by Kimberly Roos

Created on: June 24, 2009

There are several different weight classes in boxing and depending on the governing body you box under, they are referred to as different things.

In professional boxing the lightest weight class covers boxers up to 105 lbs. If you box for the IBF or WBO than you would be considered a mini flyweight, but if you were boxing under the WBA or BoxRec you are a minimum weight, and through the WBC you are called a strawweight. In amateur boxing this weight class is referred to as light flyweight and covers boxers up to 106 lbs.

The next classification has boxers up to 108 lbs. These boxers are called Light flyweight in the WBA, the WBC and BoxRec, but are referred to as junior flyweight in the IBF or WBO.

If a boxer weighs just a little more but still under 112 he will fall into the flyweight class under any governing body. This is also the next classification for amateurs.

If a boxer weighs in at just under 115 lbs he will be labeled a super flyweight through the WBA, WBC, or BoxRec, but a junior bantamweight for the IBF and WBO.

A boxer who weighs just over the 115 lb. mark but stays under the 118 lb. weight limit will be classified as Bantamweight by all governing bodies. An amateur that weighs less than 119 lbs will fall also fall into the bantamweight class.

At 122 lbs. a boxer will either be considered a super bantamweight or a junior featherweight, while a boxer that is between 122 and 126 lbs would be considered a featherweight. The featherweight classification also applies to amateurs.

The next weight class goes up to 130 lbs and is either a super featherweight or junior lightweight, and then you have the lightweight class which includes the boxers weighing up to 135 lbs. For amateurs lightweight only includes boxers up to 132 lbs.

The weight classes start to pull apart a little more now. The next class is super lightweight or junior welterweight and goes from 135 to 140 lbs. A light welterweight in amateur boxing is anyone who falls between 132 and 140 lbs.

From 140 to 147 lbs a boxer is considered a welterweight for the pros. Amateur welterweights are 140 to 148 lbs.

If your governing body is the WBA or WBC and you fall between 147 and 154 lbs., you would be called a super welterweight, in the IBF or WBO, you would be referred to as a junior middleweight and if you are part of BoxRec you are a light middleweight. A light middleweight for amateurs goes up to 157 lbs.

A middleweight in professional boxing goes up to 160 lbs and for amateurs goes up to 165 lbs. A super middleweight is anyone between 160 and 168 lbs for the pros, and anyone who falls between 168 and 175 lbs is considered a light heavyweight. Although in the amateur world 165 to 172 lbs. is their light heavyweight.

Cruiserweight or junior heavyweight covers the boxers that weigh up to 200 lbs., while anyone between 200 and 250 lbs. is considered a super-cruiserweight with governing bodies. Anyone heavier than 250 lbs is considered a heavyweight and there is no weight limit for this class. A heavyweight in the amateur circuit is considered anyone who weighs under 179 lbs. Over 179 you are considered a Super Heavyweight.

Although there are many weight classes in boxing and they differ from amateur to professional, the weight classes are important for the safety of the athletes.

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