If you’re a boxing fan hoping for a match between two of your favorite fighters in different weight classes, this can be made possible with a catchweight fight.
These fights are rare, but they allow two fighters in different weight divisions to face each other in a fair and safe way.
This article will discuss what a catchweight fight is in boxing and famous examples of these kinds of fights.
What Is A Catchweight In Boxing?
A catchweight bout refers to a fight between two fighters that don’t fall within the traditional limits of boxing weight classes.
Usually, professional fights happen at the upper limit of each weight division.
When two fighters from different weight classes want to fight each other, but don’t want to make the full class jump, they choose a weight in between the upper limits of both divisions.
For example, imagine a super welterweight contender (<154 lbs) wants to fight a middleweight challenger (<160 lbs).
Both can meet at the agreed weight of 157 lbs and not adhere to the traditional limits.
Both fighters agree to this and create a fight contract that will make this a fair contest, preventing weight mismatches or setting consequences if one of the two fighters fails to make weight.
Even though both fighters agreed to meet at the same weight, the advantage is for the boxer who has to increase weight.
The heavier fighter who has to drop weight will have less energy than he is used to.
Even though it’s a matter of losing only a few pounds, it will make a big difference when fighting.
This is the main reason why boxers tend to go up through weight classes in their career, rather than down.
Weight Classes
Listed below is each different professional boxing weight class and its starting weight limit:
- Strawweight division (105 lbs)
- Light flyweight division (108 lbs)
- Flyweight division (112 lbs)
- Super flyweight division (115 lbs)
- Bantamweight division (118 lbs)
- Super bantamweight division (122 lbs)
- Featherweight division (126 lbs)
- Super featherweight division (130 lbs)
- Lightweight division (135 lbs)
- Super lightweight division (140 lbs)
- Welterweight division (147 lbs)
- Super welterweight division (154 lbs)
- Middleweight division (160 lbs)
- Super middleweight division (168 lbs)
- Light heavyweight division (175 lbs)
- Cruiserweight division (200 lbs)
- Heavyweight division (200+ lbs)
Examples of Catchweight Fights
While catchweight fights are rare, they do happen occasionally, giving boxing fans a chance to see unique matchups of fighters from different weight classes.
Listed below are some of the famous catchweight bouts in recent years.
- Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn
- Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao
- Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook
While catchweight fights are rare, they do happen occasionally, giving boxing fans a chance to see unique matchups of fighters from different weight classes.
Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn
First on our list of catchweight fights is Chris Eubank Jr against Conor Benn.
In this bout, Eubank Jr. was supposed to meet Benn to weigh in at 157 lbs.
Originally, Eubank Jr. represented the middleweight and super-middleweight class, while Benn represented the welterweight class.
According to the BBC however, this fight was postponed as Benn tested positive for a performance enhancing substance.
Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao
Next on our list of catchweight fights is Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao.
In this bout, Cotto met Pacquiao at the 145 lb catchweight weigh in.
Cotto represented the junior middleweight class, while Pacquiao represented the welterweight class.
Pacquiao, originally the lighter fighter, ended up winning this match with a 12th round technical knockout.
Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook
Last on our list of catchweight fights is Amir Khan and Kell Brook.
In the last example, Khan and Brook agreed to weigh in at 149 lb, two pounds above the standard welterweight limit.
Originally, Khan represented the junior middleweight class, while Brook represented the welterweight class.
Brook won this fight with a 6th round technical knockout.
Conclusion
In boxing, catchweight fights can make dream matchups become reality, even though two boxers work at a different weight.
It’s a win-win for both boxers. Each catchweight bout ensures fair contests and can prevent weight mismatches.
In combat sports, drastically changing weight can be dangerous and time-consuming. If one fighter doesn’t want to jump a whole weight class, he doesn’t have to.
Instead, he can fight at a catchweight temporarily and then rejoin his original weight class.
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