light-heavyn.adj.
/ˌlʌɪtˈhɛvi/, U.S. /ˌlaɪtˈhɛvi/ Originally and chiefly Boxing.
A. n.
1. A boxer who competes in the weight class light-heavyweight, traditionally falling between middleweight and heavyweight (although see note); (also occasionally) a competitor in a similar weight class in other combat sports; = light-heavyweight n. 1.The exact weight categories and weight limits vary in different sports and have changed over time; they also vary according to other factors such as the professional status and gender of competitors.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > boxer > of specific weight
welter1804
lightweight1817
middleweight1847
heavyweight1857
light middleweight1885
light-heavyweight1887
featherweight1889
light-heavy1892
light welterweight1892
welter weight1896
light welter1904
super heavyweight1907
middle1908
fly-weight1911
heavy1913
superheavy1917
cruiser-weight1920
light flyweight1922
cruiser1928
mini-flyweight1971
1892 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 9 May 3/1 One night he drifted into a boxing room where Mike Dooley, the renowned Australian light-heavy, or heavy middle-weight, was teaching a class.
1936 Lima (Ohio) News 16 Dec. 12/2 The Boston light-heavy attempted his usual post-match activity of arguing with Referee Charley Browning.
2014 R. F. Fernandez Boxing in New Jersey 57 Don was a light heavy who insisted on battling heavyweight contenders, giving away many pounds.
2. The weight class light-heavyweight (see sense A. 1); = light-heavyweight n. 2.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > weight > weight division
lightweight1817
bantam weight1884
light middleweight1885
featherweight1889
light-heavyweight1891
light-heavy1895
fly-weight1911
cruiser-weight1920
light flyweight1922
1895 Sedalia (Missouri) Evening Democrat 4 Dec. 8/1 The ‘Barbadoes Terror’ has been regarded as a world beater at almost any weight up into the light-heavy.
1986 Punch 16 July 34/1 The spindly, pale-faced hardnut, Fitzsimmons..also held world titles at middle and light-heavy.
2000 J. J. Connolly Layer Cake (2004) 6 Maybe Morty would weigh in at light-heavy these days in spite of spending all those hours in the gym.
B. adj. (in attributive use).
Of or relating to the weight class light-heavyweight (see sense A. 1); designating a competitor in this class; = light-heavyweight adj.
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1902 Referee (Sydney) 28 May 1/2 Carter has long been regarded as the bad man of the light-heavy class.
1909 Tel.-Herald (Dubuque, Iowa) 17 Oct. 17/1 Ketchel was introduced..as the middle and light-heavy champion of the world.
1978 H. Cooper Great Heavyweights 86 Willie Pastrano, the then world light-heavy titleholder and a boxer of beautiful science.
1998 Boxing Monthly Apr. 15/1 The fight sees Eubank leap-frogging the light-heavy (175lbs) division.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.adj.1892