middleweight

noun mid·dle·weight \ ˈmi-dᵊl-ˌwāt \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of middleweight

: one of average weight; specifically : a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 160 pounds for professionals and 165 pounds for amateurs — compare light heavyweight, welterweight

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Recent Examples of middleweight from the Web

USA TODAY Sports The contentious negotiations have been resolved and there will be a rematch between world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas.

— steve gardner, USA TODAY, "Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin set for rematch on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas," 13 June 2018
Yoel Romero missed weight by a fifth of a pound and was ineligible to win the UFC middleweight title.

— todd martin, latimes.com, "MMA rankings: New blood rising in the heavyweight division," 25 June 2018
Saturday’s pay-per-view is headlined by Yoel Romero facing Robert Whittaker for the middleweight championship.

— jay reddick, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UFC's Michelle Waterson: Putting CM Punk on pay-per-view 'disheartening'," 7 June 2018
The nine-figure, three-year deal kicks off Sept. 29 with a middleweight title fight.

— marisa guthrie, The Hollywood Reporter, "Bellator and Perform Group Strike Major Streaming Deal," 26 June 2018
Hagler reigned as middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987.

— travis andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "He’s still mad: ‘The Hitman’ tells legendary Brockton boxer Marvin Hagler ‘I’m callin’ you out.’," 11 June 2018
Golovkin retained his multiple middleweight belts with a disputed split draw in a bout the majority of fans and experts saw him as the winner.

— santos a. perez, miamiherald, "This boxer might be facing one of his longest time off after his opponent was suspended | Miami Herald," 16 Apr. 2018
Gennady Golovkin wants to fight Glendale's Vanes Martirosyan May 5 at StubHub Center as his replacement bout for Canelo Alvarez, but doing so may cost him one of his cherished middleweight belts.

— lance pugmire, latimes.com, "Gennady Golovkin is itching to fight May 5. Here's why finalizing an opponent isn't so easy.," 12 Apr. 2018
Their bout boosts a main card that also features Robert Whittaker’s rematch with Yoel Romero, with Whittaker’s middleweight belt on the line, and an interim welterweight title fight between Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington.

— phil thompson, chicagotribune.com, "Holly Holm added to UFC 225 in Chicago," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'middleweight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of middleweight

1847

in the meaning defined above

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MIDDLEWEIGHT Defined for English Language Learners

middleweight

noun

Definition of middleweight for English Language Learners

sports : a fighter who is in a class of boxers with an upper weight limit of 160 pounds (72 kilograms) : a boxer who is heavier than a lightweight and lighter than a heavyweight