light heavyweight

American  

noun

1. a boxer or other contestant intermediate in weight between a middleweight and a heavyweight, especially a professional boxer weighing up to 175 pounds (80 kilograms).

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light heavyweight British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain): cruiserweight. 

   1. a professional boxer weighing 160–175 pounds (72.5–79.5 kg)

   2. an amateur boxer weighing 75–81 kg (165–179 pounds)

   3. ( as modifier )

      a light-heavyweight bout

2. a wrestler in a similar weight category (usually 192–214 pounds (87–97 kg))

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Etymology

Origin of light heavyweight

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

light heavyweight

On Saturday, Fieri attended UFC 327 in Miami, where Carlos Ulberg defeated Jiří Procházka by first-round knockout to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2026

Bugner began boxing as a teenager and quickly rose through the amateur ranks, winning the ABA light heavyweight title at just 17.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025

Couture went on to become a mixed martial arts superstar, becoming a six-time UFC champion in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2025

Chinese light heavyweight Zhang Mingyang had the most spectacular finish on the undercard, knocking out Brendson Ribeiro with a dynamite combination in the first round of his UFC debut.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 17, 2024

The boxing match pitted Bob Foster, a black American and the light heavyweight champion of the world, against a white challenger from South Africa.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane