Definition

Noun: 1. A weight class in boxing: A specific category for boxers, both amateur and professional, where the maximum allowable weight is 140 pounds (approximately 63.5 kilograms). This class is positioned between the lightweight and welterweight divisions. 2. A boxer in this weight class: An individual, specifically an amateur boxer, who competes within the 140-pound weight limit.

Usage Examples

• As a weight class:
  • He won the national championship in the light welterweight division.
  • The fight for the light welterweight title is the main event tonight.
• Referring to the boxer:
  • The young light welterweight displayed impressive speed and power.
  • She is the top-ranked amateur light welterweight in the country.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in contrast to other weight classes (e.g., lightweight, welterweight, middleweight) to specify the scale of competition.
• In professional boxing, this weight class is almost universally known as junior welterweight, though "light welterweight" is also an accepted synonym. The amateur designation more commonly uses "light welterweight."

Variants and Related Words

• Junior welterweight (noun): The professional boxing term for the same 140-pound weight class. It is a direct synonym in the professional context.
• Super lightweight (noun): Another, less common, synonym for the 140-pound division.
• Welterweight (noun): The next heavier weight class, with a limit of 147 pounds.
• Lightweight (noun): The next lighter weight class, with a limit of 135 pounds.

Synonyms

• Junior welterweight (for professional boxing)
• Super lightweight

Related Terms and Context

• Weight class / division: The general category to which "light welterweight" belongs.
• Make weight: The act of a boxer meeting the required weight limit for their class (e.g., ).
• Catchweight: A term for a fight agreed upon at a weight outside the standard classes, often used when one fighter is moving between divisions like lightweight and light welterweight.

Noun

1. an amateur boxer who weighs no more than 140 pounds