bantamweight

Bantamweight is a weight class used in combat sports to categorize competitors by body mass. The term is most closely associated with professional boxing, but it is also used in mixed martial arts and other disciplines. The name alludes to bantam chickens, invoking a sense of agility and combative spirit suitable for lighter, quicker fighters.

In professional boxing, bantamweight has an upper limit of 118 pounds (53.5 kilograms). It sits between flyweight (below) and featherweight (above) in the traditional divisional ladder. Many boxing organizations also recognize related classes such as junior bantamweight (also called super flyweight) at 115 pounds and super bantamweight at 122 pounds, providing a nuanced ladder for fighters near the bantamweight boundary. World titles in boxing are conferred by multiple sanctioning bodies, including the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF, sometimes with multiple versions of a title.

In mixed martial arts, bantamweight typically refers to a 135-pound (61.2 kg) class, used by major promotions such as the UFC. The term is also used in other combat sports with weight-based divisions, though exact limits can vary by sport and organization.

The concept of bantamweight has a long history in sport, reflecting the broader practice of dividing competitors into weight classes to promote fair competition and safety. Notable athletes associated with bantamweight include Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, and Naoya Inoue, who have been prominent figures in boxing’s bantamweight landscape.