Lightweight

This article is about the sports concept. For the 2004 French film, see Lightweight (film). For the company, see Bergsala Lightweight. For the general concept, see Weight.
For other uses, see Lightweight (disambiguation).

Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing.

Boxing

Professional boxing

The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight boxers include Henry Armstrong, Ken Buchanan, Tony Canzoneri, Pedro Carrasco, Joel Casamayor, Al "Bummy" Davis, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Durán, Joe Gans, Artur Grigorian, Benny Leonard, Ray Mancini, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Márquez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Ángel González, Carlos Ortiz, Katie Taylor, Edwin Valero, Len Wickwar, Pernell Whitaker, Manny Pacquiao and Ike Williams.

Current world champions

Main article: List of world lightweight boxing champions
Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA November 29, 2023 Gervonta Davis 30–0 (28 KO) 1
WBC November 16, 2023 Shakur Stevenson 22–0 (10 KO) 0
IBF May 12, 2024 Vasiliy Lomachenko 18–3 (12 KO) 0
WBO May 18, 2024 Denys Berinchyk 19–0 (9 KO) 0

Current world rankings

The Ring

As of July 6, 2024.[1]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Gervonta Davis 30–0 (28 KO) WBA
2 Vasiliy Lomachenko 18–3 (12 KO) IBF
3 William Zepeda 31–0 (27 KO)
4 Shakur Stevenson 22–0 (10 KO) WBC
5 Denys Berinchyk 19–0 (9 KO) WBO
6 Raymond Muratalla 20–0 (16 KO)
7 Keyshawn Davis 11–0–0–1 (7 KO)
8 Frank Martin 18–1 (12 KO)
9 Mark Chamberlain 16–0 (12 KO)
10 Zaur Abdullaev 19–1 (11 KO)
BoxRec

As of November 10, 2024.[2]

Rank Name Record Title(s)
1 Gervonta Davis 30–0 (28 KO) WBA
2 Shakur Stevenson 21–0 (10 KO) WBC
3 Vasiliy Lomachenko 17–3 (11 KO)
4 William Zepeda Segura 29-0 (25 KO)
5 Frank Martin 18–0 (12 KO)
6 Shuichiro Yoshino 16–1 (12 KO)
7 Isaac Cruz 25–2 (17 KO)
8 Jamaine Ortiz 17–1 (8 KO)
9 George Kambosos Jr 21–2 (10 KO)
10 Zaur Abdullaev 18–1 (11 KO)

Longest reigning world lightweight champions

Below is a list of "longest reigning lightweight champions" career time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Name Title Reign Title recognition Successful defenses Beaten opponents Fights
1. Benny Leonard 7 years, 7 months, 17 days World 6 6 [3][4]
2. Artur Grigorian 7 years, 6 months, 20 days WBO 17 17 [5]
3. Jack McAuliffe 6 years, 7 months, 12 days World 7 6 [6]
4. Roberto Durán 6 years, 7 months, 5 days WBA 12 11 [7]
5. Ike Williams 6 years, 1 month, 7 days World 8 6 [8]
6. Joe Gans 6 years, 27 days World 15 13 [9]
7. Joe Brown (boxer) 5 years, 7 months, 27 days World 11 10 [10]
8. Devin Haney 4 years, 1 month, 7 days WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 10 10 [11]
9. Miguel Vazquez 4 years, 29 days IBF 6 6 [12]
10. Sammy Mandell 4 years, 14 days NBA 4 4 [13][14]
11. Paul Spadafora 3 years, 10 months IBF 8 8 [15]

Amateur boxing

Olympic Champions

Men’s

Pan American Champions

Kickboxing

International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Lightweight (Pro & Amateur) 127.1 lb - 132 lb or 57.77 kg - 60 kg. Women's divisions also use this weight class, but usually at a lower weight than the men's divisions. In Glory promotion, a lightweight division is up to 70 kg (154 lb).[16]

In ONE Championship, the lightweight division limit is 77.1 kg (170 lb).

Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit for lightweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

  • In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the lightweight division has an upper limit of 155 lb (70 kg).
  • In BKB™, the lightweight division has an upper limit of 79 kg (174 lb).

Lethwei

In World Lethwei Championship, the lightweight division has an upper limit of 60 kg (132 lb).

Mixed martial arts

Main article: Lightweight (MMA)

In MMA, the lightweight division is from 146 lb (66 kg) to 155 lb (70 kg).

Rowing

Main article: Lightweight rowing

At the international level, for crew boats, the limits are:

  • Men: Crew average 70 kg (154.3 lb) – no rower over 72.5 kg (159.8 lb)
  • Women: Crew average 57 kg (125.7 lb) – no rower over 59 kg (130.1 lb)

For single sculls, the limits are 72.5 kg (159.8 lb) for men and 59 kg (130.1 lb) for women.

Originally, lightweight rowing was a introduced as a category at the 1996 Summer Olympics, due to countries with athletes of smaller average stature competing with an unfair disadvantage, as rowing favors taller athletes who have more leverage.

Current Olympic-class lightweight events in rowing are the men's lightweight double sculls, and the women's lightweight double sculls. From 1996 to 2016, there was also the men's lightweight coxless four event.

Sumo

In amateur sumo competitions sanctioned by the International Sumo Federation, the lightweight class is defined as no heavier than 85 kg (187.4 lb) for men, 80 kg (176.4 lb) for boys, 65 kg (143.3 lb) for women, and 60 kg (132.3 lb) for girls.

References

  1. ^ "The Ring ratings: lightweight". Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ "BoxRec ratings: lightweight, active". Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Professional boxing record: Benny Leonard". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Benny Leonard, p. 182" (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: Artur Grigorian". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Jack McAuliffe, p. 200" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Roberto Durán". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Ike Williams, p. 784" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  9. ^ "BoxRec: Joe Gans".
  10. ^ "Joe Brown ("Old Bones"), p. 352" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Professional boxing record: Deving Haney". Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Miguel Vazquez". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Sammy Mandel". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Sammy Mandell, p. 198" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  15. ^ "Professional boxing record: Paul Spadafora". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  16. ^ OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING Archived 2014-01-19 at the Wayback Machine