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Light heavyweight#Kickboxing

{{Short description|Weight class used in boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts}}

{{Refimprove|date=August 2014}}

Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

=Professional=

In professional boxing, the division is above {{convert|168|lb|kg}} and up to {{convert|175|lb|kg}}, 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 and Zsolt Erdei.

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==

{{Main|List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions}}

class="wikitable"

!Sanctioning body

!Reign began

!Champion

!Record

!Defenses

WBA

|February 22, 2025

|Dmitry Bivol

|24–1 (12 KO)

|align=center|0

WBC

|April 7, 2025

|David Benavidez

|30–0 (24 KO)

|align=center|0

IBF

|February 22, 2025

|Dmitry Bivol

|24–1 (12 KO)

|align=center|0

WBO

|February 22, 2025

|Dmitry Bivol

|24–1 (12 KO)

|align=center|0

==Current world rankings==

===''The Ring''===

As of February 26, 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/ring-ranking|title=The Ring ratings: light heavyweight|access-date=26 February 2025}}

Keys:

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

class="wikitable"

!Rank

!Name

!Record (W–L–D)

!Title(s)

bgcolor=gold|C

|Dmitry Bivol

|24–1 (12 KO)

|IBF, WBO, WBA

1

|Artur Beterbiev

|21–1 (20 KO)

|

2

|David Benavidez

|30–0 (24 KO)

|WBC

3

|Callum Smith

|31–2 (21 KO)

|

4

|Anthony Yarde

|26–3 (24 KO)

|

5

|Joshua Buatsi

|19–1 (13 KO)

|

6

|Albert Ramírez

|20–0 (17 KO)

|

7

|Oleksandr Gvozdyk

|20–2 (16 KO)

|

8

|David Morrell

|11–1 (9 KO)

|

9

|Willy Hutchinson

|18–2 (13 KO)

|

10

|Imam Khataev

|9–0 (9 KO)

|

===BoxRec===

{{As of|2022|05|24}}{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/ratings?r%5Brole%5D=proboxer&r%5Bsex%5D=M&r%5Bdivision%5D=Light+Heavyweight&r%5Bcountry%5D=&r%5Bstance%5D=&r%5Bstatus%5D=a&r_go=|title=BoxRec ratings: light heavyweight, active|access-date=13 December 2021 }}

class="wikitable"

!Rank

!Name

!Record (W–L–D)

!Points

!Title(s)

1

|Artur Beterbiev

|21–0 (20 KO)

|

|IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA

2

|Dmitry Bivol

|23–1 (12 KO)

|

3Callum Smith

|29–2 (20 KO)

|188.5

|

4

|Gilberto Ramirez

|46–1 (30 KO)

|144.2

|

5

|Joe Smith Jr.

|28–3 (22 KO)

|127.2

|

6

|Maxim Vlasov

|46–4 (26 KO)

|70.65

|

7

|Jean Pascal

|36–6–1 (20 KO)

|63.58

|

8

|Marcus Browne

|24–2 (16 KO)

|58.90

|

9

|Joshua Buatsi

|15–0 (13 KO)

|38.34

|

10

|Sullivan Barrera

|22–4 (14 KO)

|29.16

|

==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.

class="sortable wikitable"
NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Archie Moore9 years, 4 months, 24 daysNYSAC, NBAalign="center" | 9align="center" | 7{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/8995|title=Professional boxing record: Archie Moore|access-date=10 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=Archie Moore, p. 612|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}
2.Dariusz Michalczewski9 years, 1 months, 8 daysIBF, WBA, WBOalign="center" | 23align="center" | 20{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/4141|title=Professional boxing record: Dariusz Michalczewski|access-date=10 April 2020}}
3.Artur Beterbiev7 years, 3 months, 1 week and 5 daysIBF, WBC, WBOalign="center" | 8align="center" | 8{{Cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/646981|title=Professional boxing record: Artur Beterbiev|access-date=13 December 2020}}
4.Gus Lesnevich7 years, 2 months, 2 daysNYSAC, NBAalign="center" | 5align="center" | 3{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/010346|title = Please login}}
5.Dmitry Bivol7 years, 3 weeks and 3 daysIBF, WBC, WBO, WBAalign="center" | 12align="center" | 12{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/703924|title=Professional boxing record: Dmitry Bivol|access-date=13 December 2020}}
6.Bob Foster6 years, 0 months, 23 daysWBC, WBAalign="center" | 14align="center" | 13{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9000|title=Professional boxing record: Bob Foster|access-date=10 April 2020}}
7.Zsolt Erdei5 years, 9 months, 27 daysWBOalign="center" | 11align="center" | 10{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/23935|title=Professional boxing record: Zsolt Erdei|access-date=10 April 2020}}
8.Adonis Stevenson5 years, 5 months, 24 daysWBCalign="center" | 9align="center" | 9{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/amateurboxer/372003|title=Professional boxing record: Adonis Stevenson|access-date=10 April 2020}}
9.Charles Williams5 years, 4 months, 21 daysIBFalign="center" | 8align="center" | 8{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/340|title=Professional boxing record: Charles Williams|access-date=10 April 2020}}
10.Roy Jones Jr.5 years, 2 months, 25 daysWBC, IBF, WBA (Super)align="center" | 11align="center" | 11{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/774820|title=Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr.|access-date=10 April 2020}}
11.Virgil Hill4 years, 9 months, 15 daysWBAalign="center" | 10align="center" | 10{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/479|title=Professional boxing record: Virgil Hill|access-date=10 April 2020}}
12.Maxie Rosenbloom4 years, 4 months, 22 daysNYSAC, NBAalign="center" | 7align="center" | 6{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/011349|title = Please login}}
13.Michael Spinks4 years, 2 months, 3 daysIBF, WBA, WBCalign="center" | 10align="center" | 10{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/1286|title=Professional boxing record: Michael Spinks|access-date=10 April 2020}}
14.Battling Levinsky3 years, 11 months, 19 daysWorldalign="center" | 1align="center" | 1{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10598?&offset=100|title=Professional boxing record: Battling Levinsky|access-date=10 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=Battling Levinsky, p. 184|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}
15.Victor Galindez3 years, 9 months, 8 daysWBAalign="center" | 10align="center" | 7{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/18206|title=Professional boxing record: Victor Galindez|access-date=10 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=Victor Galindez, p. 468|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}

:{{Color box|#B2FFFF|border=darkgray}} Active title reign

:{{Color box|transparent|border=darkgray}} Reign has ended

[http://boxrec.com/ratings.php?sex=m&division=Light%20Heavyweight BoxRec Light Heavyweight Ratings] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/WBC_Light_Heavyweight_Champion BoxRec WBC Light Heavyweight Champion] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Light_heavyweight BoxRec Light Heavyweight Division] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.

=Amateur=

In amateur boxing, light heavyweight is a weight division above {{convert|165|lb|kg}} and up to {{convert|178|lb|kg}}, falling between middleweight and heavyweight.

==Olympic champions==

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{{div col end}}

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).[http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/lhw Official Glory Ranking] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110053417/http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/lhw |date=2014-01-10 }}
  • 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 {{convert|102.1|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

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 {{convert|185|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
  • In BKB™, the light heavyweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|95|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.

Mixed martial arts

{{Main|Light heavyweight (MMA)}}

In MMA, the light heavyweight division is from 186 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg).

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Boxing weight classes}}

Category:Boxing weight classes

Category:Kickboxing weight classes

Category:Professional wrestling weight classes

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