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

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

Professional boxing

A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds, but no more than 147 pounds.[2]

Current world champions
Main article: List of world welterweight boxing champions

Current champions

Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses Beaten opponents
WBA July 20, 2019 Manny Pacquiao 62–7–2 (39 KO) 0 0
WBC September 29, 2019 Errol Spence Jr. 27–0 (21 KO) 1 1
IBF May 27, 2017 Errol Spence Jr. 27–0 (21 KO) 5 5
WBO June 9, 2018 Terence Crawford 37–0 (28 KO) 4 4
The Ring

As of February 5, 2021.[3]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Errol Spence Jr. 27–0 (21 KO) IBF, WBC
2 Terence Crawford 37–0 (28 KO) WBO
3 Manny Pacquiao 62–7–2 (39 KO) WBA
4 Keith Thurman 29–1 (22 KO)
5 Shawn Porter 31–3–1 (17 KO)
6 Danny García 36–3 (21 KO)
7 Yordenis Ugás 26–4 (12 KO)
8 Kudratillo Abdukakhorov 17–0 (9 KO)
9 Sergey Lipinets 16–1–1 (12 KO)
10 Mikey Garcia 40–1 (30 KO)
BoxRec

As of February 5, 2021.[4]

Rank Name Record Points Title(s)
1 Errol Spence Jr. 27–0 (21 KO) 696.5 IBF, WBC
2 Terence Crawford 37–0 (28 KO) 662.8 WBO
3 Manny Pacquiao 62–7–2 (39 KO) 510.7 WBA
4 Keith Thurman 29–1 (22 KO) 318.2
5 Shawn Porter 31–3–1 (17 KO) 270.6
6 Mikey Garcia 40–1 (30 KO) 270.1
7 Yordenis Ugás 26–4 (12 KO) 187
8 Danny García 36–3 (21 KO) 133.4
9 Jessie Vargas 29–3–2 (11 KO) 105.3
10 Jamal James 27–1 (12 KO) 91.53

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.

NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1. Felix Trinidad6 years, 8 months, 14 daysIBF1515[5]
2. Antonio Margarito5 years, 3 months, 28 daysWBO77[6]
3. José Nápoles4 years, 6 months, 2 daysWBA, WBC118[7]
4. Floyd Mayweather Jr.4 years, 1 month, 18 daysWBC54[8]
5. Pernell Whitaker4 years, 1 month, 6 daysWBC87[9]
6. Pipino Cuevas4 years and 16 daysWBA1110[10]
7. Errol Spence Jr.3 years, 8 months, 1 week and 2 daysIBF, WBC55[11]
8. Sugar Ray Robinson3 years, 7 months, 19 daysWorld55[12][13]
9. Donald Curry3 years, 7 months, 14 daysWBA77[11]
10. Jack Britton3 years, 7 months, 13 daysWorld108[14][15]

Olympic champions
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

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

Mixed martial arts
Main article: Welterweight (MMA)

The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[20] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[21] is 155 to 170 lb (70.3 to 77.1 kg).

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated August 24, 2020.

Organization Reign began Champion Record Defenses
UFC March 3, 2019 Kamaru Usman 17–1 (6KO 2SUB) 2
Bellator MMA October 26, 2019 Douglas Lima 32–7 (14KO 12SUB) 0
ONE Championship October 25, 2019 Kiamrian Abbasov 22–4 (7KO 4SUB) 0
Fight Nights Global April 6, 2019 Dmitry Bikrev 12–3 (8KO 1SUB) 1
KSW October 6, 2018 Roberto Soldić 17–3 (14KO 1SUB) 1
Titan FC March 15, 2019 Michael Graves 9–1 (4KO 2SUB) 1
ACA April 26, 2019 Albert Tumenov 22–4 (14KO) 1
Legacy Fighting Alliance August 21, 2020 Jaleel Willis 13–2 (5KO) 0
Cage Warriors TBA vacant TBA 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 & 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
  1. "welterweight | Origin and meaning of welterweight by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com.
  2. "Classes & Divisions". Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. "The Ring ratings: welterweight". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  4. "BoxRec ratings: welterweight, active". Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  6. "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  7. "Professional boxing record: José Nápoles". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  8. "Professional boxing record: Floyd Mayweather Jr". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. "Professional boxing record: Pernell Whitaker". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  10. "Professional boxing record: Pipino Cuevas". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  11. "Professional boxing record: Errol Spence Jrl". Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  12. "Professional boxing record: Sugar Ray Robinson". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  13. "Sugar Ray Robinson, p. 700" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  14. "Professional boxing record: Jack Britton". Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  15. "Jack Britton, p. 80" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  16. "IKF WEIGHT CLASSES". IKFKickboxing.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  17. "INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE & KICKBOXING ASSOCIATION" (PDF). ISKAWorldHQ.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  18. "WKA USA - Official Rulebook". WKAUSA.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  19. "Fighters Rankings". gloryworldseries.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015.
  20. "Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". www leg state nv us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  21. "UNIFIED RULES OF MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
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