Super bantamweight

Super bantamweight, also known as junior featherweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from 118 pounds (54 kg) and up to 122 pounds (55 kg).

There were attempts by boxing promoters in the 1920s to establish this weight class, but few sanctioning organizations or state athletic commissions would recognize it. Jack Wolf won recognition as champion when he beat Joe Lynch at Madison Square Garden on September 21, 1922, but afterwards the weight division fell into disuse.[1]

The division was revived in the 1970s and the first title fight in 54 years in the division took place in 1976 when the World Boxing Council recognized Rigoberto Riasco as its champion when he defeated Waruinge Nakayama in eight rounds. The World Boxing Association crowned its first champion in 1977 when Soo Hwan Hong knocked out Hector Carasquilla in three rounds to win the inaugural WBA championship. In 1983 the International Boxing Federation sanctioned the bout between Bobby Berna and Seung-In Suh for its first title. Berna won in the eleventh round.

On December 26, 2023, Naoya Inoue became the division's first undisputed champion.

Notable fighters to hold championship titles at this weight have been Wilfredo Gómez, Lupe Pintor, Jeff Fenech, Daniel Zaragoza, Kennedy McKinney, Érik Morales, Naoya Inoue, Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Rafael Márquez, Toshiaki Nishioka, and Israel Vázquez.

Current world champions

Main article: List of world super-bantamweight boxing champions

Current champions

Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA December 26, 2023 Naoya Inoue 28–0 (25 KO) 2
WBC July 25, 2023 Naoya Inoue 28–0 (25 KO) 3
IBF December 26, 2023 Naoya Inoue 28–0 (25 KO) 2
WBO July 25, 2023 Naoya Inoue 28–0 (25 KO) 3

Current The Ring world rankings

As of October 6, 2024.[2]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C Naoya Inoue 28–0 (25 KO) WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF
1 Marlon Tapales 39–4 (20 KO)
2 Murodjon Akhmadaliev 12–1 (9 KO)
3 Sam Goodman 19–0 (8 KO)
4 Luis Nery 35–2 (27 KO)
5 Liam Davies 16–1 (8 KO)
6 Alan Picasso 30–0–1 (16 KO)
7 TJ Doheny 26–5 (20 KO)
8 Elijah Pierce 20–2 (16 KO)
9 Ramon Cardenas 25–1 (14 KO)
10 Dennis McCann 16–0–1 (8 KO)

Lineal Champions

  • Panama Rigoberto Riasco (1976)
  • Japan Royal Kobayashi (1976)
  • South Korea Dong-Kyun Yum (1976-1977)
  • Puerto Rico Wilfredo Gomez (1977-1983) Vacated
  • United States Paulie Ayala (2002-2003) Vacated
  • Mexico Israel Vazquez (2005-2007)
  • Mexico Rafael Márquez (2007)
  • Mexico Israel Vázquez (2007-2009) Vacated (2)
  • Philippines Nonito Donaire (2012-2013)
  • Cuba Guillermo Rigondeaux (2013-2022) Abandoned
  • Japan Naoya Inoue (2023-Present)

References

  1. ^ "World Champions: The Last 20 Years", International Boxing Digest, 39, no. 1: 64, August 1997
  2. ^ "The Ring ratings: super bantamweight/junior featherweight". Retrieved 13 April 2024.