Lightweight boxing. Weight categories in boxing. Weight categories in professional boxing
The question of what weight categories exist in boxing, in principle, often arises even among seasoned sports fans. website suits a short educational program.
People started fighting since prehistoric times - for food, women and a place near the tribal fire. Everything was decided simply - whoever is bigger and stronger, he usually won. But with the development of civilization, money appeared, and now they fight for it much more willingly. For example, in the ring. In order not to provide oversized boxers with a deliberate advantage, smart people came up with the idea of arranging fights within the same weight category. At first there were only two of them - light and heavy, but gradually the distinction became more and more careful.
WEIGHT CATEGORIES IN AMATEUR BOXING
Nowadays, only young men under 15 box without weight categories. Although even there the couples tend to make up so that the difference in the weight of the athletes is no more than 2 kg. But at a more mature age, division begins.
For amateur boxing in recent years, there are 10 weight categories - at least as many sets of medals are played at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. For ease of perception, we have combined all the Olympic weight categories in boxing into a table:
Weight, kg) | Title (rus) | Title (eng) | |
First Flyweight | |||
Flyweight | |||
Bantamweight | |||
A light weight | |||
Welterweight | light welterweight |
||
Welterweight | |||
Average weight | |||
light heavyweight | Lightweight |
||
Heavy weight | |||
Heavy weight | super heavyweight |
Concluding the Olympic theme, we would like to add that women's medals are still played only in three categories - up to 51, up to 60 and up to 75 kg.
WEIGHT CATEGORIES IN PRO BOXING
In professional boxing, things are somewhat more complicated. There are 17 main categories, but sometimes there are fights in intermediate ones. For example, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has held some fights up to 88.5 kg (up to 195 pounds), although there is no such category officially.
As you can see from the boxing weights table below, pounds are the measure of weight. This is no coincidence - the system of weight categories was developed in England and the USA. Initially, there were eight categories, then nine more were added at different times.
Weight (lbs) | Weight, kg) | Title (rus) | Title (eng) |
|
Minimum weight | ||||
First Flyweight | ||||
Flyweight (fly weight) | ||||
Second Flyweight | ||||
Bantamweight (rooster weight) | ||||
Second bantamweight | super bantamweight |
|||
Featherweight (feather weight) | ||||
Second Featherweight | super featherweight |
|||
A light weight | ||||
Welterweight | super lightweight |
|||
Welterweight | ||||
First Middleweight | super welterweight |
|||
Average weight | ||||
Second Middleweight | super middleweight |
|||
light heavyweight | light heavyweight |
|||
First Heavyweight | ||||
over 90.89 |
WEIGHING IN BOXING
In amateur boxing, each athlete is weighed before the tournament and on the day of the performance. The weight that is fixed on the first day determines the category in which the athlete will compete in the competition. You cannot change the category. However, if at the very first weigh-in a boxer “did not fall” into his category, then he can enter another if his team does not yet have a representative there.
A boxserver gets on the scales only once - naked or in swimming trunks. Participants in women's competitions are allowed to weigh in T-shirts.
Professional boxers stand on the scales no earlier than 24 hours before the fight, and no later than 8 hours before. If the weight does not fit into the required category, then the athlete has an hour (sometimes two) to bring himself back to normal. It doesn’t work - he can still go to the fight, but he won’t get either a rating increase or titles if he wins. For example, in February 2009, world lightweight champion Nate Campbell was three pounds (6.6 kg) heavier than necessary, and lost his titles before the fight with Ali Funeka. Which in the end, by the way, Campbell won.
Well, and finally - another "weighing" curiosity that happened to a much more well-known boxer.
Sometimes at the weigh-in, not only the weight of the boxers is checked, but also the strength of the opponent's jaw. At least the Briton Derek Chisora before the fight with Vitali Klitschko decided this way:
Needless to say, who won after this fight in the ring?
As a rule, depending on the promotions, each weight division has its own championship belt, which fighters strive to get. Before each fight, fighters must go through a weigh-in procedure. Depending on the promotion, various deviations from the desired weight of the fighter are allowed. If a fighter does not fit into the weight (too light or too heavy), he may be disqualified and not allowed to fight. Here are the main weight categories of MMA:
from 120.2 kg Super heavyweight
93 - 120.2 kg Heavy weight (Heavyweight)
83.9 - 93 kg Light heavyweight P
77.1 - 83.9 kg Middleweight
70.3 - 77.1 kg Welterweight (Welterweight)
65.8 - 70.3 kg Lightweight
61.2 - 65.8 kg Featherweight
56.7 - 61.2 kg Bantamweight
up to 56.7 kg Flyweight
Most of the fighters are found in lightweight and their number decreases with increasing weight. This is due both to the smaller number of large people, and the fact that the greater the weight, the more likely it is to get seriously injured in preparation for the fight or during the fight itself. That is why good heavyweights are worth their weight in gold for any promotional organization and many heavyweights continue to perform even after 35 years.
Weight Loss in MMA
To get into the right weight category, some fighters have to gain or lose weight. This procedure is called weight loss and is a complex process that involves doctors and nutritionists. Weight cutting begins a few months before the fight. The difference in weight between competitive and everyday can reach 5-20 kg. This is a serious burden for the athlete's body, so the weight race is no less responsible event than even the preparation for the fight itself.
When cutting weight, various methods and approaches are used, but the main ones are drinking as much water as possible, eliminating meat from the diet, and eating plant foods. During the weight race, the fighter excludes heavy loads and does not actively train, focusing only on his weight. In the last stages of the race, fighters can visit the sauna or use a thermal suit.
MMA champions in several weight categories at once
UFC fighters who won the championship belt in several weight categories: Randy Couture ( Lightweight+ heavyweight, B.J. Penn ( welterweight + lightweight), Conor McGregor (featherweight + lightweight), Georges St-Pierre (welterweight + middleweight).
The very concept of “weight categories in professional boxing” did not appear immediately. Initially, fighters even of diametrically opposite weight and physical constitution entered the ring. It later became apparent that the heavy lifters won most of the time for a number of natural reasons. Therefore, it was decided to introduce division into this sport into weight categories.
Weighing procedure
The weighing procedure in professional boxing is approached with great responsibility. The athlete is required to comply with the weight, otherwise he will not be allowed to fight. The procedure of a professional boxer takes place on the day of the fight, not earlier than 24 hours and not less than 8 hours before it starts. As a rule, simple electronic or medical scales are used to measure gravity.
To determine the kilograms as accurately as possible, it is required that the boxer go through the weighing procedure only in swimming trunks. Weight categories in professional boxing are determined by special people - supervisors. The time of the weigh-in is determined by the promoter. If the boxer's weight indicators do not correspond to the category that was declared before the competition, he is given 60 minutes to bring his body to the required indicator.
If the boxer does not reach the required kilograms, two conditions are announced. The first condition is that the duel is not held. The second condition is that the fight is held, but even if this fighter wins, his rating will not be increased.
There are such weight categories in professional boxing:
- the easiest;
- easy;
- average;
- heavy;
- heavyweight.
Bantamweight
In professional boxing, lightweight fighters are divided into 6 subcategories:
- Minimum, where the weight of each athlete must not exceed 47.63 kg (105 pounds respectively).
- The first is the easiest. Here the fighter must not exceed 48.9 kilograms on the scales (108 pounds).
- lightest, with a maximum weight of 50.8 kilograms (or 112 pounds).
- Second flyweight, which has a maximum weight of 52.16 kg (115 pounds respectively).
- Lightest. Its maximum weight is 53.53 kg (or 118 pounds).
- The second is the easiest. Here, the maximum weight allowed on the scale is 55.22 kilograms (122 pounds).
A light weight
The fighters of this category are also divided into internal subcategories. There are 3 of them in light weight. The lightest fighters in this category have a weight of no more than 57.15 kg (or 126 pounds) and belong to featherweight.
Average weight
The average weight in boxing is divided into 5 subcategories:
- The lightest among them is the first welterweight, the weight of which does not exceed the mark of 63.5 kg (140 pounds).
- The welterweight, which follows, has a maximum of 66.68 kg (or 147 pounds).
- The first middle subcategory requires that the maximum weight on the scale not exceed 69.85 kilograms (154 pounds respectively). If the weight of a fighter is between 69.85 and 72.57 kg (160 lbs), then he is ranked in the middle subcategory.
- The heaviest subcategory of the mediums is the second medium with a maximum severity of 76.2 kg (or 168 pounds).
Heavyweight (boxing)
most popular segment. Heavyweight fights have always attracted the most interest and had the highest ratings.
The heaviest boxers fall into the heavy category and are distributed according to three subcategories:
- The weight of fighters in the light heavyweight subcategory must not exceed 79.4 kg (175 pounds).
- The first heavy subcategory includes athletes whose weight is up to 79.4 kilograms (200 pounds, respectively).
- If a boxer weighs 91 kg (or 200 pounds) or more, he is classified as a heavy subcategory.
Heavyweight boxing
However, it is worth noting that heavyweights in boxing exist only among amateur boxers and have figures equivalent to professional boxers in the heavy category, the maximum weight of which exceeds 91 kilograms (or 200 pounds)). We hope that with this article we have helped you figure out exactly what weight categories exist in professional boxing.
This is a referee-controlled boxer's own weight limit. Within its framework, the athlete has the right to take part in official competitions in the ring. The final weigh-in is carried out immediately before the start of the tournament or fight on electronic scales. Where boxers become without outerwear, or even completely negligee, bashfully hiding behind sheets. These figures give the judges the right to determine their weight categories for the participants.In 1936 in the USSR for the first time there was a fight for the title of the absolute champion of the country without regard to categories. Heavyweight Viktor Mikhailov and light heavyweight Nikolai Korolev met in it. Korolev won a confident dinner - 7:2. He also won a year later - 3:0.
Boxing without gloves
Sports historians argue that at the beginning of its history, boxing was only professional, without the current clear division into categories. He did not have, however, much else - gloves, helmets, caps, even the now familiar ring with ropes.As for the fights, they took place practically without rules: two people, often different height, weights and physiques, converged where they agreed, and began to box with their bare hands. Such boxing, or rather, a banal male fight, could go on for hours, ending with the victory of the more enduring opponent who delivered the decisive blow.
How much do you weigh?
This situation lasted until the end of the 19th century, until the audience and organizers finally understood: in a fight between a boxer weighing 100 kg and his opponent weighing 75 kg, the first one would surely win. This means that the whole point of arranging public commercial fights and accepting cash bets on them disappears.Exist as before, bringing fighters together in an impromptu ring different weight and level, it was no longer possible. This is how the concept of “weight category” was born. At first there were only two of them - light and heavy, then it became eight, ten. And all of them were used only in pro competitions.
Yes, in fact, no one knew amateur at the dawn of the development of sports for people with strong fists and jaws. It arose only at the beginning of the last century, making its debut at the 1904 Olympics. And how many athletes the introduction of categories saved, perhaps, health and life, boxing is silent.
Professionals
Nowadays, professional boxers (that is, who receive huge money and do not compete for their country at the World Amateur Championships and the Olympics) compete in 17 weight categories. Or simply in 17 different weights.The lightest of them is the weight of the “feather”, which is equal to 105 pounds (47, 627 kg) according to the international measurement system. The most impressive is the heavyweight, which fights guys weighing over 200 pounds. For reference: 1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds.
The categories that are called so funny: the weight of "feather", "fly" and "rooster" is a tribute to traditions and a play on words. In the English original, they sound like this: featherweight - weight category up to 105 pounds, flyweight - up to 108 and bantamweight - up to 112.
lovers
Once they had 12 categories, but a few years ago, apparently for the sake of television, only ten remained. Minimum - up to 49 kg (flyweight), maximum - over 91 kg (heavyweight).At the dawn of boxing, there was no division of fighters by weight. As well as boxing gloves, and helmets, and shorts, and even the ring. At the beginning, two men (regardless of weight and age) went out against each other and beat each other with their fists until someone won. Yes, in the beginning, boxing was not just brutal, but a very cruel sport: the fights lasted for hours, some of the fighters fainted - no one even thought about the categories.
However, closer to the beginning of the 20th century, many spectators, as well as the organizers of boxing competitions, began to notice that more often fighters whose weight is more victorious - there were many reasons for this. Heavyweights were usually taller and had more muscle mass. And the impact force, as is known from physics, depends on the mass and acceleration. Accordingly, the impact force of an adult male weighing 110 kg was decently greater than the impact force of the same fighter weighing 75 kg, at approximately the same speed.
It was decided to make weight categories. And since at the beginning there was only professional boxing, the first categories appeared among the pros. Thus, instead of one single world boxing champion, the World received as many as 10 champions in each weight. And their number has grown to 16 today. If we take into account that there are now as many as 4 boxing associations, then (adding up all the weights) we get approximately 64 World Boxing Champions. Like this.
Now more.
Categories in amateur boxing
Before turning pro, most boxers compete as amateurs. There are only 10 weight categories in amateur boxing and there are no versions (WBO, WBC, IBO) like in professional boxing.
- 46 - 49 kg
- up to 52 kg
- up to 56 kg
- up to 60 kg
- up to 64 kg
- up to 69 kg
- up to 75 kg
- up to 81 kg
- up to 91 kg
- Over 91 kg
in professional boxing
In professional boxing, there are four main boxing associations WBO, WBC, WBF, IBO. According to the versions of these organizations, there are 16 weight categories, in each of which the title of World Boxing Champion is contested. Here they are.
- +200 lbs (over 90.89 kg) - Heavyweight
- 200 lbs (up to 90.89 kg) - First Heavyweight
- 175 lb (up to 79.38 kg) - Light Heavyweight
- 168 lb (up to 76.2 kg) - Super Middleweight
- 160 lbs (up to 72.57 kg) - Middleweight
- 154 lbs (up to 69.85 kg) - First Middleweight
- 147 lbs (up to 66.68) kg) - Welterweight
- 140 lbs (up to 63.5 kg) - Welterweight
- 135 lbs (up to 61.23 kg) - Lightweight
- 130 lb (up to 58.98 kg) - Super Featherweight
- 122 lbs (up to 55.22 kg) - Super Bantamweight
- 118 lbs (up to 53.53 kg) - Bantamweight
- 115 lb (up to 52.16 kg) - Super Flyweight
- 112 lbs (up to 50.8 kg) - Flyweight
- 108 lbs (up to 48.9 kg) - Flyweight
- 105 lbs (up to 47.63 kg) - Minimum weight
Some particularly outstanding boxers - such as Roy Jones Jr., for example, received Championship belts in different organizations and in different weight categories. There is also "weight racers" - boxers, who in normal life weigh more than during the competition - they have to lose excess weight in order to enter your weight class.