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Featherweight

{{short description|Weight class in combat sports}}

{{Redirect|Peso pluma|the Latin artist|Peso Pluma}}

Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Boxing

=Professional boxing=

==History==

A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of {{convert|126|lb|kg}}. In the early days of the division, this limit fluctuated. The British have generally always recognized the limit at 126 pounds, but in America the weight limit was at first 114 pounds. An early champion, George Dixon, moved the limit to 120 and then 122 pounds. Finally, in 1920 the United States fixed the limit at 126 pounds.{{cite book

| last = Mullan

| first = Harry

| title = The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing

| publisher = Carlton Books

| year = 1996

| location = London, England

| pages = 172

| isbn = 0-7858-0641-5}}

The 1860 fight between Nobby Clark and Jim Elliott is sometimes called the first featherweight championship. However, the division only gained wide acceptance in 1889 after the Ike Weir–Frank Murphy fight.

Since the end of the 2000s and early 2010s the featherweight division is one of the most active in boxing with fighters such as Orlando Salido, Chris John, Juan Manuel López, Celestino Caballero, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Elio Rojas, Israel Vazquez, Cristobal Cruz, Rafael Márquez, Rocky Juarez, Steven Luevano, Naseem Hamed, Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao.

==Current world champions==

{{main|List of world featherweight boxing champions}}

class="wikitable"

!Sanctioning Body

!Reign Began

!Champion

!Record

!Defenses

WBA

|June 1, 2024

|Nick Ball

|21–0–1 (12 KO)

|align=center|2

WBC

|February 1, 2025

|Stephen Fulton

|23–1 (8 KO)

|align=center|0

IBF

|August 10, 2024

|Angelo Leo

|25–1 (12 KO)

|align=center|0

WBO

|December 9, 2023

|Rafael Espinoza

|27–0 (23 KO)

|align=center|3

==Current ''The Ring'' world rankings==

As of May 14, 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/ring-ranking|title=The Ring ratings: featherweight|access-date=14 May 2025}}

Keys:

:{{Color box|gold|C|border=darkgray}} Current The Ring world champion

class="wikitable"

!Rank

!Name

!Record

!Title(s)

style="background:gold" | C

|{{font color|gray|vacant}}

|

|

1

|Rafael Espinoza

|27–0 (23 KO)

|WBO

2

|Angelo Leo

|25–1 (12 KO)

|IBF

3

|Nick Ball

|22–0–1 (13 KO)

|WBA

4

|Stephen Fulton

|23–1 (8 KO)

|WBC

5

|Luis Alberto Lopez

|31–3 (18 KO)

|

6

|Brandon Figueroa

|25–2–1 (19 KO)

|

7

|Bruce Carrington

|15–0 (9 KO)

|

8

|Mirco Cuello

|15–0 (12 KO)

|

9

|Robeisy Ramírez

|14–3 (9 KO)

|

10

|Omar Cande Trinidad

|18–0–1 (13 KO)

|

==Longest reigning world featherweight champions==

Below is a list of longest reigning featherweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

class="sortable wikitable"
NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Johnny Kilbane11 years, 3 months, 24 daysWorld/NYSACstyle="text-align:center" | 4style="text-align:center" | 2{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/11865|title=Professional boxing record: Johnny Kilbane|access-date=14 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=International Boxing Hall Of Fame |title=Johnny Kilbane, p. 172|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}
2.Chris John10 years, 1 month, 5 daysWBAstyle="text-align:center" | 18style="text-align:center" | 16{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/078475|title=Professional boxing record: Chris John|access-date=14 April 2020}}
3.Abe Attell8 years, 5 months, 19 daysWorldstyle="text-align:center" | 22style="text-align:center" | 14{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10723|title=Professional boxing record: Abe Attell|access-date=14 April 2020}}
4.Eusebio Pedroza7 years, 1 month, 23 daysWBAstyle="text-align:center" | 19style="text-align:center" | 18{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=International Boxing Hall Of Fame |title=Eusebio Pedrosa, p. 668|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}
5.Gary Russell, Jr.6 years, 9 month, 25 daysWBCstyle="text-align:center" | 5style="text-align:center" | 5{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/479775|title=Professional boxing record: Gary Allen Russell Jr.|access-date=14 April 2020}}
6.Sandy Saddler6 years, 4 months, 13 daysWorldstyle="text-align:center" | 4style="text-align:center" | 3{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/009043|title=Professional boxing record: Sandy Saddler|access-date=14 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=International Boxing Hall Of Fame |title=Sandy Saddler, p. 720|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}
7.Léo Santa Cruz5 years, 10 months, 13 daysWBA (Super)style="text-align:center" | 5style="text-align:center" | 5{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/374624|title=Professional boxing record: Léo Santa Cruz|access-date=14 April 2020}}
8.Naseem Hamed4 years, 11 months, 20 daysWBOstyle="text-align:center" | 15style="text-align:center" | 15{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/4462|title=Professional boxing record: Naseem Hamed|access-date=14 April 2020}}
9.George Dixon4 years, 5 monthsWorldstyle="text-align:center" | 4style="text-align:center" | 4{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9015|title=Professional boxing record: George Dixon|access-date=14 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=International Boxing Hall Of Fame |title=George Dixon, p. 118|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}
10.Antonio Esparragoza4 years, 27 daysWBAstyle="text-align:center" | 7style="text-align:center" | 7{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/32945|title=Professional boxing record: Antonio Esparragoza|access-date=14 April 2020}}
11.Davey Moore4 years, 3 daysWorldstyle="text-align:center" | 5style="text-align:center" | 4{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/21663|title=Professional boxing record: Davey Moore|access-date=14 April 2020}}

==Lineal Champions==

  • {{flagicon|NZL}} Billy Murphy (1890-1891)
  • {{flagicon|AUS}} Young Griffo (1891) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|CAN}} George Dixon (1891-1897)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Solly Smith (1897-1898)
  • {{flagicon|IRE}} Dave Sullivan (1898)
  • {{flagicon|CAN}} George Dixon (1898-1900) (2)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Terry McGovern (1900-1901)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Young Corbett II (1901-1902) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Abe Attell (1903-1912)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Kilbane (1912-1923)
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Eugene Criqui (1923)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Dundee (1923–1924) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Kid Kaplan (1925-1926) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Canzoneri (1928)
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Andre Routis (1928-1929)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Bat Battalino (1929-1932) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Henry Armstrong (1937-1938) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Joey Archibald (1939-1940)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Harry Jeffra (1940-1941)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Joey Archibald (1941)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Chalky Wright (1941-1942)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Willie Pep (1942-1948)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Sandy Saddler (1948-1949)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Willie Pep (1949-1950) (2)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Sandy Saddler (1950-1957) (2) Retired
  • {{flagicon|NGA}} Hogan Bassey (1957-1959)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Moore (1959-1963)
  • {{flagicon|CUB}} Sugar Ramos (1963-1964)
  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Vicente Saldivar (1964-1967) Retired
  • {{flagicon|AUS}} Johnny Famechon (1969-1970)
  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Vicente Saldivar (1970) (2)
  • {{flagicon|JPN}} Kuniaki Shibata (1970-1972)
  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Clemente Sanchez (1972)
  • {{flagicon|ESP}} Jose Legra (1972-1973)
  • {{flagicon|BRA}} Eder Jofre (1973-1974) Abandoned
  • {{flagicon|NIC}} Alexis Arguello (1975-1977) Vacated
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Danny Lopez (1979-1980)
  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Salvador Sanchez (1980-1982) Died
  • {{flagicon|PAN}} Eusebio Pedroza (1983-1986)
  • {{flagicon|IRE}} Barry McGuigan (1986)
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Stevie Cruz (1986-1987)
  • {{flagicon|VEN}} Antonio Esparragoza (1987-1991)
  • {{flagicon|KOR}} Yong-Kyun Park (1991-1993)
  • {{flagicon|VEN}} Eloy Rojas (1993-1996)
  • {{flagicon|PUR}} Wilfredo Vazquez (1996-1998)
  • {{flagicon|ENG}} Naseem Hamed (1998-2001)
  • {{flagicon|MEX}} Marco Antonio Barerra (2001-2003)
  • {{flagicon|PHI}} Manny Pacquiao (2003-2005) Vacated

==Olympic champions==

===Men’s===

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

==Pan American Champions==

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

=Notable featherweights=

Kickboxing

In kickboxing, a featherweight fighter generally weighs between {{convert|55|and|59|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) featherweight division (professional and amateur) is between {{convert|122.1|-|127|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.

In Glory promotion, a featherweight division is up to {{convert|65|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.[http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/fw OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118201822/http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/fw|date=2014-01-18}}

In Bellator Kickboxing promotion, a featherweight division is up to {{convert|66|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

In ONE Championship, the featherweight division limit is {{convert|70.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

==Bare-knuckle boxing==

The limit for featherweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

  • In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the featherweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|145|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
  • In BKB™, the featherweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|76|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.

Lethwei

International Lethwei Federation Japan has a featherweight division with an upper limit of {{convert|65|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. In International Lethwei Federation Japan, Thar A Thae Ta Pwint is the Featherweight Champion.

In World Lethwei Championship, the featherweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|57|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

Mixed Martial Arts

{{main|Featherweight (MMA)}}

In MMA, within the UFC company and most other MMA companies the featherweight range is from {{convert|136|to|145|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.

=Current champions=

These tables were last updated in February 2024.

Men:

class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"

! style="width:20%;" |Organization

! style="width:20%;" |Reign Began

! style="width:28%;" |Champion

! style="width:20%;" |Record

! style="width:12%;" |Defenses

UFC

|April 13, 2025

|{{flagicon|Australia}}Alexander Volkanovski

|27-4 (13KO 3SUB)

| align=center|0

Bellator MMA

|April 15, 2022

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Patrício Pitbull

|33–5 (11KO 12SUB)

| align=center|1

ONE Championship

|August 26, 2022

|{{flagicon|CHN}} Tang Kai

|15–2 (12KO 0SUB)

| align=center|0

ACA

|July 22, 2022

|{{flagicon|RUS}} Alikhan Suleymanov

|15–2 (1KO 10SUB)

| align=center|0

Cage Warriors

|November 4, 2022

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Hughes

|9–1 (3KO 3SUB)

| align=center|0

M-1 Global

|

|{{flagicon

} Vacant

|

| align=center|

|-

|AMC Fight Nights

|October 14, 2022

|{{flagicon|RUS}} Gleb Khabibulin

|7–1–2 (4KO 3SUB)

| align=center|0

|-

|Brave Combat Federation

|October 22, 2022

|{{flagicon|RUS}} Roman Bogatov

|13–1 (1KO 5SUB)

| align=center|0

|-

|Titan FC

|August 6, 2021

|{{flagicon|JOR}} Ali al-Qaisi

|12–5 (2KO 4SUB)

| align=center|0

|-

|Legacy Fighting Alliance

|

|{{flagicon|}} Vacant

|

| align=center|

|-

|Road FC

|December 18, 2022

|{{flagicon|South Korea}} Hae Jin Park

|10–2 (1KO 4SUB)

| align=center|0

|-

|-

|KSW

|December 18, 2021

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Salahdine Parnasse

|17–1–1 (2KO 6SUB)

| align=center|1

|-

|}

Women:

class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"

! style="width:20%;" |Organization

! style="width:20%;" |Reign Began

! style="width:28%;" |Champion

! style="width:20%;" |Record

! style="width:12%;" |Defenses

Bellator MMA

|January 25, 2020

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Cris Cyborg

|29–2 (1) (20KO 1SUB)

| align=center|4

UFC

|December 29, 2018

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Amanda Nunes

|21–5 (13KO 3SUB)

| align=center|2

Invicta FC

|

|{{flagicon

} Vacant

|

| align=center|

|-

|}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Boxing weight classes}}

Category:Boxing weight classes

Category:Kickboxing weight classes

Category:Taekwondo weight classes

Category:Wrestling weight classes