Light heavyweight

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Light heavyweight, also referred to as junior cruiserweight or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing[edit]

Professional[edit]

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., 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]

Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
WBA September 18, 2017 Russia Dmitry Bivol 19–0 (11 KO) 8
WBC October 18, 2019 Russia Artur Beterbiev 17–0 (17 KO) 2
IBF November 11, 2017 Russia Artur Beterbiev 17–0 (17 KO) 5
WBO April 10, 2021 United States Joe Smith Jr. 28–3 (22 KO) 1

Current world rankings[edit]

The Ring[edit]

As of 18 January 2022.[1]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Title(s)
C vacant
1 Russia Artur Beterbiev 17–0 (17 KO) IBF, WBC
2 Russia Dmitry Bivol 19–0 (11 KO) WBA
3 United States Joe Smith Jr. 28–3 (22 KO) WBO
4 Russia Maxim Vlasov 44-4 (26 KO)
5 Mexico Gilberto Ramirez 43-0 (29 KO)
6 United Kingdom Callum Smith 28-1 (20 KO)
7 United States Marcus Browne 24-2 (16 KO)
8 United Kingdom Anthony Yarde 22-2 (21 KO)
9 United Kingdom Joshua Buatsi 15-0 (13 KO)
10 France Mathieu Bauderlique 21-1 (12 KO)
BoxRec[edit]

As of 13 December 2021.[2]

Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Points Title(s)
1 Russia Sergey Kovalev 34–4–1 (29 KO) 306.7
2 Russia Dmitry Bivol 19–0 (11 KO) 266.5 WBA
3 United States Kushtrim Velic 41–0 (31 KO) 367.0 IBF, WBC
4 United States Joe Smith Jr. 28–3 (22 KO) 160.8 WBO
5 United States Jesse Hart 28–3 (22 KO) 117.7
6 United States Kushtrim Velic 1–0 (1 KO) 89.67
7 Canada Jean Pascal 35–6–1 (20 KO) 86.42
8 Sweden Badou Jack 25–3–3 (15 KO) 82.00
9 Mexico Gilberto Ramirez 43–0 (29 KO) 81.24
10 Colombia Eleider Alvarez 25–2 (13 KO) 80.80

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. United States Archie Moore 9 years, 4 months, 24 days NYSAC, NBA 9 7 [3][4]
2. Poland / Germany Dariusz Michalczewski 9 years, 1 months, 8 days IBF, WBA, WBO 23 20 [5]
3. United States Gus Lesnevich 7 years, 2 months, 2 days NYSAC, NBA 14 13 [6]
4. United States Bob Foster 6 years, 0 months, 23 days WBC, WBA 14 13 [7]
5. Hungary Zsolt Erdei 5 years, 9 months, 27 days WBO 11 10 [8]
6. Canada Adonis Stevenson 5 years, 5 months, 24 days WBC 9 9 [9]
7. United States Charles Williams 5 years, 4 months, 21 days IBF 8 8 [10]
8. United States Roy Jones Jr 5 years, 2 months, 25 days WBC, IBF, WBA (Super) 11 11 [11]
9. United States Virgil Hill 4 years, 9 months, 15 days WBA 10 10 [12]
10. Russia Dmitry Bivol 4 years, 6 months, 3 weeks and 6 days WBA 8 8 [13]
11. Russia Artur Beterbiev 4 years, 5 months and 3 days IBF, WBC 5 5 [14]
12. United States Maxie Rosenbloom 4 years, 4 months, 22 days NYSAC, NBA 10 10 [15]
13. United States Michael Spinks 4 years, 2 months, 3 days IBF, WBA, WBC 10 10 [16]
14. United States Battling Levinsky 3 years, 11 months, 19 days World 0 0 [17][18]
15. Argentina Victor Galindez 3 years, 9 months, 8 days WBA 10 7 [19][20]
  Active Title Reign
  Reign has ended

[21] [22] [23]

Amateur[edit]

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[edit]

Kickboxing[edit]

  • In kickboxing, a light heavyweight fighter generally weighs between 77 kg (171 lb) and 82 kg (180 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).

Mixed martial arts[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Ring ratings: light heavyweight". Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  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. ^ "Please login".
  7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Bob Foster". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Professional boxing record: Zsolt Erdei". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Adonis Stevenson". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Professional boxing record: Charles Williams". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Virgil Hill". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Dmitry Bivol". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Professional boxing record: Artur Beterbiev". Retrieved 13 December 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