In professional boxing and other combat sports, there is a weight class welterweight boxing. It has a maximum weight limit ranging from 140 to 147 pounds (63.5 to 66.7 kilograms).
In 1831, the term "welterweight" was first used to refer to a "heavyweight horseman," but by 1896, it had come to refer to a specific weight division for boxers and wrestlers.
Boxing Welterweight Overview
The term "welterweight" was initially only used in boxing, but it is now also used in other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts to designate opponents in their own weight division systems. Welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight in the majority of sports that use it.
History of the Welterweight Class in Pro Boxing
The term "welter" was first used to refer to a "heavyweight horseman or boxer" in 1804, and it may be derived from "welt," which means to deliver hard blows and dates back to the 15th century.
In 1831, the term "welterweight" was first used to describe a "heavyweight horseman." By 1896, it had come to refer to a specific weight division for boxers and wrestlers.
The welterweight weight limit increased over time, peaking in 1889 at 145 lb (65.8 kg). The NSC set the official weight limit at 10 st (140.0 lb; 63.5 kg) in 1909, and Walker Law raised it to 147 lb (66.7 kg) in 1920.
List of Current Pro Boxing Welterweight Champions
Division/ Weight | WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | IBO |
Welterweight | Terence CrawfordEimantas Stanionis (R) | Mario Barrios | Jaron Ennis | Brian Norman Jr. | Vacant |
Latest Results from Welterweight Pro Boxing
On May 4, 2024, Mario Barrios defeated Fabián Maidana and retained the WBC interim welterweight title.
On May 4, 2024, Eimantas Stanionis defeated Gabriel Maestre via a unanimous decision to retain the WBA (Regular) welterweight title.
Pro Boxing Welterweight Rankings 2024
Rank | BoxRec | TBRB | The Ring | WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO |
C | — | Terence Crawford | Terence Crawford | Terence CrawfordEimantas Stanionis (R) | Mario Barrios | Jaron Ennis | Brian Norman Jr. |
1 | Terence Crawford | Errol Spence Jr. | Jaron Ennis | Shakhram Giyasov | Souleymane Cissokho | Karen Chukhadzhian[M] | Shakhram Giyasov[M] |
2 | Mario Barrios | Terence Crawford | Errol Spence Jr. | Errol Spence Jr. | Conor Benn | vacant | Jin Sasaki |
3 | Errol Spence Jr. | Yordenis Ugás | Eimantas Stanionis | Conor Benn | Egidijus Kavaliauskas | Cody Crowley | Karen Chukhadzhian |
4 | Giovani Santillan | Vergil Ortiz Jr. | Mario Barrios | Lewis Crocker | Raul Curiel | Jin Sasaki | Souleymane Cissokho |
5 | Jaron Ennis | Jaron Ennis | David Avenesyan | Jin Sasaki | Jin Sasaki | Errol Spence Jr. | David Papot |
6 | Souleymane Cissokho | Keith Thurman | Brian Norman Jr. | Derrieck Cuevas | Jamal James | Paddy Donovan | Derrieck Cuevas |
7 | Cody Crowley | Eimantas Stanionis | Giovani Santillan | Paddy Donovan | Abel Ramos | Lewis Crocker | Conor Benn |
8 | Jin Sasaki | Cody Crowley | Shakhram Giyasov | Gabriel Maestre | Shakhram Giyasov | Nicklaus Flaz | Giovani Santillan |
9 | Yordenis Ugás | Alexis Rocha | Alexis Rocha | Cletus Seldin | Roiman Villa | Roiman Villa | Alexis Rocha |
10 | Conor Benn | Rashidi Ellis | Jin Sasaki | Jonathan Jose Hernandez | Giovani Santillan | Alexis Rocha | Owen Cooper |
Pro-Boxing Weight Divisions
- Heavyweight
- Cruiserweight
- Light heavyweight
- Super middleweight
- Middleweight
- Super Welterweight
- Super Lightweight
- Lightweight
FAQs On Pro-Boxing Welterweight
A. In professional boxing and other combat sports, welterweight boxing is a weight class.
A. The term "welter" was first used to refer to a heavyweight horseman or boxer in 1804 and was possibly derived from the word "welt," which means "to deliver hard blows."
A. Welterweight boxers have a weight limit of 140 to 147 pounds (63.5 to 66.7 kilograms).
A. WBA: Terence Crawford, WBA (Regular): Eimantas Stanionis, WBC: Mario Barrios, IBF: Jaron Ennis, WBO: Brian Norman Jr.