Junior bantamweight (also known as super flyweight) is a professional boxing weight class for fighters weighing above 115 pounds (52.2 kg) and up to 118 pounds (53.5 kg).
Here is a breakdown of how the division works, its history, and its current status.
Weight Limits and Names
Depending on the sanctioning organization, this division goes by two different names:
Junior Bantamweight: Used primarily by the WBO (World Boxing Organization) and IBF (International Boxing Federation).
Super Flyweight: Used primarily by the WBC (World Boxing Council) and WBA (World Boxing Association).
It sits directly between the Flyweight division (112 lbs) and the traditional Bantamweight division (118 lbs).
History of the Division
The division was officially established in 1980 to bridge the six-pound gap between flyweight and bantamweight.
First Champion: Venezuela's Rafael Orono became the inaugural champion by winning the WBC super flyweight title in February 1980.
Current Weight Class Landscape
To give you a point of reference, professional boxing weights transition like this:
Division BelowJunior BantamweightDivision AboveFlyweight
(Up to 112 lbs / 50.8 kg)112 to 115 lbs
(50.8 to 52.2 kg)Bantamweight
(Up to 118 lbs / 53.5 kg)