Keskipainoiset

Keskipainoiset is the Finnish term for athletes competing in the middleweight division in combat sports, most commonly in boxing. The word is formed from keskipaino meaning middle weight, and is used in Finnish sports discourse to describe a specific weight category.

In boxing, keskikainoiset or middleweight refers to a division defined by a weight range around the upper 60s to low 70s kilograms. In professional boxing, the middleweight class typically covers athletes weighing between 154 pounds (about 69.9 kg) and 160 pounds (about 72.6 kg), sitting between the light middleweight (also called junior middleweight) and the super welterweight classes. National championships and title bouts in Finland for boxers within this range are conducted under the same standard weight limits as international boxing, though exact limits can be aligned with the governing body in effect at the time.

In mixed martial arts and other combat sports, a similar concept of a middleweight division exists, usually with a higher upper limit around 185 pounds (about 84 kg). The Finnish term keskivainoiset can be used in translated or bilingual contexts to refer to these divisions as well, though usage is most common in boxing discussions.

Historically, the middleweight category emerged as boxing developed standardized weight classes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the term has remained part of Finnish sports terminology since then. Today, keskikainoiset are represented in national federations, clubs, and international competitions where athletes compete within the defined middleweight range.

See also: Weight class, Boxing weight classes, Mixed martial arts weight classes.