Professional and Amateur Boxing Weight Divisions
Learn about boxing weight classes and the weights for each, plus,
find out why a Super Lightweight is also a Junior Welterweight, and more.
Weight divisions, also called classes, exist in boxing so that competitors can be evenly matched in size. It simply wouldn't be fair to have a 201 lb boxer fight a 132 lb boxer - the smaller boxer wouldn't have much of a chance. Men's professional, women's professional, and amateur (Olympic) boxing each have their own list of classes and associated weights. The weights and classes in women's professional boxing vary only slightly from those of the men.
In professional boxing, the weight divisions are very closely spaced. A boxer can gain 10 pounds and as a result move up 3 weight divisions. Amateur boxing weight classes are a little broader. A boxer must weigh more than the maximum weight of the previous class and no more than the minimum weight for the next class.
Some professional boxing divisions have more than one name. This came about because the World Boxing Council (WBC) uses the "Super" tag with the name of the division below, while the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) boxing organizations use the "Junior" tag, associating it with the division above. This means, for example, that the divisions called Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Lightweight by the WBC, are called Featherweight, Junior Lightweight, and Lightweight, by the other organizations.
There are 11 men's amateur boxing weight classes and 13 for women. Professional boxers, on the other hand, can be in any of 17 classes. For the divisions and associated weights, follow the links below:
Professional Boxing Weight Classes
Amateur (Olympic) Boxing Weight Classes
