Amateur Boxing Weight Classes (A Closer Look)

Amateur boxing is practiced at the collegiate level, the Olympic Games, and other venues. It has millions of practitioners worldwide competing in various weight divisions.

The International Boxing Association (the sport’s regulating body established in 1946) recognizes 14 weight divisions in amateur boxing, as shown below.

  • Minimumweight
  • Light flyweight
  • Flyweight
  • Bantamweight
  • Featherweight
  • Lightweight
  • Light welterweight
  • Welterweight
  • Light middleweight
  • Middleweight
  • Light heavyweight
  • Cruiserweight
  • Heavyweight
  • Super heavyweight

Continue reading to learn more about the various weight divisions for men and women in amateur boxing. Stay tuned!

What Are the Amateur Boxing Weight Classes?

Amateur boxing employs several weight classes to ensure that boxers compete in a fair and safe environment against opponents of similar size and strength.

However, If there is a weight difference, larger and more powerful fighters would have a significant advantage over smaller ones.

There are 14 weight classes for amateur boxers recognized by the International Boxing Association.

Amateur Boxing Weight Classes in Kilograms

Amateur boxing weight classMen’s weight limitWomen’s weight limitJunior’s weight limit
Minimumweight46 to 48 kg45 to 48 kg44 to 46 kg
Light flyweight50 kg48 kg
Flyweight51 kg52 kg50 kg
Bantamweight54 kg54 kg52 kg
Featherweight57 kg57 kg54 kg
Lightweight60 kg60 kg57 kg
Light welterweight63.5 kg63 kg60 kg
Welterweight67 kg66 kg63 kg
Light middleweight71 kg70 kg66 kg
Middleweight75 kg75 kg70 kg
Light heavyweight80 kg81 kg75 kg
Cruiserweight86 kg
Heavyweight92 kg+ 81 kg80 kg
Super heavyweight+ 92 kg+ 80 kg

Amateur Boxing Weight Classes in Pounds

Amateur boxing weight classMen’s Weight limitWomen’s weight limitJunior’s weight limit
Minimumweight101.4 to 105.8 lbs99.2 to 105.8 lbs97.0 to 101.4 lbs
Light flyweight110.2 lbs105.8 lbs
Flyweight112.4 lbs114.6 lbs110.2 lbs
Bantamweight119.0 lbs119.0 lbs114.6 lbs
Featherweight125.7 lbs125.7 lbs 119.0 lbs
Lightweight132.3 lbs132.3 lbs125.7 lbs
Light welterweight140.0 lbs138.9 lbs132.3 lbs
Welterweight147.7 lbs145.5 lbs138.9 lbs
Light middleweight156.5 lbs154.3 lbs145.5 lbs
Middleweight165.3 lbs165.3 lbs154.3 lbs
Light heavyweight176.4 lbs178.6 lbs165.3 lbs
Cruiserweight189.6 lbs
Heavyweight202.8 lbs+ 178.6 lbs176.4 lbs
Super heavyweight+ 202.8 lbs+ 176.4 lb

Amateur Boxing Weight Divisions for Men

Amateur boxing has 13 weight divisions for men recognized by the International Boxing Association (IBA), as shown in the table below.

Men’s amateur boxing weight classWeight limit in kilogramsWeight limit in pounds
Minimumweight46 to 48 kg101.4 to 105.8 lbs
Flyweight51 kg112.4 lbs
Bantamweight54 kg119.0 lbs
Featherweight57 kg125.7 lbs
Lightweight60 kg132.3 lbs
Light welterweight63.5 kg140.0 lbs
Welterweight67 kg147.7 lbs
Light middleweight71 kg156.5 lbs
Middleweight75 kg165.3 lbs
Light heavyweight80 kg176.4 lbs
Cruiserweight86 kg189.6 lbs
Heavyweight92 kg202.8 lbs
Super heavyweight+ 92 kg+ 202.8 lbs

Amateur Boxing Weight Categories for Women

Amateur boxing has 12 weight divisions for women recognized by the International Boxing Association, as displayed in the table below.

Women’s amateur boxing weight classWeight limit in kilogramsWeight limit in pounds
Minimumweight45 to 48 kg99.2 to 105.8 lbs
Light flyweight50 kg110.2 lbs
Flyweight52 kg114.6 lbs
Bantamweight54 kg119.0 lbs
Featherweight57 kg125.7 lbs
Lightweight60 kg132.3 lbs
Light welterweight63 kg138.9 lbs
Welterweight66 kg145.5 lbs
Light middleweight70 kg154.3 lbs
Middleweight75 kg165.3 lbs
Light heavyweight81 kg178.6 lbs
Heavyweight+ 81 kg+ 178.6 lbs

Amateur Boxing Weight Divisions for Junior

The International Boxing Association employs 13 weight divisions for junior amateur boxers, as shown in the table below.

Junior’s amateur boxing weight classesWeight Limit in kilogramsWeight limit in pounds
Minimumweight44 to 46 kg97.0 to 101.4 lbs
Light flyweight48 kg105.8 lbs
Flyweight50 kg110.2 lbs
Light bantamweight52 kg114.6 lbs
Bantamweight54 kg 119.0 lbs
Featherweight57 kg125.7 lbs
Lightweight60 kg132.3 lbs
Light welterweight63 kg138.9 lbs
Welterweight66 kg145.5 lbs
Light middleweight70 kg154.3 lbs
Middleweight75 kg165.3 lbs
Light heavyweight80 kg176.4 lbs
Heavyweight+ 80 kg+ 176.4 lb

Conclusion

Boxing is a well-known striking martial art performed worldwide, with two outstanding disciplines: amateur and professional. Although it has a long history, its popularity skyrocketed in the twentieth century.

Related article: A Simple Guide to Professional Boxing Weight Classes

Amateur boxing is more common in the Summer Olympics and collegiate games. Otherwise, it utilizes many weight classes for its contestants, similar to other fighting sports, to provide a level playing field for all combatants while preventing severe injuries.

Here is a recap of the 14 weight divisions in amateur boxing recognized by the IBA (International Boxing Association).

Amateur boxing weight classMen’s weight limit in kilogramsWomen’s weight limit in kilogramsJunior’s weight limit in kilograms
Minimumweight46 to 48 kg45 to 48 kg44 to 46 kg
Light flyweight50 kg48 kg
Flyweight51 kg52 kg50 kg
Bantamweight54 kg54 kg52 kg
Featherweight57 kg57 kg54 kg
Lightweight60 kg60 kg57 kg
Light welterweight63.5 kg63 kg60 kg
Welterweight67 kg66 kg63 kg
Light middleweight71 kg70 kg66 kg
Middleweight75 kg75 kg70 kg
Light heavyweight80 kg81 kg75 kg
Cruiserweight86 kg
Heavyweight92 kg+ 81 kg80 kg
Super heavyweight+ 92 kg+ 80 kg

We hope this article has assisted you in understanding the diverse weight divisions in amateur boxing.

Recommended article: MMA Weight Classes (A Closer Look)

References