Until the middle of the 20th century, the concept of weight categories did not exist in Muay Thai. Therefore, in a duel, fighters could easily meet, two times differing in weight. In our time, everything is different.
Weight categories
Currently, the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Physical Culture and Sports provides for the following weight categories:
- the first lightest - up to 45 kg;
- the second lightest - from 48 to 51 kg;
- the lightest - from 51 to 54 kg;
- featherweight - from 54 to 57 kg;
- first welterweight - from 57 to 63.5 kg;
- the second welterweight - from 63, 5 to 67 kg;
- the first average - from 67 to 71 kg;
- the second average - from 71 to 75 kg;
- light heavy - from 85 to 81 kg;
- the first heavy - from 81 kg to 86 kg;
- heavy - from 86 to 91 kg;
- super heavy - over 91 kg.
The International Muay Thai Federation has a different system for dividing athletes by weight categories:
- Mini Flyweight - from 45.5 to 47.7 kg;
- Light Flyweight - from 47.7 to 49.0 kg;
- Flyweight - from 49.0 to 50.8 kg;
- Super Flyweight - from 50.8 to 52.2 kg;
- Bantamweight - from 52.2 to 53.5 kg;
- Super Bantamweight - from 53.5 to 55.3 kg;
- Featherweight - from 55.3 to 57.2 kg;
- Super Featherweight - from 57.2 to 59.0 kg;
- Lightweight - from 59.0 to 61.2 kg;
- Super Lightweight - from 61.2 to 63.5 kg;
- Welterweight - 63.5 to 66.7 kg;
- Super Welterweight - from 66.7 to 69.9;
- Middleweight - 69.0 to 71.6 kg;
- Super Middleweight - from 71.6 to 76.2 kg;
- Light Heavyweight - from 76.4 to 79.4 kg;
- Cruiserweight - from 79.4 to 86.2 kg;
- Super Cruiserweight - from 86.2 to 95.5 kg;
- Heavyweight - from 95.4 to 104.5 kg;
- Super Heavyweight - over 104.5 kg.
Determination of the weight category
The weight category is determined immediately before the competition in the presence of a coach and a doctor. The entry on the assigned weight category is made in the athlete's medical card and passport. If the established category differs from the declared one, the fighter will increase or decrease it depending on the weighing results.
Athletes are weighed naked or in swimming trunks. Women are weighed in swimsuits. Before weighing in, an athlete must undergo a medical examination and be allowed to fight for medical reasons.
The weigh-in of all athletes is carried out on the first day of the competition from 8 to 10 am. On the following days, from 8 to 9 am, those athletes who will compete on that day are additionally weighed. The weigh-in time can be changed by the head judge of the competition. Battles begin not less than 3 hours after weigh-in.
Each fighter competes in the weight category that was assigned to him on the first day of weigh-in. The weight category can be changed by the judges if the weight of the fighter's body changes during the next weigh-in. Also, an athlete has the right to return to his weight category if, before the end of the official weigh-in procedure, he brings his weight into the category. If a fighter's weight deviates slightly (no more than half a kilogram), he is allowed to stay in his category.
