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THE HISTORY OF MODERN DAY
WEIGHT CATEGORIES
Boxing Press
Editor in Chief, Greg Goodrich
The 21 National Sporting Club (NSC) Rules- (1891-)
[London based private club amends 12 Queensbury 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,
5 pounds]
(later called lighter heavyweight by the English and light heavyweight
by the Americans. Solidified under NSYAC and NBA 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,
5 pounds]
Lightweight [135lbs maximum; 61.4 kg; or 9 stone,
6 pounds]
Featherweight [126lbs maximum; 57.3 kg; or 9 stone]
Bantamweight [118lbs maximum; 53.6 kg; or 8 stone,
4 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, 4 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,
8 pounds 14 stone, 8 pounds] (est. 1904)
Light Heavyweight: [166-178lbs; 75.3 80.7 kg;
or 11 stone, 9 pounds 12 stone, 7 pounds (est. 1920)
Middleweight: [157-165lbs; 71.2 74.8; or 11 stone,
2 pounds 11 stone, 8 pounds] (est. 1904)
Light Middleweight: [148-156lbs; 67.1 70.8 kg;
or 10 stone, 6 pounds 11 stone, 1 pound] (est. 1952)
Welterweight: [140-147lbs; 63.5 66.7 kg; or 10
stone 10 stone, 5 pounds] (est. 1904)
Light Welterweight: [133-139lbs; 60.3 63.0 kg;
or 9 stone, 5 pounds 9 stone, 9 pounds] (est. 1952)
Lightweight: [126-132lbs; 57.2 59.9 kg; or 9
stone 9 stone, 4 pounds] (est. 1904)
Featherweight: [120-125lbs; 54.4 56.7 kg; or
8 stone, 6 pounds 8 stone, 9 pounds] (est. 1904)
Bantamweight: [113-119lbs; 51.3 53.9 kg; or 8
stone, 1 pound 8 stone, 5 pounds] (est. 1904)
Flyweight: [107-112lbs; 48.5 50.8 kg; or 7 stone,
6 pounds 8 stone] (est. 1904)
Light Flyweight: [106 below; less than 48.1 kg;
or below 7 stone, 6 pounds] (est. 1968)
Weight Class Divisions: 17
[American lbs, European kilograms, English stones]
Heavyweight (201 lbs-unlimited; over 91.4 kg; minimum
14 stone, 4 pounds)- 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 NSYAC to 175 plus in 1920; modified again
in 1979 by the WBC (followed by he WBA in 1982 and the IBF in 1983);
again modified in 2004 by the WBA, WBC and IBF to mean 201 plus
pounds- James Figg first English champion (in 1719); Tom Molineaux
first American champion (in 1810); Jem Mace first Undisputed Champion
(in 1870); 1st Commonwealth (British Empire) champion John Knifton
(in 1877); Paddy Ryan first World champion (in 1880); John Sullivan
first Undisputed World Champion (in 1885); first British champion*
Jem Smith (in 1895); first NYSAC champion Jack Dempsey (in 1919);
first NBA champion Ezzard Charles (in 1949); first WBA champion
Ernie Terrell (in 1965); first WBC champion Joe Frazier (in 1970);
first IBF champion Larry Holmes (in 1983); first WBO champion Francesco
Damiani (in 1989). There have been 127 American, British, English
and World Heavyweight Champions.
Cruiserweight [also called Junior Heavyweight]-
(176-200 lbs; 80.0 90.0 kg; 12 stone 6 pounds 14 stone 3 pounds)-
first originated in England (later called lighter-heavyweight);
next established as 176-190 lbs (80.0 86.2 kg or 12 stone, 6 pounds
13 stone, 6 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.
First WBC champion Marvin Camel (in 1980); first WBA champion Ossie
Ocasio (in 1982); first IBF champion Marvin Camel (in 1983); first
Commonwealth (British Empire) champion Stewart Lithgo (in 1984);
first British champion Sammy Reeson (in 1985); first Undisputed
World champion Evander Holyfield (in 1988); first WBO champion Boone
Pultz (in 1989). 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 now 200 pound
boxers.
Light Heavyweight [also called lighter-heavyweight]
(169-175 lbs; 76.8 79.5 kg; 12 stone, 1 pounds 12 stones, 5
pounds)- initially created by Lou Houseman for his fighter Jack
Root (in 1903); first established by the NSC (in 1909) as 12 stone,
5 pounds or 175 lbs. First World champion Jack Root (in 1903); first
British champion Dennis Haugh (in 1913); first Commonwealth (British
Empire) champion Jack Bloomfield (in 1923); first NBA and NYSAC
champion Jimmy Slattery (in 1927 and 1930); first WBA and WBC champion
Willie Pastrano (in 1963); first IBF champion Michael Spinks (in
1984); first WBO champion Michael Moorer (in 1988). NOTE: the change
in name and class for Light Heavyweights can about in large part
to Bob Fitzsimmons who outgrew the Middleweight class first raising
it from 154 to 158 (in 1894). After he won the Heavyweight title
(in 1897) and then won the English Cruiserweight title (or American
Light Heavyweight title) from George Gardner (in 1903). NOTE: by
strict etymological interpretation, the range of weight from Middleweight
to Heavyweight was bigger than Lightweights, but smaller than Heavyweights.
Hence, lighter Heavyweights.
Super Middleweight [also called Junior Light Heavyweight]
(161-168 lbs; 73.2 76.4 kg; 11 stone, 5 pounds 12 stones)- first
established by the Ohio Boxing Commission (in 1974); then staged
as a World Athletic Association bout (in 1982); next recognized
by the IBF (in 1984); then the WBA (in 1987): and last by the WBC
(in 1988). First IBF champion Murray Sutherland (in 1984); first
WBA champion Chong-Pal Park (in 1987); first WBO champion Thomas
Hearns (in 1988); first WBC champion Sugar Ray Leonard (in 1988);
first British champion Sam Starey (in 1989); first Commonwealth
(British Empire) champion Rodd Carr (in 1989). NOTE: the closest
World champion was Sven Ottke [WBA, IBF champion] (in 2003).
Middleweight (155-160 lbs; 70.5 72.7 kg; 11 stone,
1 pound 11 stone, 4 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. First boxer Nat Langham (in 1840); first American
champion Tom Chandler (in 1867); first English champion George Fulljames
(in 1880); first World champion Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey (in 1884);
first British champion Charles Wall (in 1890); first NYSAC champion
Dave Rosenberg (in 1922); first Commonwealth (British Empire) champion
Ted Lewis (in 1922); first NBA champion William Jones (in 1932);
first WBA champion Dick Tiger (in 1962); first WBC champion Gene
Fullmer (in 1963); first IBF champion Marvin Hagler (in 1983); first
WBO champion Doug DeWitt (in 1989).
Junior Middleweight [also called Light Middleweight,
Super Welterweight] (148-154 lbs; 67.3 70.0 kg; 10 stone, 6 pounds
11 stone)- first created by the New York Walker Law (in 1920);
first established by the NBA (in 1956). Universally accepted by
the Austrian Boxing Council and European Boxing Union (in 1962).
First World champion Emile Giffith (in 1962); first WBA and WBC
champion Denny Moyer (in 1963); first Commonwealth (British Empire)
champion Charkey Ramon (in 1972); first British champion Larry Paul
(in 1973); first IBF champion Mark Medal (in 1984); first WBO champion
John Jackson (in 1988). NOTE: this weight class can be divided into
two historical periods: 1956-1962; and 1963-present.
Welterweight (141-147 lbs; 64.1 66.8 kg; 10 stone,
1 pound 10 stone, 5 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). First English/American champion
Paddy Duffy; first World Champion Billy Smith (in 1892); first British
champion Pat OKeefe (in 1903); first Commonwealth (British Empire)
champion Johnny Summers (in 1913); first NBA champion Mickey Walker
(in 1923); first NYSAC champion Jimmy Jones (in 1923); first WBA
champion Emile Griffith (in 1962); first WBC champion Luis Rodriguez
(in 1963); first IBF champion Donald Curry (in 1984); first WBO
champion Genaro Leon (in 1989).
Junior Welterweight [also called Light Welterweight,
Super Lightweight] (136-140 lbs; 61.8 63.6 kg; 9 stone, 7 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. First World champion
Pinkey Mitchell (in 1922); first NBA champion James Herring (in
1925); first WBA and WBC champion Eddie Perkins (in 1962 and 1963);
first British champion Des Rea (in 1968); first Commonwealth (British
Empire) champion Joe Tetteh (in 1972); first NYSAC champion Wilfred
Benitez (in 1977); first IBF champion Aaron Pryor (in 1984*); first
WBO champion Hector Camacho, Sr. (in 1989). NOTE: This weight class
can be divided into three distinct historical periods: 1922-1930;
1946-1959; and 1968-present
Lightweight (131-135 lbs; 59.5 61.4 kg; 9 stone,
4 pounds 9 stone, 6 pounds) first originated as any fighter
whose weight was less than 160 pounds by Jack Broughton (in 1738);
under London Prize Rules, 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); first British champion Jem Cauney (in 1884);
first American/World champion Jack McAuliffe (in 1886); first Commonwealth
(British Empire) champion Freddie Welsh (in 1912); first NBA champion
Sammy Angott (in 1940); first NYSAC champion Beau Jack (in 1942);
first WBA and WBC champion Carlos Ortiz (in 1962 and 1963); first
IBF champion Charlie Choo Choo Brown (in 1984); first WBO champion
Amancio Castro (in 1989).
Junior Lightweight [also called Super Featherweight]
(127-130 lbs; 57.7 59.1 kg; or 9 stone, 1 pound 9 stone, 3 pounds)-
created by the New York Walker Law (in 1920), though first established
by the NYSAC (in 1930). First World champion Johnny Dundee (in 1921);
first NBA champion Harold Gomes (in 1959); first British champion
Jimmy Anderson (in 1968); first WBA and WBC champion Gabriel Flashe
Elorde (in 1963); first Commonwealth (British Empire) champion Billy
Moeller (in 1975); first IBF champion Hwan-Kil Yuh (in 1984); first
WBO champion John John Molina (in 1989). NOTE: this weight class
can be divided into distinct historical periods: 1921-1933; and
1959-present. NOTE: first English champion Battling Kid Nelson
(in 1914) lost his title to Benny Kid Berger (in 1915). Artie
OLeary also claimed this lightly regarded title in 1917.
Featherweight (123-126 lbs; 55.9 57.3 kg: or 8 stone,
8 pounds 9 stone) first created under London Prize Ring Gules
(in 1860) as 118 lbs (53.6 kg or 8 stone, 4 pounds); first established
by the ABA as 126 lbs (57.3 kg or 9 stone in 1889); changed under
Marquis Rules to 110 lbs (in 1889); next changed to 115 pounds (52.3
kg or 8 stone, 2 pounds) when Dixon beat McArthy (in 1890); his
manager then changed to 120 lbs (54.4 kg or 8 stone, 6 pounds) when
Dixon beat Willis; modified by the NSC (in 1909) as 126 lbs (57.3
kg or 9 stone). First American, World champion George Dixon (in
1890, 1892); first British champion Fred Johnson (in 1895); first
English champion Ben Jordan (in 1898); first NBA champion Abe Attell
(in 1908); first Commonwealth (British Empire) champion Jim Driscoll
(in 1908); first NYSAC champion Johnny Dundee (in 1922); first WBA
and WBC champion Paul Sugar Ramos (in 1963); first IBF champion
Min-Keun Oh (in 1984*); first WBO champion Maurizio Stecca (in 1989).
Junior Featherweight [also called Light Featherweight,
Super Bantamweight] (119-122 lbs; 54.1 55;5 kg; or 8 stone, 5
pounds 8 stone, 7 pounds)- first created by the New York Walker
Law, though not fully established by the NYSAC (in 1920); first
sanctioned by the WBC (in 1976). First World champion Jack Wolfe
(in 1922); first WBC champion Rigoberto Riasco (in 1976); first
WBA champion Soo-Hwan Hong (in 1977); first IBF champion Bobby Berna
(in 1983); first British champion Richie Wenton (in 1994); first
Commonwealth (British Empire) champion Neil Swain (in 1995); first
WBO champion Kenny Mitchell (in 1989).
Bantamweight (116-118 lbs; 52.7 53.6 kg; or 8
stone, 1 pound 8 stone, 2 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, 4 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, 5 pounds).
Under Queensbury Rules, it increased to 112 lbs (50.9 kg or 8 stone
in 1880) and then 115 pounds (52.3 kg or 8 stone, 2 pounds in 1890).
The weight class was set at 116 pounds (52.7 kg or 8 stone in 1898).
The present 118 pound limit was first adopted in England (in 1904),
then by the NSC (in 1909). First British champion Chappie Moran
(in 1886); first English, World champion Tommy Kelly (in 1887);
first NBA champion Kid Williams (in 1915); first Commonwealth (British
Empire) champion Billy Plimmer (in 1891); first NYSAC champion Panama
Al Brown (in 1929); first WBA and WBC champion Eder Jofre (in 1962
and 1963); first IBF champion Satoshi Shingaki (in 1984); first
WBO champion Israel Contreras (in 1989).
Junior Bantamweight [also called Light Bantamweight,
Super Flyweight] (113-115 lbs; 51.4 52.3 kg; or 8 stone, 1 pound
8 stone, 2 pounds)- first created by the New York Walker Law (in
1920) regulating standardized weight divisions. First WBC champion
Rafael Orono (in 1980); first WBA champion Gustavo Ballas (in 1981);
first IBF champion Ju-Do Chun (in 1983); first WBO champion Jose
Ruiz (in 1989).
Flyweight [also called Paperweight in England]
(109-112 lbs; 49.5 50.0 kg; or 7 stone, 8 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, 7 pounds in 1910). United States
boxing commissions NBA and NYSAC recognized this weight class (in
1927). New Yorks Walker Law next established the weight class (in
1920) as 112 pounds. First British champion Charlie Exall (in 1898);
first World champion Jimmy Wilde (in 1916); first Commonwealth champion
Elky Clark (in 1924); first NBA champion Fidel la Barba (in 1925);
first NYSAC champion Corporal Izzy Schwartz (in 1927); first WBA
champion Masahiko Fighting Harada (in 1962); first WBC champion
Hisoyuki Ebihara (in 1963); first IBF champion Soon-Chun Kwon (in
1983); first WBO champion Elvis Alvarez (in 1989).
Junior Flyweight [also called Light Flyweight]
(106-108 lbs; 48.2 49.1 kg; 7 stone, 6 pounds 7 stone, 7 pounds)-
first established by the New York Walker Law (in 1920) regulating
standardized weight divisions, though not first sanctioned by the
WBC (in 1975). (Jockey) Joe Dillon was the first World champion,
though he never fought for the title. First WBC champion Franco
Udella (in 1975); first WBA champion Jaime Rios (in 1975); first
IBF champion Dodie Penalosa (in 1983); first Commonwealth champion
Michael Danquah (in 1987); first WBO champion Jose De Jesus (in
(1989).
Strawweight [also called Minimumweight, Mini-Flyweight]
(96-105 lbs; 43.6 47.7 kg; or 6 stone, 9 pounds 7 stone, 5 pounds)-
first established by the IBF (in 1987) and later recognized by both
the WBA and WBC (in 1988). First IBF champion Kyung-Yun Lee (in
1987); first WBC champion Hiroki Ioka (in 1987); first WBA champion
Leo Gamez (in 1988); first WBO champion Rafael Torres (in 1989)
.
Paperweight (95lbs-below;
less than 43.2 kg; or 6 stone, 8 pounds)- first established by the
Queensbury Amateur Championship and ABA as 95 lbs and less (in 1880).
In time the Paperweight champion became synonymous with the Flyweight
champion, though the weight actually increased 17 pounds by sanctioning
of the NSC around 1896-1898.
Weight Class History:
17 alphabetical weight classes [Cruiserweight by
the World Boxing Council (in 1979); Super Middleweight first by
the Ohio Boxing Commission (in 1974) then officially by the International
Boxing Federation (in 1984); and 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 NSYAC
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 by Broughtons Rules governing prized fights (in 1738)
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