What the finder does
Boxers fight in divisions set by weight. The weight class finder places a weight in one of those divisions.
You enter a weight in pounds or kilograms. The finder shows the division it falls into and the limits either side. A table lists seventeen professional divisions, from Minimumweight up to Heavyweight, and highlights the row that matches.
It helps when you read a weigh-in and can't place the number straight away. Is 71.5kg still super welterweight, or has the fighter moved up to middleweight?
The finder uses the standard division limits. A bout made at a catchweight won't match them, and the finder has no way to know about one.
How the divisions grew
The first divisions were set in the early days of gloved boxing. Promoters and sanctioning bodies added more over the years to fill the gaps. The WBC created cruiserweight in 1979, between light heavyweight and heavyweight. Super middleweight followed in the 1980s.
The WBC has since added bridgerweight, between cruiserweight and heavyweight. It isn't in the finder's table.
Catchweight bouts
A catchweight fight is made at a limit the two camps agree. Usually one fighter is moving up or down and neither side wants the full jump. When you check a weight for one of these bouts, the limit in the fight contract is the one that counts.
One division, two names
The WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO sometimes give the same division different names. Junior lightweight and super featherweight are the same weight, for example. The finder uses the super names, so a fight billed at junior lightweight shows up as super featherweight.
Using the finder well
Use the weigh-in weight for the fight, rather than a fighter's usual walking-around weight. Some fighters cut a lot of weight the day before. A few habits help:
- Check the weight against the weigh-in for that fight.
- Look out for a bout announced at a catchweight, which the finder can't flag.
- Use the fight calendar to see which fights are coming up.
Where to go next
To set two fighters side by side, try the fighter comparison tool. The articles section has the background to upcoming fights, including fighters moving between divisions.