Weight divisions

Heavyweight Primo Carnera & Flyweight Frankie Genaro

BoxRec Division Allocation

The BoxRec system allows fighters one division grace based upon their last official weight. For example a professional boxer weighing 133Lb would be automatically allocation to lightweight or could be edited to super featherweight but not featherweight.

Current Weight Divisions

In January 2015, the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and the International Boxing Federation reached an agreement to standardize the names of professional boxing's then 17 weight divisions. (The World Boxing Organization has yet to adopt these standard class names.)

The currently-recognized weights for professional male boxers, listed in maximum allowable weight for each division/class/category, as defined by these four major sanctioning bodies, are:

Division/Class	Stone	kg	Pounds
Atomweight	7st 4 lbs	46,3 kg	102 lbs
Minimumweight (WBC/WBA/IBF) Mini Flyweight (WBO)	7½ st	47,627 kg	105 lbs
Light Flyweight Junior Flyweight	7st 10 lbs	48,988 kg	108 lbs
Flyweight (All four)	8 st	50,802 kg	112 lbs
Super Flyweight Jr Bantamweight	8 st 3 lbs	52,163 kg	115 lbs
Bantamweight	8 st 6 lbs	53,525 kg	118 lbs
Super Bantamweight Jr Featherweight	8 st 10 lbs	55,338 kg	122 lbs
Featherweight	9 st	57,153 kg	126 lbs
Super Featherweight Jr Lightweight	9 st 4 lbs	58,967 kg	130 lbs
Lightweight	9 st 9 lbs	61,235 kg	135 lbs
Super Lightweight Jr Welterweight	10 st	63,503 kg	140 lbs
Welterweight	10½ st	66,678 kg	147 lbs
Super Welterweight Jr Middleweight	11 st	69,85 kg	154 lbs
Middleweight	11 st 6 lbs	72,574 kg	160 lbs
Super Middleweight	12 st	76,203 kg	168 lbs
Light Heavyweight	12½ st	79,378 kg	175 lbs
Cruiserweight Jr Heavyweight	14 st 4 lbs	90,718 kg	200 lbs
Heavyweight	> 14 st 4 lbs	> 90,718 kg	> 200 lbs

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Amateur Weight Divisions

• Light Flyweight: up to 106 pounds
• Flyweight: 112
• Bantamweight: 119
• Featherweight: 125
• Lightweight: 132
• Light Welterweight: 141
• Welterweight: 152
• Middleweight: 165
• Light Heavyweight: 178
• Heavyweight: 201
• Super Heavyweight: over 201

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Traditional Eight Divisions

These are commonly known today as the "traditional divisions," which were basically the only weight classes throughout the early 20th Century, before the numerous "super," "junior" and "light" classes were added.

• Flyweight: 8 st (112 lbs / 50,802 Kg)
• Bantamweight: 8 st 6 lbs (118 lbs / 53,525 kg)
• Featherweight: 9 st (126 lbs / 57,153 kg)
• Lightweight: 9 st 9 lbs (135 lbs / 61,235 kg)
• Welterweight: 10½ st (147 lbs / 66,678 kg)
• Middleweight: 11 st 6 lbs (160 lbs / 72,574 kg)
• Light Heavyweight: 12½ st (175 lbs / 79,378 kg)
• Heavyweight: (unlimited)

See also, 15 Feb 1909 Los Angeles Herald article re: necessity for revision to universal 8 divisions: [1]

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History of the Weight Divisions

The 21 National Sporting Club (NSC) Rules- (1891-?) London-based private club amends 12 Queensberry Rules, modifying with new augment rules with nine specific criteria, such as designating role of officials; devised a system of scoring bouts; and enabled referee to determine who won. Major accomplishment transpired in 1909 ratification vote and 1910 implementation of 8 traditional weight classes:

• Heavyweight [176 lbs plus; at least 75.3 kg; over 12 stone, 7 lbs]
• Cruiserweight [175 lb maximum; 79.5 kg; or 12 stone, 7 pounds] later called "lighter heavyweight" by the English and "light heavyweight" by the Americans. Solidified under the New York State Athletic Commission and National Boxing Association as one division, with a uniform name.
• Middleweight [160 lbs maximum; 72.7 kg; or 11 stone, 4 pounds]
• Welterweight [147 lbs maximum; 66.8 kg; or 10 stone, 7 pounds]
• Lightweight [135lbs maximum; 61.4 kg; or 9 stone, 9 pounds]
• Featherweight [126lbs maximum; 57.3 kg; or 9 stone]
• Bantamweight [118lbs maximum; 53.6 kg; or 8 stone, 6 pounds]
• Flyweight [112lbs maximum; 50.9 kg; or 8 stone]

NOTE: weight class key- one pound equals .45359237 kilograms one pound equals .0714285714 stone- sixteen ounces equals one pound, 14 stone and 6 kilograms.

Olympic Boxing Classes & Weight Divisions: [American lbs, European kilograms, English stones]

• One pound (lb as unit of mass) is equal to 16 ounces (oz)
• One kilogram (also equal to 1,000 grams) is equal to 2.2 lbs
• One stone is equal to 14 pounds (with pounds rounding 5/8th)

• Super Heavyweight: [202lbs + above; 91.6 kg or 14 stone, 6 pounds] – (est. 1984-end 2004): legislation pending before International Olympic Congress, not subject to change by AIBA.
• Heavyweight: [179-201lbs*; 81.2 – 91.2 kg; 12 stone, 11 pounds – 14 stone, 5 pounds]– (est. 1904)
• Light Heavyweight: [166-178lbs; 75.3 – 80.7 kg; or 11 stone, 12 pounds – 12 stone, 10 pounds – (est. 1920)
• Middleweight: [157-165lbs; 71.2 – 74.8; or 11 stone, 3 pounds – 11 stone, 11 pounds] – (est. 1904)
• Light Middleweight: [148-156lbs; 67.1 – 70.8 kg; or 10 stone, 8 pounds – 11 stone, 2 pound] – (est. 1952)
• Welterweight: [140-147lbs; 63.5 – 66.7 kg; or 10 stone – 10 stone, 7 pounds] – (est. 1904)
• Light Welterweight: [133-139lbs; 60.3 – 63.0 kg; or 9 stone, 7 pounds – 9 stone, 13 pounds] – (est. 1952)
• Lightweight: [126-132lbs; 57.2 – 59.9 kg; or 9 stone – 9 stone, 6 pounds] – (est. 1904)
• Featherweight: [120-125lbs; 54.4 – 56.7 kg; or 8 stone, 8 pounds – 8 stone, 13 pounds] – (est. 1904)
• Bantamweight: [113-119lbs; 51.3 – 53.9 kg; or 8 stone, 1 pound – 8 stone, 7 pounds] – (est. 1904)
• Flyweight: [107-112lbs; 48.5 – 50.8 kg; or 7 stone, 9 pounds – 8 stone] – (est. 1904)
• Light Flyweight: [106 – below; less than 48.1 kg; or 7 stone, 8 pounds and below] – (est. 1968)

Detailed Weight Division History
[in American lbs, European kilograms, English stones]

• Heavyweight (over 200 pounds-unlimited; over 91.4 kg; 14 stone, 5 pounds - unlimited): First originated as 160 pounds plus (over 72.7 kg or 11 stone, 4 pounds) by Jack Broughton (in 1738); next established by the ABA as unlimited (in 1889); reaffirmed no limit by the NSC (in 1909); changed by the NYSAC to 175 plus in 1920; modified again in 1979 by the WBC (followed by the WBA in 1982 and the IBF in 1983); again modified in 2004 by the WBA, WBC and IBF to mean 201-plus pounds.
• Cruiserweight [also called junior heavyweight] (176-200 lbs; 80.0 – 90.0 kg; 12 stone 8 pounds – 14 stone 4 pounds): First originated in England (later called lighter-heavyweight); next established as 176-190 lbs (80.0 – 86.2 kg or 12 stone, 8 pounds – 13 stone, 8 pounds) by the WBC in 1979, then the WBA in 1982, and the IBF in 1983; modified in 2004 first by the WBC, then the WBA and next by the IBF to allow a maximum limit of 200 pounds. NOTE: the English class cruiserweights (from 1889-1937) became light heavyweight (1937-present). The name reappeared in America (in 1980) for a new class of 190, then 195, and currently 200 pound boxers.
• Light Heavyweight [also called lighter-heavyweight] (169-175 lbs; 76.8 – 79.5 kg; 12 stone, 1 pounds – 12 stones, 7 pounds): Initially created by Lou Houseman for his fighter Jack Root (in 1903); first established by the NSC (in 1909) as 12 stone, 7 pounds or 175 lbs.
• Super Middleweight [also called Junior Light Heavyweight] (161-168 lbs; 73.2 – 76.4 kg; 11 stone, 7 pounds – 12 stones): First established in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1967 (see Don Fullmer vs. Joe Hopkins); then re-established by the Ohio Boxing Commission (in 1974); then "resurrected" by the World Athletic Association (in 1982); next recognized by the IBF (in 1984); then the WBA (in 1987): and last by the WBC (in 1988). (The IBRO, however, says this class was created in 1984 by the IBF; followed by the WBA in 1987; and the WBC in 1988. [2]))
• Middleweight (155-160 lbs; 70.5 – 72.7 kg; 11 stone, 1 pound – 11 stone, 6 pounds): First established by the ABA as 11 stone, 4 pounds (in 1889); modified by the NSC (in 1909) as 11 stone, 6 pounds or 160 lbs.
• Junior Middleweight [also called Light Middleweight, Super Welterweight] (148-154 lbs; 67.3 – 70.0 kg; 10 stone, 8 pounds – 11 stone): First created by the New York Walker Law (in 1920); first established by the NBA (in 1956). Recognized by the Austrian Boxing Board of Control and European Boxing Union (in 1962). NOTE: this weight class can be divided into two historical periods: 1956-1962 and 1963-present. (The IBRO says it was created by the WBA in 1962- the WBA's first world junior middleweight title bout was held on October 20, 1962, three days after a "world" junior middleweight title bout sanctioned by the Austrian Boxing Board of Control. The WBC recognized the division in 1963 and later renamed it the "Super Welterweight" division.)
• Welterweight (141-147 lbs; 64.1 – 66.8 kg; 10 stone, 1 pound – 10 stone, 7 pounds): First recognized in England as 142-145 pounds (in 1889, then 1892). Next established by the NSC (in 1909) as 10 stone, 7 pounds or 147 lbs and made uniform as 147 pounds by the NYSAC and NBA (in 1920).
• Junior Welterweight (also called Light Welterweight or Super Lightweight): (136-140 lbs; 61.8 – 63.6 kg; 9 stone, 10 pounds – 10 stone): First created by the New York Walker Law (in 1920). First recognized by Boxing Blade and also sanctioned by the NBA (in 1922); first established by the WBC in 1968. NOTE: This weight class can be divided into three distinct historical periods: 1922-1935, 1946, and 1959-present. (The IBRO says that was weight class was mentioned in the rules of the NYSAC in 1920 but basically ignored. In the fall of 1922, The Blade, a Midwestern boxing weekly, held a "write-in" contest to name the first champion and the readers chose Pinky Mitchell as the first champion. In the 1930s title recognition got muddled for awhile until Barney Ross reunified the title on November 17, 1933. Ross relinquished the title in 1935 when it got muddled again. Tippy Larkin won NBA and NYSAC recognition as champion in 1946 but forfeited it in 1947. The title was dormant until 1959 when the NBA sanctioned a title bout between Carlos Ortiz and Kenny Lane. Late in 1968 the WBC withdrew title recognition from “Lineal” champion Paul Fuji and established their own champion. The WBC renamed the division "Super Lightweight" in 1976.)
• Lightweight (131-135 lbs; 59.5 – 61.4 kg; 9 stone, 5 pounds – 9 stone, 9 pounds): First originated as any fighter whose weight was less than 160 pounds by Jack Broughton (in 1738); under London Prize Ring, weight class ranged from (130-150); next established by the ABA as 10 stone (in 1889); modified by the NSC (in 1909) as 9 stone, 9 pounds or 135 lbs. First English Champion John Moneghan (in 1850).
• Junior Lightweight [also called Super Featherweight] (127-130 lbs; 57.7 – 59.1 kg; or 9 stone, 1 pound – 9 stone, 4 pounds): Created by the New York Walker Law (in 1920), though first established by the NYSAC (in 1930). NOTE: this weight class can be divided into distinct historical periods: 1921-1933 and 1959-present. (The IBRO says this weight class appeared in Europe in 1914. Johnny Dundee won the first world junior lightweight title recognition by the NYSAC on November 18, 1921. The division ceased to exist after 1934. It reappeared for a short time on December 6, 1949, when Sandy Saddler won recognition as champion. The NBA revised the class on July 20, 1959 when Harold Gomes defeated Paul Jorgensen for the vacant title. The WBC recognized the division in 1968 and established their own champion. The IBF followed suit in 1984 and the WBO in 1989.)
• Featherweight (123-126 lbs; 55.9 – 57.3 kg: or 8 stone, 11 pounds – 9 stone): First created under London Prize Ring Rules (in 1860) as 118 lbs (53.6 kg or 8 stone, 6 pounds); first established by the ABA as 126 lbs (57.3 kg or 9 stone in 1889); changed under Marquess Rules to 110 lbs (in 1889); next changed to 115 pounds (52.3 kg or 8 stone, 3 pounds) when George Dixon beat Cal McCarthy in 1890; his manager then changed to 120 lbs (54.4 kg or 8 stone, 8 pounds) when Dixon beat Abe Willis; modified by the NSC (in 1909) as 126 lbs (57.3 kg or 9 stone).
• Junior Featherweight [also called Light Featherweight, Super Bantamweight] (119-122 lbs; 54.1 – 55;5 kg; or 8 stone, 7 pounds – 8 stone, 10 pounds): First created by the New York Walker Law, though not fully established by the NYSAC (1920); first sanctioned by the WBC (in 1976) (The IBRO says the WBC called it "Super Bantamweight.") The WBA followed in 1977.
• Bantamweight (116-118 lbs; 52.7 – 53.6 kg; or 8 stone, 4 pound – 8 stone, 6 pounds): First established by the ABA (in 189), then fully sanctioned by the NSC (in 1909) as 118 lbs (53.6 kg or 8 stone, 6 pounds). Later solidified by the New York Walker Law for standardized weight divisions (in 1920); endorsed by the NYSAC, and sanctioned by the NBA. Under London Prize Ring Rules, the weight division was 105 lbs (47.7 kg or 7 stone, 7 pounds). Under Queensberry Rules, it increased to 112 lbs (50.9 kg or 8 stone in 1880) and then 115 pounds (52.3 kg or 8 stone, 3 pounds in 1890). The weight class was set at 116 pounds (52.7 kg or 8 stone, 4 pounds in 1898). The present 118 pound limit was first adopted in England (in 1904), then by the NSC (in 1909).
• Junior Bantamweight [also called Light Bantamweight, Super Flyweight] (113-115 lbs; 51.4 – 52.3 kg; or 8 stone, 1 pound – 8 stone, 3 pounds): First created by the New York Walker Law (in 1920) regulating standardized weight divisions. (The IBRO says it was mentioned in the rules of the NYSAC in 1920, but apparently no titles were ever held. The WBC re-introduced the division as "Super Flyweight" in 1980. The WBA followed in 1981.)
• Flyweight [also called Paperweight in England] (109-112 lbs; 49.5 – 50.0 kg; or 7 stone, 11 pounds – 8 stone): First established by the NSC (in 1909) as 112 lbs (50.9 kg or 8 stone). English boxing authorities followed suit and set the weight limit as 108 lbs (49.1 kg or 7 stone, 10 pounds in 1910). The NBA and NYSAC recognized this weight class in 1927. New York’s 1920 Walker Law established the weight class at 112 pounds.
• Junior Flyweight [also called Light Flyweight] (106-108 lbs; 48.2 – 49.1 kg; 7 stone, 8 pounds – 7 stone, 10 pounds): First established by the 1920 Walker Law regulating standardized weight divisions. First sanctioned by the WBC in 1975. (The IBRO says it was established by the NYSAC at 109 pounds in 1920. Not much happened and it disappeared quickly. The WBC and WBA re-introduced the class at 108 pounds in 1975. The WBC called the division "Light Flyweight.")
• Strawweight [also called Minimumweight, Mini-Flyweight] (96-105 lbs; 43.6 – 47.7 kg; or 6 stone, 12 pounds – 7 stone, 7 pounds): First established as a "worldwide" division by the IBF (in 1987) and later recognized by both the WBA and WBC. (The IBRO says it was established by the Thai Boxing Commission at 105 pounds in 1984. The IBF, WBC and WBA created the division in 1987. The IBF called it "Mini Flyweight"; the WBC "Strawweight"; and the WBA "Minimumweight." The IBF held its first world title bout for the division in June 1987; the WBC in October 1987, and the WBA in January 1988.)
• Paperweight (95lbs and below; less than 43.2 kg; or 6 stone, 11 pounds): First established by the Queensberry Amateur Championship and ABA as 95 lbs and less (in 1880). In time the paperweight champion became synonymous with the flyweight and bantamweight champions, although the weight actually increased 17 pounds by sanctioning of the NSC around 1896-1898.

Supplemental Information:

• 17 alphabetical weight classes [Cruiserweight by the World Boxing Council (in 1979); Super Middleweight (or junior light heavyweight) in Utah in 1967, by the Ohio Boxing Commission (in 1974), by the World Athletic Association in 1982, and officially by the International Boxing Federation (in 1984); and Mini-Flyweight (Strawweight or Minimumweight) by the International Boxing Federation (in 1987). NOTE: Cruiserweight limit was changed from 190-195 to a uniform 200, and was recognized by the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation (in 2004)].
• 14 conventional weight classes (Junior Middleweight, Junior Welterweight, Junior Lightweight, Junior Featherweight, Junior Bantamweight and Junior Flyweight) amended by the NBA and NYSAC after implemented New York Walker Law of 1920).
• 8 traditional weight classes (Light Heavyweight, Welterweight and Flyweight) established by the National Sporting Club of London (ratified in 1909) as championship divisions (est. 1910).
• 5 professional divisions throughout the 19th century (in 1889) with Bantamweight (Flyweight later modified three times as Featherweight) as set forth by the Pelican Club (a combination entity of the Pugilistic Society and Club; later gave way to the National Sporting Club, which in time became the modern day British Board of Boxing Control).
• 4 original weight classes (Middleweight and Featherweight) adopted by the Amateur Boxing Association (in 1880).
• 2 inaugural weight classes (Heavyweight and Light(er)weight) set byBroughton’s Rules governing prize fights (in 1738).

Primary sources: The History of Modern Day Weight Categories (as edited by BoxRec Wikipedia Editors)--Boxing Press, Editor in Chief, Greg Goodrich; and Barry Hugman of the the International Boxing Research Organization :[3].

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See also, World Champions By Weight Class