light welterweight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Sports
Quick answer
What does “light welterweight” mean?
A weight division in combat sports, primarily professional boxing, between lightweight and welterweight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A weight division in combat sports, primarily professional boxing, between lightweight and welterweight.
A competitor or champion who fights in this weight division; the title or championship belt for this division.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both British and American English use the term identically in boxing contexts. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and major American sanctioning bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) all recognize this division.
Connotations
None beyond its technical definition.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British boxing journalism as UK fighters have historically been prominent in this division. In amateur/Olympic boxing, the equivalent division is called 'light welterweight' globally.
Grammar
How to Use “light welterweight” in a Sentence
[fighter] is the [light welterweight] championThe [light welterweight] bout was stopped in the seventh roundHe fights in the [light welterweight] divisionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “light welterweight” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The light welterweight title fight headlines the card at the O2.
American English
- He's the top light-welterweight contender in the WBC rankings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Technical
Used precisely in boxing journalism, official fight cards, and sports commentary to denote a specific weight class with a limit of 140 lbs (63.5 kg).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “light welterweight”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “light welterweight”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “light welterweight”
- Misspelling as 'lightwelterweight' or 'light-welter weight'.
- Confusing it with 'lightweight' or 'welterweight'.
- Using it as an adjective for non-sporting contexts (e.g., 'a light welterweight jacket').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In professional boxing, the light welterweight division has a limit of 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms).
Primarily boxing. Similar weight classes exist in kickboxing and MMA, but they often use different naming conventions (e.g., 'lightweight' in MMA is 155 lbs).
There is no difference. 'Junior welterweight' and 'light welterweight' are synonyms for the same weight division. 'Super lightweight' is also used by some sanctioning bodies.
Historically famous champions include Julio César Chávez, Kostya Tszyu, and more recently, Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor.
A weight division in combat sports, primarily professional boxing, between lightweight and welterweight.
Light welterweight is usually technical/sports in register.
Light welterweight: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlaɪt ˈwel.tə.weɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlaɪt ˈwel.t̬ɚ.weɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fighting at light welterweight”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: It's LIGHTer than a WELTERweight. A 'welter' is a state of confusion; a LIGHT welter is less confused, or in this case, weighs less.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPORTING CATEGORIES ARE CONTAINERS (a fighter is 'in' the light welterweight division).
Practice
Quiz
In professional boxing, what is another common name for the light welterweight division?