Lightweight
Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing.
Boxing
Professional boxing
The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight boxers include Henry Armstrong, Ken Buchanan, Tony Canzoneri, Pedro Carrasco, Joel Casamayor, Al "Bummy" Davis, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Durán, Joe Gans, Artur Grigorian, Benny Leonard, Ray Mancini, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Márquez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Ángel González, Carlos Ortiz, Katie Taylor, Edwin Valero, Len Wickwar, Pernell Whitaker, Manny Pacquiao and Ike Williams.
Current world champions
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | November 29, 2023 | Gervonta Davis | 30–0 (28 KO) | 1 |
| WBC | November 16, 2023 | Shakur Stevenson | 22–0 (10 KO) | 0 |
| IBF | May 12, 2024 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | 18–3 (12 KO) | 0 |
| WBO | May 18, 2024 | Denys Berinchyk | 19–0 (9 KO) | 0 |
Current world rankings
The Ring
As of July 6, 2024.[1] Keys:
- C Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | vacant | ||
| 1 | Gervonta Davis | 30–0 (28 KO) | WBA |
| 2 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | 18–3 (12 KO) | IBF |
| 3 | William Zepeda | 31–0 (27 KO) | |
| 4 | Shakur Stevenson | 22–0 (10 KO) | WBC |
| 5 | Denys Berinchyk | 19–0 (9 KO) | WBO |
| 6 | Raymond Muratalla | 20–0 (16 KO) | |
| 7 | Keyshawn Davis | 11–0–0–1 (7 KO) | |
| 8 | Frank Martin | 18–1 (12 KO) | |
| 9 | Mark Chamberlain | 16–0 (12 KO) | |
| 10 | Zaur Abdullaev | 19–1 (11 KO) |
BoxRec
As of January 10, 2025.[2]
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gervonta Davis | 30–0 (28 KO) | WBA |
| 2 | Shakur Stevenson | 21–0 (10 KO) | WBC |
| 3 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | 17–3 (11 KO) | |
| 4 | William Zepeda Segura | 29-0 (25 KO) | |
| 5 | Frank Martin | 18–0 (12 KO) | |
| 6 | Shuichiro Yoshino | 16–1 (12 KO) | |
| 7 | Isaac Cruz | 25–2 (17 KO) | |
| 8 | Jamaine Ortiz | 17–1 (8 KO) | |
| 9 | George Kambosos Jr | 21–2 (10 KO) | |
| 10 | Zaur Abdullaev | 18–1 (11 KO) |
Longest reigning world lightweight champions
Below is a list of "longest reigning lightweight champions" career time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
| Name | Title Reign | Title recognition | Successful defenses | Beaten opponents | Fights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Benny Leonard | 7 years, 7 months, 17 days | World | 6 | 6 | [3][4] |
| 2. | Artur Grigorian | 7 years, 6 months, 20 days | WBO | 17 | 17 | [5] |
| 3. | Jack McAuliffe | 6 years, 7 months, 12 days | World | 7 | 6 | [6] |
| 4. | Roberto Durán | 6 years, 7 months, 5 days | WBA | 12 | 11 | [7] |
| 5. | Ike Williams | 6 years, 1 month, 7 days | World | 8 | 6 | [8] |
| 6. | Joe Gans | 6 years, 27 days | World | 15 | 13 | [9] |
| 7. | Joe Brown (boxer) | 5 years, 7 months, 27 days | World | 11 | 10 | [10] |
| 8. | Devin Haney | 4 years, 1 month, 7 days | WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO | 10 | 10 | [11] |
| 9. | Miguel Vazquez | 4 years, 29 days | IBF | 6 | 6 | [12] |
| 10. | Sammy Mandell | 4 years, 14 days | NBA | 4 | 4 | [13][14] |
| 11. | Paul Spadafora | 3 years, 10 months | IBF | 8 | 8 | [15] |
Amateur boxing
Olympic Champions
Men’s
- 1904 – File:US flag 45 stars.svg Harry Spanger (USA)
- 1908 – File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Frederick Grace (GBR)
- 1920 – File:US flag 48 stars.svg Samuel Mosberg (USA)
- 1924 – File:Flag of Denmark.svg Hans Jacob Nielsen (DEN)
- 1928 – File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Carlo Orlandi (ITA)
- 1952 – File:Flag of Italy.svg Aureliano Bolognesi (ITA)
- 1956 – File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Dick McTaggart (GBR)
- 1960 – File:Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Kazimierz Paździor (POL)
- 1964 – File:Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Józef Grudzień (POL)
- 1968 – File:Flag of the United States.svg Ronnie Harris (USA)
- 1972 – File:Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Jan Szczepański (POL)
- 1976 – File:Flag of the United States.svg Howard Davis Jr. (USA)
- 1980 – File:Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg Ángel Herrera (CUB)
- 1984 – File:Flag of the United States.svg Pernell Whitaker (USA)
- 1988 – File:Flag of East Germany.svg Andreas Zülow (GDR)
- 1992 – File:Flag of the United States.svg Oscar De La Hoya (USA)
- 1996 – File:Flag of Algeria.svg Hocine Soltani (ALG)
- 2000 – File:Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
- 2004 – File:Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
- 2008 – File:Flag of Russia.svg Aleksei Tishchenko (RUS)
- 2012 – File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Vasiliy Lomachenko (UKR)
- 2016 – File:Flag of Brazil.svg Robson Conceição (BRA)
- 2020 – File:Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg Andy Cruz (CUB)
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Pan American Champions
- 1951 – Argentina Oscar Gallardo (ARG)
- 1955 – Argentina Miguel Ángel Péndola (ARG)
- 1959 – Argentina Abel Laudonio (ARG)
- 1963 – Cuba Roberto Caminero (CUB)
- 1967 – Cuba Enrique Regueiferos (CUB)
- 1971 – Puerto Rico Luis Dávila (PUR)
- 1975 – Canada Chris Clarke (CAN)
- 1979 – Cuba Adolfo Horta (CUB)
- 1983 – United States Pernell Whitaker (USA)
- 1987 – Cuba Julio Gonzáles (CUB)
- 1991 – Cuba Julio Gonzáles (CUB)
- 1995 – Cuba Julio Gonzáles (CUB)
- 1999 – Cuba Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
- 2003 – Cuba Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
- 2007 – Cuba Yordenis Ugás (CUB)
- 2011 – Cuba Yasniel Toledo (CUB)
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Kickboxing
International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Lightweight (Pro & Amateur) 127.1 lb - 132 lb or 57.77 kg - 60 kg. Women's divisions also use this weight class, but usually at a lower weight than the men's divisions. In Glory promotion, a lightweight division is up to 70 kg (154 lb).[16] In ONE Championship, the lightweight division limit is 77.1 kg (170 lb).
Bare-knuckle boxing
The limit for lightweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:
- In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the lightweight division has an upper limit of 155 lb (70 kg).
- In BKB™, the lightweight division has an upper limit of 79 kg (174 lb).
Lethwei
In World Lethwei Championship, the lightweight division has an upper limit of 60 kg (132 lb).
Mixed martial arts
In MMA, the lightweight division is from 146 lb (66 kg) to 155 lb (70 kg).
Rowing
At the international level, for crew boats, the limits are:
- Men: Crew average 70 kg (154.3 lb) – no rower over 72.5 kg (159.8 lb)
- Women: Crew average 57 kg (125.7 lb) – no rower over 59 kg (130.1 lb)
For single sculls, the limits are 72.5 kg (159.8 lb) for men and 59 kg (130.1 lb) for women. Originally, lightweight rowing was a introduced as a category at the 1996 Summer Olympics, due to countries with athletes of smaller average stature competing with an unfair disadvantage, as rowing favors taller athletes who have more leverage. Current Olympic-class lightweight events in rowing are the men's lightweight double sculls, and the women's lightweight double sculls. From 1996 to 2016, there was also the men's lightweight coxless four event.
Sumo
In amateur sumo competitions sanctioned by the International Sumo Federation, the lightweight class is defined as no heavier than 85 kg (187.4 lb) for men, 80 kg (176.4 lb) for boys, 65 kg (143.3 lb) for women, and 60 kg (132.3 lb) for girls.
References
- ↑ "The Ring ratings: lightweight". Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ↑ "BoxRec ratings: lightweight, active". Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Benny Leonard". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Benny Leonard, p. 182" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Artur Grigorian". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Jack McAuliffe, p. 200" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Roberto Durán". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Ike Williams, p. 784" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ↑ "BoxRec: Joe Gans".
- ↑ "Joe Brown ("Old Bones"), p. 352" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Deving Haney". Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Miguel Vazquez". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Sammy Mandel". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Sammy Mandell, p. 198" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ↑ "Professional boxing record: Paul Spadafora". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING Archived 2014-01-19 at the Wayback Machine