Junior middleweight—also commonly known as super welterweight or light middleweight—is a professional boxing weight class situated between the welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Here is a breakdown of how the division works, its weight limits, and its current landscape.
Weight Limits
To compete in this division, a boxer's weight at the official weigh-in must fall within a specific 154-pound limit:
Maximum Weight: 154 pounds (69.9 kg)
Minimum Weight: Over 147 pounds (66.7 kg)
Division Names by Governing Body
Different boxing organizations use slightly different names for this exact same weight limit:
Super Welterweight: Used by the WBA (World Boxing Association) and WBC (World Boxing Council).
Junior Middleweight: Used by the IBF (International Boxing Federation) and The Ring magazine.
Light Middleweight: Used by the WBO (World Boxing Organization) and in Olympic/amateur boxing.
Historical Context & Characteristics
The division was officially recognized in 1962 when the Austrian Board of Control sanctioned a title bout, which was later adopted by the major governing bodies.
Historically, it is considered one of boxing's most exciting "bridge" divisions. It often plays host to welterweights moving up in weight looking for bigger challenges, or middleweights moving down.