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. +more In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.

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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 15th century.

Boxing

Professional boxing

A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds (≈63 kg), but no more than 147 pounds (≈67 kg).

Current world champions

Current champions

Sanctioning body	Reign began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA	April 16, 2022	Errol Spence Jr. +more	28-0 (22 KO)	center\|0
WBC	September 28, 2019	Errol Spence Jr.	28-0 (22 KO)	center\|2
IBF	May 27, 2017	Errol Spence Jr.	28-0 (22 KO)	center\|5
WBO	June 9, 2018	Terence Crawford	38-0 (29 KO)	center\|5

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. +more

	Name	Title reign	Title recognition	Successful defenses	Beaten opponents
1.	Félix Trinidad	6 years, 8 months, 14 days	IBF	15	15
2.	Errol Spence Jr.		IBF, WBC	6	5
3.	Antonio Margarito	5 years, 3 months, 28 days	WBO	7	7
4.	José Nápoles	4 years, 6 months, 2 days	WBA, WBC	11	8
5.	Terence Crawford		WBO	5	5
6.	Sugar Ray Robinson	4 years, 1 month, 26 days	NYSAC, NBA	5	5
7.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	4 years, 1 month, 18 days	WBC	5	4
8.	Pernell Whitaker	4 years, 1 month, 6 days	WBC	8	7
9.	Pipino Cuevas	4 years and 16 days	WBA	11	10
10.	Donald Curry	3 years, 7 months, 14 days	WBA	7	7
11.	Jack Britton	3 years, 7 months, 13 days	World	10	8

Amateur boxing

Olympic champions

The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at .

Important

Errol Spence Jr.

Terence Crawford

World Boxing Organization

World Boxing Association

International Boxing Federation

International Kickboxing Federation

International Boxing Hall Of Fame

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) . *International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), welterweight . +more *World Kickboxing Association (WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit . *In Glory promotion, a welterweight division is up to . *ONE Championship, welterweight upper limit 84 kg.

Mixed martial arts

The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions is .

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated August 21, 2022. +more

Organization	Reign began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	August 20, 2022	Leon Edwards	20-3 (7 3)	0
Bellator MMA	June 11, 2021	Yaroslav Amosov	26-0 (9KO 10SUB)	0
ONE Championship	October 25, 2019	Kiamrian Abbasov	23-5 (8KO 4SUB)	1
Fight Nights Global	September 17, 2021	Nariman Abbasov	27-3 (11KO 5SUB)	0
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				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. +more1-147 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 for adult; the junior category is the same as adult * The official rules of shoot boxing define welterweights as between . * In Olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between . At the weight classes for the Olympic games it is between .