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
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | June 5, 2022 | Devin Haney | 29–0 (15 KO) | 1 |
| WBC | October 23, 2019 | Devin Haney | 29–0 (15 KO) | 6 |
| IBF | June 5, 2022 | Devin Haney | 29–0 (15 KO) | 1 |
| WBO | June 5, 2022 | Devin Haney | 29–0 (15 KO) | 1 |
Current world rankings
The Ring
As of December 24, 2022.
Keys:
- C Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Devin Haney | 29–0 (15 KO) | WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO |
| 1 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | 17–2 (11 KO) | |
| 2 | Gervonta Davis | 29–0 (27 KO) | |
| 3 | Ryan Garcia | 23–1 (19 KO) | |
| 4 | Isaac Cruz | 24–2–1 (17 KO) | |
| 5 | Frank Martin | 17–0 (12 KO) | |
| 6 | George Kambosos Jr | 20–2 (10 KO) | |
| 7 | William Zepeda | 27–0 (23 KO) | |
| 8 | Gustavo Daniel Lemos | 28–0 (18 KO) | |
| 9 | Joseph Diaz | 32–4–1 (15 KO) | |
| 10 | Maxi Hughes | 26–5–2 (5 KO) |
BoxRec
As of May 17, 2023.
| Rank | Name | Record | Points | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gervonta Davis | 29–0 (27 KO) | 147.6 | |
| 2 | Devin Haney | 28–0 (15 KO) | 110.8 | WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO |
| 3 | Teófimo López | 18–1 (13 KO) | 106.6 | |
| 4 | George Kambosos Jr | 20-2 (10 KO) | 102.9 | |
| 5 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | 17–2 (11 KO) | 97.13 | |
| 6 | Isaac Cruz | 24–2–1 (17 KO) | 57.34 | |
| 7 | Gustavo Daniel Lemos | 28–0 (18 KO) | 55.50 | |
| 8 | Joseph Diaz | 32–4–1 (15 KO) | 51.86 | |
| 9 | Jeremia Nakathila | 23–2 (19 KO) | 49.08 | |
| 10 | Ryan García | 23–1 (19 KO) | 48.51 |
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 | |
| 2. | Artur Grigorian | 7 years, 6 months, 20 days | WBO | 17 | 17 | |
| 3. | Jack McAuliffe | 6 years, 7 months, 12 days | World | 7 | 6 | |
| 4. | Roberto Durán | 6 years, 7 months, 5 days | WBA | 12 | 11 | |
| 5. | Ike Williams | 6 years, 1 month, 7 days | World | 8 | 6 | |
| 6. | Joe Gans | 6 years, 27 days | World | 15 | 13 | |
| 7. | Joe Brown (boxer) | 5 years, 7 months, 27 days | World | 11 | 10 | |
| 8. | Miguel Vazquez | 4 years, 29 days | IBF | 6 | 6 | |
| 9. | Sammy Mandell | 4 years, 14 days | NBA | 4 | 4 | |
| 10. | Paul Spadafora | 3 years, 10 months | IBF | 8 | 8 |
Amateur boxing
Olympic Champions
Men’s
-
1904 –
Harry Spanger (USA)
-
1908 –
Frederick Grace (GBR)
-
1920 –
Samuel Mosberg (USA)
-
1924 –
Hans Jacob Nielsen (DEN)
-
1928 –
Carlo Orlandi (ITA)
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1952 –
Aureliano Bolognesi (ITA)
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1956 – Dick McTaggart (GBR)
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1960 –
Kazimierz Paździor (POL)
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1964 – Józef Grudzień (POL)
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1968 –
Ronnie Harris (USA)
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1972 – Jan Szczepański (POL)
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1976 – Howard Davis Jr. (USA)
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1980 –
Ángel Herrera (CUB)
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1984 – Pernell Whitaker (USA)
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1988 –
Andreas Zülow (GDR)
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1992 – Oscar De La Hoya (USA)
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1996 –
Hocine Soltani (ALG)
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2000 – Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
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2004 – Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
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2008 –
Aleksei Tishchenko (RUS)
-
2012 –
Vasiliy Lomachenko (UKR)
-
2016 –
Robson Conceição (BRA)
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2020 – Andy Cruz (CUB)
Pan American Champions
-
1951 –
Oscar Gallardo (ARG) -
1955 – Miguel Ángel Péndola (ARG)
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1959 – Abel Laudonio (ARG)
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1963 –
Roberto Caminero (CUB) -
1967 – Enrique Regueiferos (CUB)
-
1971 –
Luis Dávila (PUR) -
1975 –
Chris Clarke (CAN) -
1979 – Adolfo Horta (CUB)
-
1983 –
Pernell Whitaker (USA) -
1987 – Julio Gonzáles (CUB)
-
1991 – Julio Gonzáles (CUB)
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1995 – Julio Gonzáles (CUB)
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1999 – Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
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2003 – Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB)
-
2007 – Yordenis Ugás (CUB)
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2011 – Yasniel Toledo (CUB)
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).
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
In MMA, the lightweight division is from 146 lb (66 kg) to 155 lb (70 kg).
Rowing
Lightweight rowing was a category entered into the Olympic sport, originally due to countries of smaller stature competing with an unfair disadvantage, as rowing favors the taller athlete who has more leverage.
Current Olympic class lightweight events in rowing are a men's lightweight Double Scull, and a women's lightweight Double Scull.