Boxing Weight Classes Explained: All 17 Divisions in lbs, kg & Stone

Boxing has 17 professional weight classes, ranging from strawweight to heavyweight. Each division has a maximum weight limit, and fighters must come in at or below that limit to compete for a title. These divisions exist to make fights fairer, safer and more competitive.

Below, you can see every boxing weight class in pounds, kilograms and stone, along with the alternative names some divisions still use. You can check the latest rankings across all 17 divisions using our boxing rankings hub.

All 17 Boxing Weight Classes: Weight Limits and Divisions

1. Heavyweight: 200 lbs+ (90.7 kg+ / 14 st 4 lbs+)

For the heavyweight division there is no upper limit. Any fighter who weighs more than 200 lbs competes at heavyweight automatically, despite what they weigh in the day before. This is widely regarded as boxing’s most exciting division; the one that produced Ali, Frazier, Tyson and Fury. Currently British interest is high: Anthony Joshua, Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma are all climbing in the division right now.

The heavyweight division has existed in some form since the bare-knuckle era, and was reshaped in 1979 when cruiserweight was introduced to take fighters under 200 lb out of the picture.

See the current heavyweight rankings

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2. Cruiserweight: up to 200 lbs (90.7 kg / 14 st 4 lbs)

The cruiserweight division was introduced in 1979 specifically to bridge the gap between light heavyweight and heavyweight, a jump of 25 lbs that was considered too large. It sits at 175–200 lbs, and fighters here tend to be powerful but quicker than heavyweights. Jai Opetaia is currently considered the worlds best Cruiserweight despite struggling to hold onto the IBF belt due to fighting for the Zuffa belt.

See the current cruiserweight rankings

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3. Light Heavyweight: up to 175 lbs (79.4 kg / 12 st 7 lbs)

One of the original eight glamour divisions. Light heavyweight has produced some of the sport’s most technical and dangerous fighters. The gap between 175 lbs and cruiserweight’s 200 lbs limit makes it a common stepping stone for ambitious heavyweights coming down — or light heavyweights moving up.

The 175 lb division was established in 1903, with Jack Root crowned the first champion.

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4. Super Middleweight: up to 168 lbs (76.2 kg / 12 st)

Also known as junior light heavyweight. Created to bridge the 15 lbs gap between middleweight and light heavy, this division became legitimate in the 1980s and is currently one of the sport’s most famous. Canelo Álvarez dominated here for years. Chris Eubank Jr. is the most prominent British name at 168.

The IBF first sanctioned the 168 lb division in 1984, with the WBC and WBA following later in the decade.

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5. Middleweight: up to 160 lbs (72.6 kg / 11 st 6 lbs)

Another of the original eight, and historically one of the most competitive. The division produced Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, Golovkin and many more. At 160 lbs, fighters typically combine meaningful punching power with enough athleticism to box well.

The 160 lb limit was formalised around 1909, though the middleweight class itself dates back to the bare-knuckle era of the 1840s.

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6. Super Welterweight: up to 154 lbs (69.9 kg / 11 st)

Also called light middleweight or junior middleweight depending on the sanctioning body. The 154 lbs division has been active since 1962 and is particularly deep right now. Liam Smith is among the most active British names at this weight.

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7. Welterweight: up to 147 lbs (66.7 kg / 10 st 7 lbs)

One of boxing’s most celebrated divisions. Welterweight has been home to Mayweather, Pacquiao, Spence and Crawford. The weight suits fighters who are too big for 140 lbs but retain speed at 147. Conor Benn is the most high-profile British welterweight at the moment.

First contested in the late 1800s, the 147 lb limit was standardised around 1909.

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8. Super Lightweight: up to 140 lbs (63.5 kg / 10 st)

Also called junior welterweight or light welterweight. The 140 lbs division became fully recognised in the 1920s and now consistently produces competitive title fights. Jack Catterall is currently among the top-ranked British fighters at this weight.

First recognised in 1922 with Pinkey Mitchell as inaugural champion, the division fell out of favour before being revived decades later.

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9. Lightweight: up to 135 lbs (61.2 kg / 9 st 9 lbs)

Another original glamour division with a rich history. Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Gervonta Davis and Vasyl Lomachenko all made their name at or around 135 lbs. It remains one of the most active and well-attended divisions on major cards. Among British fighters, Sam Noakes and Mark Chamberlain are among the rising contenders currently competing at lightweight.

Among the original eight glamour divisions, the 135 lb limit was standardised in 1909.

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10. Super Featherweight: up to 130 lbs (59 kg / 9 st 4 lbs)

Also known as junior lightweight. The 130 lbs division has long been a breeding ground for elite technicians. Shakur Stevenson is the standout active name globally. Among British fighters, Jazza Dickens and Joe Cordina have both competed here.

The division was first sanctioned by NYSAC in 1921 before being revived by the WBC in the 1960s.

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11. Featherweight: up to 126 lbs (57.2 kg / 9 st)

One of the original eight divisions. Featherweight has historically drawn some of the sport’s most technically gifted fighters — Willie Pep, Salvador Sanchez, Prince Naseem Hamed. At 126 lbs, fighters are light enough to be fast but carry enough punch to finish fights. Rey Vargas and Nick Ball are prominent names here currently.

The 126 lb limit was set in 1909 as part of the early codification of boxing’s eight glamour divisions.

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12. Super Bantamweight: up to 122 lbs (55.3 kg / 8 st 10 lbs)

Also called junior featherweight. The 122 lbs division was introduced by the WBC in 1976. Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Daniel Roman are among the most active names at this weight in recent years.

See the current super bantamweight rankings

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13. Bantamweight: up to 118 lbs (53.5 kg / 8 st 6 lbs)

One of the original eight divisions, with a history stretching back to the 1860s. Naoya Inoue, widely regarded as the current pound-for-pound number one, recently moved through this division and super bantamweight with remarkable efficiency. Jason Moloney and Nonito Donaire are other recent names at 118.

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14. Super Flyweight: up to 115 lbs (52.2 kg / 8 st 3 lbs)

Also called junior bantamweight. Introduced by the WBC in 1976, the super flyweight division is particularly strong in Asia and Latin America. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez have all held titles here recently.

See the current bantamweight rankings

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15. Flyweight: up to 112 lbs (50.8 kg / 8 st)

One of the original glamour divisions, established around 1909. Jimmy Wilde, Britain’s “Ghost with a Hammer in His Hand,” is one of the all-time legends of the flyweight division. The 112 lbs class is currently very active, particularly in Asia. Sunny Edwards, a former IBF flyweight champion, is a notable recent British name at this weight.

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16. Light Flyweight: up to 108 lbs (49 kg / 7 st 10 lbs)

Also called junior flyweight. First widely recognised in 1975, this division is prominent in Japan, South Korea, Mexico and Thailand. Ken Shiro and Kenshiro Teraji are among the more recent Japanese champions who have raised the profile of the weight.

See the current light flyweight rankings

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17. Strawweight: up to 105 lbs (47.6 kg / 7 st 7 lbs)

The lightest recognised professional division. Also known as minimumweight (WBA/IBF) or mini flyweight in older IBF usage. The strawweight division is most active in Asia and Latin America. Ricardo Lopez, who went undefeated over a decade, is regarded as the greatest strawweight in the sport’s history.

The 105 lb class was officially established by the WBC in 1987, with the other sanctioning bodies following in 1988.

See the current strawweight rankings

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Why Weight Classes Exist

Boxing originally had no formal weight classes. In the bare-knuckle era, size mismatches were common, dangerous, and unsatisfying for fans. The sport eventually settled on eight “glamour” divisions, flyweight through heavyweight, that remained the standard for most of the early 20th century.

Weigh-In Rules: How Making Weight Works

The official weigh-in typically takes place the day before the fight. Fighters must come in at or below the division’s maximum limit. If a fighter is slightly over, they’re usually given a short window, often one or two hours, to shed the excess through exercise or sweating in a steam room.

Catchweights and Rehydration Clauses

Not every fight is made at a standard division limit. When two boxers can’t agree on a natural weight class, they sometimes sign for a catchweight, an agreed limit that sits between two divisions. Famous examples include Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez (152 lb) and Amir Khan vs Kell Brook (149 lb).

Rehydration clauses work in the opposite direction. They cap how much weight a fighter can regain between the weigh-in and fight night, preventing the bigger fighter from gaining 15+ pounds and effectively entering the ring at a higher weight than the contracted division.

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Ben | Split Decision

Ben is the founder and editor of Split Decision, an independent boxing news site covering world title fights, British boxing, and boxing products.