racing in some way ?

[oogiebe]

Does welter come from horse racing in some way ?

I heard something about "welts" like from being whipped so maybe?

[revpickles]

Bantam-weight. Bantam gets its name from a feisty chicken originally from Bantam in Java. Just looked it up.

Haha, yes it does but why did it become the name for the weight class in boxing ?
Who sat down and said " 118lbs will be called Bantamweight?" ......because?

Why not Eagle weight or Ostrich Weight , Duck weight or Sparrow weight ?

[revpickles]

Does welter come from horse racing in some way ?

I think it does but i am still looking for the facts.

'Welt' is German, 'Welter' is a term used in horse racing but imagine a 147lb Jockey?
Welter used in horse racing i believe is the name given to a heavyweight horseman but i don't know enough about horse racing to tell you the weight ?

It won't be 147lbs though...