Flyweight

Weight class in combat sports

For other uses, see Flyweight (disambiguation).

Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

## Boxing

[edit]

Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight.[1]

### Professional boxing

[edit]

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, Salvatore Burruni, 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.

#### Current world champions

[edit]

Main article: List of world flyweight boxing champions

Sanctioning Body  | Reign Began  | Champion  | Record  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

WBA | March 13, 2025  | Kenshiro Teraji | 25–1 (16 KO)  | 0
WBC | October 13, 2024  | Kenshiro Teraji | 25–1 (16 KO)  | 1
IBF | March 29, 2025  | Masamichi Yabuki | 18–4 (17 KO)  | 0
WBO | July 20, 2024  | Anthony Olascuaga | 9–1 (6 KO)  | 2

#### Current The Ring world rankings

[edit]

As of April 21, 2025[3]

Keys:

C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank  | Name  | Record  | Title(s)

|
|
|

C  | vacant |  |
1  | Kenshiro Teraji | 25–1 (16 KO)  | WBC, WBA
2  | Seigo Yuri Akui | 21–3–1 (11 KO)  |
3  | Masamichi Yabuki | 18–4 (17 KO)  | IBF
4  | Galal Yafai | 9–1 (7 KO)  |
5  | Ricardo Rafael Sandoval | 26–2 (18 KO)  |
6  | Ángel Ayala | 18–1 (8 KO)  |
7  | Felix Alvarado | 42–4 (35 KO)  |
8  | Anthony Olascuaga | 9–1 (6 KO)  | WBO
9  | Francisco Rodríguez Jr. | 39–6–1 (27 KO)  |
10  | Tobias Reyes  | 16–1–1 (15 KO)  |

#### Longest reigning world flyweight champions

[edit]

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]

### Amateur boxing

[edit]

#### Olympic Champions

[edit]

##### Men's

[edit]

* 1904:  George Finnegan (USA)
* 1920:  Frankie Genaro (USA)
* 1924:  Fidel La Barba (USA)
* 1928:  Antal Kocsis (HUN)
* 1932:  István Énekes (HUN)
* 1936:  Willi Kaiser (GER)
* 1948:  Pascual Pérez (ARG)
* 1952:  Nathan Brooks (USA)
* 1956:  Terry Spinks (GBR)
* 1960:  Gyula Török (HUN)
* 1964:  Fernando Atzori (ITA)
* 1968:  Ricardo Delgado (MEX)
* 1972:  Georgi Kostadinov (BUL)
* 1976:  Leo Randolph (USA)
* 1980:  Petar Lessov (BUL)
* 1984:  Steve McCrory (USA)
* 1988:  Kim Kwang-Sun (KOR)
* 1992:  Choi Chol-Su (PRK)
* 1996:  Maikro Romero (CUB)
* 2000:  Wijan Ponlid (THA)
* 2004:  Yuriorkis Gamboa (CUB)
* 2008:  Somjit Jongjohor (THA)
* 2012:  Robeisy Ramirez (CUB)
* 2016:  Shakhobidin Zoirov (UZB)
* 2020:  Galal Yafai (GBR)
* 2024:  Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB)

##### Women's

[edit]

* 2012:  Nicola Adams (GBR)
* 2016:  Nicola Adams (GBR)
* 2020:  Stoyka Krasteva (BUL)

#### Pan American Champions

[edit]

##### Men's

[edit]

* 1951:  Alberto Barenghi (ARG)
* 1955:  Hilario Correa (MEX)
* 1959:  Miguel Angel Botta (ARG)
* 1963:  Floreal García (URU)
* 1967:  Francisco Rodríguez (VEN)
* 1971:  Francisco Rodríguez (VEN)
* 1975:  Ramón Duvalón (CUB)
* 1979:  Alberto Mercado (PUR)
* 1983:  Pedro Orlando Reyes (CUB)
* 1987:  Adalberto Regalado (CUB)
* 1991:  José Ramos (CUB)
* 1995:  Joan Guzmán (DOM)
* 1999:  Omar Andrés Narváez (ARG)
* 2003:  Yuriorkis Gamboa (CUB)
* 2007:  McWilliams Arroyo (PUR)
* 2011:  Robeisy Ramírez (CUB)
* 2015:  Antonio Vargas (USA)
* 2019:  Rodrigo Marte (DOM)

## Kickboxing

[edit]

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).

## Bare-knuckle boxing

[edit]

The limit for flyweight generally differs among promotions in bare knuckle boxing:

* In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the flyweight division has an upper limit of 125 lb (57 kg).
* In BKB™, the flyweight division has an upper limit of 70 kg (154 lb).

## Mixed martial arts

[edit]

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:

* The UFC's flyweight division, which groups competitors within 116 to 125 lb (53 to 57 kg)
* The Pancrase light flyweight division with an upper limit of 54 kg (119 lb)
* The Shooto flyweight division with an upper limit of 114.6 lb (52 kg) [18]
* The ONE Championship's flyweight division, with upper limit at 61.2 kg (134.9 lb)
* The Road FC's flyweight division, with upper limit at 125 lb (57 kg)

### Professional champions

[edit]

These tables are not always up to date. Last updated on March 23, 2025.

Men:

Organization  | Reign Began  | Champion  | Record  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

UFC | July 8, 2023  |  Alexandre Pantoja | 30-5 (8KO 12SUB)  | 4
Bellator MMA | N/A |  Vacant | N/A | N/A
ONE Championship | March 23, 2025  |  Yuya Wakamatsu | 19-6  | 0
Rizin FF | N/A |  Vacant | N/A | N/A
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 | 25-4-1 (8KO 7SUB)  | 1
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

## See also

[edit]

* List of current MMA Flyweight Champions
* List of Road FC Flyweight Champions
* List of current MMA Women's Flyweight Champions

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Technical & Competition Rules – Effective from March 24, 2011" (PDF). INTERNATIONAL BOXING ASSOCIATION. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-12-16.
2. ^ Mullan, Harry (1996). Boxing: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 186\. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.
3. ^ "The Ring ratings: flyweight". Retrieved 21 April 2025.
4. ^ "Professional boxing record: Omar Andres Narvaez". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
5. ^ "Professional boxing record: Jimmy Wilde". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
6. ^ "Professional boxing record: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Artem DalakinSpence Jrl". Retrieved 24 December 2021.
8. ^ "Professional boxing record: Irene Pacheco". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Pascual Perez". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
10. ^ "Pascual Perez, p. 678" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
11. ^ "Professional boxing record: Yuri Arbachakov". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Jackie Paterson". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Miguel Canto". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
14. ^ "Professional boxing record: Moruti Mthalane". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
15. ^ "Professional boxing record: Sot Chitalada". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
16. ^ "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
17. ^ "Unified Rules of MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
18. ^ Nelson, Chris (2010-07-19). "'The Way of Shooto 4' Quick Results". BloodyElbow.com. Retrieved 2012-03-19.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Weight classes in mixed martial arts

Unified Rules|

* Strawweight
* 115 lb (52.2 kg)
* Flyweight
* 125 lb (56.7 kg)
* Bantamweight
* 135 lb (61.2 kg)
* Featherweight
* 145 lb (65.8 kg)
* Lightweight
* 155 lb (70.3 kg)
* Super lightweight
* 165 lb (74.8 kg)
* Welterweight
* 170 lb (77.1 kg)
* Super welterweight
* 175 lb (79.4 kg)
* Middleweight
* 185 lb (83.9 kg)
* Super middleweight
* 195 lb (88.5 kg)
* Light heavyweight
* 205 lb (93.0 kg)
* Cruiserweight
* 225 lb (102.1 kg)
* Heavyweight
* 265 lb (120.2 kg)
* Super heavyweight
* over 265 lb (120.2 kg)

Other|

* Atomweight
* 105 lb (47.6 kg)
* Catchweight
* Openweight

* v
* t
* e

Weight classes in boxing

Professional boxing|

* Atomweight (women only)
* Mini flyweight
* Light flyweight
* Flyweight
* Super flyweight
* Bantamweight
* Super bantamweight
* Featherweight
* Super featherweight
* Lightweight
* Light welterweight
* Welterweight
* Light middleweight
* Middleweight
* Super middleweight
* Light heavyweight
* Cruiserweight
* Heavyweight

Amateur/Olympic boxing|

* Light flyweight
* Flyweight
* Bantamweight
* Featherweight
* Lightweight
* Light welterweight
* Welterweight
* Light middleweight
* Middleweight
* Light heavyweight
* Heavyweight
* Super heavyweight

Other/unofficial|

* Catchweight
* Openweight
* Super cruiserweight
* Bridgerweight

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