The middleweight division in professional boxing is made up of boxers above 154 lb and up to 160 lb. Although early boxing history can often be lacking in accuracy, the middleweight designation appears to have originated in the 1840s. During the bare-knuckle era, the first Middleweight Championship fight took place between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1867. Chandler emerged victorious, earning the title of the American middleweight champion. The first middleweight fight with gloves was between George Fulljames and Jack “Nonpareil” Dempsey (not related to the more famous Jack Dempsey) 

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The Middleweight Division has seen legendary fighters and classic matches occuring so frequently that the middleweights rival the heavyweight in popularity. The middleweights earned its popularity by displaying the power of the heavyweights with the action and boxing skills of lighter divisions.

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A list of great middleweights reads like a Who's Who in boxing. From killers like Stanley Ketchel, Ted "Kid" Lewis, and Harry Greb to the next generation of middles like Sugar Ray Robinson, Gene Fullmer, Carmine Basilio, and Jake Lamotta the middleweights excelled at capturing the boxing public's imagination.

More recent names deserved and received the same adoration. Middleweight greats like Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon, and Bernard Hopkins carried on the division's tradition of fighters whose power didn't mitigate against their boxing skills and attention to technics. ​

Lately, bouts between Gennadiy Golovkin and Saul Alvarez thrilled fight fans by engaging in a classic rivalry.​

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Interesting Factoid: Longest Reigning Champion: Bernard Hopkins holds the record for the longest reign, spanning 10 years, 2 months, and 18 days, during which he held titles from the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO.

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