Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Professional In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , 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., Joe Calzaghe, Sergey Kovalev, Zsolt Erdei, Dmitry Bivol, & Artur Beterbiev.
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
Sanctioning bodyReign beganChampionRecordDefenses WBAFebruary 22, 2025Dmitry Bivol25–1 (12 KO)1WBCApril 7, 2025David Benavidez31–0 (25 KO)1IBFFebruary 22, 2025Dmitry Bivol25–1 (12 KO)1WBO February 22, 2025Dmitry Bivol25–1 (12 KO)0
Current world rankings
The Ring As of July 2, 2026.
Keys: Current The Ring world champion
RankNameRecord (W–L–D)Title(s)CDmitry Bivol25–1 (12 KO)WBA, IBF, WBO1David Benavidez32–0 (26 KO)WBC, WBA (Regular)2Calum Smith31–2 (22 KO)WBO (Interim)3Anthony Yarde27–4 (24 KO)4Imam Khataev12–1 (11 KO)5Joshua Buatsi20–1 (13 KO)6Willy Hutchinson20–2 (14 KO)7Najee Lopez16–0 (13 KO)8Lerrone Richards19–2 (4 KO)9Albert Ramirez23–0 (19 KO)WBA (Interim)10Ben Whittaker12–0–1 (9 KO)
BoxRec
RankNameRecord (W–L–D)Title(s)1Dmitry Bivol25–1 (12 KO)WBA, IBF, WBO, The Ring2Joshua Buatsi20–1 (13 KO)3Imam Khataev12–1 (11 KO)4Ali Izmailov15–0 (13 KO)5Willy Hutchinson20–2 (14 KO)6Najee Lopez16–0 (13 KO)7Albert Ramirez23–0 (19 KO)WBA (Interim) 8Umar Dzambekov14–0 (10 KO)9Atif Oberlton16–0 (14 KO) 10Ben Whittaker12–0–1 (9 KO)
Longest reigning world light heavyweight champions 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.
NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights 1. Archie Moore 9 years, 4 months, 24 days NYSAC, NBA 9 7 2. Dariusz Michalczewski 9 years, 1 months, 8 days IBF, WBA, WBO 23 20 3. Artur Beterbiev 7 years, 3 months, 1 week and 5 days IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA 9 9 4. Gus Lesnevich 7 years, 2 months, 2 days NYSAC, NBA 5 3 5. Dmitry Bivol 7 years, 3 weeks and 3 days IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA 12 12 6. Bob Foster 6 years, 0 months, 23 days WBC, WBA 14 13 7. Zsolt Erdei 5 years, 9 months, 27 days WBO 11 10 8. Adonis Stevenson 5 years, 5 months, 24 days WBC 9 9 9. Charles Williams 5 years, 4 months, 21 days IBF 8 8 10. Roy Jones Jr. 5 years, 2 months, 25 days WBC, IBF, WBA (Super) 11 11 11. Virgil Hill 4 years, 9 months, 15 days WBA 10 10 12. Maxie Rosenbloom 4 years, 4 months, 22 days NYSAC, NBA 7 6 13. Michael Spinks 4 years, 2 months, 3 days IBF, WBA, WBC 10 10 14. Battling Levinsky 3 years, 11 months, 19 days World 1 1 15. Victor Galindez 3 years, 9 months, 8 days WBA 10 7
Active title reign Reign has ended BoxRec Light Heavyweight Ratings Retrieved on 27 December 2012.BoxRec WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Retrieved on 27 December 2012.BoxRec Light Heavyweight Division Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
Amateur In amateur boxing, light heavyweight is a weight division above and up to , falling between middleweight and heavyweight.
Olympic champions
1920 – 1924 – 1928 – 1932 – 1936 – 1948 – 1952 – 1956 – 1960 – 1964 – 1968 – 1972 – 1976 – 1980 – 1984 – 1988 – 1992 – 1996 – 2000 – 2004 – 2008 – 2012 – 2016 – 2020 –
Kickboxing In kickboxing, a light heavyweight fighter generally weighs between 77 kg (171 lb) and 95 kg (210 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).Official Glory Ranking 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 .
Bare-knuckle boxing The limit of light heavyweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing: In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the light heavyweight division has an upper limit of . In BKB™, the light heavyweight division has an upper limit of .
Mixed martial arts
In MMA, the light heavyweight division is from 186 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg).
References