Welterweight

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 c. 15th century welt, meaning 'to beat severely'.

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).

Current world champions

Current champions

Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA August 22, 2026 Teofimo Lopez 23–2 (13 KO) 0
WBC February 21, 2026 Ryan Garcia 26–2–0–1 (21 KO) 1
IBF June 24, 2026 Liam Paro 28–1 (16 KO) 0
WBO November 22, 2025 Devin Haney 33–0–0–1 (15 KO) 0

Current world rankings

The Ring

As of February 28, 2026.

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Devin Haney 33–0 (1) (15 KO) WBO
2 Brian Norman Jr. 28–1 (22 KO)
3 Eimantas Stanionis 16–1 (1) (9 KO)
4 Ryan Garcia 25–2 (1) (20 KO) WBC
5 Rolando Romero 17–3 (13 KO) WBA
6 Rohan Polanco 17–0 (10 KO)
7 Shakhram Giyasov 18–0 (11 KO)
8 Raúl Curiel 17–0–1 (14 KO)
9 Jack Catterall 32–2 (14 KO)
10 Tiger Johnson 16–0 (7 KO)
BoxRec

As of 28 February 2026.

Rank Name Record Title(s)
1 Devin Haney 33–0 (1) (15 KO) WBO
2 Liam Paro 28–1 (16 KO) IBF
3 Brian Norman Jr. 28–1 (1) (22 KO)
4 Jack Catterall 32–2 (14 KO)
5 Rohan Polanco 17–0 (10 KO)
6 Karen Chukhadzhian 26–3 (14 KO)
7 Rolando Romero 17–2 (13 KO) WBA
8 Vadim Musaev 14–0 (9 KO)
9 Ryan Garcia 25–2 (1) (20 KO) WBC
10 Julian Rodriguez 25–1 (15 KO)

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.

NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Felix Trinidad8 years, 4 months, 1 week and 5 daysIBF1515
2.Terence Crawford6 years, 2 months, 14 daysWBO77
3.Errol Spence Jr.6 years, 2 months and 3 daysIBF, WBC65
4.Antonio Margarito5 years, 3 months, 28 daysWBO77
5.Ike Quartey4 years, 7 months, 30 daysWBA77
6.Freddie Cochrane4 years, 7 months, 03 daysNYSAC, NBA00
7.José Nápoles4 years, 6 months, 2 daysWBA, WBC108
8.Sugar Ray Robinson4 years, 1 month, 26 daysNYSAC, NBA55
9.Floyd Mayweather Jr.4 years, 1 month, 18 daysWBC54
10.Pernell Whitaker4 years, 1 month, 6 daysWBC87
11.Pipino Cuevas4 years and 16 daysWBA1110

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.

NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Henry Armstrong2 years, 4 months, 3 daysNYSAC, NBA, Ring1915
2.Félix Trinidad6 years, 8 months, 14 daysIBF1515
3.Pipino Cuevas4 years and 16 daysWBA1110
4.José Nápoles4 years, 6 months, 2 daysWBA, WBC, Ring108
5.Jack Britton3 years, 7 months, 13 daysWorld98
6.Pernell Whitaker4 years, 1 month, 6 daysWBC87
7.Simon Brown3 years, 7 months, 6 daysIBF88
8.Kid Gavilán3 years, 5 months, 2 daysNYSAC, NBA, Ring76
9.Donald Curry3 years, 7 months, 14 daysWBA77
10.Ike Quartey4 years, 7 months, 30 daysWBA77

Amateur boxing

Olympic champions

The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at 63.5–71 kg (140–157 lb).

Kickboxing

The weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickboxing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:

Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit for welterweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

Wrestling

Olympic wrestling

Prior to 1996, the weight limit for welterweight was 74 kg/163 lb in Olympic wrestling. Since that time, amateur wrestling has named its weight classes by upper weight limit in kilograms.

Professional wrestling

In the United States and Canada, there was a 145 lb limit in the early 20th century at least until the early 1920s. In Mexico, the wrestling commission's definition of the welterweight weight class is between 70 kg (150 lb) and 78 kg (172 lb).

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 (165 lb or ~75 kg) An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions - including Welterweight - existed under the 1930 All-In rules.

Catch wrestling

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).

Mixed martial arts

The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions is 155 to 170 lb (70.3 to 77.1 kg).

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated September 15th 2026

Organization Reign began Champion Record Title defenses
UFC November 15, 2025 Russia Islam Makhachev 29–1 (5KO 13SUB) 1
Professional Fighters League July 25, 2026 United States Thad Jean 12–0 (6KO 1SUB) 0
ONE Championship November 19, 2022 United States Christian Lee 18–4 (13KO 4SUB) 1
Fight Nights Global April 6, 2019 Russia Dmitry Bikrev 16–4 (11KO 1SUB) 3
KSW April 22, 2023 Poland Adrian Bartosiński 16–1 (11KO 2SUB) 3
Titan FC June 2, 2023 United States Will Brooks 26–5 (7KO 6SUB) 1
ACA Dec 5, 2025 Kyrgyzstan Zhakshylyk Myrzabekov 15–2 (6KO 2SUB) 4
Legacy Fighting Alliance May 21, 2026 Vacant 0
Cage Warriors April 26, 2025 England Justin Burlinson 10-2 (3KO 7SUB)

0

Other sports

Other sports to include a welterweight division include the following:

References

  1. ↑ "welterweight | Origin and meaning of welterweight by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com.
  2. 1 2 "Classes & Divisions". Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "The Ring ratings: welterweight". Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "BoxRec ratings: welterweight, active". Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Errol Spence Jr". Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Ike Quartey". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Freddie Cochrane". Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: José Nápoles". Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota on February 15, 1951 · Page 11". Newspapers.com. 15 February 1951. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  13. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Floyd Mayweather Jr". Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Pernell Whitaker". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Pipino Cuevas". Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  16. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Felix Trinidad". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jack Britton". Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Jack Britton, p. 80" (PDF). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Kid Gavilán". Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Donald Curry". Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "IKF WEIGHT CLASSES". IKFKickboxing.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  22. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE & KICKBOXING ASSOCIATION" (PDF). ISKAWorldHQ.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  23. ↑ "WKA USA - Official Rulebook". WKAUSA.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  24. ↑ "Fighters Rankings". gloryworldseries.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 Weight Divisions in Professional Wrestling Wrestling-Titles.com Retrieved March 31 2023
  26. ↑ "The History of British Wrestling: Part One". Bleacher Report. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  27. ↑ The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery: Classic British Professional Wrestling: THE WEIGHT DIVISIONS in British Professional Wrestling
  28. ↑ Blue Blood on the Mat - Atholl Oakeley, S Paul, 1971 - Appendix:Rules of All In Professional Wrestling
  29. ↑ "Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". www leg state nv us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  30. ↑ "UNIFIED RULES OF MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.