WEIGHT CLASSES 1

Mini Flyweight                                     105 lb      1987        IBF

Light Flyweight                                    108 lb      1975        WBC

Flyweight                                              112 lb      1910        USA

Super Flyweight                                   115 lb      1980        WBC

Bantamweight                                       118 lb      1889        Universal

Super Bantamweight                           122 lb      1976        WBC

Featherweight                                       126 lb      1889        Universal

Junior Lightweight                               130 lb      1930        NYAC

Lightweight                                           135 lb      1889        USA

Junior Welterweight                            140 lb      1922        NBA

Welterweight                                        147 lb      1889        Universal

Junior Middleweight                           154 lb      1962        Austria

Middleweight                                       160 lb      1889        USA

Super Middleweight                            168 lb      1984        IBF

Light Heavyweight                              175 lb      1903        USA

Cruiserweight                                       190 lb      1979        WBC

Heavyweight                                        190+lb    1889        USA      

 

In 1909 The National Sporting Club (NSC) in London announced fixed poundages for eight weight classes:

 

Flyweight              112lb - 50.4kg

Bantamweight       118lb - 53.1kg

Featherweight       126lb - 56.7kg

Lightweight           135lb - 60.7kg

Welterweight        147lb - 66.15kg

Middleweight       160lb - 72kg

Cruiserweight       175lb - 78.75kg

Heavyweight        over 12st 7lb

 

The world of boxing accepted the new weight classes, except for the term 'cruiserweight' in America, where there was already a 175lb class called 'lightheavyweight'. This had been suggested by Lou Houseman, a Chicago newsman, in the interests of Jack Root, who was between the recognized middleweight and heavyweight limits. The British eventually changed their name for the class 'cruiser' to 'lightheavyweight' in 1937.  2

 

Before 1909, even in weight classes which were generally acknowledged, some champions fixed weight limits to suit themselves. For instance, Bob Fitzsimmons raised the middleweight limit from 154 lbs to 158 lbs for his title defense against Dan Creedon in 1894. Fitzsimmons was a heavy middleweight and was having trouble meeting 154 lbs.  3

 

Junior Lightweight - 1921-1933; 1959-present 130lb - 58.5kg - The first champion Johnny Dundee, November 18, 1921 4

 

Light welterweight - 1922 by American boxing magazine "The Boxing Blade" 140lb - 663kg - the readers chose the first champion Pinkey Mitchell. Title lapsed in the mid 1930s; revived in 1946; and 1959. 5

 

Light-middleweight -  1962-present 154lb - 70kg 6   

 

Cruiserweight - 1979- present  (WBC) 195lb - 88kg  7