List of current world boxing champions
This is a list of current world boxing champions. Since at least John L. Sullivan, in the late 19th century, there have been world champions in professional boxing. The first of the current organizations to award a world title was the World Boxing Association (WBA), then known as the National Boxing Association (NBA), when it sanctioned its first title fight in 1921 between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier for the world heavyweight championship.
There are now four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. The official rules and regulations of the World Boxing Association (WBA),[1] World Boxing Council (WBC),[2] International Boxing Federation (IBF),[3] and World Boxing Organization (WBO)[4] all recognize each other in their rankings and title unification rules. Each of these organizations sanction and regulate championship bouts and award world titles. American boxing magazine The Ring began awarding world titles in 1922.
There are seventeen weight divisions. To compete in a division, a boxer's weight must not exceed the upper limit. Manny Pacquiao has won world championships in eight weight divisions, more than any other boxer, and is the only one in boxing history to achieve it. The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, held all four major titles in the heavyweight division from 2011 to 2013; they were the first brothers to hold versions of the heavyweight championship at the same time.[5] Joe Louis holds the record of being the longest reigning world champion in boxing.[6]
Championships
When a champion, for reasons beyond his control such as an illness or injury, is unable to defend his title within the normal mandatory time, the sanctioning bodies may order an interim title bout and award the winner an interim championship. The WBA and WBC have often changed the status of their inactive champions to a "Champion in Recess" or "Champion Emeritus".
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association (WBA) was founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), a national regulating body of the United States. On August 23, 1962, the NBA became the WBA, which today has its head office in Panama.[7] According to WBA championship rules, when a champion also holds a title of one of the other three major sanctioning bodies in an equivalent weight division, that boxer is granted a special recognition of "Unified Champion", and is given more time between mandatory title defences. The WBA Championships Committee and President may also designate a champion as a "Super Champion" or "Undisputed Champion" in exceptional circumstances;[1] the standard WBA title is then vacated and contested between WBA-ranked contenders. When a WBA "Regular Champion" makes between five and ten successful defences, he may be granted the WBA "Super" title upon discretion of a vote of the WBA's board of governors.
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico on February 14, 1963 in order to establish an international regulating body.[8] The WBC established many of today's safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count,[9] a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15, and additional weight divisions. More information about the WBC's other titles including "Silver", "Diamond", "Emeritus", "Franchise", "Honorary", and "Supreme Champion" can be read at the WBC article.
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA) when American members of the WBA withdrew in order to legitimize boxing in the United States with "unbiased" ratings.[10] In April 1983, the organization established an international division that was known as the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I).[10] In May 1984, the New Jersey-based USBA-I was renamed and became the IBF.[10]
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which is a self-governing commonwealth of the United States) in 1988. In its early years the WBO's titles were not widely recognized. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is "dignity, democracy, honesty."[11] When a WBO champion has reached "preeminent status", the WBO's Executive Committee may designate him as a "Super Champion".[12] However, this is only an honorary title and not the same as the WBA's policy of having separate "Super" and "Regular" champions. A WBO "Super Champion" cannot win or lose that recognition in the ring; it is merely awarded by the WBO.
The Ring
The boxing magazine The Ring awards its own belts. The original title sequence began from the magazine's first publication in the 1920s until its titles were placed on hiatus in 1989, continuing as late as 1992 in some divisions. When The Ring started awarding titles again in 2001, it did not calculate retrospective lineages to fill in the gap years, instead nominating a new champion.[13] Cyber Boxing Zone commented in 2004 that "The Ring has forfeited its credibility by pulling names out of its ass to name fighters as champions".[14]
In 2007, The Ring was acquired by the owners of fight promoter Golden Boy Promotions,[15] which has publicized The Ring's world championships when they are at stake in fights it promotes (such as Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr. in 2008).[16] Since 2012, to reduce the number of vacant titles, The Ring allows fights between a number one or two contender; or alternatively a number three, four, or five contender to fill a vacant title. This has prompted further doubts about its credibility.[17][18][19] Some boxing journalists have been extremely critical of the new championship policy and state that if this new policy is followed, the Ring title will lose the credibility it once held.[20][21][22]
Current champions
The current champions in each weight division are listed below. Each champion's professional boxing record is shown in the following format: wins–losses–draws (knockout wins).
Heavyweight (200+ lb/90.7+ kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Anthony Joshua Super champion ![]() 24–1 (22 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Tyson Fury![]() 30–0–1 (21 KO) February 22, 2020 |
Anthony Joshua![]() 24–1 (22 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Anthony Joshua![]() 24–1 (22 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Tyson Fury![]() 30–0–1 (21 KO) February 22, 2020 |
Trevor Bryan Regular champion ![]() 21–0 (15 KO) January 29, 2021 | ||||
Mahmoud Charr Champion in recess ![]() 31–4 (17 KO) November 25, 2017 |
Alexander Povetkin Interim champion ![]() 36–2–1 (25 KO) August 22, 2020 |
Cruiserweight (200 lb/90.7 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Arsen Goulamirian Super champion ![]() 26–0 (18 KO) August 31, 2019 |
Ilunga Makabu![]() 28–2 (25 KO) January 31, 2020 |
Mairis Briedis![]() 27–1 (19 KO) September 26, 2020 |
vacant | Mairis Briedis![]() 27–1 (19 KO) September 26, 2020 |
Ryad Merhy Regular champion ![]() 29–1 (24 KO) January 29, 2021 |
Light heavyweight (175 lb/79.4 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Dmitry Bivol Super champion ![]() 17–0 (11 KO) September 23, 2017 |
Artur Beterbiev![]() 15–0 (15 KO) October 18, 2019 |
Artur Beterbiev![]() 15–0 (15 KO) November 11, 2017 |
vacant | vacant |
Jean Pascal Regular champion ![]() 35–6–1–1 (20 KO) August 3, 2019 | ||||
Robin Krasniqi Interim champion ![]() 51–6 (19 KO) October 10, 2020 |
Super middleweight (168 lb/76.2 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Canelo Álvarez Super champion ![]() 54–1–2 (36 KO) December 19, 2020 |
Canelo Álvarez![]() 54–1–2 (36 KO) December 19, 2020 |
Caleb Plant![]() 21–0 (12 KO) January 13, 2019 |
Billy Joe Saunders![]() 30–0 (14 KO) May 18, 2019 |
Canelo Álvarez![]() 54–1–2 (36 KO) December 19, 2020 |
David Morrell Regular champion ![]() 4–0 (3 KO) January 19, 2021 |
Middleweight (160 lb/72.6 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Ryōta Murata Super champion ![]() 16–2 (13 KO) January 7, 2021 |
Jermall Charlo![]() 31–0 (22 KO) June 26, 2019 |
Gennady Golovkin![]() 41–1–1 (36 KO) October 5, 2019 |
Demetrius Andrade![]() 29–0 (18 KO) October 20, 2018 |
vacant |
Chris Eubank Jr. Interim champion ![]() 29–2 (22 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Super welterweight/Junior middleweight (154 lb/69.9 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Jermell Charlo Super champion ![]() 34–1 (18 KO) September 26, 2020 |
Jermell Charlo![]() 34–1 (18 KO) December 21, 2019 |
Jermell Charlo![]() 34–1 (18 KO) September 26, 2020 |
Patrick Teixeira![]() 31–1 (22 KO) November 30, 2019 |
Jermell Charlo![]() 34–1 (18 KO) September 26, 2020 |
Erislandy Lara Regular champion ![]() 27–3–3 (15 KO) August 31, 2019 |
Welterweight (147 lb/66.7 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Yordenis Ugás Super champion ![]() 26–4 (12 KO) January 29, 2021 |
Errol Spence Jr.![]() 27–0 (21 KO) September 28, 2019 |
Errol Spence Jr.![]() 27–0 (21 KO) May 27, 2017 |
Terence Crawford![]() 37–0 (28 KO) June 9, 2018 |
vacant |
Jamal James Regular champion ![]() 27–1 (12 KO) February 4, 2021 | ||||
Manny Pacquiao Champion in recess ![]() 62–7–2 (39 KO) January 29, 2021 |
Super lightweight/Junior welterweight (140 lb/63.5 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Josh Taylor Super champion ![]() 17–0 (13 KO) October 26, 2019 |
José Ramírez![]() 26–0 (17 KO) March 17, 2018 |
Josh Taylor![]() 17–0 (13 KO) May 18, 2019 |
José Ramírez![]() 26–0 (17 KO) July 27, 2019 |
Josh Taylor![]() 17–0 (13 KO) October 26, 2019 |
Mario Barrios Regular champion ![]() 26–0 (17 KO) September 28, 2019 | ||||
Alberto Puello Interim champion ![]() 18–0 (10 KO) July 27, 2019 |
Lightweight (135 lb/61.2 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Teófimo López Super champion ![]() 16–0 (12 KO) October 17, 2020 |
Devin Haney![]() 25–0 (15 KO) October 23, 2019 |
Teófimo López![]() 16–0 (12 KO) December 14, 2019 |
Teófimo López![]() 16–0 (12 KO) October 17, 2020 |
Teófimo López![]() 16–0 (12 KO) October 17, 2020 |
Gervonta Davis Regular champion ![]() 24–0 (23 KO) December 28, 2019 | ||||
Rolando Romero Interim champion ![]() 12–0 (10 KO) August 15, 2020 |
Ryan García Interim champion ![]() 21–0 (18 KO) January 2, 2021 |
Super featherweight/Junior lightweight (130 lb/59 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Gervonta Davis Super champion ![]() 24–0 (23 KO) October 31, 2020 |
Miguel Berchelt![]() 37–1 (33 KO) January 28, 2017 |
Joseph Diaz![]() 31–1 (15 KO) January 30, 2020 |
Jamel Herring![]() 22–2 (10 KO) May 25, 2019 |
vacant |
Roger Gutiérrez Regular champion ![]() 25–3–1 (20 KO) January 2, 2021 | ||||
Chris Colbert Interim champion ![]() 15–0 (6 KO) January 18, 2020 |
Featherweight (126 lb/57.2 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Léo Santa Cruz Super champion ![]() 37–2–1 (19 KO) January 28, 2017 |
Gary Russell Jr.![]() 31–1 (18 KO) March 28, 2015 |
vacant | Emanuel Navarrete![]() 32–1–0–1 (27 KO) October 9, 2020 |
vacant |
Xu Can Regular champion ![]() 18–2 (3 KO) January 26, 2019 |
Super bantamweight/Junior featherweight (122 lb/55.3 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Murodjon Akhmadaliev Super champion ![]() 8–0 (6 KO) January 30, 2020 |
Luis Nery![]() 31–0 (24 KO) September 26, 2020 |
Murodjon Akhmadaliev![]() 8–0 (6 KO) January 30, 2020 |
Stephen Fulton![]() 19–0 (8 KO) January 23, 2021 |
vacant |
Brandon Figueroa Regular champion ![]() 21–0–1 (16 KO) April 20, 2019 | ||||
Ra'eese Aleem Interim champion ![]() 18–0 (12 KO) January 23, 2021 |
Ryosuke Iwasa Interim champion ![]() 27–3 (17 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Bantamweight (118 lb/53.5 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Naoya Inoue Super champion ![]() 20–0 (17 KO) November 7, 2019 |
Nordine Oubaali![]() 17–0 (12 KO) January 19, 2019 |
Naoya Inoue![]() 20–0 (17 KO) May 18, 2019 |
Johnriel Casimero![]() 30–4 (21 KO) November 30, 2019 |
Naoya Inoue![]() 20–0 (17 KO) May 18, 2019 |
Guillermo Rigondeaux Regular champion ![]() 20–1–0–1 (13 KO) February 8, 2020 |
Reymart Gaballo Interim champion ![]() 24–0 (20 KO) December 20, 2020 |
Super flyweight/Junior bantamweight (115 lb/52.2 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Román González Super champion ![]() 50–2 (41 KO) February 29, 2020 |
Juan Francisco Estrada![]() 41–3 (28 KO) April 26, 2019 |
Jerwin Ancajas![]() 32–1–2 (22 KO) September 3, 2016 |
Kazuto Ioka![]() 26–2 (15 KO) June 19, 2019 |
Juan Francisco Estrada![]() 41–3 (28 KO) April 26, 2019 |
Joshua Franco Regular champion ![]() 17–1–2–1 (8 KO) June 23, 2020 |
Flyweight (112 lb/50.8 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Artem Dalakian![]() 20–0 (14 KO) February 24, 2018 |
Julio Cesar Martinez![]() 17–1–0–1 (13 KO) December 20, 2019 |
Moruti Mthalane![]() 39–2 (26 KO) July 15, 2018 |
Junto Nakatani![]() 21–0 (16 KO) November 6, 2020 |
vacant |
Luis Concepción Interim champion ![]() 39–8 (28 KO) February 7, 2020 |
Light/Junior flyweight (108 lb/49 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Hiroto Kyoguchi Super champion ![]() 14–0 (9 KO) December 31, 2018 |
Kenshiro Teraji![]() 17–0 (10 KO) May 20, 2017 |
Felix Alvarado![]() 36–2 (31 KO) October 29, 2018 |
Elwin Soto![]() 18–1 (12 KO) June 21, 2019 |
Hiroto Kyoguchi![]() 14–0 (9 KO) December 31, 2018 |
Carlos Cañizales Regular champion ![]() 22–0–1 (17 KO) March 18, 2018 | ||||
Daniel Matellon Interim champion ![]() 11–0–2 (6 KO) February 7, 2020 |
Minimumweight/Mini flyweight (105 lb/47.6 kg)
WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Thammanoon Niyomtrong Super champion ![]() 21–0 (7 KO) June 29, 2016 |
Panya Pradabsri![]() 35–1 (22 KO) November 27, 2020 |
Pedro Taduran![]() 14–2–1 (11 KO) September 7, 2019 |
Wilfredo Méndez![]() 16–1 (6 KO) August 24, 2019 |
vacant |
See also
- List of WBA world champions
- List of WBC world champions
- List of IBF world champions
- List of WBO world champions
- List of The Ring world champions
- List of current female world boxing champions
- List of undefeated boxing world champions (retired only)
- List of undisputed boxing champions
- List of current boxing rankings
References
- "Rules of World Boxing Association" (PDF). World Boxing Association. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- "World Boxing Council Rules and Regulations" (PDF). World Boxing Council. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- "IBF/USBA Rules Governing Championship Contests" (PDF). International Boxing Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
- "World Boxing Organization Regulations of World Championship Contests". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- Lewis, Ron (October 13, 2008). "Vitali Klitschko impressive in comeback victory". The Times. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- Longest reigning boxing world champion
- "World Boxing Association History". World Boxing Association. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- "World Boxing Council". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
- "Rules that have changed the History of Boxing". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 25, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
- "History of the IBF". International Boxing Federation. December 4, 2000. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved June 6, 2006.
- "WBO logo". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- "WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests" (PDF). World Boxing Organization. Section 14.
- "Boxing News : The Disputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World". October 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 15, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- DeLisa, Mike (August 2004). "What the CBZ Means When it Refers to "Lineal Championships"". The CBZ Journal. cyberboxingzone. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- "Golden Boy Enterprises' Subsidiary, Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, Acquires The Ring Magazine, KO, World Boxing and Pro Wrestling Illustrated". Golden Boy Promotions. September 12, 2007. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
- Kimball, George (April 27, 2008). "Calzaghe claim far from undisputed". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
- "Chat with Dan Rafael". Espn.go.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- The Horrible New Ring Magazine Championship Policy - Queensberry Rules Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- "Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy". Theboxingtribune.com. May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- "Chat: Chat with Dan Rafael - SportsNation". Espn.com.
- Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- "Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy". Theboxingtribune.com.