In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.7 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), 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, Evander Holyfield, Tommy Loughran, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore, Bob Foster, Michael Spinks, Dariusz Michalczewski, Roy Jones, Jr. and Zsolt Erdei to name a few.
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.
Olympic champions [edit]
Professional champions [edit]
Current champions [edit]
Longest reigning 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 |
| 1. |
Dariusz Michalczewski |
9 years, 1 months, 8 days |
IBF, WBA, WBO |
23 |
| 2. |
Roy Jones Jr |
6 years, 9 months, 8 days |
IBF, WBC, WBA (Super) |
11 |
| 3. |
Bob Foster |
6 years, 0 months, 23 days |
WBC, WBA |
17 |
| 4. |
Zsolt Erdei |
5 years, 9 months, 27 days |
WBO |
16 |
| 5. |
Charles Williams |
5 years, 4 months, 21 days |
IBF |
8 |
| 6. |
Virgil Hill |
4 years, 9 months, 15 days |
WBA |
10 |
| 7. |
Michael Spinks |
4 years, 2 months, 3 days |
IBF, WBA, WBC |
10 |
| 8. |
Battling Levinsky |
3 years, 11 months, 19 days |
World |
N/A |
| 9. |
Freddie Mills |
3 years, 10 months, 25 days |
EBU |
N/A |
| 10. |
Victor Galindez |
3 years, 9 months, 8 days |
WBA |
12 |
[1] [2] [3]
Kickboxing [edit]
In kickboxing, a light heavyweight fighter generally weighs between 77 kg (171 lb) and 82 kg (180 lb).
See also [edit]