It might be surprising to know that making weight can be as tough as the fight itself. In fact, many of the sport’s biggest stars haven’t always gotten it right.

But before we dive into the list, let us understand why making weight is important in boxing. Typically, boxers must weigh at or below the maximum limit for their particular weight class during the official pre-fight weigh-in.

Each division enforces strict limits, which include:

• Strawweight (105 lb)
• Flyweight (112 lb)
• Bantamweight (118 lb)
• Featherweight (126 lb)
• Lightweight (135 lb)
• Welterweight (147 lb)
• Middleweight (160 lb)
• Cruiserweight (200 lb)
• Heavyweight (over 200 lb)

So, what happens if a boxer doesn’t make weight? They become ineligible to win the belt, face financial penalties, or have the bout canceled altogether.

Here are 3 elite female boxers who couldn’t make weight:

Shannon Courtenay 

Although Elite bantamweight Shannon Courtenay had been on her target weight through the entirety of her training camp, an unexpected situation caused water retention, causing her to miss the weight limit. Due to this, she was stripped of the WBA bantamweight title just before the fight against Jamie Mitchell on October 9, 2021.

She weighed in at 120.5 lb, 2.5 lb over the weight limit of 118 lb during the official weigh-in a day earlier.

Reina Tellez

Featherweight title challenger Reina Tellez missed weight ahead of her bout with Amanda Serrano on January 2, 2026, just a day before their January 3 bout for the WBA and WBO featherweight titles. Tellez weighed in at 126.8 lb, just 0.8 lb over the weight limit (126 lb).

According to Si, although she received an additional two hours to lose weight, she could not make it below the 126 lb limit. She further refused to take extreme last-minute measures like cutting her hair to shed the excess weight.

Marlen Esparza

Flyweight champion Marlen Esparza weighed in at 114 lb, 2 lb over the 112 lb flyweight limit. This unfortunate situation caused her to be stripped of her WBC, WBO, WBA, and Ring Magazine flyweight titles ahead of the bout with Gabriela Celeste Alaniz on April 27, 2024.

One of the first battles as a boxer is often making weight. Boxers are expected to win this battle long before entering the ring for the actual fight. For Tellez, Courtenay, and Esparza, missing the mark by just a few pounds proved how unforgiving the rules can be in this sport.

Do you think the weight-cutting rules are too strict in boxing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi