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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), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 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. 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. Joe Louis holds the record of being the longest reigning world champion in boxing.

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. 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; 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. The WBC established many of today's safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count, 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. In April 1983, the organization established an international division that was known as the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I). In May 1984, the New Jersey-based USBA-I was renamed and became the IBF.

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." When a WBO champion has reached "preeminent status", the WBO's Executive Committee may designate him as a "Super Champion". 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. 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".

In 2007, The Ring was acquired by the owners of fight promoter Golden Boy Promotions, 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). 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. 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.

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  United Kingdom 23–1 (21 KO) December 7, 2019	Tyson Fury  United Kingdom 30–0–1 (21 KO) February 22, 2020	Anthony Joshua  United Kingdom 23–1 (21 KO) December 7, 2019	Anthony Joshua  United Kingdom 23–1 (21 KO) December 7, 2019	Tyson Fury  United Kingdom 30–0–1 (21 KO) February 22, 2020
Mahmoud Charr Regular champion  Syria 31–4 (17 KO) November 25, 2017
Trevor Bryan Interim champion  United States 20–0 (14 KO) August 11, 2018	Alexander Povetkin Interim champion  Russia 36–2–1 (25 KO) August 22, 2020

Cruiserweight (200 lb/90.7 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Arsen Goulamirian Super champion  France 26–0 (18 KO) August 31, 2019	Ilunga Makabu  Democratic Republic of the Congo 27–2 (24 KO) January 31, 2020	Mairis Briedis  Latvia 27–1 (19 KO) September 26, 2020	vacant	Mairis Briedis  Latvia 27–1 (19 KO) September 26, 2020
Beibut Shumenov Regular champion  Kazakhstan 18–2 (12 KO) August 31, 2019
Ryad Merhy Interim champion  Belgium 29–1 (24 KO) October 19, 2019

Light heavyweight (175 lb/79.4 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Dmitry Bivol Super champion  Russia 17–0 (11 KO) September 23, 2017	Artur Beterbiev  Russia 15–0 (15 KO) October 18, 2019	Artur Beterbiev  Russia 15–0 (15 KO) November 11, 2017	vacant	vacant
Jean Pascal Regular champion  Canada 35–6–1–1 (20 KO) August 3, 2019
Dominic Boesel Interim champion  Germany 30–1 (12 KO) November 16, 2019

Super middleweight (168 lb/76.2 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Callum Smith Super champion  United Kingdom 27–0 (19 KO) September 28, 2018	vacant	Caleb Plant  United States 20–0 (12 KO) January 13, 2019	Billy Joe Saunders  United Kingdom 29–0 (14 KO) May 18, 2019	Callum Smith  United Kingdom 27–0 (19 KO) September 28, 2018
Canelo Álvarez Regular champion  Mexico 53–1–2 (36 KO) December 15, 2018
David Morrell Interim champion  Cuba 3–0 (2 KO) August 8, 2020

Middleweight (160 lb/72.6 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Canelo Álvarez Super champion  Mexico 53–1–2 (36 KO) September 15, 2018	Jermall Charlo  United States 30–0 (22 KO) June 26, 2019	Gennady Golovkin  Kazakhstan 40–1–1 (35 KO) October 5, 2019	Demetrius Andrade  United States 29–0 (18 KO) October 20, 2018	Canelo Álvarez  Mexico 53–1–2 (36 KO) September 15, 2018
Ryōta Murata Regular champion  Japan 16–2 (13 KO) July 12, 2019
Chris Eubank Jr. Interim champion  United Kingdom 29–2 (22 KO) December 7, 2019

Light middleweight (154 lb/69.9 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Jermell Charlo  United States 34–1 (18 KO) September 26, 2020	Jermell Charlo  United States 34–1 (18 KO) December 21, 2019	Jermell Charlo  United States 34–1 (18 KO) September 26, 2020	Patrick Teixeira  Brazil 31–1 (22 KO) November 30, 2019	Jermell Charlo  United States 34-1 (18 KO) September 26, 2020
Erislandy Lara Regular champion  United States 27–3–3 (15 KO) August 31, 2019

Welterweight (147 lb/66.7 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Manny Pacquiao Super champion  Philippines 62–7–2 (39 KO) July 20, 2019	Errol Spence Jr.  United States 26–0 (21 KO) September 28, 2019	Errol Spence Jr.  United States 26–0 (21 KO) May 27, 2017	Terence Crawford  United States 36–0 (27 KO) June 9, 2018	vacant
Yordenis Ugás Regular champion  Cuba 26–4 (12 KO) September 6, 2020
Jamal James Interim champion  United States 27–1 (12 KO) August 8, 2020

Light welterweight (140 lb/63.5 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Josh Taylor Super champion  United Kingdom 17–0 (13 KO) October 26, 2019	José Ramírez  United States 26–0 (17 KO) March 17, 2018	Josh Taylor  United Kingdom 17–0 (13 KO) May 18, 2019	José Ramírez  United States 26–0 (17 KO) July 27, 2019	Josh Taylor  United Kingdom 17–0 (13 KO) October 26, 2019
Mario Barrios Regular champion  United States 25–0 (16 KO) September 28, 2019
Alberto Puello Interim champion  Dominican Republic 17–0 (9 KO) July 27, 2019

Lightweight (135 lb/61.2 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Vasyl Lomachenko Super champion  Ukraine 14–1 (10 KO) May 12, 2018	Devin Haney  United States 24–0 (15 KO) October 23, 2019	Teófimo López  United States 15–0 (12 KO) December 14, 2019	Vasyl Lomachenko  Ukraine 14–1 (10 KO) December 8, 2018	Vasyl Lomachenko  Ukraine 14–1 (10 KO) May 12, 2018
Gervonta Davis Regular champion  United States 23–0 (22 KO) December 28, 2019
Rolando Romero Interim champion  United States 12–0 (10 KO) August 15, 2020

Super featherweight (130 lb/59 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Léo Santa Cruz Super champion  Mexico 37–1–1 (19 KO) November 23, 2019	Miguel Berchelt  Mexico 37–1 (33 KO) January 28, 2017	Joseph Diaz  United States 31–1 (15 KO) January 30, 2020	Jamel Herring  United States 22–2 (10 KO) May 25, 2019	vacant
Rene Alvarado Regular champion  Nicaragua 32–8 (21 KO) November 23, 2019
Chris Colbert Interim champion  United States 14–0 (5 KO) January 18, 2020

Featherweight (126 lb/57.2 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Léo Santa Cruz Super champion  Mexico 37–1–1 (19 KO) January 28, 2017	Gary Russell Jr.  United States 31–1 (18 KO) March 28, 2015	Josh Warrington  United Kingdom 30–0 (7 KO) May 19, 2018	vacant	vacant
Xu Can Regular champion  China 18–2 (3 KO) January 26, 2019

Super bantamweight (122 lb/55.3 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Murodjon Akhmadaliev Super champion  Uzbekistan 8–0 (6 KO) January 30, 2020	vacant	Murodjon Akhmadaliev  Uzbekistan 8–0 (6 KO) January 30, 2020	Angelo Leo  United States 20–0 (9 KO) August 1, 2020	vacant
Brandon Figueroa Regular champion  United States 20–0–1 (15 KO) April 20, 2019	Rey Vargas Champion in recess  Mexico 34–0 (22 KO) August 13, 2020	Ryosuke Iwasa Interim champion  Japan 27–3 (17 KO) December 7, 2019

Bantamweight (118 lb/53.5 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Naoya Inoue Super champion  Japan 19–0 (16 KO) November 7, 2019	Nordine Oubaali  France 17–0 (12 KO) January 19, 2019	Naoya Inoue  Japan 19–0 (16 KO) May 18, 2019	Johnriel Casimero  Philippines 30–4 (21 KO) November 30, 2019	Naoya Inoue  Japan 19–0 (16 KO) May 18, 2019
Guillermo Rigondeaux Regular champion  Cuba 20–1–0–1 (13 KO) February 8, 2020

Super flyweight (115 lb/52.2 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Román González Super champion  Nicaragua 49–2 (41 KO) February 29, 2020	Juan Francisco Estrada  Mexico 40–3 (27 KO) April 26, 2019	Jerwin Ancajas  Philippines 32–1–2 (22 KO) September 3, 2016	Kazuto Ioka  Japan 25–2 (14 KO) June 19, 2019	Juan Francisco Estrada  Mexico 40–3 (27 KO) April 26, 2019
Joshua Franco Regular champion  United States 17–1–2 (8 KO) June 23, 2020

Flyweight (112 lb/50.8 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Artem Dalakian  Ukraine 20–0 (14 KO) February 24, 2018	Julio Cesar Martinez  Mexico 16–1–0–1 (12 KO) December 20, 2019	Moruti Mthalane  South Africa 39–2 (26 KO) July 15, 2018	vacant	vacant
Luis Concepción Interim champion  Panama 39–8 (28 KO) February 7, 2020

Light flyweight (108 lb/49 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Hiroto Kyoguchi Super champion  Japan 14–0 (9 KO) December 31, 2018	Kenshiro Teraji  Japan 17–0 (10 KO) May 20, 2017	Felix Alvarado  Nicaragua 35–2 (30 KO) October 29, 2018	Elwin Soto  Mexico 17–1 (12 KO) June 21, 2019	Hiroto Kyoguchi  Japan 14–0 (9 KO) December 31, 2018
Carlos Cañizales Regular champion  Venezuela 22–0–1 (17 KO) March 18, 2018
Daniel Matellon Interim champion  Cuba 11–0–2 (6 KO) February 7, 2020

Mini flyweight (105 lb/47.6 kg)

WBA	WBC	IBF	WBO	The Ring
Thammanoon Niyomtrong Super champion  Thailand 21–0 (7 KO) June 29, 2016	Wanheng Menayothin  Thailand 54–0 (18 KO) November 6, 2014	Pedro Taduran  Philippines 14–2–1 (11 KO) September 7, 2019	Wilfredo Méndez  Puerto Rico 16–1 (6 KO) August 24, 2019	vacant

By Country with 2 or more champions as of the 26th of September ( interim and regular not included) ( multi weight champions count as 1)

USA 13

MEXICO UK 6

JAPAN PHILIPPINES 4

FRANCE NICARAGUA RUSSIA THAILAND UKRAINE 2

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

1. ^ "Rules of World Boxing Association" (PDF). World Boxing Association. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
2. "World Boxing Council Rules and Regulations" (PDF). World Boxing Council. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
3. "IBF/USBA Rules Governing Championship Contests" (PDF). International Boxing Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
4. "World Boxing Organization Regulations of World Championship Contests". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
5. Lewis, Ron (October 13, 2008). "Vitali Klitschko impressive in comeback victory". The Times. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
6. Longest reigning boxing world champion
7. "World Boxing Association History". World Boxing Association. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
8. "World Boxing Council". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
9. "Rules that have changed the History of Boxing". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 25, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
10. ^ "History of the IBF". International Boxing Federation. December 4, 2000. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved June 6, 2006.
11. "WBO logo". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
12. "WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests" (PDF). World Boxing Organization. Section 14.
13. "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.
14. DeLisa, Mike (August 2004). "What the CBZ Means When it Refers to "Lineal Championships"". The CBZ Journal. cyberboxingzone. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
15. "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.
16. Kimball, George (April 27, 2008). "Calzaghe claim far from undisputed". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
17. "Chat with Dan Rafael". Espn.go.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
18. The Horrible New Ring Magazine Championship Policy - Queensberry Rules Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
19. "Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy". Theboxingtribune.com. May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
20. "Chat: Chat with Dan Rafael - SportsNation". Espn.com.
21. Archived May 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
22. "Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy". Theboxingtribune.com.
23. https://www.badlefthook.com/2020/8/14/21368768/luis-nery-vs-aaron-alameda-daniel-roman-vs-juan-carlos-payano-set-september-26-showtime-boxing-news

External links

• Official list of current WBA champions
• Official list of current WBC champions
• Official list of current IBF champions
• Official list of current WBO champions
• Official list of current Ring magazine champions
• List of current boxing champions at BoxRec

• Lists of boxing champions
• World boxing champions