Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system. In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.

Boxing

Professional boxing

A welterweight boxer weighs in at between 140 pounds and 147 pounds.

Henry Armstrong holds the division record for most title defenses at 18. Freddie Cochran was the longest reigning champion, holding the title four years, six months, and three days (although Jose Napoles comes in a close second at four years, six months, and two days). Sugar Ray Robinson is generally considered to be the greatest welterweight of all time.

Notable welterweights include Joe Walcott, Barney Ross, Jackie Fields, Ted "Kid" Lewis, Jimmy Mclarnin, Jack Britton, Henry Armstrong, Fritzie Zivic, Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Carmen Basilio, Emile Griffith, Jose Napoles, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns,Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Félix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Arturo Gatti, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and the now retired, former Ring Magazine and WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Olympic champions

• 1904 –  Albert Young (USA)
• 1920 –  Bert Schneider (CAN)
• 1924 –  Jean Delarge (BEL)
• 1928 –  Ted Morgan (NZL)
• 1932 –  Edward Flynn (USA)
• 1936 –  Sten Suvio (FIN)
• 1948 –  Július Torma (TCH)
• 1952 –  Zygmunt Chychła (POL)
• 1956 –  Nicolae Linca (ROU)
• 1960 –  Giovanni Benvenuti (ITA)
• 1964 –  Marian Kasprzyk (POL)
• 1968 –  Manfred Wolke (GDR)
• 1972 –  Emilio Correa (CUB)
• 1976 –  Jochen Bachfeld (GDR)
• 1980 –  Andrés Aldama (CUB)
• 1984 –  Mark Breland (USA)
• 1988 –  Robert Wangila (KEN)
• 1992 –  Michael Carruth (IRL)
• 1996 –  Oleg Saitov (RUS)
• 2000 –  Oleg Saitov (RUS)
• 2004 –  Bakhtiyar Artayev (KAZ)
• 2008 –  Bakhyt Sarsekbayev (KAZ)

Professional Boxing Champions

• List of welterweight boxing champions

Kickboxing

The weight devision system is different in each organizations. So the kickboxing weight devisions of some international organizations vary:

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1 lbs. - 147 lbs.(64.59 kg - 66.8 kg).
• World Kickboxing Association (WKA) fixed 140–147 pounds (63.5–67 kg) for welterweight.
• International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) set 142.1–147 pounds (64.6–66.8 kg) for welterweight.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai has fixed its weight division as similar to boxing. According to World Muay Thai Council (WMC), its welter weight is from 140 pounds (63.5 kg) to 147 pounds (66.6 kg). And World Muay Thai Federation (WMF) which is the official amateur organization fixed from 63.5 to 67 kg for adult. The Junior category is the same as adult.

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Muay Thai Welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1 lbs. - 147 lbs.(64.59 kg - 66.8 kg).

Shoot boxing

The official rule of shoot boxing says between 65 and 67 kg (143.3 to 147.7 lb) is welterweight.

Mixed martial arts

Main article: Welterweight (MMA)

• International Sport Combat Federation ISCF: Welterweight: 155.1 to 170 lbs. / 70.45.1 kg - 77.27 kg

Taekwondo

In the sport of olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between 158.8 pounds and 171.1 pounds (72-78 kg). At the weight classes for the olympic games it is 149.9 - 176.0 lb (68-80 kg)

Bodybuilding

According to the National Physique Association, in bodybuilding a welterweight weighs more than 154.25 lbs and not more than 165.25 lbs. ^[1]

References and Notes

1. ^ NPC Nationals Website