Welterweight
Template:Short description 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.
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 Template:C. 15th century {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, meaning 'to beat severely'.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boxing
Professional boxing
A professional welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 140 pounds, and no more than 147 pounds (about 63.5–66.7 kg).<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref>
Current world champions
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Current champions
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | August 1, 2025 | Rolando Romero | 17–2 (13 KO) | 0 |
| WBC | June 18, 2024 | Mario Barrios | 29–2–2 (18 KO) | 2 |
| IBF | September 13, 2025 | Lewis Crocker | 22–0 (11 KO) | 0 |
| WBO | August 12, 2024 | Brian Norman Jr. | Template:Nowrap (22 KO) | 2 |
Current world rankings
The Ring
As of August 11, 2025.<ref name=ring-ww-ratings>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Keys:
- Template:Color box Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Template:Font color | ||
| 1 | Brian Norman Jr. | 28–0–0–2 (22 KO) | WBO |
| 2 | Eimantas Stanionis | 15–1–0–1 (9 KO) | |
| 3 | Giovani Santillan | 34–1 (18 KO) | |
| 4 | Rohan Polanco | 17–0 (10 KO) | |
| 5 | Shakhram Giyasov | 17–0 (10 KO) | |
| 6 | Alexis Rocha | 25–2–1 (16 KO) | |
| 7 | Raúl Curiel | 16–0–1 (14 KO) | |
| 8 | Mario Barrios | 29–2–2 (18 KO) | WBC |
| 9 | Manny Pacquiao | 62–8–3 (39 KO) | |
| 10 | Ekow Essuman | 22–1 (8 KO) |
Template:As of.<ref name=boxrec-ww-ratings>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Rank | Name | Record | Points | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terence Crawford | 40–0 (31 KO) | 513.6 | |
| 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 | IBF |
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.
| Name | Title reign | Title recognition | Successful defenses | Beaten opponents | Fights | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Terence Crawford | data-sort-value="Template:Age in days" | Template:Age in years, months, weeks and days | WBO | 7 | 7 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2. | Félix Trinidad | 6 years, 8 months, 14 days | IBF | 15 | 15 | <ref name=trinidad-record/> | |
| 3. | Errol Spence Jr. | 6 years, 2 months and 3 days | IBF, WBC | 6 | 5 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 4. | Antonio Margarito | 5 years, 3 months, 28 days | WBO | 7 | 7 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 5. | Ike Quartey | 4 years, 7 months, 30 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 6. | Freddie Cochrane | 4 years, 7 months, 03 days | NYSAC, NBA | 0 | 0 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 7. | José Nápoles | 4 years, 6 months, 2 days | WBA, WBC | 10 | 8 | <ref name=napoles-record/> | |
| 8. | Sugar Ray Robinson | 4 years, 1 month, 26 days | NYSAC, NBA | 5 | 5 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 9. | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | 4 years, 1 month, 18 days | WBC | 5 | 4 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 10. | Pernell Whitaker | 4 years, 1 month, 6 days | WBC | 8 | 7 | <ref name=-whittaker-record/> | |
| 11. | Pipino Cuevas | 4 years and 16 days | WBA | 11 | 10 | <ref name=cuevas-record/> |
Top 10 most title defenses
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. | Henry Armstrong | 2 years, 4 months, 3 days | NYSAC, NBA, Ring | 19 | 15 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 2. | Félix Trinidad | 6 years, 8 months, 14 days | IBF | 15 | 15 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 3. | Pipino Cuevas | 4 years and 16 days | WBA | 11 | 10 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 4. | José Nápoles | 4 years, 6 months, 2 days | WBA, WBC, Ring | 10 | 8 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 5. | Jack Britton | 3 years, 7 months, 13 days | World | 9 | 8 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book2>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 6. | Pernell Whitaker | 4 years, 1 month, 6 days | WBC | 8 | 7 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 7. | Simon Brown | 3 years, 7 months, 6 days | IBF | 8 | 8 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 8. | Kid Gavilán | 3 years, 5 months, 2 days | NYSAC, NBA, Ring | 7 | 6 | <ref name="gavilán-record"/> | ||
| 9. | Donald Curry | 3 years, 7 months, 14 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 10. | Ike Quartey | 4 years, 7 months, 30 days | WBA | 7 | 7 | <ref name="quartey-record"/> |
Amateur boxing
Olympic champions
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at Template:Cvt.<ref name="auto"/>
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) Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), welterweight Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- World Kickboxing Association (WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- In Glory promotion, a welterweight division is up to Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- ONE Championship, welterweight upper limit Template:Convert.
Bare-knuckle boxing
The limit for welterweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:
- In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the welterweight division has an upper limit of Template:Convert.
- In BKB™, the welterweight division has an upper limit of Template:Convert.
Wrestling
Olympic wrestling
Prior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling.<ref name="titles">Weight Divisions in Professional Wrestling Wrestling-Titles.com Retrieved March 31 2023</ref> Since that time, amateur wrestling has named its weight classes by upper weight limit in kilograms.
Professional wrestling
In the US and Canada, there was a 145 lb limit in the early 20th century at least until the early 1920s.<ref name="titles" />
In Mexico, the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} commission's definition of the welterweight weight class is between Template:Convert and Template:Convert.
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 (Template:Convert)<ref name=bleach>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery: Classic British Professional Wrestling: THE WEIGHT DIVISIONS in British Professional Wrestling</ref> An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions - including Welterweight - existed under the 1930 All-In rules.<ref>Blue Blood on the Mat - Atholl Oakeley, S Paul, 1971 - Appendix:Rules of All In Professional Wrestling</ref>
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).<ref name="titles" />
Mixed martial arts
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Association of Boxing Commissions<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is Template:Cvt.
Current champions
This table is not always up to date. Last updated November 15, 2025. Not up to date.
| Organization | Reign began | Champion | Record | Title defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | November 15, 2025 | Template:Flagicon Islam Makhachev | 28–1 (5Template:Abbr 13Template:Abbr) | 0 |
| Bellator MMA | June 22, 2024 | Template:Flagicon Ramazan Kuramagomedov | 13–0 (2KO 6SUB) | 0 |
| ONE Championship | October 25, 2019 | Template:Flagicon Kiamrian Abbasov | 23–5 (8KO 4SUB) | 1 |
| Fight Nights Global | April 6, 2019 | Template:Flagicon Dmitry Bikrev | 13–3 (9KO 1SUB) | 3 |
| KSW | April 22, 2023 | Template:Flagicon Adrian Bartosiński | 16–1 (11KO 2SUB) | 3 |
| Titan FC | March 15, 2019 | Template:Flagicon Michael Graves | 9–1 (4KO 2SUB) | 1 |
| ACA | April 26, 2019 | Template:Flagicon Albert Tumenov | 22–4 (14KO) | 1 |
| Legacy Fighting Alliance | August 21, 2020 | Template:Flagicon Jaleel Willis | 13–2 (5KO) | 0 |
| Cage Warriors | April 26, 2025 | Template:Flagicon Justin Burlinson | 10-2 (3KO 7SUB) |
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 and amateur) 142.1-147 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 Template:Cvt for adult and junior
- The official rules of shoot boxing define welterweights as between Template:Cvt.
- In Olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between Template:Cvt. At the weight classes for the Olympic games it is between Template:Cvt.