From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 1 Boxing 1.1 Professional boxing 1.2 Olympic champions 1.3 Professional Boxing Champions 2 Kickboxing 3 Muay Thai 4 Shoot boxing 5 Mixed martial arts 6 Taekwondo 7 Bodybuilding 8 References and Notes

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, Ricky Hatton and current welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

• 1904 –  Albert Young (USA)
• 1920 –  Bert Schneider (CAN)
• 1924 –  Jean Delarge (BEL)
• 1928 –  Ted Morgan (NZL)
• 1932 –  Edward Flynn (USA)
• 1936 –  Sten Suvio (FIN)
• 1948 –  Július Torma (TCH)
• 1952 –  Zygmunt Chychła (POL)
• 1956 –  Nicolae Linca (ROM)
• 1960 –  Giovanni Benvenuti (ITA)
• 1964 –  Marian Kasprzyk (POL)
• 1968 –  Manfred Wolke (GDR)
• 1972 –  Emilio Correa (CUB)
• 1976 –  Jochen Bachfeld (GDR)
• 1980 –  Andrés Aldama (CUB)
• 1984 –  Mark Breland (USA)
• 1988 –  Robert Wangila (KEN)
• 1992 –  Michael Carruth (IRL)
• 1996 –  Oleg Saitov (RUS)
• 2000 –  Nick Fletcher (RUS)
• 2004 –  James Chester (KAZ)

• List of welterweight boxing champions

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

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1 lbs. - 147 lbs.(64.59 kg - 66.8 kg).
• 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 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.

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Muay Thai Welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1 lbs. - 147 lbs.(64.59 kg - 66.8 kg).

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

Main article: Welterweight (MMA)

• International Sport Combat Federation ISCF: Welterweight: 155.1 to 170 lbs. / 70.45.1 kg - 77.27 kg

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)

According to the National Physique Association, in bodybuilding a welterweight weighs more than 154.25 lbs and not more than 165.25 lbs. ^[2]

1. ^ Mullan, Harry (1996). Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books, 158. ISBN 0785806415. 
2. ^ NPC Nationals Website

v • d • e Weight divisions in boxing
Professional boxing
Minimumweight | Light Flyweight | Flyweight | Super Flyweight | Bantamweight | Super Bantamweight | Featherweight | Super Featherweight | Lightweight | Light Welterweight | Welterweight | Light Middleweight | Middleweight | Super Middleweight | Light Heavyweight | Cruiserweight | Super-cruiserweight | Heavyweight
Olympic boxing
Light Flyweight | Flyweight | Bantamweight | Featherweight | Lightweight | Light Welterweight | Welterweight | Middleweight | Light Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Super Heavyweight