{{Short description|Weight class in boxing and kickboxing}} '''Light middleweight''',<ref>Per [http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/light-middleweight/ ''Boxing News'']</ref> also known as '''junior middleweight'''<ref>Per [http://www.wboboxing.com/rankings WBO]</ref><ref>Per [http://www.ibf-usba-boxing.com/ IBF]</ref><ref>Per [https://www.ringtv.com/ratings/?weightclass=277 ''The Ring'']</ref> or '''super welterweight''',<ref>Per [http://www.wbaboxing.com/wba-ranking WBA]</ref><ref>Per [https://wbcboxing.com/en/superwelterweight/ WBC]</ref><ref>Per [http://boxrec.com/en/ratings BoxRec]</ref> is a weight class in boxing but also may include other combat sports.
==Boxing== The light middleweight division (also known as junior middleweight in the IBF or super welterweight in the WBA and WBC), is a weight division in professional boxing, above 66.7 kg and up to 69.9 kg (147+ to 154 pounds).
===History=== This division was established in 1961, when the Austrian Board of Control recognized a fight between Emile Griffith and Teddy Wright for the "world" championship. The fight, which took place on October 17, was won by Griffith via a 15-round decision. Three days later, the World Boxing Association championship was created when Denny Moyer outpointed Joey Giambra. The World Boxing Council recognized the WBA champion as the true division champion until 1975, when it stripped their current champion and sanctioned a fight between Miguel de Oliveira and Jose Duran for the vacant title. De Oliveira won the title over 15 rounds in 1975. The International Boxing Federation crowned its first champion when Mark Medal defeated Earl Hargrove in 1984. The World Boxing Organization crowned its first champion when John David Jackson defeated Lupe Aquino in 1988.
Popular boxers to have held championships in this division were Nino Benvenuti, Canelo Álvarez, Manny Pacquiao, Wilfred Benítez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Miguel Cotto, Thomas Hearns, Mike McCallum, Julian Jackson, Roberto Durán, Terry Norris, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Zab Judah and Winky Wright.
===Current world champions=== {{main|List of world light-middleweight boxing champions}} '''Male champions''' {| class="wikitable" !Sanctioning Body !Reign Began !Champion !Record !Defenses |- |WBA |January 31, 2026 |Xander Zayas |23–0 (13 KO) |align=center|0 |- |WBC |March 30, 2024 |Sebastian Fundora |24–1–1 (16 KO) |align=center|2 |- |IBF |January 31, 2026 |Josh Kelly |18–1–1 (9 KO) |align=center|0 |- |WBO |July 26, 2025 |Xander Zayas |23–0 (13 KO) |align=center|1 |}
'''Female champions''' {| class="wikitable" !Sanctioning Body !Reign Began !Champion !Record !Defenses |- |WBA |September 28, 2024 |Mary Spencer |10–2 (6 KO) |align=center|1 |- |WBC |November 18, 2023 |Ema Kozin |24–1–1 (12 KO) |align=center|0 |- |IBF |November 22, 2024 |Oshae Jones |9–0 (3 KO) |align=center|1 |- |WBO |November 18, 2023 |Ema Kozin |24–1–1 (12 KO) |align=center|0 |}
===Current world rankings===
====''The Ring''==== As of February 15, 2026<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Boxing Rankings |url=https://www.ringmagazine.com/fighters/rankings |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=The Ring |language=en-US}}</ref>.
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 |{{font color|gray|vacant}} | | |- |1 |Vergil Ortiz Jr. |24–0 (22 KO) | |- |2 |Sebastian Fundora |24–1–1 (16 KO) |WBC |- |3 |Xander Zayas |23–0 (13 KO) |WBA/WBO |- |4 |Israil Madrimov |11-2-1 (7 KO) | |- |5 |Jaron Ennis |35–0 (31 KO) | |- |6 |Josh Kelly |18-1-1 (9 KO) |IBF |- |7 |Bakhram Murtazaliev |23-1 (17 KO) | |- |8 |Brandon Adams |26-4 (16 KO) | |- |9 |Abass Baraou |17–2 (9 KO) | |- |10 |Bakary Samake |19-0 (11 KO) | |}
====BoxRec====
{{As of|2026|02|15}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=BoxRec: Ratings |url=https://boxrec.com/en/ratings/M/box-pro/Light%20Middleweight?offset=0 |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=boxrec.com |language=en}}</ref>.
{| class="wikitable" !Rank !Name !Record (W–L–D) !Title(s) |- |1 |Jaron Ennis |35–0 (31 KO) | |- |2 |Vergil Ortiz Jr. |24-0 (22 KO) | |- |3 |Xander Zayas |23-0 (13 KO) |WBA/WBO |- |4 |Sebastian Fundora |23-1-1 (15 KO) |WBC |- |5 |Keith Thurman |31–1 (23 KO) | |- |6 |Israil Madrimov |11-2-1 (7 KO) | |- |7 |Josh Kelly |18-1-1 (9 KO) |IBF |- |8 |Bakhram Murtazaliev |23-1 (17 KO) | |- |9 |Bakary Samake |19-0 (11 KO) | |- |10 |Erickson Lubin |27-3 (19 KO) | |- |}
==Kickboxing== In the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), Super Welterweight is 147.1 - 153 lb (66.9 - 69.5 kg) & Light Middleweight is 153.1 - 159 lb (69.6 - 72.3 kg).
==Lethwei== The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the light middleweight with an upper limit of {{convert|71|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. In World Lethwei Championship, Sasha Moisa is the Light middleweight Champion.
==References and notes== <references />
==External links== * http://www.ffboxe.com/
{{Boxing weight classes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Light Middleweight}} Category:Boxing weight classes Category:Kickboxing weight classes *