Understanding boxing weight classes is essential for any competitive boxer in Australia — whether you're preparing for your first amateur bout or following professional boxing. This guide covers all current weight classes recognised by Boxing Australia, the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC, with current title holders and context for the Australian boxing scene.
Amateur Boxing Weight Classes in Australia
Boxing Australia uses the AIBA (now World Boxing) weight class system for amateur competitions. Current amateur weight classes (male):
- 48kg (Light Flyweight)
- 51kg (Flyweight)
- 54kg (Bantamweight)
- 57kg (Featherweight)
- 60kg (Lightweight)
- 63.5kg (Light Welterweight)
- 67kg (Welterweight)
- 71kg (Light Middleweight)
- 75kg (Middleweight)
- 80kg (Light Heavyweight)
- 86kg (Heavyweight)
- 92kg (Super Heavyweight)
- 92kg+ (Super Heavyweight open)
Women's amateur weight classes run from 48kg to 81kg in similar intervals.
Professional Boxing Weight Classes
Professional boxing recognises 17 weight classes from strawweight to heavyweight, each governed by the major world bodies (IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC):
- Strawweight (Mini Flyweight) — up to 47.6kg (105lb)
- Light Flyweight (Junior Flyweight) — up to 49kg (108lb)
- Flyweight — up to 50.8kg (112lb)
- Super Flyweight (Junior Bantamweight) — up to 52.2kg (115lb)
- Bantamweight — up to 53.5kg (118lb)
- Super Bantamweight (Junior Featherweight) — up to 55.3kg (122lb)
- Featherweight — up to 57.2kg (126lb)
- Super Featherweight (Junior Lightweight) — up to 59kg (130lb)
- Lightweight — up to 61.2kg (135lb)
- Super Lightweight (Junior Welterweight) — up to 63.5kg (140lb)
- Welterweight — up to 66.7kg (147lb)
- Super Welterweight (Junior Middleweight) — up to 69.9kg (154lb)
- Middleweight — up to 72.6kg (160lb)
- Super Middleweight — up to 76.2kg (168lb)
- Light Heavyweight — up to 79.4kg (175lb)
- Cruiserweight — up to 90.7kg (200lb)
- Heavyweight — unlimited (practical limit around 120kg)
Choosing the Right Glove Weight for Your Weight Class
Glove weight requirements vary by weight class in amateur and professional competition, but for gym training the standard recommendation is:
- Fighters under 60kg — 12oz for training, 14oz for sparring
- Fighters 60–80kg — 14oz for training, 14–16oz for sparring
- Fighters over 80kg — 14–16oz for training, 16oz for sparring
Most gyms mandate 16oz for all sparring regardless of weight class, particularly for beginners. Buy boxing gloves by weight →
Weight Cutting in Boxing
Weight cutting — the practice of temporarily losing water weight before weigh-in then rehydrating before the fight — is common in professional boxing but controversial. The Australian Institute of Sport and many sports medicine bodies have raised concerns about extreme weight cutting practices. Boxing Australia has introduced stricter weigh-in protocols at the amateur level to reduce dangerous weight cuts.
For recreational and fitness boxing, weight classes don't apply. Train at your natural weight and focus on technique and conditioning.
Australian World Champions — Historical Context
Australia has produced a remarkable number of world champions relative to its population, particularly in the lighter weight classes. From Lionel Rose (bantamweight, 1968) through to more recent champions, Australian boxing punches well above its weight internationally.