It is difficult to identify a dominant boxer in this weight class because there are a number of elite competitors competing at the same time. Emanuel Navarrete, who currently holds the WBO belt and is ranked as the top boxer by a prominent American boxing newspaper called "The Ring," is arguably the most formidable opponent. Despite this, Gary Russell Jr. (WBC) and Leo Santa Cruz (WBA) do not even make it into the top 10 of The Ring’s rankings, which ultimately demonstrates how difficult this weight class is. Kiko Martinez has been around the block, and the veteran has suffered a few defeats along the way, yet he still manages to hold the IBF belt.

Boxers may compete in multiple bouts, each of which may be held in a different weight class. As people advance in their careers, they typically advance to higher-level positions as they age. A noteworthy accomplishment is being a "multiple champions" by taking first place in more than one weight division. Boxers compete at their "natural" weight in amateur bouts, which are significantly shorter and far more frequent than those in professional cruiserweight boxing weight division.

The term catchweights in boxing refers to an agreed-upon weight limit set outside standard divisional boundaries. These are particularly useful for facilitating high-profile fights between competitors from different weight classes.

An amateur boxer must make the weight at the initial weigh-in; there is no opportunity to try again later. Boxers who fail to make their projected weights are eliminated from their bouts. There is a "general weigh-in" before the start of the tournament and a "daily weigh-in" on the morning of each of a fighter's bouts. At the general weigh-in, the fighter must be between the weight class's upper and lower limits; at the daily weigh-in only the upper limit is enforced. A fighter outside the limit at the initial weigh-in may be allowed to fight in a different class if there is space in the tournament. At major events such as boxing at the Olympics, there is a limit of one boxer per country per weight class.

On November 15, 2016 ESPN announced that Davis would challenge for the IBF super featherweight title against undefeated José Pedraza (22–0, 12 KOs) on January 14, 2017, at the Barclays Center in New York on Showtime. The fight would take place as an undercard fight to the super middleweight world title unification fight between James DeGale and Badou Jack. The IBF granted Pedraza an exemption to fight Davis, as he had a mandatory fight against Liam Walsh looming. Prior to the fight being announced, Mayweather Promotions matchmakers tried to make a deal for Davis to fight titleholder Jason Sosa. Davis defeated Pedraza in a seventh-round KO to win the IBF super featherweight title. After the fight, Davis said that he had studied the early career of his promoter and mentor, Floyd Mayweather Jr., in order to stay composed. He said, "I had a lot of experience , but I learned how to keep my composure. Floyd told me to stay calm, and I studied Floyd Mayweather when he was 'Pretty Boy.' My uppercut was my best shot, and it was landing all night. It felt really good to fight the way I did. I could take it and dish it out." Mayweather Jr. himself enthusiastically branded his protégé as the future of boxing. For the fight, Davis earned $75,000 compared to Pedraza, who earned the larger sum of $225,000, in what was his third defense. At the time of stoppage, Davis was ahead 59–55 on all three judges' scorecards.

Besides each of these organizations does not rank the other organization’s champions, leading to multiple champions in some organizations. For instance, the WBA has several champions, including "Super" and "Regular" champions, who are not included in the ranking. The organization’s "interim" champion is, however, ranked number one.

There are currently seventeen weight divisions in professional boxing. Originally, only eight weight classes were recognized in professional boxing, referred to as the "Glamour Divisions." Here is a list of boxing weight classes in order, from lightest to heaviest.

In theory, this creates a safer environment for competitive boxing matches and offers a chance for fighters who would otherwise be too small or too large for one of the original divisions to become champions. In practice, this creates an opportunity for fighters who would otherwise be too small or too large for one of the original divisions.

That can be undesirable for a couple of reasons. One, extreme dehydration can put a fighter at long-term health risks over the course of his career, and in the short-term may leave him unable to fight properly the next day, risking injury. Secondly, even if he is healthy once he is rehydrated, that weight gain may be considered an unfair advantage by his rival or a regulating body.

Throughout his remarkable career, he has held prestigious titles including WBC and Lineal Flyweight, IBF Super Bantamweight, Lineal Featherweight, WBC and Lineal Super Featherweight, WBC Lightweight, Lineal Super Lightweight, WBO and Lineal Welterweight, and WBC Super Welterweight Champion.