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Revision as of 21:45, 26 September 2020 by Squared.Circle.Boxing (talk | contribs) (→Light welterweight (140 lb/63.5 kg))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Wikimedia list articleThis 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 Kingdom23–1 (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  Syria31–4 (17 KO) November 25, 2017 | ||||
| Trevor Bryan Interim champion  United States20–0 (14 KO) August 11, 2018 |
Alexander Povetkin Interim champion  Russia36–2–1 (25 KO) August 22, 2020 |
Cruiserweight (200 lb/90.7 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Arsen Goulamirian Super champion  France26–0 (18 KO) August 31, 2019 |
Ilunga Makabu Democratic Republic of the Congo27–2 (24 KO) January 31, 2020 |
Yuniel Dorticos Cuba24–1 (22 KO) June 15, 2019 |
vacant | vacant |
| Beibut Shumenov Regular champion  Kazakhstan18–2 (12 KO) August 31, 2019 | ||||
| Ryad Merhy Interim champion  Belgium29–1 (24 KO) October 19, 2019 |
Light heavyweight (175 lb/79.4 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Dmitry Bivol Super champion Russia17–0 (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  Canada35–6–1–1 (20 KO) August 3, 2019 | ||||
| Dominic Boesel Interim champion  Germany30–1 (12 KO) November 16, 2019 |
Super middleweight (168 lb/76.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Callum Smith Super champion United Kingdom27–0 (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  Mexico53–1–2 (36 KO) December 15, 2018 | ||||
| David Morrell Interim champion Cuba3–0 (2 KO) August 8, 2020 |
Middleweight (160 lb/72.6 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Canelo Álvarez Super champion Mexico53–1–2 (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  Japan16–2 (13 KO) July 12, 2019 | ||||
| Chris Eubank Jr. Interim champion United Kingdom29–2 (22 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Light middleweight (154 lb/69.9 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Jeison Rosario Super champion  Dominican Republic20–1–1 (14 KO) January 18, 2020 |
Jermell Charlo United States 33–1 (17 KO) December 21, 2019 |
Jeison Rosario Dominican Republic 20–1–1 (14 KO) January 18, 2020 |
Patrick Teixeira Brazil31–1 (22 KO) November 30, 2019 |
vacant |
| Erislandy Lara Regular champion United States27–3–3 (15 KO) August 31, 2019 |
Welterweight (147 lb/66.7 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Manny Pacquiao Super champion  Philippines62–7–2 (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 Cuba26–4 (12 KO) September 6, 2020 | ||||
| Jamal James Interim champion United States27–1 (12 KO) August 8, 2020 |
Light welterweight (140 lb/63.5 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Josh Taylor Super champion United Kingdom17–0 (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 States25–0 (16 KO) September 28, 2019 | ||||
| Alberto Puello Interim champion Dominican Republic17–0 (9 KO) July 27, 2019 |
Lightweight (135 lb/61.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Vasyl Lomachenko Super champion  Ukraine14–1 (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 States23–0 (22 KO) December 28, 2019 | ||||
| Rolando Romero Interim champion United States12–0 (10 KO) August 15, 2020 |
Super featherweight (130 lb/59 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Léo Santa Cruz Super champion Mexico37–1–1 (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  Nicaragua32–8 (21 KO) November 23, 2019 | ||||
| Chris Colbert Interim champion United States14–0 (5 KO) January 18, 2020 |
Featherweight (126 lb/57.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Léo Santa Cruz Super champion Mexico37–1–1 (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  China18–2 (3 KO) January 26, 2019 |
Super bantamweight (122 lb/55.3 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Murodjon Akhmadaliev Super champion  Uzbekistan8–0 (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 States20–0–1 (15 KO) April 20, 2019 |
Rey Vargas Champion in recess Mexico34–0 (22 KO) August 13, 2020 |
Ryosuke Iwasa Interim champion Japan27–3 (17 KO) December 7, 2019 |
Bantamweight (118 lb/53.5 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Naoya Inoue Super champion Japan19–0 (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 29–4 (20 KO) November 30, 2019 |
Naoya Inoue Japan 19–0 (16 KO) May 18, 2019 |
| Guillermo Rigondeaux Regular champion Cuba20–1–0–1 (13 KO) February 8, 2020 |
Super flyweight (115 lb/52.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Román González Super champion Nicaragua49–2 (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 States17–1–2 (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 Africa39–2 (26 KO) July 15, 2018 |
vacant | vacant |
| Luis Concepción Interim champion  Panama39–8 (28 KO) February 7, 2020 |
Light flyweight (108 lb/49 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Hiroto Kyoguchi Super champion Japan14–0 (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  Venezuela22–0–1 (17 KO) March 18, 2018 | ||||
| Daniel Matellon Interim champion Cuba11–0–2 (6 KO) February 7, 2020 |
Mini flyweight (105 lb/47.6 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Thammanoon Niyomtrong Super champion  Thailand21–0 (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 Rico16–1 (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.
- 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
| World professional boxing champions | |||||
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| Champions by sanctioning body |
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| Champions by weight class |
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| Champions in multiple weight classes | |||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||
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