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List of current world boxing champions

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This is a list of current world boxing champions. Since at least John L. Sullivan, in the late 19th century, there have been world champions in professional boxing. The first of today's organizations to award a world title was the World Boxing Association (WBA), then known as the National Boxing Association (NBA), when it sanctioned its first title fight in 1921 between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier for the world heavyweight championship.

There are now four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. The official rules and regulations of the World Boxing Association,[1] World Boxing Council (WBC),[2] International Boxing Federation (IBF),[3] and World Boxing Organization (WBO)[4] all recognize each other in their rankings and title unification rules. Each of these organizations sanction and regulate championship bouts and award world titles. American boxing magazine The Ring began awarding world titles in 1922.

There are seventeen weight divisions. To compete in a division, a boxer's weight must not exceed the upper limit. Manny Pacquiao has won world championships in eight different weight divisions, more than any other boxer. The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, held all four major titles in the heavyweight division from 2011 to 2013; they were the first brothers to hold versions of the heavyweight championship at the same time.[5]

Championships

When a champion, for reasons beyond his control such as an illness or injury, is unable to defend his title within the normal mandatory time, the sanctioning bodies may order an interim title bout and award the winner an interim championship. The WBA and WBC may change the status of their inactive champions to "Champion in Recess".

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association (WBA) was founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), a national regulating body of the United States. On August 23, 1962, the NBA became the WBA, which today has its head office in Panama.[6] According to WBA championship rules, when a champion also holds a title of one of the other three major sanctioning bodies in an equivalent weight division, that boxer is granted a special recognition of "Unified Champion", and is given more time between mandatory title defences. The WBA Championships Committee and President may also designate a champion as a "Super Champion" or "Undisputed Champion" in exceptional circumstances;[1] the standard WBA title is then vacated and contested between WBA-ranked contenders. When a WBA "Regular Champion" makes between five and ten successful defences, he may be granted the WBA "Super" title upon discretion of a vote of the WBA's board of governors.

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico on February 14, 1963 in order to establish an international regulating body.[7] The WBC established many of today's safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count,[8] a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15, and additional weight divisions. More information about the WBC's titles including "Silver", "Diamond", "Emeritus", "Honorary", and "Supreme Champion" can be read at the WBC article.

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA) when American members of the WBA withdrew in order to legitimize boxing in the United States with "unbiased" ratings.[9] In April 1983, the organization established an international division that was known as the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I).[9] In May 1984, the New Jersey-based USBA-I was renamed and became the IBF.[9]

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which is a self-governing commonwealth of the United States) in 1988. In its early years the WBO's titles were not widely recognized. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is "dignity, democracy, honesty."[10] When a WBO champion has reached "preeminent status", the WBO's Executive Committee may designate him as a "Super Champion".[11] However, this is only an honorary title and not the same as the WBA's policy of having separate "Super" and "Regular" champions. A WBO "Super Champion" cannot win or lose that recognition in the ring; it is merely awarded by the WBO.

The Ring

The boxing magazine The Ring maintains its own version of the lineal championship. The original title sequence began from the magazine's first publication in the 1920s until its titles were placed on hiatus in 1989, continuing as late as 1992 in some divisions. When The Ring started awarding titles again in 2001, it did not calculate retrospective lineages to fill in the gap years, instead nominating a new champion.[12] Cyber Boxing Zone, a website dedicated to tracking lineal champions, commented in 2004 that "The Ring has forfeited its credibility by pulling names out of its ass to name fighters as champions".[13]

In 2007, The Ring was acquired by the owners of fight promoter Golden Boy Promotions,[14] which has publicized The Ring's world championships when they are at stake in fights it promotes (such as Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr. in 2008).[15] Since 2012, to reduce the number of vacant titles, The Ring allows fights between a number one or two contender; or alternatively a number three, four, or five contender to fill a vacant title. This has prompted further doubts about its credibility.[16][17][18] Some boxing journalists have been extremely critical of the new championship policy and state that if this new policy is followed, the Ring title will lose the credibility it once held.[19][20][21]

Current champions

The current champions in each weight division are listed below. Each champion's professional boxing record is shown in the following format: wins–losses–draws (knockout wins).

Heavyweight (200+ lb/90.7+ kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Andy Ruiz Jr.
Super champion
 Mexico
33–1 (22 KO)
June 1, 2019 		Deontay Wilder
 United States
41–0–1 (40 KO)
January 17, 2015 		Andy Ruiz Jr.
 Mexico
33–1 (22 KO)
June 1, 2019 		Andy Ruiz Jr.
 Mexico
33–1 (22 KO)
June 1, 2019 		vacant
Manuel Charr
Regular champion
 Syria
31–4 (17 KO)
November 25, 2017
Trevor Bryan
Interim champion
 United States
20–0 (14 KO)
August 11, 2018

Cruiserweight (200 lb/90.7 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Arsen Goulamirian
 France
24–0 (16 KO)
May 31, 2019 		vacant Yunier Dorticos
 Cuba
24–1 (22 KO)
June 15, 2019 		Mairis Briedis
 Latvia
26–1 (19 KO)
June 15, 2019 		Oleksandr Usyk
 Ukraine
16–0 (12 KO)
July 21, 2018
Beibut Shumenov
Champion in recess
 Kazakhstan
18–2 (12 KO)
May 31, 2019 		Oleksandr Usyk
Champion in recess
 Ukraine
16–0 (12 KO)
January 27, 2018

Light heavyweight (175 lb/79.4 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Dmitry Bivol
 Russia
16–0 (11 KO)
September 23, 2017 		Oleksandr Gvozdyk
 Ukraine
17–0 (14 KO)
December 1, 2018 		Artur Beterbiev
 Russia
14–0 (14 KO)
November 11, 2017 		Sergey Kovalev
 Russia
34–3–1 (29 KO)
February 2, 2019 		vacant
Jean Pascal
Interim champion
 Canada
34–6-1-1 (20 KO)
August 3, 2019

Super middleweight (168 lb/76.2 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Callum Smith
Super champion
 United Kingdom
26–0 (19 KO)
September 28, 2018 		Anthony Dirrell
 United States
33–1–1 (24 KO)
February 23, 2019 		Caleb Plant
 United States
19–0 (11 KO)
January 13, 2019 		Billy Joe Saunders
 United Kingdom
28–0 (13 KO)
May 18, 2019 		Callum Smith
 United Kingdom
26–0 (19 KO)
September 28, 2018
Canelo Álvarez
Regular champion
 Mexico
52–1–2 (35 KO)
December 15, 2018
John Ryder
Interim champion
 United Kingdom
28–4 (16 KO)
May 4, 2019 		David Benavidez
Champion in recess
 United States
21–0 (18 KO)
September 8, 2017

Middleweight (160 lb/72.6 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Canelo Álvarez
Super champion
 Mexico
52–1–2 (35 KO)
September 15, 2018 		Jermall Charlo
 United States
29–0 (21 KO)
June 26, 2019 		vacant Demetrius Andrade
 United States
28–0 (17 KO)
October 20, 2018 		Canelo Álvarez
 Mexico
52–1–2 (35 KO)
September 15, 2018
Ryōta Murata
Regular champion
 Japan
15–2 (12 KO)
July 12, 2019

Super welterweight (154 lb/69.9 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Julian Williams
Super champion
 United States
27–1–1–1 (16 KO)
May 11, 2019 		Tony Harrison
 United States
28–2 (21 KO)
December 22, 2018 		Julian Williams
 United States
27–1–1–1 (16 KO)
May 11, 2019 		Jaime Munguia
 Mexico
33–0 (26 KO)
May 12, 2018 		vacant

Welterweight (147 lb/66.7 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Manny Pacquiao
Super champion
 Philippines
62–7–2 (39 KO)
July 20, 2019 		Shawn Porter
 United States
30-2-1(17 KO)
September 8, 2018 		Errol Spence Jr.
 United States
25–0 (21 KO)
May 27, 2017 		Terence Crawford
 United States
35–0 (26 KO)
June 9, 2018 		vacant

Super lightweight (140 lb/63.5 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Regis Prograis
Super champion
 United States
24–0 (20 KO)
April 27, 2019 		José Ramírez
 United States
25–0 (17 KO)
March 17, 2018 		Josh Taylor
 United Kingdom
15–0 (12 KO)
May 18, 2019 		José Ramírez
 United States
25–0 (17 KO)
July 27, 2019 		vacant
Alberto Puello
Interim champion
 Dominican Republic
19–0 (7 KO)
July 27, 2019

Lightweight (135 lb/61.2 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Vasyl Lomachenko
Super champion
 Ukraine
13–1 (10 KO)
May 12, 2018 		vacant Richard Commey
 Ghana
29–2 (26 KO)
February 2, 2019 		Vasyl Lomachenko
 Ukraine
13–1 (10 KO)
December 8, 2018 		Vasyl Lomachenko
 Ukraine
13–1 (10 KO)
May 12, 2018

Super featherweight (130 lb/59 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Gervonta Davis
Super champion
 United States
22–0 (21 KO)
April 21, 2018 		Miguel Berchelt
 Mexico
36–1 (32 KO)
January 28, 2017 		Tevin Farmer
 United States
30–4–1–1 (6 KO)
August 3, 2018 		Jamel Herring
 United States
20–2 (10 KO)
May 25, 2019 		vacant
Andrew Cancio
Regular champion
 United States
21–4–2 (16 KO)
February 9, 2019

Featherweight (126 lb/57.2 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Léo Santa Cruz
Super champion
 Mexico
36–1–1 (19 KO)
January 28, 2017 		Gary Russell Jr.
 United States
30–1 (18 KO)
March 28, 2015 		Josh Warrington
 United Kingdom
29–0 (6 KO)
May 19, 2018 		vacant vacant
Xu Can
Regular champion
 China
17–2 (3 KO)
January 26, 2019

Super bantamweight (122 lb/55.3 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Daniel Roman
Unified champion
 United States
27–2–1 (10 KO)
May 31, 2019 		Rey Vargas
 Mexico
34–0 (22 KO)
February 25, 2017 		Daniel Roman
 United States
27–2–1 (10 KO)
April 26, 2019 		Emanuel Navarrete
 Mexico
28–1 (24 KO)
December 8, 2018 		vacant
Brandon Figueroa
Interim champion
 United States
20–0 (15 KO)
April 20, 2019

Bantamweight (118 lb/53.5 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Nonito Donaire
Super champion
 Philippines
40–5 (26 KO)
November 3, 2018 		Nordine Oubaali
 France
16–0 (12 KO)
January 19, 2019 		Naoya Inoue
 Japan
18–0 (16 KO)
May 18, 2019 		Zolani Tete
 South Africa
28–3 (21 KO)
April 22, 2017 		Naoya Inoue
 Japan
18–0 (16 KO)
May 18, 2019
Naoya Inoue
Unified champion
 Japan
18–0 (16 KO)
May 21, 2019 		Takuma Inoue
Interim champion
 Japan
13–0 (3 KO)
December 30, 2018 		Johnriel Casimero
Interim champion
 Philippines
28–4 (19 KO)
April 20, 2019

Super flyweight (115 lb/52.2 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Khalid Yafai
 United Kingdom
26–0 (15 KO)
December 10, 2016 		Juan Francisco Estrada
 Mexico
40–3 (27 KO)
April 26, 2019 		Jerwin Ancajas
 Philippines
31–1–2 (21 KO)
September 3, 2016 		Kazuto Ioka
 Japan
24–2 (14 KO)
June 19, 2019 		Juan Francisco Estrada
 Mexico
40–3 (27 KO)
April 26, 2019

Flyweight (112 lb/50.8 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Artem Dalakian
 Ukraine
19–0 (14 KO)
February 24, 2018 		Charlie Edwards
 United Kingdom
15–1 (6 KO)
December 22, 2018 		Moruti Mthalane
 South Africa
38–2 (25 KO)
July 15, 2018 		Kosei Tanaka
 Japan
14–0 (8 KO)
September 24, 2018 		vacant

Light flyweight (108 lb/49 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Hiroto Kyoguchi
Super champion
 Japan
13–0 (9 KO)
December 31, 2018 		Ken Shiro
 Japan
16–0 (9 KO)
May 20, 2017 		Felix Alvarado
 Nicaragua
35–2 (30 KO)
October 29, 2018 		Elwin Soto
 Mexico
15–1 (11 KO)
June 21, 2019 		Hiroto Kyoguchi
 Japan
13–0 (9 KO)
December 31, 2018
Carlos Cañizales
Regular champion
 Venezuela
22–0–1 (17 KO)
March 18, 2018

Mini flyweight (105 lb/47.6 kg)

WBA WBC IBF WBO The Ring
Thammanoon Niyomtrong
 Thailand
20–0 (7 KO)
June 29, 2016 		Wanheng Menayothin
 Thailand
53–0 (18 KO)
November 6, 2014 		vacant Wilfredo Mendez
 Puerto Rico
14–1 (5 KO)
August 24, 2019 		vacant

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Rules of World Boxing Association" (PDF). World Boxing Association. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  2. ^ "World Boxing Council Rules and Regulations" (PDF). World Boxing Council. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  3. ^ "IBF/USBA Rules Governing Championship Contests" (PDF). International Boxing Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  4. ^ "World Boxing Organization Regulations of World Championship Contests". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  5. ^ Lewis, Ron (October 13, 2008). "Vitali Klitschko impressive in comeback victory". The Times. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "World Boxing Association History". World Boxing Association. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "World Boxing Council". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Rules that have changed the History of Boxing". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 25, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b c "History of the IBF". International Boxing Federation. December 4, 2000. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved June 6, 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "WBO logo". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  11. ^ "WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests" (PDF). World Boxing Organization. Section 14.
  12. ^ "Boxing News : The Disputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World". October 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 15, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ DeLisa, Mike (August 2004). "What the CBZ Means When it Refers to "Lineal Championships"". The CBZ Journal. cyberboxingzone. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  14. ^ "Golden Boy Enterprises' Subsidiary, Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, Acquires The Ring Magazine, KO, World Boxing and Pro Wrestling Illustrated". Golden Boy Promotions. September 12, 2007. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Kimball, George (April 27, 2008). "Calzaghe claim far from undisputed". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Chat with Dan Rafael". Espn.go.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  17. ^ The Horrible New Ring Magazine Championship Policy - Queensberry Rules Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy". Theboxingtribune.com. May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  19. ^ "Chat: Chat with Dan Rafael - SportsNation". Espn.com.
  20. ^ [1] Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy". Theboxingtribune.com.
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