MMA Fight for beginers
MMA Glossary of Terms
Achilles Lock or Ankle Lock
A foot lock that exists in many variations where a submission move applied to the joints in the ankle which causes a compression lock to the Achilles tendon, or sometimes also to the calf muscle.
Boxing
The skill or sport of fighting with the fists usually with padded leather gloves. Referred to as the “sweet science,” boxers use elaborate foot maneuvers and quick jabs for offense.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In the mid-1920′s, Carlos Gracie opened the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He taught the skills he learned from Japanese Judo master Esai Maeda. The skills were later modified to use less strength and to be more effective against larger opponents. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s reputation spread due to the success of its practitioners in no holds barred contests.
Choke
A move blocking the carotid artery in the neck where the flow of blood is restricted to the brain. Failing to submit or tap out can put the victim to “sleep,” or a temporary state of unconsciousness.
Clinch
A position in which two fighters are face to face, usually with their arms and upper body locked. This can be used to slow action and/or to protect against strikes. A clinch can also be used for offensive purposes, throwing effective short punches and/or knees from this position.
Double Leg Takedown
A takedown that is accomplished by driving an opponent up and forward by grabbing both of his legs (or ankles), which leads to both contestants going to the ground.
Elbow Strike
A fighter throws an elbow intending to strike the opponent with the point of the elbow.
Eye Gouge
An illegal move where fingers protrude in and around an opponents eye.
Fish Hooking
An illegal move in most forms of mixed martial arts in which a competitor puts his finger into an orifice of an opponent and pulls, with the intent of tearing the skin.
Flying Knee Strike
The fighter jumps up or takes step, springing off one leg and in mid-air switches to the other knee to strike. (A spectacular sight if and when it connects).
Free Style Wrestling
Possibly the world’s oldest sport. Contestants struggle hand to hand attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows. Some of the many styles of wrestling are Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and catch as catch can.
Grappling
Grappling refers to the gripping, handling and controlling of another fighter without the use of striking, typically through the application of various grappling holds and counters to various hold attempts. Grappling can be used in both a standing position, where it is known as stand-up grappling, and on the ground, where it is known as ground grappling.
Greco-Roman Wrestling
Contestants struggle hand to hand attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows. Some of the many styles of wrestling are Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and catch as catch can.
Ground and Pound
A fighter has another fighter in a side mount and throws a series of blows with his forearm and/or fist into his downed opponent’s face. It is a common finishing move.
Guard
A position where a fighter is on his back but is in an advantageous position. A fighter wraps his legs around the opponent at the hips and is in position to go for a joint lock or some type of a choke.
Guillotine Choke
A finishing hold where a fighter meets an attacking opponent and then wraps his forearm around the opponent’s neck and applies pressure to cut off air.
Half Guard
A position where one fighter is on his back and has opponent lying on top of him. The fighter on the bottom generally has both of his legs wrapped around one of his opponent’s legs.
Head Butt
An illegal move in which a fighter uses his head as a weapon to strike an opponent.
Heel Hook
A popular and effective submission hold, which is applied to the heel and achieved by twisting the knee at the joint.
Jiu-Jitsu
Ancient Japanese martial art that encompasses throwing, joint locks, striking, and weapons training.
Judo
Sportive Japanese martial art founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Derived from Jujutsu, Judo is now an Olympic sport that emphasizes throws. Striking is not allowed in competition Judo.
Karate
Name used to identify many Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. While known for powerful, linear techniques, many Karate styles also incorporate softer, circular techniques. Some of the popular styles of Karate are Kyokushinkai, Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, and Kenpo which was the first “Americanized” version of Karate.
Kenpo
A category of mixed martial arts that have a basis in Karate that incorporates Shaolin Kung Fu and/or Kickboxing to make the art more technically complete. Kenpo is a Japanese word that is the translation of the Chinese term “fist law”.
Knee Bar
A submission hold that hyperextends the leg at the knee.
Knee Strike
Fighter thrusts a pointed knee straight upwards toward the opponent.
Kickboxing
Sportive martial art combining boxing punches and martial arts kicks. Many different styles with different rules exist such as Muay Thai, Full Contact Karate, and Asian Rules Fighting.
Kimura
An arm lock similar to a chicken wing often used to end fights named after Masahiko Kimura, a judo expert who fought in the 1950s.
Kung Fu
Also referred to as Gung Fu, Chinese Boxing, and Wu Shu. There are hundreds of Kung Fu styles. Many are patterned after the movements of animals. Some well known styles of Kung Fu are Wing Chun, Praying Mantis, Pau Kua, Tai-Chi-Ch’uan, and Shuai Chiao.
Leg Lock
A leg lock is a joint lock that is directed at joints of the leg such as the ankle, knee or hip joint.
NHB
An abbreviation that stands for no holds barred. It is a term mistakenly used to refer to mixed martial arts fights.
MMA
An abbreviation for mixed martial arts; it is a combat sport in which competitors combine martial arts, wrestling and boxing in bouts normally held in a cage.
Mount
One fighter gets the other flat on his back and then sits on his chest or stomach, preventing the downed man from getting his legs around him and moving into the guard position. It is a dominant position for the man on top, who has the option of using forearms and punches or looking for a submission.
Muay Thai
A form of kickboxing developed in Thailand. Muay Thai allows low kicks, elbows, and knees and ranks as an elite striking art.
Rear Naked Choke
A type of choke that is applied behind an opponent, capturing his back. A rear naked choke is the most advantageous type of choke as far as positioning.
Reversal
Switching from being in a position that is not advantageous to a superior one.
Roundhouse Kick
A roundhouse kick (also known as a round kick or turning kick) is a kick in which the fighter swings the leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot.
Sambo
A Russian martial art that combines elements of wrestling and Japanese Judo. Sambo is known for its submission holds, especially on the legs.
Side Mount
A position where a fighter is laying on his back and the opponent is perpendicular, lying across his chest. It is a very advantageous position for the top fighter and is a spot from which many fights end with the fighter on top throwing forearms or punches.
Single Leg Takedown
A takedown that is accomplished by driving an opponent up and forward by grabbing one of his legs (or ankles), which leads to both contestants going to the ground.
Small Joint Manipulation
Illegal submission holds where one twists pops or hyper extends a small joint, such as the fingers or toes.
Southpaw
A left handed fighter.
Standup
When a fighter goes into a boxing stance and prefers to throw punches at his opponent.
Striking
The act of a fighter hitting an opponent using an arm, hand, elbow, foot, leg, or knee.
Tae Kwon Do
One of the most practiced martial arts in the world, Tae Kwon Do is a Korean style known for its flashy kicking techniques. Tap or tap-out: A manner of ending a match in which the losing fighter concedes defeat. He either verbally concedes to the referee or taps on the mat or on his opponent’s back to signify his surrender.
Take Down
The act of putting your opponent to the floor via tackle, sweep, Greco-throw, or other technique, typically involving the legs.
Tap Out
An act of submission where fighter “gives up” due to being captured in a submission hold or enduring continual striking. The fighter physically taps the mat to signal to an opponent and/or the referee to avoid going unconscious or bodily harm.
Triangle Choke
A type of chokehold that can be done with either the legs or the arms but is primarily used with the legs. It is often used by a fighter from his guard. The fighter on the bottom wraps his legs around his opponent’s neck in a triangular manner and cuts off the opponent’s air. It is often more effective when the head is pulled down.
Vale Tudo
Portuguese for “anything goes.” This term is made in reference to the “no holds barred” fighting that began in Brazil.
Wrestling
Contestants struggle hand to hand attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows.
Mixed martial arts weight classes:
are weight classes that pertain to the sport of mixed martial arts.
Organizations will often adopt their own rules for weight limits, causing ambiguity in the sport regarding how a weight class should be defined. For a variety of reasons (largely historical), weight classes of the same name can be of vastly different weights. For example, a boxing Middleweight weighs up to 160 pounds, a UFC Middleweight upper limit is 185 lb, and a Pride Middleweight upper limit was 93 kg (205 lb).
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[edit] United States
Prior to state sanctioning, weight classes were not mandatory since the competitions were held without the approval of the athletic commissions. For instance, the Ultimate Fighting Championship introduced two weight classes at UFC 12: heavyweight, which grouped competitors above 200 lb (91 kg), and lightweight, which grouped competitors under 200 lb.Weight divisions underwent many changes in the ensuing years, but the ability of promotions to autonomously decide their own weight classes eventually disappeared after athletic commissions began supervising mixed martial arts.
In 2000, the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were codified by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission – working with the California State Athletic Commission, who had worked extensively on regulation, but its sanctioning of MMA was not implemented due to state governmental issues surrounding the budgeting process.[1] California officially sanctioned MMA on December 28, 2005, using the ruleset it helped devise five years previously.[2]
Since then, to create uniformity, all state commissions in the United States that regulate mixed martial arts have assimilated these rules into their existing unarmed combat competition rules and statutes. For a promotion to hold mixed martial arts events in a state-sanctioned venue, the promotion must abide by the state athletic commission's body of rules for weight limits.
In July 2008, a change to the existing classes was proposed to the Association of Boxing Commissions to expand the weight classes to 14, with most classes 10 pounds apart and a division of the current 205–265 lb heavyweight class into two. The proposals were met with resistance from various quarters, including from the UFC and several state athletic commissions.[3] The proposed classes were later rejected by the ABC.[4]
[edit] Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts
The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts designate limits for nine different weight classes in mixed martial arts. Fighters must be weighed in pounds (lb):[5]| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Flyweight | 125 | 56.7 |
| Bantamweight | 135 | 61.2 |
| Featherweight | 145 | 65.8 |
| Lightweight | 155 | 70.3 |
| Welterweight | 170 | 77.1 |
| Middleweight | 185 | 83.9 |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 | 93.0 |
| Heavyweight | 265 | 120.2 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] Non-codified states and exceptions
In the following states, professional MMA is legal but is not regulated by a local commission: Alaska and Wyoming.[6]Promotions that hold events on Indian reservations are under the jurisdiction of independent athletic commissions. Many of these commissions are under the umbrella of the Native American Sports Council.
[edit] King of the Cage
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Junior Flyweight | 125 | 56.7 |
| Flyweight | 135 | 61.2 |
| Bantamweight | 145 | 65.8 |
| Lightweight | 155 | 70.3 |
| Junior Welterweight | 160 | 72.5 |
| Welterweight | 170 | 77.1 |
| Middleweight | 185 | 83.9 |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 | 93.0 |
| Cruiserweight | 230 | 104.3 |
| Heavyweight | 265 | 120.2 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] IFC
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Bantamweight | 135 | 61.2 |
| Featherweight | 145 | 65.8 |
| Lightweight | 155 | 70.3 |
| Welterweight | 170 | 77.1 |
| Middleweight | 185 | 83.9 |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 | 93.0 |
| Cruiserweight | 230 | 104.3 |
| Heavyweight | 265 | 120.2 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] Russia
[edit] M-1 Global
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms (kg) | in pounds (lb) | |
| Lightweight | 70 | 155 |
| Welterweight | 77 | 170 |
| Middleweight | 84 | 185 |
| Light Heavyweight | 93 | 205 |
| Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] Canada
[edit] MFC
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Lightweight | 155 | 70 |
| Welterweight | 170 | 77 |
| Middleweight | 185 | 84 |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 | 93 |
| Heavyweight | 225 | 102 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] Japan
With no state or government laws regarding weight class restrictions, Japanese organizations are free to schedule bouts with little regard for weight differential. However, due to the increasingly competitive nature of the sport, weight is often seen as an unfair advantage over a smaller competitor; therefore, weight limits have been set by the promotions themselves. These limits differ from organization to organization. Japan uses the metric system.[edit] Dream
Dream's weight categories go by similar guidelines as the Unified Rules, differing only by a few pounds. It was announced that in 2011 Dream will create a new Bantamweight class at 61 kg, and the Featherweight class will be raised to 65 kg (instead of 63 kg).[10]| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms (kg) | in pounds (lb) | |
| Bantamweight | 61 | 134 |
| Featherweight | 65 | 143 |
| Lightweight | 70 | 154 |
| Welterweight | 76 | 168 |
| Middleweight | 84 | 185 |
| Light Heavyweight | 93 | 205 |
| Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] Shooto
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms (kg) | in pounds (lb) | |
| Flyweight | 52 | 115 |
| Bantamweight | 56 | 123 |
| Featherweight | 60 | 132 |
| Lightweight | 65 | 143 |
| Welterweight | 70 | 154 |
| Middleweight | 76 | 168 |
| Light Heavyweight | 83 | 183 |
| Cruiserweight | 91 | 201 |
| Heavyweight | 100 | 220 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] United Kingdom
With no state or government laws regarding weight class restrictions, British organizations are free to schedule bouts with little regard for weight differential. However, due to the increasingly competitive nature of the sport, weight is often seen as an unfair advantage over a smaller competitor; therefore, weight limits have been set by the promotions themselves. These limits differ from organization to organization.[edit] BAMMA
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms | in pounds | |
| Featherweight | 66 kg | 145 lb |
| Lightweight | 70 kg | 155 lb |
| Welterweight | 77 kg | 170 lb |
| Middleweight | 84 kg | 185 lb |
| Light Heavyweight | 93 kg | 205 lb |
| Heavyweight | 120 kg | 265 lb |
[edit] Germany
With no state or government laws regarding weight class restrictions, German organizations are free to schedule bouts with little regard for weight differential. However, due to the increasingly competitive nature of the sport, weight is often seen as an unfair advantage over a smaller competitor; therefore, weight limits have been set by the promotions themselves. These limits differ from organization to organization. Germany uses the metric system.[edit] RESPECT.FC
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms | in pounds | |
| Flyweight | 57 kg | 125 lb |
| Bantamweight | 61 kg | 135 lb |
| Featherweight | 66 kg | 145 lb |
| Lightweight | 70 kg | 155 lb |
| Light Welterweight | 73 kg | 160 lb |
| Welterweight | 77 kg | 170 lb |
| Light Middleweight | 80 kg | 175 lb |
| Middleweight | 84 kg | 185 lb |
| Light Heavyweight | 93 kg | 205 lb |
| Heavyweight | 120 kg | 265 lb |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
[edit] Women
The unified weight division system for women has not been designated yet, so the organizations adopts their own rules for weight limits.[edit] Strikeforce
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Welterweight | 135 | 61.2 |
| Middleweight | 145 | 65.8 |
[edit] Valkyrie
Valkyrie sanctions champions for only women, and it sets 5 weight divisions.| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms | in pounds | |
| Flyweight | 45.4 kg | 100 lb |
| Bantamweight | 48.5 kg | 107 lb |
| Featherweight | 52.2 kg | 115 lb |
| Lightweight | 56.7 kg | 125 lb |
| Welterweight | 61.2 kg | 135 lb |
[edit] Deep
Deep sanctions champions for both of men and women, and Deep currently sanctions at 2 weight divisions.| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms | in pounds | |
| Flyweight | 45 kg | 100 lb |
| Lightweight | 48 kg | 105 lb |
[edit] References
- ^ New Jersey Commission Corrects Mainstream UFC Stories. Ivan's Blog, formerly posted on MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
- ^ California Legalizes MMA Events. martialarts.about.com. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
- ^ MMAJunkie.com, MMaJunkie.com
- ^ [1]
- ^ Nevada Administrative Code: Chapter 467 – Unarmed Combat. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ "In What USA States Are Kickboxing and or MMA Legal?". International Fight Sports. http://www.ifightsports.com/USAStates.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ Loiseleur, Tony (2011-04-20). "‘Dream: Fight For Japan’ Bantamweight Tournament Bracket Set". Sherdog.com. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Dream-Fight-For-Japan-Bantamweight-Tournament-Bracket-Set-31784. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ^ BAMMA official website
- ^ RESPECT.FC Weightclasses RESPECT.FC website. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
[edit] See also
names and its system are not unified at all, so each weight division system of every kickboxing organization is shown in this article.
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[edit] World Kickboxing Association (WKA)
[edit] Amateur
There are 11 classes for males.
| There are 7 classes for females.
|
[edit] Professional
Males and females follow the same weight division system.| Name | lb | kg |
| Flyweight | below 112 | below 50.5 |
| Super flyweight | 112–115 | 50.5–52.0 |
| Bantamweight | 115–118 | 52.0–53.5 |
| Super bantamweight | 118–122 | 53.5–55.5 |
| Featherweight | 122–126 | 55.5–57.0 |
| Super featherweight | 126–130 | 57.3–59.0 Ben Rowan English champion |
| Lightweight | 130–135 | 59.0–61.5 |
| Super lightweight | 135–140 | 61.5–63.5 |
| Welterweight | 140–147 | 63.5–67.0 |
| Super welterweight | 147–154 | 66.8–70.0 |
| Middleweight | 154–160 | 70.0–72.5 |
| Super middleweight | 160–167 | 72.5–76.0 |
| Light heavyweight | 167–174 | 75.9–79.0 |
| Super light heavyweight | 174–183 | 79.0–83.2 |
| Cruiserweight | 183–189 | 83.2–85.9 |
| Super cruiserweight | 189–198 | 85.9–90.0 |
| Heavyweight | 198–209 | 90.0–95.0 |
| Super heavyweight | above 209 | above 95.0 |
[edit] International Kickboxing Federation (IKF)
There are 17 classes for males.
| There are 10 classes for females.
|
[edit] International Sport Karate Association (ISKA)
There are 20 classes for males.
| There are 11 classes for females.
|
[edit] See also
In boxing,
a weight class is a standardized weight range for boxers. The upper weight limit for each class is the lower limit of the next higher class. The top class, with no upper limit, is called heavyweight in professional boxingsuper heavyweight[1] in amateur boxing. A boxing match is usually scheduled for a fixed weight class, and each boxer's weight must not exceed the upper limit. An amateur boxer's weight must in addition not fall below the lower limit,[2] although pro boxers may fight above their weight class. A nonstandard weight limit is called a catch weight. A catch weight may be agreed for an individual bout—sometimes even for a championship bout—but championships are awarded only at the standard weight classes. and
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The weigh-in
A professional boxer typically weighs more between fights than at the time of a fight. Part of the process of training for a bout is "getting down to fighting weight". The weigh-in takes place the day before the fight. Boxers typically stand on the scales barefoot and without gloves. The weigh-in is often a photo opportunity and boxers or their entourage may trash talk each other. This element is such a valued part of the build-up that heavyweight boxers go through the ritual of being weighed even though there is no limit to be measured against.A boxer who is over the weight limit may strip naked to make the weight if the excess is minimal; otherwise, in a professional bout, one can try again later, typically after losing weight in the interim through dehydration by vigorous exercise in a steam room. If the excess weight is too great, the effort expended trying to "make weight" will make the boxer unfit for the fight itself. In such cases, the fight may be cancelled, with the over weight boxer sanctioned; or the fight may proceed as a catch weight non-title fight.
An amateur boxer must make the weight at the initial weigh-in; there is no opportunity to try again later.[3] There is a "general weigh-in" before the start of the tournament and a "daily weigh-in" on the morning of each of a fighter's bouts.[2] At the general weigh-in, the fighter must be between the weight class's upper and lower limits; at the daily weigh-in only the upper limit is enforced.[2] A fighter outside the limit at the initial weigh-in may be allowed to fight in a different class if there is space in the tournament.[4] At major events such as Boxing at the Olympics, there is a limit of one boxer per country per weight class.[5]
Culture
A boxer may fight different bouts at different weight classes. The trend for professionals is to move up to a higher class as they age. Winning titles at multiple weight classes to become a "multiple champion" is considered a major achievement. In amateur boxing, bouts are much shorter and much more frequent, and boxers fight at their "natural" weight.One boxer is said to be better "pound for pound" than another if he is considered superior with due regard for their difference in weight. Theoretical comparisons of the merits of boxers in different weight classes are a popular topic for boxing fans, with a similar speculative appeal to comparing sports figures from different eras; in both cases, the competitors could never face each other in reality.
History
In the early nineteenth century, there were no standard weight classes. In 1823, the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue said the limit for a "light weight" was 12 stone (168 lb) while Sportsman's Slang the same year gave 11 stone (154 lb) as the limit.[6] Size mismatches were dangerous for the smaller boxer and unsatisfying for the spectators. National and world titles could only become recognised if standard weight classes were agreed upon. Important sets of weight classes were those specified in 1909 by the National Sporting Club of London, and those contained in the 1920 Walker Law which established the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC).After the split in the 1960s between the WBC and the WBA, the divisions were narrowed, creating more champions simultaneously, and making it easier for fighters to move between different weight divisions. Among the professional bodies, the names of the new divisions are not standardized between different sanctioning bodies, although the cutoff weights are. These weights are specified in pounds, reflecting the historic dominance of America (and, earlier, Britain) in the sport.
Professional boxing
This table gives names and limits recognised by the four widely-regarded sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO)[7] and the label used in Boxrec.com's data.The date is that since which a continuous world title has been recognised by a major sanctioning body; some classes had earlier champions recognised intermittently or by minor bodies. One current weight class with only minor recognition is "super-cruiserweight"; widely used as an informal descriptor, it is a formal weight class of the lightly regarded (professional) International Boxing Association at a limit of 210 lb; the IBA's cruiserweight limit is 190 lb.[8]
| Weight limit (lb / kg) | Continuous since | WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | BoxRec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unlimited | 1885 | Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Heavyweight |
| 200 / 90.7 | 1980[t 1] | Cruiserweight | Cruiserweight | Cruiserweight | Junior heavyweight | Cruiserweight |
| 175 / 79.4 | 1913 | Light heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Light heavyweight | Light heavyweight |
| 168 / 76.2 | 1984 | Super middleweight | Super middleweight | Super middleweight | Super middleweight | Super middleweight |
| 160 / 72.6 | 1884 | Middleweight | Middleweight | Middleweight | Middleweight | Middleweight |
| 154 / 69.9 | 1962 | Super welterweight | Super welterweight | Junior middleweight | Junior middleweight | Light middleweight |
| 147 / 66.7 | 1914 | Welterweight | Welterweight | Welterweight | Welterweight | Welterweight |
| 140 / 63.5 | 1959 | Super lightweight | Super lightweight | Junior welterweight | Junior welterweight | Light welterweight |
| 135 / 61.2 | 1886 | Lightweight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Lightweight |
| 130 / 59.0 | 1959 | Super featherweight | Super featherweight | Junior lightweight | Junior lightweight | Super featherweight |
| 126 / 57.2 | 1889 | Featherweight | Featherweight | Featherweight | Featherweight | Featherweight |
| 122 / 55.3 | 1976 | Super bantamweight | Super bantamweight | Junior featherweight | Junior featherweight | Super bantamweight |
| 118 / 53.5 | 1894 | Bantamweight | Bantamweight | Bantamweight | Bantamweight | Bantamweight |
| 115 / 52.2 | 1980 | Super flyweight | Super flyweight | Junior bantamweight | Junior bantamweight | Super flyweight |
| 112 / 50.8 | 1911 | Flyweight | Flyweight | Flyweight | Flyweight | Flyweight |
| 108 / 49.0 | 1975 | Light flyweight | Light flyweight | Junior flyweight | Junior flyweight | Light flyweight |
| 105 / 47.6 | 1987 | Minimumweight | Strawweight | Mini flyweight | Mini flyweight | Minimumweight |
- ^ Original limit 190 lb; raised to 200 lb in 2003
Amateur boxing
Main article: Boxing at the Summer Olympics
When the (amateur) International Boxing Association (AIBA) was founded in 1946 to govern amateur boxing, it metrified the weight class limits by rounding them to the nearest kilogram. Subsequent alterations as outlined in the boxing at the Summer Olympics article; these have introduced further discrepancies between amateur and professional class limits and names. The lower weight classes are to be adjusted in September 2010, to establish an absolute minimum weight for adult boxers.[1]Amateur weight classes also specify the minimum weight (which the same as the maximum weight of the next highest class).[1] For safety reasons, fighters cannot fight at a higher weight. This also meant that even the heaviest weight class has a limit, albeit a lower bound. The lower limit for "heavyweight" was established in 1948 at 81 kg. When a new limit of 91+kg was established in 1984, the name "heavyweight" was kept by the 81+kg class, and the 91+kg class was named "super heavyweight", a name not currently used in professional boxing.
Classes are as follows:[9]
| Class name | Weight class limit (kg) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men (old) | Men (new) | Women (old) | Women (new) | Junior | |
| Super heavyweight | Unlimited | Unlimited | — | — | — |
| Heavyweight | 81–91 | 81–91 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Light heavyweight | 75–81 | 75–81 | 75–81 | 75–81 | 75–80 |
| Middleweight | 69–75 | 69–75 | 69–75 | 69–75 | 70–75 |
| Light Middleweight | — | — | — | — | 66–70 |
| Welterweight | 64–69 | 64–69 | 64–69 | 64–69 | 63–66 |
| Light welterweight | 60–64 | 60–64 | 60–64 | 60–64 | 60–63 |
| Lightweight | 57–60 | 56–60 | 57–60 | 57–60 | 57–60 |
| Featherweight | 54–57 | — | 54–57 | 54–57 | 54–57 |
| Bantamweight | 51–54 | 52–56 | 51–54 | 51–54 | 52–54 |
| Light Bantamweight | — | — | — | — | 50–52 |
| Flyweight | 48–51 | 49–52 | 48–51 | 48–51 | 48–50 |
| Light flyweight | 46–48 | 46–49 | 46-48 | 45-48 | 46-48 |
| Pinweight | — | — | 44–46 | — | 44–46 |
References
- "Technical & Competition Rules; Effective from March 24, 2011" (PDF). AIBA. March 24, 2011. http://www.aiba.org/documents/site1/docs/AIBA_technical_and_competition_rules_24mar2011_english.pdf. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
Notes
- ^ a b c AIBA, Technical & Competition Rules, §1.2 & Appendix K
- ^ a b c AIBA, Technical & Competition Rules, §5.1
- ^ AIBA, Technical & Competition Rules, §6.1
- ^ AIBA, Technical & Competition Rules, §6
- ^ AIBA, Technical & Competition Rules, §2.2
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "light weight".
- ^ ESPN - Reigning Champions - Boxing
- ^ Men's champions International Boxing Association
- ^ AIBA, Terminology for Weight Categories and Weight Range, Appendix K, page 63
- ^ AIBA, Technical & Competition Rules, §7.6
