Welterweight

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Template:Short description 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. If used, welterweight is typically between lightweight and 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 Template:C. 15th century Script error: No such module "Lang"., meaning 'to beat severely'.[1]

Boxing

Professional boxing

A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds, and no more than 147 pounds (about 63.5–66.7 kg).[2]

Current world champions

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Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA August 1, 2025 Rolando Romero 17–2 (13 KO) 0
WBC June 18, 2024 Mario Barrios 29–2–2 (18 KO) 2
IBF September 13, 2025 Lewis Crocker 22–0 (11 KO) 0
WBO November 22, 2025 Devin Haney 33–0–0–1 (15 KO) 2

Current world rankings

The Ring

As of August 11, 2025.[3]

Keys:

<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Brian Norman Jr. 28–0–0–2 (22 KO) WBO
2 Eimantas Stanionis 15–1–0–1 (9 KO)
3 Giovani Santillan 34–1 (18 KO)
4 Rohan Polanco 17–0 (10 KO)
5 Shakhram Giyasov 17–0 (10 KO)
6 Alexis Rocha 25–2–1 (16 KO)
7 Raúl Curiel 16–0–1 (14 KO)
8 Mario Barrios 29–2–2 (18 KO) WBC
9 Manny Pacquiao 62–8–3 (39 KO)
10 Ekow Essuman 22–1 (8 KO)
BoxRec

since 29 July 2023Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..[4]

Rank Name Record Points Title(s)
1 Terence Crawford 40–0 (31 KO) 513.6
2 Errol Spence Jr. 28–1 (22 KO) 442.3
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 29–4–1 (17 KO) 70.84
10 Jaron Ennis 30–0–0–1 (27 KO) 46.31 IBF

Longest-reigning world welterweight champions

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. Terence Crawford Template:Age in years, months, weeks and days WBO 7 7 [5]
2. Félix Trinidad 6 years, 8 months, 14 days IBF 15 15 [6]
3. Errol Spence Jr. 6 years, 2 months and 3 days IBF, WBC 6 5 [7]
4. Antonio Margarito 5 years, 3 months, 28 days WBO 7 7 [8]
5. Ike Quartey 4 years, 7 months, 30 days WBA 7 7 [9]
6. Freddie Cochrane 4 years, 7 months, 03 days NYSAC, NBA 0 0 [10]
7. José Nápoles 4 years, 6 months, 2 days WBA, WBC 10 8 [11]
8. Sugar Ray Robinson 4 years, 1 month, 26 days NYSAC, NBA 5 5 [12]
9. Floyd Mayweather Jr. 4 years, 1 month, 18 days WBC 5 4 [13]
10. Pernell Whitaker 4 years, 1 month, 6 days WBC 8 7 [14]
11. Pipino Cuevas 4 years and 16 days WBA 11 10 [15]

Top 10 most title defenses

Below is a list of most title defenses by 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 [16]
2. Félix Trinidad 6 years, 8 months, 14 days IBF 15 15 [6]
3. Pipino Cuevas 4 years and 16 days WBA 11 10 [15]
4. José Nápoles 4 years, 6 months, 2 days WBA, WBC, Ring 10 8 [11]
5. Jack Britton 3 years, 7 months, 13 days World 9 8 [17][18]
6. Pernell Whitaker 4 years, 1 month, 6 days WBC 8 7 [14]
7. Simon Brown 3 years, 7 months, 6 days IBF 8 8 [19]
8. Kid Gavilán 3 years, 5 months, 2 days NYSAC, NBA, Ring 7 6 [19]
9. Donald Curry 3 years, 7 months, 14 days WBA 7 7 [20]
10. Ike Quartey 4 years, 7 months, 30 days WBA 7 7 [9]

Amateur boxing

Olympic champions

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The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at Template:Cvt.[2]

Kickboxing

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

Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit for welterweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

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  • In BKB™, the welterweight division has an upper limit of Script error: No such module "convert"..

Wrestling

Olympic wrestling

Prior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling.[25] Since that time, amateur wrestling has named its weight classes by upper weight limit in kilograms.

Professional wrestling

In the US and Canada, there was a 145 lb limit in the early 20th century at least until the early 1920s.[25]

In Mexico, the Script error: No such module "Lang". commission's definition of the welterweight weight class is between Script error: No such module "convert". and Script error: No such module "convert"..

In the United Kingdom, the 1947 Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules set out seven weight divisions with maximum weight limits and called for champions to be crowned of each limit. This included Welterweight 11st 11 lb (Script error: No such module "convert".)[26][27] An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions - including Welterweight - existed under the 1930 All-In rules.[28]

Catch wrestling

From the 1870s to the 1910s, the weight limit was 10st 8 lb (148 lb) for Lancashire catch-as-catch-can wrestling under the rules of Sporting Chronicle (Manchester, England).[25]

Mixed martial arts

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[29] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[30] is Template:Cvt.

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated November 15, 2025. Not up to date.

Organization Reign began Champion Record Title defenses
UFC November 15, 2025 Template:Flagicon Islam Makhachev 28–1 (5KO 13SUB) 0
Bellator MMA June 22, 2024 Template:Flagicon Ramazan Kuramagomedov 13–0 (2KO 6SUB) 0
ONE Championship October 25, 2019 Template:Flagicon Kiamrian Abbasov 23–5 (8KO 4SUB) 1
Fight Nights Global April 6, 2019 Template:Flagicon Dmitry Bikrev 13–3 (9KO 1SUB) 3
KSW April 22, 2023 Template:Flagicon Adrian Bartosiński 16–1 (11KO 2SUB) 3
Titan FC March 15, 2019 Template:Flagicon Michael Graves 9–1 (4KO 2SUB) 1
ACA April 26, 2019 Template:Flagicon Albert Tumenov 22–4 (14KO) 1
Legacy Fighting Alliance August 21, 2020 Template:Flagicon Jaleel Willis 13–2 (5KO) 0
Cage Warriors April 26, 2025 Template:Flagicon Justin Burlinson 10-2 (3KO 7SUB)

0

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 and 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 Template:Cvt for adult and junior
  • The official rules of shoot boxing define welterweights as between Template:Cvt.
  • In Olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between Template:Cvt. At the weight classes for the Olympic games it is between Template:Cvt.

References

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  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b c Weight Divisions in Professional Wrestling Wrestling-Titles.com Retrieved March 31 2023
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery: Classic British Professional Wrestling: THE WEIGHT DIVISIONS in British Professional Wrestling
  28. ↑ Blue Blood on the Mat - Atholl Oakeley, S Paul, 1971 - Appendix:Rules of All In Professional Wrestling
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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