Bantamweight
Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports. The name is derived from bantam chickens.
Boxing
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds (52.2 kg) and up to 118 pounds (53.5 kg). Orlando Canizales holds the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing at this division, with 16 defenses of the IBF title.
History
The first title fight with gloves was between Chappie Moran and Ray Lewis in 1889. At that time, the limit for this weight class was 110 pounds. In 1910, however, the British settled on a limit of 118.[1]
Professional Champions
Current Champions
Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
WBA (Super) | September 26, 2014 | ![]() |
17-0 (8 KO) | 1 |
WBA | May 31, 2014 | ![]() |
27-2-1 (12 KO) | 3 |
WBC | November 6, 2011 | ![]() |
25-0-2 (17 KO) | 10 |
IBF | October 25, 2014 | ![]() |
32-3 (14 KO) | 0 |
WBO | August 7, 2015 | ![]() |
52-3 (35 KO) | 1 |
Longest reigning bantamweight champions
Below is a list of longest reigning bantamweight 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. | ![]() |
6 years, 3 months, 26 days | WBA | 12 |
2. | ![]() |
6 years, 3 months, 17 days | WBC | 14 |
3. | ![]() |
6 years, 3 months, 16 days | IBF | 16 |
4. | ![]() |
5 years, 6 months, 26 days | IBF | 10 |
5. | ![]() |
5 years, 11 days | WBC | 10 |
6. | ![]() |
5 years | World | 6 |
7. | ![]() |
4 years, 9 months, 28 days | NBA | N/A |
8. | ![]() |
4 years, 6 months | World | 8 |
9. | ![]() |
4 years, 4 months, 29 days | World | 15 |
10. | ![]() |
4 years, 1 month, 1 day | IBF | 7 |
Amateur Champions
Olympic Champions
- 1904:
Oliver Kirk (USA)
- 1908:
Henry Thomas (GBR)
- 1920:
Clarence Walker (RSA)
- 1924:
William Smith (RSA)
- 1928:
Vittorio Tamagnini (ITA)
- 1932:
Horace Gwynne (CAN)
- 1936:
Ulderico Sergo (ITA)
- 1948:
Tibor Csík (HUN)
- 1952:
Pentti Hämäläinen (FIN)
- 1956:
Wolfgang Behrendt (EUA)
- 1960:
Oleg Grigoryev (URS)
- 1964:
Takao Sakurai (JPN)
- 1968:
Valeriy Sokolov (URS)
- 1972:
Orlando Martínez (CUB)
- 1976:
Gu Yong-Ju (PRK)
- 1980:
Juan Hernández (CUB)
- 1984:
Maurizio Stecca (ITA)
- 1988:
Kennedy McKinney (USA)
- 1992:
Joel Casamayor (CUB)
- 1996:
István Kovács (HUN)
- 2000:
Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB)
- 2004:
Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB)
- 2008:
Enkhbatyn Badar-Uugan (MGL)
- 2012:
Luke Campbell (GBR)
Pan American Champions
- 1951:
Ricardo Gonzales (ARG)
- 1955:
Salvador Enriquez (VEN)
- 1959:
Waldo Claudiano (BRA)
- 1963:
Abel Almaraz (ARG)
- 1967:
Juvencio Martínez (MEX)
- 1971:
Pedro Flores (MEX)
- 1975:
Orlando Martínez (CUB)
- 1979:
Jackie Beard (USA)
- 1983:
Manuel Vilchez (VEN)
- 1987:
Manuel Martínez (CUB)
- 1991:
Enrique Carrion (CUB)
- 1995:
Juan Despaigne (CUB)
- 1999:
Gerald Tucker (USA)
- 2003:
Daniel Chyutin (CUB)
- 2007:
Carlos Cuadras (MEX)
- 2011:
Lázaro Álvarez (CUB)
Commonwealth Games Champions
Notable bantamweights
- Monte Attell
- Urijah Faber
- Fabrice Benichou
- Panama Al Brown
- Orlando Canizales
- Jimmy Carruthers
- Jeff Chandler
- Frankie Conley (1910)
- George Dixon (the first black world champion at any weight, 1890)
- Sixto Escobar
- Wilfredo Vázquez
- Sung-Kil Moon
- Luisito Espinosa
- Eder Jofre
- Nana Konadu
- Alphonse Halimi
- Fighting Harada
- Pete Herman
- Akhil Kumar
- Abner Mares
- Joe Lynch
- Rubén Olivares
- Manuel Ortiz
- Lionel Rose
- Charlie Phil Rosenberg
- Charles "Bud" Taylor
- Alfonso Zamora
- Carlos Zarate
- Johnny Tapia
- Paulie Ayala
- Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
- Veeraphol Sahaprom
- Johnny Owen
- Guillermo Rigondeaux
- Ronda Rousey
- Holly Holm
Kickboxing
In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between 53 kg (116 lb) and 55 kg (120 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Bantamweight division (professional and amateur) is 117.1 lbs.–122 lbs. or 53.22 kg–55.45 kg.
Mixed Martial Arts
In MMA, bantamweight is 126–135 pounds (57.2–61.2 kg).
Wrestling
Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight.
See also
References
- ^ Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 178. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.