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.
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 15th century English, Middle (1100-1500);: welt, meaning 'to beat severely'.[1]
A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds, and no more than 147 pounds (about 63–67 kg).[2]
See main article: List of world welterweight boxing champions. Current champions
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | July 29, 2023 | Terence Crawford | 41–0 (31 KO) | 0 | |
| WBC | June 18, 2024 | Mario Barrios | 29–2 (18 KO) | 0 | |
| IBF | November 9, 2023 | Jaron Ennis | 31–0–0–1 (28 KO) | 1 | |
| WBO | August 12, 2024 | Brian Norman Jr. | 26–0–0–2 (20 KO) | 0 |
As of August 3, 2024.[3]
Keys:
Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=gold | C | vacant | ||
| 1 | Jaron Ennis | 31–0–0–1 (28 KO) | IBF | |
| 2 | Eimantas Stanionis | 14–0–0–1 (9 KO) | ||
| 3 | Mario Barrios | 28–2 (18 KO) | WBC | |
| 4 | David Avanesyan | 30–5–1 (18 KO) | ||
| 5 | Brian Norman Jr. | 26–0–0–2 (20 KO) | WBO | |
| 6 | Giovani Santillan | 32–1 (17 KO) | ||
| 7 | Shakhram Giyasov | 16–0 (9 KO) | ||
| 8 | Alexis Rocha | 25–2 (16 KO) | ||
| 9 | Jin Sasaki | 17–1–1 (16 KO) | ||
| 10 | Raul Curiel | 15–0 (13 KO) |
.[4]
| Rank | Name | Record | Points | Title(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terence Crawford | 40–0 (31 KO) | 513.6 | WBO, WBC,WBA | |
| 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 |
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. | 6 years, 8 months, 14 days | IBF | 15 | 15 | |||
| 2. | data-sort-value="" | WBO | 7 | 7 | [5] | ||
| 3. | 6 years, 2 months and 3 days | IBF, WBC | 6 | 5 | [6] | ||
| 4. | 5 years, 3 months, 28 days | WBO | 7 | 7 | [7] | ||
| 5. | 4 years, 7 months, 30 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | [8] | ||
| 6. | 4 years, 7 months, 03 days | NYSAC, NBA | 0 | 0 | [9] | ||
| 7. | 4 years, 6 months, 2 days | WBA, WBC | 10 | 8 | |||
| 8. | 4 years, 1 month, 26 days | NYSAC, NBA | 5 | 5 | [10] | ||
| 9. | 4 years, 1 month, 18 days | WBC | 5 | 4 | [11] | ||
| 10. | 4 years, 1 month, 6 days | WBC | 8 | 7 | |||
| 11. | 4 years and 16 days | WBA | 11 | 10 | |||
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. | 2 years, 4 months, 3 days | NYSAC, NBA, Ring | 19 | 15 | [12] | |
| 2. | 6 years, 8 months, 14 days | IBF | 15 | 15 | [13] | |
| 3. | 4 years and 16 days | WBA | 11 | 10 | [14] | |
| 4. | 4 years, 6 months, 2 days | WBA, WBC, Ring | 10 | 8 | [15] | |
| 5. | 3 years, 7 months, 13 days | World | 9 | 8 | [16] [17] | |
| 6. | 4 years, 1 month, 6 days | WBC | 8 | 7 | [18] | |
| 7. | 3 years, 7 months, 6 days | IBF | 8 | 8 | [19] | |
| 8. | 3 years, 5 months, 2 days | NYSAC, NBA, Ring | 7 | 6 | ||
| 9. | 3 years, 7 months, 14 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | [20] | |
| 10. | 4 years, 7 months, 30 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | ||
The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at .[2]
The weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickboxing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:
The limit for welterweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:
Prior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling.[25] Since that time, amateur wrestling has named its weight classes by upper weight limit in kilograms.
In the US and Canada, there was a 145 lb limit in the early 20th century at least until the early 1920s.
In Mexico, the Spanish; Castilian: [[lucha libre]] commission's definition of the welterweight weight class is between 70kg (150lb) and 78kg (172lb).
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 (165lb)[26] [27] An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions - including Welterweight - existed under the 1930 All-In rules.[28]
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).
See main article: Welterweight (MMA). The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[29] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[30] is .
This table is not always up to date. Last updated July 28, 2024.
| Organization | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | July 27, 2024 | Belal Muhammad | 24 - 3 (5 1) | 0 | |
| Bellator MMA | November 17, 2023 |  Jason Jackson | 18 - 4 (6KO 3SUB) | 0 | |
| ONE Championship | October 25, 2019 |  Kiamrian Abbasov | 23 - 5 (8KO 4SUB) | 1 | |
| Fight Nights Global | April 6, 2019 |  Dmitry Bikrev | 13 - 3 (9KO 1SUB) | 3 | |
| KSW | October 6, 2018 |  Roberto Soldić | 20 - 3 (17KO 1SUB) | 2 | |
| 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 | August 21, 2020 |  Tyler Cummings | 20 - 3 (7 3) | 12 |
Other sports to include a welterweight division include the following: