The junior welterweight division (also commonly known as super lightweight or light welterweight) is a professional boxing weight class that sits between the lightweight and welterweight divisions.
Here is everything you need to know about the division explained simply.
⚖️ The Weight Limit
The weight limit for junior welterweight is 140 pounds (63.5 kg).
Fighters must weigh more than the lightweight limit of 135 pounds.
Fighters cannot weigh more than 140 pounds at the official weigh-in, which usually takes place the day before the fight.
🥊 Historical Context & Name Confusion
The division has a slightly confusing naming system because different major boxing sanctioning bodies use different names for it:
Super Lightweight: Used by the WBC (World Boxing Council) and WBA (World Boxing Association).
Junior Welterweight: Used by the IBF (International Boxing Federation) and WBO (World Boxing Organisation).
Historically, the division was first introduced in the 1920s but faded away before being permanently re-established in the late 1950s. It was created to bridge the 12-pound gap between lightweight (135 lbs) and welterweight (147 lbs), which was too large a jump for many smaller fighters.
✨ Why It is an Exciting Division
The junior welterweight division is widely considered one of the action channels of boxing. It perfectly blends the blistering speed and stamina of the lighter weight classes with the serious knockout power of the welterweights.
Because it sits right in the middle of these popular divisions, it frequently features superstar fighters moving up from lightweight looking to conquer a new division, or welterweights dropping down for massive matchups.