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Light heavyweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing edit
Professional edit
In professional boxing, the division is above 168 pounds (76 kg) and up to 175 pounds (79 kg), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight.
The light-heavyweight class has produced some of boxing's greatest champions: Bernard Hopkins (who, upon becoming champion, broke the record for oldest man to win a world title), Tommy Loughran, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore, Michael Moorer, Bob Foster, Ann Wolfe, Michael Spinks, Dariusz Michalczewski, Roy Jones Jr., Sergey Kovalev and Zsolt Erdei.
Many light heavyweight champions unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight crown until Michael Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight championship. Bob Fitzsimmons captured the light-heavyweight championship after losing his heavyweight championship. Two all-time great heavyweight champions, Ezzard Charles and Floyd Patterson, started out as light heavyweights. Charles defeated Archie Moore and Joey Maxim several times in non-title bouts before becoming heavyweight champion and Patterson lost an eight-round decision to Joey Maxim before becoming heavyweight champion himself. Evander Holyfield successfully moved up from the light-heavyweight division to the cruiserweight division and eventually the heavyweight division and became undisputed champion of the latter two.
Current world champions edit
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | September 18, 2017 | Dmitry Bivol | 22–0 (11 KO) | 11 |
| WBC | October 18, 2019 | Artur Beterbiev | 20–0 (20 KO) | 5 |
| IBF | November 11, 2017 | Artur Beterbiev | 20–0 (20 KO) | 8 |
| WBO | June 18, 2022 | Artur Beterbiev | 20–0 (20 KO) | 2 |
Current world rankings edit
The Ring edit
As of June 20, 2023.[1]
Keys:
- C Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record (W–L–D) | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | vacant | ||
| 1 | Dmitry Bivol | 22–0 (11 KO) | WBA |
| 2 | Artur Beterbiev | 20–0 (20 KO) | IBF, WBC, WBO |
| 3 | Callum Smith | 29–2 (21 KO) | |
| 4 | Gilberto Ramírez | 44–1 (30 KO) | |
| 5 | Joe Smith Jr. | 28–4 (22 KO) | |
| 6 | Anthony Yarde | 22–3 (21 KO) | |
| 7 | Joshua Buatsi | 17–0 (13 KO) | |
| 8 | Dan Azeez | 19–0 (13 KO) | |
| 9 | Oleksandr Gvozdyk | 19–1 (15 KO) | |
| 10 | Michael Eifert | 12–1 (4 KO) |
BoxRec edit
| Rank | Name | Record (W–L–D) | Points | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmitry Bivol | 20–0 (11 KO) | 591.9 | WBA |
| 2 | Artur Beterbiev | 18–0 (18 KO) | 194.0 | WBC, IBF, WBO |
| 3 | Callum Smith | 28–1 (20 KO) | 188.5 | |
| 4 | Gilberto Ramirez | 43–0 (29 KO) | 144.2 | |
| 5 | Joe Smith Jr. | 28–3 (22 KO) | 127.2 | |
| 6 | Maxim Vlasov | 46–4 (26 KO) | 70.65 | |
| 7 | Jean Pascal | 36–6–1 (20 KO) | 63.58 | |
| 8 | Marcus Browne | 24–2 (16 KO) | 58.90 | |
| 9 | Joshua Buatsi | 15–0 (13 KO) | 38.34 | |
| 10 | Sullivan Barrera | 22–4 (14 KO) | 29.16 |
Longest reigning world light heavyweight champions edit
Below is a list of longest reigning light heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
| Name | Title reign | Title recognition | Successful defenses | Beaten opponents | Fights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Archie Moore | 9 years, 4 months, 24 days | NYSAC, NBA | 9 | 7 | [3][4] |
| 2. | Dariusz Michalczewski | 9 years, 1 months, 8 days | IBF, WBA, WBO | 23 | 20 | [5] |
| 3. | Gus Lesnevich | 7 years, 2 months, 2 days | NYSAC, NBA | 5 | 3 | [6] |
| 4. | Dmitry Bivol | 6 years, 8 months and 3 days | WBA | 11 | 11 | [7] |
| 5. | Artur Beterbiev | 6 years, 6 months, 1 week and 3 days | IBF, WBC, WBO | 8 | 8 | [8] |
| 6. | Bob Foster | 6 years, 0 months, 23 days | WBC, WBA | 14 | 13 | [9] |
| 7. | Zsolt Erdei | 5 years, 9 months, 27 days | WBO | 11 | 10 | [10] |
| 8. | Adonis Stevenson | 5 years, 5 months, 24 days | WBC | 9 | 9 | [11] |
| 9. | Charles Williams | 5 years, 4 months, 21 days | IBF | 8 | 8 | [12] |
| 10. | Roy Jones Jr. | 5 years, 2 months, 25 days | WBC, IBF, WBA (Super) | 11 | 11 | [13] |
| 11. | Virgil Hill | 4 years, 9 months, 15 days | WBA | 10 | 10 | [14] |
| 12. | Maxie Rosenbloom | 4 years, 4 months, 22 days | NYSAC, NBA | 7 | 6 | [15] |
| 13. | Michael Spinks | 4 years, 2 months, 3 days | IBF, WBA, WBC | 10 | 10 | [16] |
| 14. | Battling Levinsky | 3 years, 11 months, 19 days | World | 1 | 1 | [17][18] |
| 15. | Victor Galindez | 3 years, 9 months, 8 days | WBA | 10 | 7 | [19][20] |
- Active title reign
- Reign has ended
Amateur edit
In amateur boxing, light heavyweight is a weight division above 165 pounds (75 kg) and up to 178 pounds (81 kg), falling between middleweight and heavyweight.
Olympic champions edit
- 1920 –
Eddie Eagan (USA) - 1924 –
Harry Mitchell (GBR) - 1928 –
Víctor Avendaño (ARG) - 1932 –
David Carstens (RSA) - 1936 –
Roger Michelot (FRA) - 1948 – George Hunter (RSA)
- 1952 – Norvel Lee (USA)
- 1956 – James Boyd (USA)
- 1960 –
Muhammad Ali (USA) - 1964 –
Cosimo Pinto (ITA) - 1968 –
Danas Pozniakas (URS) - 1972 –
Mate Parlov (YUG) - 1976 – Leon Spinks (USA)
- 1980 – Slobodan Kacar (YUG)
- 1984 – Anton Josipović (YUG)
- 1988 – Andrew Maynard (USA)
- 1992 –
Torsten May (GER) - 1996 –
Vassiliy Jirov (KAZ) - 2000 –
Aleksandr Lebziak (RUS) - 2004 – Andre Ward (USA)
- 2008 –
Zhang Xiaoping (CHN) - 2012 – Egor Mekhontsev (RUS)
- 2016 –
Julio César La Cruz (CUB) - 2020 – Arlen López (CUB)
Kickboxing edit
- In kickboxing, a light heavyweight fighter generally weighs between 77 kg (171 lb) and 95 kg (210 lb).
- In International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), a light heavyweight division is 172.1 – 179 lb (78.3 – 81.4 kg).
- In Glory promotion, a light heavyweight division is up to 95 kg (209 lb).[24]
- In Bellator Kickboxing promotion, a light heavyweight division is up to 95 kg (209 lb).
- In ONE Championship, the light heavyweight division is up to 102.1 kg (225 lb).
Bare-knuckle boxing edit
The limit of light heavyweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:
- In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the light heavyweight division has an upper limit of 185 lb (84 kg).
- In BKB™, the light heavyweight division has an upper limit of 95 kg (209 lb).
Mixed martial arts edit
In MMA, the light heavyweight division is from 186 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg).
References edit
- ^ "The Ring ratings: light heavyweight". Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ "BoxRec ratings: light heavyweight, active". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Archie Moore". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Archie Moore, p. 612" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Dariusz Michalczewski". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Please login".
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Dmitry Bivol". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Artur Beterbiev". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Bob Foster". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Zsolt Erdei". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Adonis Stevenson". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Charles Williams". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Virgil Hill". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Please login".
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Michael Spinks". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Battling Levinsky". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Battling Levinsky, p. 184" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ "Professional boxing record: Victor Galindez". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "Victor Galindez, p. 468" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ BoxRec Light Heavyweight Ratings Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
- ^ BoxRec WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
- ^ BoxRec Light Heavyweight Division Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
- ^ Official Glory Ranking Archived 2014-01-10 at the Wayback Machine