Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the opponents. In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.

A welterweight boxer's weight is greater than 63.5 kg (140 lb), but no more than 66.7 kg (147 lb).^[1]

Henry Armstrong holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 19 defenses of the lineal title.

Current champions

Sanctioning body	Reign began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA	January 16, 2015	Keith Thurman	28–0–0–1 (22 KO)	4
WBC	March 4, 2017	Keith Thurman	28–0–0–1 (22 KO)	0
IBF	May 27, 2017	Errol Spence	22–0–0–0 (19 KO)	0
WBO	July 2, 2017	Jeff Horn	18–0–1–0 (11 KO)	0

Current The Ring magazine welterweight rankings Updated 1 May 2017

Rank	Name	Record	Title(s)
1	Keith Thurman	28–0 (22 KO)	WBA, WBC
2	Errol Spence	22–0 (19 KO)	IBF
3	Shawn Porter	28–2–1 (17 KO)
4	Kell Brook	36–2 (25 KO)
5	Danny García	33–1 (19 KO)
6	Lamont Peterson	35–3–1 (17 KO)
7	Lucas Matthysse	38–4 (35 KO)
8	Jeff Horn	17–0–1 (11 KO)	WBO
9	Manny Pacquiao	59–7–2 (38 KO)
10	Jessie Vargas	27–2 (10 KO)

Below is a list of longest reigning welterweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

	Name	Title reign	Title recognition	Successful defenses
1.	Félix Trinidad	6 years, 8 months, 14 days	IBF	15
2.	Antonio Margarito	5 years, 3 months, 28 days	WBO	7
3.	Jose Napoles	4 years, 6 months, 2 days	WBA, WBC	11
4.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	4 years, 1 month, 18 days	WBC	5
5.	Pernell Whitaker	4 years, 1 month, 6 days	WBC	8
6.	Pipino Cuevas	4 years and 16 days	WBA	11
7.	Sugar Ray Robinson	3 years, 7 months, 19 days	World	5
8.	Donald Curry	3 years, 7 months, 14 days	WBA	7
9.	Jack Britton	3 years, 7 months, 13 days	World	4
10.	Mickey Walker	3 years, 5 months, 20 days	World	5

The current Olympic male welterweight division is set at 64–69 kg (141–152 lbs).^[1]

The weight division system is different in each organisation, so the kickboxing weight divisions of some international organizations vary:

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1 pounds - 147 pounds (64.6 kg - 66.8 kg).^[2]
• International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), welterweight 142.1 pounds - 147 pounds (64.6 kg - 66.8 kg).^[3]
• World Kickboxing Association (WKA), welterweight (Pro) upper limit 147.4 pounds (67 kg).^[4]
• In Glory promotion, a welterweight division is up to 77 kg (170 pounds).^[5]

The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission^[6] and the Association of Boxing Commissions^[7] is 155 pounds (70.3 kg) to 170 pounds (77.1 kg).

Other sports to include a welterweight division include the following,

• Muay Thai has fixed its weight division similarly to boxing.
  • International Kickboxing Federation (IKF): Muay Thai Welterweight (Pro & Amateur) 142.1 lbs. - 147 lbs.(64.59 kg - 66.8 kg)
  • World Muay Thai Council (WMC), welterweight range is from 140 pounds (63.5 kg) to 147 pounds (66.6 kg)
  • World Muay Thai Federation (WMF), the official amateur organization, fixed welterweight from 63.5 to 67 kg for adult; the junior category is the same as adult
• The official rules of shoot boxing define welterweights as between 65 and 67 kg (143.3 to 147.7 lb).
• In Olympic taekwondo, welterweight falls between 74 and 80 kg. At the weight classes for the Olympic games it is between 68 and 80 kg.