Middleweight

Middleweight is a weight class used in combat sports, positioned between welterweight and light heavyweight. The exact upper limit and naming can vary by organization, but the term denotes an intermediate category for athletes of moderate to considerable size.

Origin and scope: The word middleweight derives from boxing's traditional ladder of classes in the 19th century, where 'middle' indicated a rank between lighter and heavier divisions. The term is most commonly associated with boxing but is used in several other combat sports to describe a similar range of body mass.

Boxing (professional): The middleweight limit in professional boxing is 160 pounds (72.57 kg). World titles are sanctioned by major bodies such as WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO, with contenders weighed at or below the official limit.

Boxing (amateur): In Olympic-style or amateur boxing, middleweight is typically set at 75 kg (165 pounds).

MMA: In mixed martial arts, 'middleweight' refers to the 185-pound (83.9 kg) class, used by major organizations including the UFC and Bellator. Weight cutting and medical checks accompany weigh-ins.

Other sports: Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and related disciplines use the term as well, but weight ranges are not uniform and differ by sanctioning body or event.