Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the opponents. In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.
Etymology
The first known instance of the term is from 1831, meaning "heavyweight horseman," later "boxer or wrestler of a certain weight" by 1896. This sense comes from earlier "welter" "heavyweight horseman or boxer" from 1804, possibly from "welt", meaning "to beat severely", from c. 15th century[1]
Boxing
A welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 63.5 kg (140 lb), but no more than 66.7 kg (147 lb).[2]
Henry Armstrong holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 19 defenses of the lineal title.
Current champions
TBRB Updated as of August 2019
The Ring Updated as of August 2019
Below is a list of longest reigning welterweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at 64–69 kg (141–152 lb).[2]
Kickboxing
The weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickboxing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:
- International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1–147 lb or 64.59–66.8 kg.[3]
- International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), welterweight 142.1–147 lb or 64.6–66.8 kg.[4]
- World Kickboxing Association (WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit 147.7 lb or 67.0 kg.[5]
- In Glory promotion, a welterweight division is up to 170 lb or 77 kg.[6]
Mixed martial arts
The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[7] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[8] is 155 to 170 lb (70.3 to 77.1 kg).
This table is not always up to date. Last updated March 15, 2019.
Other sports
Other sports to include a welterweight division include the following,
- Muay Thai has fixed its weight division similarly to boxing. International Kickboxing Federation (IKF): Muay Thai Welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1-147 lb or 64.59-66.8 kg World Muay Thai Council (WMC), welterweight range is from 140 to 147 lb or 63.5 to 66.6 kg World Muay Thai Federation (WMF), the official amateur organization, fixed welterweight from 65.0 to 67.0 kg (143.3 to 147.7 lb) for adult; the junior category is the same as adult
- The official rules of shoot boxing define welterweights as between 65 and 67 kg (143 and 148 lb).
- In Olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between 74 and 80 kg (163 and 176 lb). At the weight classes for the Olympic games it is between 68 and 80 kg (150 and 176 lb).