Welterweight

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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[edit]

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[edit]

Professional boxing[edit]

A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds (≈63 kg), but no more than 147 pounds (≈67 kg).[2]

Current world champions[edit]

Main article: List of world welterweight boxing champions

Current champions

Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA April 16, 2022 Errol Spence Jr. 28–0 (22 KO) 0
WBC September 28, 2019 Errol Spence Jr. 28–0 (22 KO) 2
IBF May 27, 2017 Errol Spence Jr. 28–0 (22 KO) 5
WBO June 9, 2018 Terence Crawford 39–0 (30 KO) 6

Current world rankings[edit]

The Ring[edit]

As of December, 10, 2022.[3]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Errol Spence Jr. 28–0 (22 KO) WBC, IBF, WBA
2 Terence Crawford 39–0 (30 KO) WBO
3 Jaron Ennis 29–0–0–1 (27 KO)
4 Yordenis Ugás 27–5 (12 KO)
5 Vergil Ortiz Jr. 19–0 (19 KO)
6 Eimantas Stanionis 14–0–0–1 (9 KO)
7 Keith Thurman 30–1–0–1 (22 KO)
8 Conor Benn 21–0 (14 KO)
9 Radzhab Butaev 14–1–0–1 (11 KO)
10 David Avanesyan 29–4–1 (17 KO)
BoxRec[edit]

As of 11 April 2022.[4]

Rank Name Record Points Title(s)
1 Terence Crawford 39–0 (30 KO) 513.6 WBO
2 Errol Spence Jr. 28–0 (22 KO) 442.3 WBC, IBF, WBA
3 Keith Thurman 30–1 (22 KO) 155.7
4 Yordenis Ugas 27–5 (12 KO) 139.4
5 Kell Brook 40–3 (28 KO) 100.4
6 Mikey Garcia 40–2 (30 KO) 82.77
7 Vergil Ortiz Jr. 19–0 (19 KO) 79.61
8 Cody Crowley 21–0 (9 KO) 71.90
9 David Avanesyan 29–3–1 (17 KO) 70.84
10 Jaron Ennis 28–0 (26 KO) 46.31

Longest reigning world welterweight champions[edit]

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.

Name Title reign Title recognition Successful defenses Beaten opponents Fights
1. Félix Trinidad 6 years, 8 months, 14 days IBF 15 15 [5]
2. Errol Spence Jr. 5 years, 8 months, 1 week and 1 day IBF, WBC 6 5 [6]
3. Antonio Margarito 5 years, 3 months, 28 days WBO 7 7 [7]
4. Ike Quartey 4 years, 7 months, 30 days WBA 7 7 [8]
6. Terence Crawford 4 years, 7 months, 3 weeks and 5 days WBO 6 6 [9]
5. José Nápoles 4 years, 6 months, 2 days WBA, WBC 10 8 [10]
7. Sugar Ray Robinson 4 years, 1 month, 26 days NYSAC, NBA 5 5 [11]
8. Floyd Mayweather Jr. 4 years, 1 month, 18 days WBC 5 4 [12]
9. Pernell Whitaker 4 years, 1 month, 6 days WBC 8 7 [13]
10. Pipino Cuevas 4 years and 16 days WBA 11 10 [14]

Top 10 most title defenses[edit]

Below is a list of most title defenses of welterweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's reign with the most title defenses. Career total title defenses as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Name Title reign Title recognition Successful defenses Beaten opponents Fights
1. Henry Armstrong 2 years, 4 months, 3 days NYSAC, NBA, Ring 19 15 [15]
2. Félix Trinidad 6 years, 8 months, 14 days IBF 15 15 [5]
3. Pipino Cuevas 4 years and 16 days WBA 11 10 [14]
4. José Nápoles 4 years, 6 months, 2 days WBA, WBC, Ring 10 8 [10]
5. Jack Britton 3 years, 7 months, 13 days World 9 8 [16][17]
6. Pernell Whitaker 4 years, 1 month, 6 days WBC 8 7 [13]
7. Simon Brown 3 years, 7 months, 6 days IBF 8 8 [18]
8. Kid Gavilán 3 years, 5 months, 2 days NYSAC, NBA, Ring 7 6 [18]
9. Donald Curry 3 years, 7 months, 14 days WBA 7 7 [19]
10. Ike Quartey 4 years, 7 months, 30 days WBA 7 7 [8]

Amateur boxing[edit]

Olympic champions[edit]

Main article: List of Olympic medalists in welterweight boxing

The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at 64–69 kg (141–152 lb).[2]

Kickboxing[edit]

The weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickboxing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:

Mixed martial arts[edit]

Main article: Welterweight (MMA)

The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[24] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[25] is 155 to 170 lb (70.3 to 77.1 kg).

Current champions[edit]

This table is not always up to date. Last updated August 21, 2022.

Organization Reign began Champion Record Defenses
UFC August 20, 2022 England Leon Edwards 20–3 (7KO 3SUB) 0
Bellator MMA June 11, 2021 Ukraine Yaroslav Amosov 26–0 (9KO 10SUB) 0
ONE Championship October 25, 2019 Kyrgyzstan Kiamrian Abbasov 23–5 (8KO 4SUB) 1
Fight Nights Global September 17, 2021 Azerbaijan Nariman Abbasov 27–3 (11KO 5SUB) 0
KSW October 6, 2018 Croatia Roberto Soldić 20–3 (17KO 1SUB) 2
Titan FC March 15, 2019 United States Michael Graves 9–1 (4KO 2SUB) 1
ACA April 26, 2019 Russia Albert Tumenov 22–4 (14KO) 1
Legacy Fighting Alliance August 21, 2020 United States Jaleel Willis 13–2 (5KO) 0
Cage Warriors August 21, 2020 Australia Tyler Cummmings 20–3 (7KO 3SUB)

12

Other sports[edit]

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).

References[edit]

  1. ^ "welterweight | Origin and meaning of welterweight by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com.
  2. ^ a b "Classes & Divisions". Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ "The Ring ratings: welterweight". Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. ^ "BoxRec ratings: welterweight, active". Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Professional boxing record: Errol Spence Jr". Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Professional boxing record: Ike Quartey". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Terence Crawford". Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Professional boxing record: José Nápoles". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota on February 15, 1951 · Page 11". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Floyd Mayweather Jr". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Professional boxing record: Pernell Whitaker". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Professional boxing record: Pipino Cuevas". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Professional boxing record: Jack Britton". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Jack Britton, p. 80" (PDF). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Professional boxing record: Kid Gavilán". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Professional boxing record: Donald Curry". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  20. ^ "IKF WEIGHT CLASSES". IKFKickboxing.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  21. ^ "INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE & KICKBOXING ASSOCIATION" (PDF). ISKAWorldHQ.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  22. ^ "WKA USA - Official Rulebook". WKAUSA.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Fighters Rankings". gloryworldseries.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". www leg state nv us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  25. ^ "UNIFIED RULES OF MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.

External links[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Welterweight&oldid=1137341949"