Welterweight

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 {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, meaning 'to beat severely'.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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).<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Current world champions

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Current champions

Sanctioning body	Reign began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA	April 12, 2025	Jaron Ennis	34–0–0–1 (30 KO)	0
WBC	June 18, 2024	Mario Barrios	29–2–1 (18 KO)	1
IBF	November 9, 2023	Jaron Ennis	34–0–0–1 (30 KO)	3
WBO	August 12, 2024	Brian Norman Jr.	Template:Nowrap (21 KO)	1

Current world rankings

The Ring

As of April 21, 2025.<ref name=ring-ww-ratings>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Keys:

Template:Color box Current The Ring world champion

Rank	Name	Record	Title(s)
C	Jaron Ennis	34–0–0–1 (30 KO)	IBF, WBA
1	Brian Norman Jr.	27–0–0–2 (21 KO)	WBO
2	Eimantas Stanionis	15–1–0–1 (9 KO)
3	Mario Barrios	29–2–1 (18 KO)	WBC
4	Giovani Santillan	33–1 (18 KO)
5	Shakhram Giyasov	17–0 (10 KO)
6	Jin Sasaki	19–1–1 (17 KO)
7	Alexis Rocha	25–2–1 (16 KO)
8	Raúl Curiel	15–0–1 (13 KO)
9	Rohan Polanco	15–0 (10 KO)
10	Karen Chukhadzhian	24–3 (13 KO)

BoxRec

Template:As of.<ref name=boxrec-ww-ratings>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.	Félix Trinidad	6 years, 8 months, 14 days	IBF	15	15	<ref name=trinidad-record/>
2.	Terence Crawford	data-sort-value="Template:Age in days" | Template:Age in years, months, weeks and days	WBO	7	7	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3.	Errol Spence Jr.	6 years, 2 months and 3 days	IBF, WBC	6	5	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4.	Antonio Margarito	5 years, 3 months, 28 days	WBO	7	7	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5.	Ike Quartey	4 years, 7 months, 30 days	WBA	7	7	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
6.	Freddie Cochrane	4 years, 7 months, 03 days	NYSAC, NBA	0	0	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7.	José Nápoles	4 years, 6 months, 2 days	WBA, WBC	10	8	<ref name=napoles-record/>
8.	Sugar Ray Robinson	4 years, 1 month, 26 days	NYSAC, NBA	5	5	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
9.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	4 years, 1 month, 18 days	WBC	5	4	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
10.	Pernell Whitaker	4 years, 1 month, 6 days	WBC	8	7	<ref name=-whittaker-record/>
11.	Pipino Cuevas	4 years and 16 days	WBA	11	10	<ref name=cuevas-record/>

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	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2.	Félix Trinidad	6 years, 8 months, 14 days	IBF	15	15	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3.	Pipino Cuevas	4 years and 16 days	WBA	11	10	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4.	José Nápoles	4 years, 6 months, 2 days	WBA, WBC, Ring	10	8	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5.	Jack Britton	3 years, 7 months, 13 days	World	9	8	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book2>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
6.	Pernell Whitaker	4 years, 1 month, 6 days	WBC	8	7	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7.	Simon Brown	3 years, 7 months, 6 days	IBF	8	8	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8.	Kid Gavilán	3 years, 5 months, 2 days	NYSAC, NBA, Ring	7	6	<ref name="gavilán-record"/>
9.	Donald Curry	3 years, 7 months, 14 days	WBA	7	7	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
10.	Ike Quartey	4 years, 7 months, 30 days	WBA	7	7	<ref name="quartey-record"/>

Amateur boxing

Olympic champions

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The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at Template:Cvt.<ref name="auto"/>

Kickboxing

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

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), welterweight (Pro & Amateur) Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), welterweight Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• World Kickboxing Association (WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• In Glory promotion, a welterweight division is up to Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• ONE Championship, welterweight upper limit Template:Convert.

Bare-knuckle boxing

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

• In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the welterweight division has an upper limit of Template:Convert.
• In BKB™, the welterweight division has an upper limit of Template:Convert.

Wrestling

Olympic wrestling

Prior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling.<ref name="titles">Weight Divisions in Professional Wrestling Wrestling-Titles.com Retrieved March 31 2023</ref> 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.<ref name="titles" />

In Mexico, the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} commission's definition of the welterweight weight class is between Template:Convert and Template: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 (Template:Convert)<ref name=bleach>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery: Classic British Professional Wrestling: THE WEIGHT DIVISIONS in British Professional Wrestling</ref> An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions - including Welterweight - existed under the 1930 All-In rules.<ref>Blue Blood on the Mat - Atholl Oakeley, S Paul, 1971 - Appendix:Rules of All In Professional Wrestling</ref>

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).<ref name="titles" />

Mixed martial arts

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Association of Boxing Commissions<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is Template:Cvt.

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated May 10, 2025.

Organization	Reign began	Champion	Record	ekmek dolması
UFC	May 10, 2025	Template:Flagicon Jack Della Maddalena	18–2 (12Template:Abbr 2Template:Abbr)	0
Bellator MMA	November 17, 2023	Template:Flagicon Jason Jackson	18–4 (6KO 3SUB)	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	October 6, 2018	Template:Flagicon Roberto Soldić	20–3 (17KO 1SUB)	2
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	August 21, 2020	Template:Flagicon Tyler Cummings	20–3 (7Template:Abbr 3Template:Abbr)	12

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.