Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight.[1]
The flyweight division was the last of boxing's eight traditional weight classes to be established. Before 1909, anyone below featherweight was considered a bantamweight, regardless of how small the boxer. In 1911, the organization that eventually became the British Boxing Board of Control held a match that crowned Sid Smith as the first flyweight champion of the world. Jimmy Wilde, who reigned from 1916 to 1923, was the first fighter recognized both in Britain and the United States as a flyweight champion.[2]
Other notable flyweights include Victor Perez, Pancho Villa, Walter McGowan, Pascual Pérez, Pone Kingpetch, Fighting Harada, Masao Ohba, Chartchai Chionoi, Efren Torres, Erbito Salavarria, Miguel Canto, Dave McAuley, Charlie Magri, Gabriel Bernal, Santos Laciar, Sot Chitalada, Yong-Kang Kim, Yuri Arbachakov, Danny Romero, Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson, Manny Pacquiao, Jorge Arce, Vic Darchinyan, Nonito Donaire, Omar Andrés Narváez, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Amnat Ruenroeng, Román González, Donnie Nietes, Nicola Adams.
Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
WBA | January 23, 2024 | Seigo Yuri Akui | 21–2–1 (11 KO) | 2 |
WBC | October 13, 2024 | Kenshiro Teraji | 24–1 (15 KO) | 0 |
IBF | August 9, 2024 | Ángel Ayala | 18–0 (8 KO) | 0 |
WBO | July 20, 2024 | Anthony Olascuaga | 7–1 (5 KO) | 0 |
As of October 19, 2024[3]
Keys:
Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
---|---|---|---|
C | vacant | ||
1 | Sunny Edwards | 21–1 (4 KO) | |
2 | Ángel Ayala | 18–0 (8 KO) | IBF |
3 | Kenshiro Teraji | 24–1 (15 KO) | WBC |
4 | Seigo Yuri Akui | 21–2–1 (11 KO) | WBA |
5 | Artem Dalakian | 22–1 (15 KO) | |
6 | Ricardo Rafael Sandoval | 25–2 (18 KO) | |
7 | Felix Alvarado | 41–4 (35 KO) | |
8 | Anthony Olascuaga | 7–1 (5 KO) | WBO |
9 | Galal Yafai | 8–0 (6 KO) | |
10 | Francisco Rodríguez Jr. | 39–6–1 (27 KO) |
Below is a list of longest reigning flyweight 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. | Omar Andres Narvaez | 7 years, 10 months | WBO | 16 | 15 | [4] |
2. | Jimmy Wilde | 7 years, 4 months, 4 days | World | 3 | 3 | [5] |
3. | Pongsaklek Wonjongkam | 6 years, 4 months, 16 days | WBC | 17 | 16 | [6] |
4. | Artem Dalakian | 5 years, 10 months, 27 days | WBA | 5 | 5 | [7] |
3. | Irene Pacheco | 5 years, 8 months, 6 days | IBF | 6 | 6 | [8] |
6. | Pascual Perez | 5 years, 4 months, 20 days | World | 9 | 9 | [9][10] |
7. | Yuri Arbachakov | 5 years, 4 months, 19 days | WBC | 9 | 9 | [11] |
8. | Jackie Paterson | 4 years, 9 months, 4 days | NBA | 1 | 1 | [12] |
9. | Miguel Canto | 4 years, 2 months, 10 days | WBC | 14 | 11 | [13] |
10. | Moruti Mthalane | 4 years, 1 month, 23 days | IBF | 4 | 4 | [14] |
11. | Sot Chitalada | 3 years, 9 months, 16 days | WBC | 6 | 5 | [15] |
In kickboxing, a flyweight fighter generally weighs 53 kg (116 lb) or under. The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Flyweight division (professional and amateur) is 112.1 lb. – 117 lb. or 50.95 kg – 53.18 kg.
In ONE Championship, the flyweight division is up to 61.2 kg (135 lb).
The limit for flyweight generally differs among promotions in bare knuckle boxing:
The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine[16] and by the Association of Boxing Commissions[17] – groups together all competitors 125 lb (57 kg) and below. It sits between Strawweight (106 lb-115 lb) and Bantamweight (126 lb-135lb).
The flyweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:
These tables are not always up to date. Last updated on July 8, 2023.
Men:
Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
UFC | July 8, 2023 | Alexandre Pantoja | 28-5 (8KO 10SUB) | 2 |
Bellator MMA | N/A | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
ONE Championship | N/A | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
Rizin FF | December 31, 2023 | Kyoji Horiguchi | 33-5 (1) (15KO 5SUB) | 0 |
Fight Nights Global | N/A | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
ACA | February 25, 2023 | Kurban Gadzhiev | 19-3 (5KO 6SUB) | 0 |
CWFC | December 31, 2022 | Shajidul Haque | 15-5 (5KO) | 0 |
Legacy Fighting Alliance | June 23, 2023 | Cody Davis | 8-1 (1KO 3SUB) | 0 |
Women:
Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
UFC | September 14, 2024 | Valentina Shevchenko | 24-4-1 (8KO 7SUB) | 0 |
Bellator MMA | April 22, 2022 | Liz Carmouche | 22-7 (9KO 6SUB) | 3 |
Invicta FC | N/A | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
KSW | N/A | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
Legacy Fighting Alliance | N/A | Vacant | N/A | N/A |