Light heavyweight

Weight class used in boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts

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Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

## Boxing

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### Professional

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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., Joe Calzaghe, 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]

Main article: List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions

Sanctioning body  | Reign began  | Champion  | Record  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

WBA | February 22, 2025  | Dmitry Bivol | 24–1 (12 KO)  | 0
WBC | April 7, 2025  | David Benavidez | 30–0 (24 KO)  | 0
IBF | February 22, 2025  | Dmitry Bivol | 24–1 (12 KO)  | 0
WBO | February 22, 2025  | Dmitry Bivol | 24–1 (12 KO)  | 0

#### Current world rankings

[edit]

##### The Ring

[edit]

As of February 26, 2025.[1]

Keys:

C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank  | Name  | Record (W–L–D)  | Title(s)

|
|
|

C  | Dmitry Bivol | 24–1 (12 KO)  | IBF, WBO, WBA
1  | Artur Beterbiev | 21–1 (20 KO)  |
2  | David Benavidez | 30–0 (24 KO)  | WBC
3  | Callum Smith | 31–2 (21 KO)  |
4  | Anthony Yarde | 26–3 (24 KO)  |
5  | Joshua Buatsi | 19–1 (13 KO)  |
6  | Albert Ramírez | 21–0 (18 KO)  |
7  | Oleksandr Gvozdyk | 20–2 (16 KO)  |
8  | David Morrell | 11–1 (9 KO)  |
9  | Willy Hutchinson | 18–2 (13 KO)  |
10  | Imam Khataev | 10–0 (9 KO)  |

##### BoxRec

[edit]

As of 24 May 2022[update][2]

Rank  | Name  | Record (W–L–D)  | Points  | Title(s)

|
|
|
|

1  | Artur Beterbiev | 21–0 (20 KO)  |  | IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA
2  | Dmitry Bivol | 23–1 (12 KO)  |
3  | Callum Smith | 29–2 (20 KO)  | 188.5  |
4  | Gilberto Ramirez | 46–1 (30 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. | Artur Beterbiev | 7 years, 3 months, 1 week and 5 days | IBF, WBC, WBO | 8 | 8 | [6]
4. | Gus Lesnevich | 7 years, 2 months, 2 days | NYSAC, NBA | 5 | 3 | [7]
5. | Dmitry Bivol | 7 years, 3 weeks and 3 days | IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA | 12 | 12 | [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

[21][22][23]

### Amateur

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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

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* 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

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* 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

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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

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Main article: Light heavyweight (MMA)

In MMA, the light heavyweight division is from 186 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg).

## References

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1. ^ "The Ring ratings: light heavyweight". Retrieved 26 February 2025.
2. ^ "BoxRec ratings: light heavyweight, active". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
3. ^ "Professional boxing record: Archie Moore". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
4. ^ "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.
5. ^ "Professional boxing record: Dariusz Michalczewski". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
6. ^ "Professional boxing record: Artur Beterbiev". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
7. ^ "Please login".
8. ^ "Professional boxing record: Dmitry Bivol". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Bob Foster". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
10. ^ "Professional boxing record: Zsolt Erdei". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
11. ^ "Professional boxing record: Adonis Stevenson". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Charles Williams". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
14. ^ "Professional boxing record: Virgil Hill". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
15. ^ "Please login".
16. ^ "Professional boxing record: Michael Spinks". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
17. ^ "Professional boxing record: Battling Levinsky". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
18. ^ "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.
19. ^ "Professional boxing record: Victor Galindez". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
20. ^ "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.
21. ^ BoxRec Light Heavyweight Ratings Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
22. ^ BoxRec WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
23. ^ BoxRec Light Heavyweight Division Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
24. ^ Official Glory Ranking Archived 2014-01-10 at the Wayback Machine

* 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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