Previous to the 1880s it would be a wasted effort to attempt to get a grasp on boxings weight divisions. If there was a 40lb+ gap between contenders, which was not at all uncommon, it was considered a heavyweight fight.
Pre 1880s there were really only two divisions: bantam ?up to 112 lbs, and heavyweight ?anything over 154 lbs. What about in between? A gray area to say the least where weight didn’t really seem to matter except of course to the promoters who were trying to position their fighter at a better weight to win at.
The weight strategy played over a century ago wasn’t very much different after the adoption of recognized weight classes and it even continued to todays promoters and pugilists, as “catch-weights?seem to be back in style again (or perhaps I should say never went out of style).
It was not until 1888 that weight classes could be seen after boxinguniversally adopted the Queensbury rules. Under these rules the recognized weight classes were: bantam, feather, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight.
At this time the champion could stipulate the the weight limit. Thus “catch-weights?could first be seen, and managers really earned their paychecks from trying to position the weights of their champions to give the best advantage.
Most notorious for it was non other than Tom O’Rourke. When managing his featherweight champion George Dixon one can see the title on the line anywhere from 114lbs to 126lbs depending on opponent.
Another example of O’Rourkes fine managing skills would be his welterweightchampion Joe (Barbados) Walcott who even managed to fight above the welter limited with the title on the line.
Promoters, managers, referees, trainers, and fighters eventually revolted against these practices and brought about definite weight classes that were enforced around 1890 with Lord Lonsdale leading the way.
Eventually Lonsdale gave out title belts made by his National Sporting Club that were 22 karat gold and the Lonsdale brand can still be seen in the ring today whether its belts, clothing, or fight gear.
The 1890 weight classes were recognized as:
Paperweight ?up to 95lbs
Bantamweight ?up to 112lbs
Featherweight ?up to 118lbs
Lightweight ?up to 132lbs
Welterweight ?up to 144lbs
Middleweight ?up to 154lbs
Heavyweight ?over 154lbs
After these weight classes were established they were still frequently tinkered with by promoters and managers, albeit typically only by a couple pounds.
It was not until 1903 that boxing saw its first light heavyweight classestablished when Lou Housman, manager of Jack Root, figured his man was too small to compete with top heavyweights seeing as he was typically scaling in the 160s.
Boxing weight classes were then further being slightly distorted here and there until 1910 when the British collaborated with Americans to make a universal set of weight classes that would not be altered anymore.
After careful debates and consideration on a list of 20 weight classes submitted by both sides, the following were adopted throughout the boxing world:
Paperweight ?up to 105 lbs
Flyweight ?up to 112lbs
Bantamweight ?up to 116lbs
Featherweight ?up to 122lbs
Lightweight ?up to 133lbs
Welterweight ?up to 142lbs
Middleweight ?up to 154lbs
Light Heavyweight ?up to 165lbs
Heavyweight ?over 165lbs
Although times have changed a bit, as sports science/nutrition has allowed for larger athletes, the original inception of the weight classes was quite a process to undertake.
The avid boxing fan can take a look at the universally accepted weight classes the British and Americans hashed out and get a general understanding of where todays limits came from, even though they were of course further changed afterwards.
Can any of my fellow historians think of anything to add, or thoughts?
- Kid Hersh
Pre 1880s there were really only two divisions: bantam ?up to 112 lbs, and heavyweight ?anything over 154 lbs. What about in between? A gray area to say the least where weight didn’t really seem to matter except of course to the promoters who were trying to position their fighter at a better weight to win at.
The weight strategy played over a century ago wasn’t very much different after the adoption of recognized weight classes and it even continued to todays promoters and pugilists, as “catch-weights?seem to be back in style again (or perhaps I should say never went out of style).
It was not until 1888 that weight classes could be seen after boxinguniversally adopted the Queensbury rules. Under these rules the recognized weight classes were: bantam, feather, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight.
At this time the champion could stipulate the the weight limit. Thus “catch-weights?could first be seen, and managers really earned their paychecks from trying to position the weights of their champions to give the best advantage.
Most notorious for it was non other than Tom O’Rourke. When managing his featherweight champion George Dixon one can see the title on the line anywhere from 114lbs to 126lbs depending on opponent.
Another example of O’Rourkes fine managing skills would be his welterweightchampion Joe (Barbados) Walcott who even managed to fight above the welter limited with the title on the line.
Promoters, managers, referees, trainers, and fighters eventually revolted against these practices and brought about definite weight classes that were enforced around 1890 with Lord Lonsdale leading the way.
Eventually Lonsdale gave out title belts made by his National Sporting Club that were 22 karat gold and the Lonsdale brand can still be seen in the ring today whether its belts, clothing, or fight gear.
The 1890 weight classes were recognized as:
Paperweight ?up to 95lbs
Bantamweight ?up to 112lbs
Featherweight ?up to 118lbs
Lightweight ?up to 132lbs
Welterweight ?up to 144lbs
Middleweight ?up to 154lbs
Heavyweight ?over 154lbs
After these weight classes were established they were still frequently tinkered with by promoters and managers, albeit typically only by a couple pounds.
It was not until 1903 that boxing saw its first light heavyweight classestablished when Lou Housman, manager of Jack Root, figured his man was too small to compete with top heavyweights seeing as he was typically scaling in the 160s.
Boxing weight classes were then further being slightly distorted here and there until 1910 when the British collaborated with Americans to make a universal set of weight classes that would not be altered anymore.
After careful debates and consideration on a list of 20 weight classes submitted by both sides, the following were adopted throughout the boxing world:
Paperweight ?up to 105 lbs
Flyweight ?up to 112lbs
Bantamweight ?up to 116lbs
Featherweight ?up to 122lbs
Lightweight ?up to 133lbs
Welterweight ?up to 142lbs
Middleweight ?up to 154lbs
Light Heavyweight ?up to 165lbs
Heavyweight ?over 165lbs
Although times have changed a bit, as sports science/nutrition has allowed for larger athletes, the original inception of the weight classes was quite a process to undertake.
The avid boxing fan can take a look at the universally accepted weight classes the British and Americans hashed out and get a general understanding of where todays limits came from, even though they were of course further changed afterwards.
Can any of my fellow historians think of anything to add, or thoughts?
- Kid Hersh
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