Boxing weight classes
The standard name for the divisions in professional boxing. Each class has an upper limit, so lightweight means 61.2 kg (135 lb) or below at the weigh-in.
Boxing weight classes
Boxing weight classes and categories, explained clearly.
UK amateur and Olympic-style boxing usually uses kilogram categories. Professional boxing still uses pound limits, so this guide shows kg first, then pounds, with examples of fighters and plain-English notes on what each division means.
Professional boxing chart
All professional boxing weight classes in kg, lb and stone
These are the standard professional limits used across major boxing coverage. The names can vary slightly by organisation, especially where one body says "junior" and another says "super".
| Division | Kg limit | Lb limit | Stone | Usual range | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimumweight Also: Strawweight, mini flyweight | 47.6 kg | 105 lb | 7 st 7 lb | Up to 47.6 kg (105 lb) | Ricardo Lopez, Wanheng Menayothin, Knockout CP Freshmart, Roman Gonzalez early career |
| Light flyweight Also: Junior flyweight | 49.0 kg | 108 lb | 7 st 10 lb | Over 47.6 kg to 49.0 kg (105 lb to 108 lb) | Michael Carbajal, Jung-Koo Chang, Kenshiro Teraji, Ricardo Lopez at 108 lb |
| Flyweight | 50.8 kg | 112 lb | 8 st 0 lb | Over 49.0 kg to 50.8 kg (108 lb to 112 lb) | Jimmy Wilde, Pancho Villa, Roman Gonzalez, Sunny Edwards |
| Super flyweight Also: Junior bantamweight | 52.2 kg | 115 lb | 8 st 3 lb | Over 50.8 kg to 52.2 kg (112 lb to 115 lb) | Khaosai Galaxy, Roman Gonzalez, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada |
| Bantamweight | 53.5 kg | 118 lb | 8 st 6 lb | Over 52.2 kg to 53.5 kg (115 lb to 118 lb) | Naoya Inoue at bantamweight, Nonito Donaire, Eder Jofre, Carlos Zarate |
| Super bantamweight Also: Junior featherweight | 55.3 kg | 122 lb | 8 st 10 lb | Over 53.5 kg to 55.3 kg (118 lb to 122 lb) | Wilfredo Gomez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Naoya Inoue at 122 lb |
| Featherweight | 57.2 kg | 126 lb | 9 st 0 lb | Over 55.3 kg to 57.2 kg (122 lb to 126 lb) | Willie Pep, Salvador Sanchez, Prince Naseem Hamed, Amanda Serrano |
| Super featherweight Also: Junior lightweight | 59.0 kg | 130 lb | 9 st 4 lb | Over 57.2 kg to 59.0 kg (126 lb to 130 lb) | Floyd Mayweather Jr at 130 lb, Manny Pacquiao at 130 lb, Acelino Freitas, Shakur Stevenson |
| Lightweight | 61.2 kg | 135 lb | 9 st 9 lb | Over 59.0 kg to 61.2 kg (130 lb to 135 lb) | Roberto Duran, Benny Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, Katie Taylor, Vasiliy Lomachenko |
| Super lightweight Also: Junior welterweight, light welterweight | 63.5 kg | 140 lb | 10 st 0 lb | Over 61.2 kg to 63.5 kg (135 lb to 140 lb) | Aaron Pryor, Kostya Tszyu, Josh Taylor, Chantelle Cameron |
| Welterweight | 66.7 kg | 147 lb | 10 st 7 lb | Over 63.5 kg to 66.7 kg (140 lb to 147 lb) | Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Manny Pacquiao at welterweight, Terence Crawford, Kell Brook |
| Super welterweight Also: Junior middleweight, light middleweight | 69.9 kg | 154 lb | 11 st 0 lb | Over 66.7 kg to 69.9 kg (147 lb to 154 lb) | Thomas Hearns, Oscar De La Hoya at 154 lb, Jermell Charlo, Liam Smith |
| Middleweight | 72.6 kg | 160 lb | 11 st 6 lb | Over 69.9 kg to 72.6 kg (154 lb to 160 lb) | Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon, Bernard Hopkins, Gennady Golovkin, Claressa Shields |
| Super middleweight | 76.2 kg | 168 lb | 12 st 0 lb | Over 72.6 kg to 76.2 kg (160 lb to 168 lb) | Joe Calzaghe, Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Canelo Alvarez at 168 lb |
| Light heavyweight | 79.4 kg | 175 lb | 12 st 7 lb | Over 76.2 kg to 79.4 kg (168 lb to 175 lb) | Archie Moore, Roy Jones Jr at 175 lb, Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev |
| Cruiserweight | 90.7 kg | 200 lb | 14 st 4 lb | Over 79.4 kg to 90.7 kg (175 lb to 200 lb) | Evander Holyfield, Oleksandr Usyk at cruiserweight, Jai Opetaia, Chris Billam-Smith |
| Heavyweight | Over 90.7 kg | Over 200 lb | Over 14 st 4 lb | Over 90.7 kg (200 lb), no upper limit | Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk at heavyweight |
Same system, different wording
Weight classes, categories, classifications and groups usually mean the same thing.
Search results use all of these phrases. The useful part is not the wording; it is the limit, the rule set, and whether the event is professional, amateur, white collar or Olympic-style.
Boxing weight categories
The phrase most often used in amateur, Olympic-style and event paperwork. UK amateur boxing is usually organised around kilogram categories rather than the old pound-based pro labels.
Weight classifications in boxing
A more formal way to describe the same system. Governing bodies use these classifications when they sanction contests, rankings and world titles.
Boxing weight groups
A loose search phrase, but the practical answer is still the same: find the upper limit, then check the actual rule set for the contest you are entering.
Minimumweight 105 lb limit
Minimumweight is the lightest common men's professional division. The limit is 47.6 kg, which is 105 lb, and some bodies also call it strawweight.
Cruiserweight 200 pounds
Cruiserweight tops out at 90.7 kg, or 200 pounds. Above that line, standard professional boxing moves into heavyweight with no upper limit.
How the system works
A weight class is a ceiling, not a body type.
The cleanest way to understand boxing divisions is to ignore the name for a second and look at the limit. The number is what decides the contest.
Weight limit
The maximum a boxer can weigh at the official weigh-in for that division. A welterweight contest has a 66.7 kg (147 lb) limit, not a 66.7 kg target.
Making weight
Weighing at or below the agreed limit. Missing weight can cost money, titles, rankings, or the fight itself.
Catchweight
A negotiated weight that sits outside a standard title limit, such as 65.8 kg (145 lb) or 68.0 kg (150 lb).
Rehydration
The weight a boxer regains after the weigh-in. This is why fight-night size can look very different from the official weigh-in number.
Moving up
When a boxer leaves a lower division for a heavier one, usually because making the old limit is too hard or because a bigger opportunity is available.
Junior, super and light
These words often describe the same bridge divisions. For example, super welterweight, junior middleweight and light middleweight all point to 69.9 kg (154 lb) in common professional use.
Division by division
What each boxing weight class feels like
The numbers tell you the limit. The notes below tell you what to watch when you are studying fighters in each division.
47.6 kg limit
Minimumweight
105 lb · 7 st 7 lb
The smallest common men's professional division. It is strongest historically in Mexico, Japan, Thailand and other smaller-weight boxing cultures.
Watch for
Speed, balance and volume matter more than one-shot power.
49.0 kg limit
Light flyweight
108 lb · 7 st 10 lb
Only three pounds above minimumweight, so small differences in making weight can change the division.
Watch for
Fast exchanges, clean pivots and punch selection under pressure.
50.8 kg limit
Flyweight
112 lb · 8 st 0 lb
One of the original eight traditional boxing divisions and still one of the best divisions for pure speed and craft.
Watch for
Foot speed, punch accuracy and how quickly fighters reset after combinations.
52.2 kg limit
Super flyweight
115 lb · 8 st 3 lb
A tiny jump on the scale, but often a serious jump in strength and punch resistance.
Watch for
Body punching, pressure and high-level inside exchanges.
53.5 kg limit
Bantamweight
118 lb · 8 st 6 lb
Another traditional division. Bantamweight often sits in the sweet spot between speed, spite and clean punching.
Watch for
How elite fighters create power without needing much mass.
55.3 kg limit
Super bantamweight
122 lb · 8 st 10 lb
Four pounds above bantamweight. It is often where smaller elite fighters carry power up without losing too much speed.
Watch for
Counter punching, angles and whether power still carries after moving up.
57.2 kg limit
Featherweight
126 lb · 9 st 0 lb
A traditional glamour division with a long history of brilliant movers and punchers.
Watch for
Ringcraft, rhythm changes and how fighters manage distance without giving up ground.
59.0 kg limit
Super featherweight
130 lb · 9 st 4 lb
A bridge between featherweight speed and lightweight strength.
Watch for
Whether a fighter can still move like a featherweight while punching like a lightweight.
61.2 kg limit
Lightweight
135 lb · 9 st 9 lb
One of boxing's great traditional divisions. Many all-time greats either built their reputation here or passed through it.
Watch for
Complete boxing: jab, feet, defence, body punching and ring control all show up clearly around 61.2 kg (135 lb).
63.5 kg limit
Super lightweight
140 lb · 10 st 0 lb
A small step above lightweight. It often suits fighters who are too big for 61.2 kg (135 lb) but not yet natural welterweights.
Watch for
Pace, strength in the clinch and whether the boxer can hold centre ring.
66.7 kg limit
Welterweight
147 lb · 10 st 7 lb
Historically one of boxing's deepest divisions. It combines elite speed with enough size for major punching power.
Watch for
How fighters manage distance, feints and counters against opponents who can hurt them with one clean shot.
69.9 kg limit
Super welterweight
154 lb · 11 st 0 lb
The bridge between welterweight and middleweight. Fighters here are often tall, sharp and physically strong.
Watch for
Range control and whether a boxer can punch hard without loading up.
72.6 kg limit
Middleweight
160 lb · 11 st 6 lb
A traditional division with a strong claim to being boxing's classic balance point: big enough to hit hard, small enough to stay fast.
Watch for
Jab authority, body work and how fighters handle pressure in the pocket.
76.2 kg limit
Super middleweight
168 lb · 12 st 0 lb
A modern division that has produced some of the best British boxing nights of the last 30 years.
Watch for
Physical strength, punch variety and how fighters handle long-range pressure.
79.4 kg limit
Light heavyweight
175 lb · 12 st 7 lb
The last division before the old cruiserweight jump. Mistakes are punished quickly at this size.
Watch for
Composure under fire, guard discipline and whether a fighter can keep shape after being hit.
90.7 kg limit
Cruiserweight
200 lb · 14 st 4 lb
Created to stop natural 81.6 to 88.5 kg (180 to 195 lb) fighters being forced straight into the heavyweight giants.
Watch for
Heavyweight-style power with more movement than many bigger fighters can manage.
Over 90.7 kg limit
Heavyweight
Over 200 lb · Over 14 st 4 lb
The only standard professional division with no upper limit. That is why heavyweight size differences can be huge.
Watch for
How the smaller heavyweight handles range, clinches, ring position and the physical cost of every exchange.
Amateur and Olympic boxing
Amateur boxing uses kg categories, and they do not map neatly to pro names.
GB Boxing lists World Boxing competition categories in kilograms, with 10 categories for men and 10 for women from 2025. Olympic boxing uses a smaller event programme, so the Olympic categories can be different again.
For H&G members
If you are thinking about competing, do not choose a category from a website. Train consistently, let your coach see your natural training weight, and agree the safest category for the actual event rules.
| World Boxing slot | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Lightest listed class | Flyweight, 47 to 50 kg | Light-flyweight, 45 to 48 kg |
| Second class | Bantamweight, 50 to 55 kg | Flyweight, 48 to 51 kg |
| Third class | Lightweight, 55 to 60 kg | Bantamweight, 51 to 54 kg |
| Fourth class | Welterweight, 60 to 65 kg | Featherweight, 54 to 57 kg |
| Fifth class | Light-middleweight, 65 to 70 kg | Lightweight, 57 to 60 kg |
| Sixth class | Middleweight, 70 to 75 kg | Welterweight, 60 to 65 kg |
| Seventh class | Light-heavyweight, 75 to 80 kg | Light-middleweight, 65 to 70 kg |
| Eighth class | Cruiserweight, 80 to 85 kg | Middleweight, 70 to 75 kg |
| Ninth class | Heavyweight, 85 to 90 kg | Light-heavyweight, 75 to 80 kg |
| Heaviest listed class | Super-heavyweight, 90 kg plus | Heavyweight, 81 kg plus |
Paris 2024 men
51 kg, 57 kg, 63.5 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, 92 kg, +92 kg
Paris 2024 women
50 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 75 kg
Find your likely range
Find your realistic boxing weight range.
This is a coaching conversation starter, not a cutting plan. Enter your normal walking weight and it will show the nearest pro reference, the amateur kg slot, and a safe visual range around where you train now.
Range estimator
Not ideal weight. Realistic range.
Your current reference
Enter your details
The result will appear here.
Green band = your normal day-to-day range Drag the white handle to check a possible event weight
Selected 75 kg Normal range
40 kg Selected 75 kg 140 kg
Type your normal training weight above. Green = normal day-to-day range. Orange/red = caution, not a cut target. Drag the white handle left or right to see whether a possible event weight sits inside or outside the sensible range.
Pro reference
Pending
Amateur kg slot
Pending
Range check
Pending
Coach next step
Pending
Use the result properly
The useful question is not "how low can I go?"
The estimator is a decision filter. It should tell a beginner when a number is just a reference, when it needs a coach conversation, and when it is the wrong target for now.
Fitness or learning to box
Do not pick a division. Pick the weight where you train consistently, recover properly and enjoy coming back.
If the marker is outside the green band, move it back. There is no fitness benefit in pretending a lower weigh-in number matters.
White collar or charity bout
Use normal training weight as the starting point, then judge the proposed opponent, weigh-in timing and organiser rules together.
A fair bout near natural weight is better than a lower-sounding class with a last-minute cut.
Amateur competition
The kg category is an event-admin decision, not a vanity target. Age band, rule set, experience and sparring performance all matter.
If the target is below the green band, treat it as a longer coach-led plan or reject it for that event.
Juniors and parents
Use the green band as the boundary. Juniors should not cut weight from an online chart or adult pro division list.
The right category is agreed by coach, parent and event rules, with growth and safety ahead of the label.
How to read the green band
Inside green band
Normal day-to-day range
Use the class name as a reference and keep training normally.
Just outside
Administrative question
Ask a coach whether this is simply the nearest event category or whether the match-up should move.
Clearly below normal
Coach-led only
Do not water cut or skip meals. Only consider it as a longer plan if training performance stays strong.
Far below normal
Wrong target for now
Look for a fairer bout or a heavier category. The calculator should stop the idea, not justify it.
Before agreeing to a bout, ask these three things
When is the weigh-in?
Same-day weigh-ins change the risk profile. Beginners should assume performance on the day matters more than squeezing a number.
Who is the opponent?
Weight is only one matching factor. Age, experience, reach, style and sparring level matter in a fair bout.
Which rule set applies?
Amateur, white collar and pro references do not use the same categories. Always check the actual event rules.
Common UK reference weights
Quick answers for the weights people actually search.
These are reference points, not targets. The professional division names are useful for following boxing; the amateur kg slot is usually more relevant if someone is actually entering a coached event.
If you weigh 60 kg
60 kg = about 132 lb
- Pro reference
- above super featherweight and just under lightweight
- Amateur kg context
- right on the lightweight/welterweight boundary in the current kg set
If you weigh 65 kg
65 kg = about 143 lb
- Pro reference
- above super lightweight and below welterweight
- Amateur kg context
- right on the welterweight/light-middleweight boundary in the current kg set
If you weigh 70 kg
70 kg = about 154 lb
- Pro reference
- almost exactly the super welterweight limit
- Amateur kg context
- right on the light-middleweight/middleweight boundary in the current kg set
If you weigh 75 kg
75 kg = about 165 lb
- Pro reference
- between middleweight and super middleweight
- Amateur kg context
- right on the middleweight/light-heavyweight boundary in the current kg set
If you weigh 80 kg
80 kg = about 176 lb
- Pro reference
- above light heavyweight, so cruiserweight territory
- Amateur kg context
- right on the light-heavyweight/cruiserweight boundary in the current men's kg set
If you weigh 90 kg plus
90 kg plus = heavyweight territory
- Pro reference
- above 90.7 kg is heavyweight with no upper limit
- Amateur kg context
- men above 90 kg are super-heavyweight; women above 81 kg are heavyweight
Safety note
Do not confuse weight classes with weight-cutting advice.
This page explains the divisions. It is not a plan for cutting weight. Cutting water, skipping meals or trying to make a number without a coach is a bad idea, especially for beginners and juniors.
If you are training for fitness, your best weight class is irrelevant. If you are training to compete, the right category is the one your coach agrees is safe, realistic and suitable for the event rules. For the risk side, read the club guide to cutting weight for boxing safely.
FAQ
Boxing weight class questions
How many weight classes are there in professional boxing?
Men's professional boxing usually uses 17 standard divisions, from minimumweight at 47.6 kg (105 lb) to heavyweight above 90.7 kg (200 lb). Women's professional boxing often mirrors those limits, but some organisations also use atomweight or slightly different upper limits.
Are boxing weight classes in pounds or kilograms?
Professional boxing usually talks in pounds because the historic limits are pound-based. UK amateur and Olympic-style boxing usually uses kilograms. This guide shows kg first, then pounds where the pro limit matters. Lightweight is 61.2 kg (135 lb) in professional boxing, but different kg categories can apply in amateur boxing.
What weight class is 70 kg in boxing?
In professional boxing, 70 kg is about 154 lb, so it sits around the 69.9 kg (154 lb) super welterweight limit. In World Boxing amateur categories, 70 kg is the top of men's light-middleweight and women's light-middleweight, then the next class is middleweight.
What weight class is 75 kg in boxing?
In professional boxing, 75 kg is about 165 lb, between middleweight at 72.6 kg (160 lb) and super middleweight at 76.2 kg (168 lb). In current World Boxing amateur categories, 75 kg is middleweight for men and women.
Can a boxer weigh less than the limit?
Yes. The limit is a maximum, not a target. A boxer can weigh below the division limit, although being much lighter than the opponent can create a physical disadvantage.
Should beginners cut weight for boxing?
No. Beginners should not cut water weight or crash diet for training. If you are competing, agree your category with a qualified coach and make weight gradually and safely.
Can I calculate my ideal fight weight?
You can estimate your current boxing reference range, but nobody should treat an online calculator as an ideal fight-weight prescription. The safe starting point is your normal training weight, then a coach can discuss event rules, age, experience and whether competition is appropriate.
What is the lightest boxing weight category?
In the standard men's professional list, minimumweight is the lightest common division at 47.6 kg (105 lb). Some women's professional boxing lists include atomweight below that, depending on the organisation.
Is cruiserweight 200 pounds?
Yes. In standard professional boxing, cruiserweight has a 200 lb limit, which is 90.7 kg. Heavyweight starts above that limit and has no standard upper cap.
Do all boxing governing bodies use the same weight classes?
The major professional divisions are broadly shared, but names, title rules and extra women's divisions can vary by governing body. Amateur, white collar and Olympic-style boxing use different event categories, so always check the actual rules for the contest.
Keep learning
Study the fighters, then train the basics.
Knowing the divisions helps you follow the sport. Getting better at boxing still comes down to stance, guard, footwork, distance, timing and calm repetition.
Coach-led next step
Want to understand boxing properly?
Come in for a free trial. You do not need to know your division, your style, or your ideal fighting weight. You just need to start with good coaching.
Sources and update notes
Professional limits are the standard 17-division pound limits used across major boxing coverage and record-keeping. Amateur kg categories are taken from GB Boxing's World Boxing overview. Olympic event categories are from Olympics.com for Paris 2024.