We explain in detail the different weight classes in women's boxing, what they are and why they matter in the sport.
What is a weight class in Boxing?
A weight class, also referred to as a weight division or simply division, is the weight limit for boxers wishing to compete in a fight.
They are used to ensure bouts are fair and competitive, with fighters in each respective division required to be a similar weight.
Across all weight divisions there are upper and lower limits, in the lighter weight classes the limits are 2kg apart and that increases to 6kg at light heavyweight, which is the lowest class that has an upper limit. The heavyweight division has no upper weight limit.
Fighters must weigh in one day before the scheduled bout and be within those pre-determined boundaries. A middleweight, for example, would have to weigh in between 70kg and 72.6kg at the weigh-in.
Traditionally, there were eight weight classes - Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and Heavyweight - but over the years more have been introduced.
Pounds is the metric most commonly used in boxing, with the welterweight division, for example, often referred to as the ‘147lbs division’.
How many weight classes are there in women’s Boxing?
There are 17 generally recognised weight classes in women’s boxing, the eight traditional classes are known as the ‘glamour’ divisions and the other nine are generally referred to as ‘tweener’ divisions.
What are the weight classes in women’s Boxing?
Class | Pounds | Stone | KG |
Light minimumweight | 102-pounds | 7.3 | 46.3 |
Minimumweight | 102 - 105-pounds | 7.3 - 7.5 | 46.3 - 47.6 |
Light-flyweight | 102 - 105-pounds | 7.5 - 7.7 | 47.6 - 49 |
Flyweight | 108 - 112-pounds | 7.7 - 8 | 49 - 50.8 |
Super-flyweight | 112 - 115-pounds | 8 - 8.2 | 50.8 - 52.2 |
Bantamweight | 115 - 118-pounds | 8.2 - 8.4 | 52.2 - 53.5 |
Super-bantamweight | 118 - 122-pounds | 8.4 - 8.7 | 53.5 - 55.3 |
Featherweight | 122 - 126-pounds | 8.7 - 9 | 55.3 - 57.2 |
Super-featherweight | 126 - 130-pounds | 9 - 9.2 | 57.2 - 59 |
Lightweight | 130 - 135-pounds | 9.2 - 9.6 | 59 - 61.2 |
Super-lightweight | 135 - 140-pounds | 9.6 - 10 | 61.2 - 63.5 |
Welterweight | 140 - 147-pounds | 10 - 10.5 | 63.5 - 66.7 |
Super-welterweight | 147 - 154-pounds | 10.5 - 11 | 66.7 - 69.9 |
Middleweight | 154 - 160-pounds | 11 - 11.4 | 69.9 - 72.6 |
Super-middleweight | 160 - 168-pounds | 11.4 - 12 | 72.6 - 76.2 |
Light-heavyweight | 167 - 175-pounds | 12 - 12.5 | 76.2 - 79.4 |
Heavyweight | 175-pounds+ | 12.5+ | 79.4+ |
There is also a cruiserweight division recognised by some sanctioning bodies, although this division is not as established as it is in men’s boxing.
Why are weight classes needed in women’s Boxing?
Weight classes are required in women’s boxing to ensure fairness between fighters.
Claressa Shields and Katie Taylor are currently regarded as the two best active female fighters on various pound-for-pound lists but the two are highly unlikely to ever settle the argument once and for all in the ring.
Shields weighed in at 174.6 lbs for her last bout, while Taylor weighed in at 135.8 lbs for her last fight. That is a huge difference and Shields would have a massive size advantage.
Can a boxer move between weight classes?
Yes a boxer can move between weight classes and there have been a number of notable examples.
Shields won her first titles at super welterweight/light middleweight and is now the undisputed heavyweight world champion - having claimed multiple titles in five different weight classes, while Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano is a seven-division world champion.
What is a catchweight?
A catchweight is an agreed limit when two fighters from different divisions agree to a bout but neither wants to make a full move into the opponents category.
Catchweights can also be agreed if one fighter fails to make the weight at the weigh-in. If this happens in a world title fight then the titles will no longer be contested, and the fighter who failed to make the weight may agree to take a financial hit.
What is a rehydration clause?
Fighters generally try to regain as much weight as possible between the weigh-in and the fight itself and a rehydration clause limits this.
In the majority of cases there will be no rehydration clause but they are becoming more common. Some fighters may put up to 20lbs more weight on before they step into the ring compared to what they were at for the weigh-in so a rehydration clause could limit this instead to 10lbs.
