Welterweight
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]
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[update].[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]
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:
- International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1–147 lb or 64.5–66.7 kg.[20]
- International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), welterweight 142.1–147 lb or 64.5–66.7 kg.[21]
- World Kickboxing Association (WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit 147.7 lb or 67.0 kg.[22]
- In Glory promotion, a welterweight division is up to 170 lb or 77 kg.[23]
- ONE Championship, welterweight upper limit 83.9 kg (185 lb).
Mixed martial arts[edit]
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 | ![]() |
20–3 (7KO 3SUB) | 0 |
Bellator MMA | June 11, 2021 | ![]() |
26–0 (9KO 10SUB) | 0 |
ONE Championship | October 25, 2019 | ![]() |
23–5 (8KO 4SUB) | 1 |
Fight Nights Global | September 17, 2021 | ![]() |
27–3 (11KO 5SUB) | 0 |
KSW | October 6, 2018 | ![]() |
20–3 (17KO 1SUB) | 2 |
Titan FC | March 15, 2019 | ![]() |
9–1 (4KO 2SUB) | 1 |
ACA | April 26, 2019 | ![]() |
22–4 (14KO) | 1 |
Legacy Fighting Alliance | August 21, 2020 | ![]() |
13–2 (5KO) | 0 |
Cage Warriors | August 21, 2020 | ![]() |
20–3 (7KO 3SUB) |
12 Other sports[edit]Other sports to include a welterweight division include the following,
References[edit]
External links[edit] |