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Boxing Weight Classes
The world of boxing is one that is most dynamic. Noted champions cannot just
be simply pitted against each other because both opponents have to belong to
the same boxing weight classes. Simply put, you cannot expect Lennox Lewis
to fight against Bernard Hopkins even of they both desire unless anyone of
the two increases or decreases his weight so the both of them will belong to
the same boxing weight class.
For professional boxing bouts the boxing weight classes are determined by
the different boxing bodies, which may have different weight requirements.
However, most of these boxing organizations have a uniform weight
requirement on certain boxing weight classes.
For the heavyweight class (201 lb and above / 91.4 kg and above) the World
Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), and International
Boxing Federation (IBF) have the same weight requisite. The World Boxing
Organization on their part has a different weight limit for the heavyweight
that is 190 lb above or 86.2 kg and above.
In the cruiserweight category again the three boxing bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF)
have the same weight limit, which is 176-200 lb or 90.7 kg, but for the WBO
their cruiserweight is called junior heavy weight with a weight requirement
of 190 lb or 86.2 kg.
Famous boxers who belong to heavyweight class were John Sullivan, who is
also considered as the first champion of the modern boxing rules; Jim
Corbett; Bob Fitzsimmons, hailed as the first Englishman heavyweight
champion; Jack Johnson; Jack Dempsey; Gene Tunney; Rocky Marciano; Joe
Frazier; and of course who wouldn’t recognize Muhammad Ali. In the later
years, names like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis,
and Nikolai Valuev would surely ring the boxing bell.
In the cruiserweight, names like O’Neil Bell, James Toney, Jean-Marc Mormeck
have definitely made their imprints in boxing history as world title
holders. Interestingly, Holyfiled before he became a heavyweight world
champion, started first in this category wherein he also held champion belts
from WBA and IBF.
One of the hotly contested among the boxing weight classes that has produced
countless luminaries is the super welterweight (148-154lb or 66.7 kg). One
of the most notable boxers in this category is Oscar de la Hoya, who is
better known in the boxing arena as the Golden Boy. Other know name were
Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Terry Norris, and Julian Jackson.
The other boxing weight classes are light heavyweight (169-175 lb/ 79.4 kg),
super middleweight (161-168 lb/ 76.2kg), middleweight (155-160 lb / 72.6
kg), welterweight (141-147 lb/ 66.7 kg), super lightweight (136-140 lb/63.5
kg), and super featherweight (127/130 lb/59.0 kg). There are still boxing
weight classes in the lesser weight categories namely: featherweight
(123-126 kb/ 57.2 kg), super bantamweight (119-122 lb / 55.3 kg),
bantamweight (116-118 lb / 53.5 kg).
The remaining boxing weight classes are super flyweight (113-115 lb / 52.2
kg), flyweight ( 109-112 lb/ 50.8 kg), light flyweight (106-108 lb / 49 kg),
and the lightest of all is the minimum weight (96-105 lb / 47.6 kg).
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