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Meaning & use

light heavyweight

noun, adjective·Advancedsport

Last updated

UK/ˌlaɪt ˈhev.i.weɪt/
US/ˌlaɪt ˈhev.i.weɪt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablesport

    A weight class in boxing and some other combat sports, lying between middleweight and heavyweight, or a fighter who competes in that class.

    Grammar: Can name the class or a person: she fought as a light heavyweight.

    Patterns

    • a light heavyweight champion
    • fight at light heavyweight

    He moved up from middleweight to light heavyweight after winning his third title.

    The light heavyweight division has produced several legendary fighters.

    She was crowned light heavyweight champion at the age of twenty-six.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounsport

    Relating to the boxing or wrestling weight class between middleweight and heavyweight.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a light heavyweight bout.

    Patterns

    • a light heavyweight title
    • a light heavyweight bout

    The light heavyweight title fight sold out within an hour.

    He trained hard to make the light heavyweight limit before the weigh-in.

Word forms

plurallight heavyweights

Common combinations

light heavyweight champion
The light heavyweight champion defended his belt on Saturday night.
light heavyweight division
The light heavyweight division is packed with young talent.
light heavyweight bout
A light heavyweight bout opened the evening's card.
fight as a light heavyweight
She used to fight as a light heavyweight before moving up a class.
light heavyweight title
He lost the light heavyweight title on a split decision.

Synonyms and how they differ

cruiserweight
Cruiserweight is a slightly heavier boxing class that sits above light heavyweight in professional boxing, so it is not a true synonym.
middleweight
Middleweight is the class just below, with a lower weight limit, so a middleweight is lighter than a light heavyweight.
heavyweight
Heavyweight is the class above, with no upper limit in most boxing bodies, so heavyweights are usually bigger than light heavyweights.

Word family

heavyweight noun
the heaviest boxing class, or a very important person
lightweight noun
a lighter boxing class, or something not heavy
middleweight noun
a boxing class lighter than light heavyweight
weigh-in noun
the official weighing of fighters before a bout

Commonly confused: light heavyweight or lightweight?

light heavyweight vs lightweight

A lightweight is in a much lighter class. A light heavyweight is close to the top of the weight scale.

Practice

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