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

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

Earlier, 41-year-old former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev returned to the ring for only the second time since 2019 with a decision loss to Sweden’s Robin Sirwan Safar.

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2024

Last month, retired Los Angeles-area light heavyweight Milford Kemp received a check — nearly two decades after he was eligible for the nearly $8,880 that California set aside for him.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2023

Now, at the age of thirty-eight, I had reached the light heavyweight division and carried more pounds and more responsibility.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela