Weight Classes for Olympics Boxing:

For fans of professional boxing, getting used to the Olympic boxing weight classes takes a bit of an adjustment. While the divisional names will look familiar, the weight limits are not exactly consistent with the pro ranks.

In Olympic boxing, there’s a total of 10 weight classes and they are internationally known for their weights in kilograms, as opposed to pounds. Combined with the three weight classes for women’s boxing, making its Olympic debut in London, and there are 13 gold medals up for grabs, and a total of 286 fighters competing in the field.

Below, find a quick rundown of the official Olympic boxing weight classes.

Men’s Olympic Boxing Weight Classes

Light Flyweight – Limit 49 kgs (108 lbs) – The little guys are often overlooked but their speed and skill are always fun to watch.

Flyweight – Limit 52 kgs (114 lbs) – American Rau’shee Warren is the first US Olympic boxer to make three appearances in the games. He’ll hope to come away with his first medal (You can learn more about the US team in my write-up here).

Bantamweight – Limit 56 kgs (123 lbs) – Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez will be the favorite in a deep division also showcasing British fighter Luke Campbell and American Joseph Diaz.

Lightweight – Limit 60 kgs (132 lbs) – Yasniel Toledo of Cuba, along with Domenico Valentino of Italy and Vasyl Lomachenko of the Ukraine represent of the big three of this loaded division.

Light Welterweight – Limit 64 kgs (141 lbs) – US team captain and Marine Corps sergeant Jamel Herring competes at Light Welterweight, where he’ll meet stiff opposition from the likes of Rosniel Iglesias of Cuba.

Welterweight – Limit 69 kgs (152 lbs) – Reigning world champion Taras Shelestyuk of Ukraine will be the favorite to win gold at welterweight.

Middleweight – Limit 75 kgs (165 lbs) – The deep Ukranian squad showcases another reigning world champion at middleweight, Ievgen Khytrov.

Light Heavyweight – Limit 81 kgs (178 lbs) – Julio Cesar La Cruz of Cuba and Egor Mekhontsev of Russia are the two big dogs at light heavyweight, while rangy American Marcus Browne will look to come home with a medal.

Heavyweight – Limit 91 kgs (200 lbs) – Michael Hunter represents the United States in a mixed field which includes strong fighters hailing from China to Eastern Europe to Cuba.

Super Heavyweight – 91+ kgs (200+ lbs) – The two past world champions, Magomed Majidov of Azerbaijan and Roberto Cammarelle of Italy are the strongest threats, while Erislandy Savon – nephew to legendary Cuban Felix Savon – and Dominic Breazeale of the United States may be dark horses.

Women’s Olympic Boxing Weight Classes

Women’s amateur boxing does have a full 10 weight classes, however, in the sport’s inaugural run through the Olympics, only three are being used. This has caused a bit of a headache for countries with deep amateur programs, like the US women’s squad, which has been forced to have many of its best fighters competing against one another in weight classes they’re not necessarily comfortable with, in order to obtain one of the precious few Olympic berths.

Flyweight – Limit 51 kgs (112 lbs)

Lightweight – Limit 60 kgs (132 lbs)

Middleweight – Limit 75 kgs (165 lbs)

Sources: AIBA.org, London2012.com

This article was first published by Jake Emen on Yahoo! Sports & News, as part of a series of Olympic boxing, on May 17, 2012.