Boxing Weight Classes Explained

With 17 divisions and four potential belts to win, navigating the boxing weight division rankings can be a truly daunting task for the uninitiated. This handy guide will finally get rid of all the mystery surrounding the weight classes in boxing (which make understanding MMA weight classes a walk in the park by comparison).

What Are the Weight Classes in Boxing?

All told, there are 17 recognized divisions in boxing. The weight ranges and labels used here are the same used by the four governing organizations (WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC) that can distribute world titles, as well as by esteemed record-keeper Boxrec and by iconic boxing magazine "The Ring."

105 lbs: minimumweight/mini flyweight (WBO only) / strawweight (Boxrec/The Ring). All-Time Greats: Knockout CP Freshmart, Ricardo Lopez, Ivan Calderon.

108 lbs: light flyweight (WBA, WBC, Boxrec) / junior flyweight (WBO, IBF, The Ring). All-Time Greats: Jung-Koo Chang, Michael Carbajal, Felix Alvarado.

112 lbs: flyweight. All-Time Greats: Jimmy Wilde, Roman Gonzalez, Mark Johnson.

115 lbs: super flyweight (WBA, WBC, Boxrec) / junior bantamweight (WBO, IBF, The Ring). All-Time Greats: Khaosai Galaxy, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Johnny Tapia.

118 lbs: bantamweight. All-Time Greats: Carlos Zarate, Eder Jofre, Orlando Canizales.

122 lbs: super bantamweight (WBA, WBC, Boxrec) / junior featherweight (WBO, IBF, The Ring). All-Time Greats: Wilfredo Gomez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera.

126 lbs: featherweight. All-Time Greats: Willie Pep, Salvador Sanchez, Leo Santa Cruz.

130 lbs: super featherweight (WBA, WBC, Boxrec) / junior lightweight (WBO, IBF, The Ring). All-Time Greats: Floyd Mayweather, Alexis Arguello, Azumah Nelson

135 lbs: lightweight. All-Time Greats: Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Vasyl Lomachenko: "In England people understand boxing. I like the atmosphere. I visited last year, and the response from the people was overwhelming. They respect my fighting style and are passionate about boxing. I can’t wait to put on a great show for everyone." pic.twitter.com/nen1QILbH2
— bet365 (@bet365) July 20, 2019

140 lbs: super lightweight (WBA, WBC, Boxrec) / junior welterweight (WBO, The Ring) / light welterweight (IBF): All-Time Greats: Juilo Cesar Chavez, Aaron Pryor, Antonio Cervantes

147 lbs: welterweight: All-Time Greats: Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao wins the WBA World Welterweight Title at 40 years old and hands Keith Thurman his first pro loss!#PacquiaoThurman pic.twitter.com/KFrZAifoLZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2019

154 lbs: super welterweight (WBA, WBC, Boxrec) / junior middleweight (WBO, The Ring) / light middleweight (IBF). All-Time Greats: Thomas Hearns, Terry Norris, Mike McCallum.

160 lbs: middleweight. All-Time Greats: Marvin Hagler, Bernard Hopkins, Jake LaMotta, Canelo Alvarez.

168 lbs: super middleweight (WBA, WBC, WBO Boxrec) / light cruiserweight (IBF, The Ring). All-Time Greats: Joe Calzaghe, Andre Ward, James Toney.

175 lbs: light heavyweight. All-Time Greats: Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Michael Spinks.

200 lbs: Cruiserweight / junior heavyweight (WBO). All-Time Greats: Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Oleksandr Usyk.

200+ lbs: Heavyweight. All-Time Greats: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, George Foreman