# Light middleweight > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Light_middleweight > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Light_middleweight.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_middleweight > Source revision: 1346313054 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Weight class in boxing and kickboxing}} '''Light middleweight''',Per [http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/light-middleweight/ ''Boxing News''] also known as '''junior middleweight'''Per [http://www.wboboxing.com/rankings WBO]Per [http://www.ibf-usba-boxing.com/ IBF]Per [https://www.ringtv.com/ratings/?weightclass=277 ''The Ring''] or '''super welterweight''',Per [http://www.wbaboxing.com/wba-ranking WBA]Per [https://wbcboxing.com/en/superwelterweight/ WBC]Per [http://boxrec.com/en/ratings BoxRec] is a [weight class](/source/weight_class) in boxing but also may include other [combat sport](/source/combat_sport)s. ==Boxing== The light middleweight division (also known as junior middleweight in the [IBF](/source/International_Boxing_Federation) or super welterweight in the [WBA](/source/World_Boxing_Association) and [WBC](/source/World_Boxing_Council)), 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 [Austria](/source/Austria)n Board of Control recognized a fight between [Emile Griffith](/source/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](/source/World_Boxing_Association) championship was created when [Denny Moyer](/source/Denny_Moyer) outpointed [Joey Giambra](/source/Joey_Giambra_(boxer)). The [World Boxing Council](/source/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](/source/Miguel_de_Oliveira) and Jose Duran for the vacant title. De Oliveira won the title over 15 rounds in 1975. The [International Boxing Federation](/source/International_Boxing_Federation) crowned its first champion when [Mark Medal](/source/Mark_Medal) defeated Earl Hargrove in 1984. The [World Boxing Organization](/source/World_Boxing_Organization) crowned its first champion when [John David Jackson](/source/John_David_Jackson_(boxer)) defeated [Lupe Aquino](/source/Lupe_Aquino) in 1988. Popular boxers to have held championships in this division were [Nino Benvenuti](/source/Nino_Benvenuti), [Canelo Álvarez](/source/Canelo_%C3%81lvarez), [Manny Pacquiao](/source/Manny_Pacquiao), [Wilfred Benítez](/source/Wilfred_Ben%C3%ADtez), [Sugar Ray Leonard](/source/Sugar_Ray_Leonard), [Miguel Cotto](/source/Miguel_Cotto), [Thomas Hearns](/source/Thomas_Hearns), [Mike McCallum](/source/Mike_McCallum), [Julian Jackson](/source/Julian_Jackson_(boxer)), [Roberto Durán](/source/Roberto_Dur%C3%A1n), [Terry Norris](/source/Terry_Norris_(boxer)), [Oscar De La Hoya](/source/Oscar_De_La_Hoya), [Floyd Mayweather Jr.](/source/Floyd_Mayweather_Jr.), [Zab Judah](/source/Zab_Judah) and [Winky Wright](/source/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](/source/World_Boxing_Association) |January 31, 2026 |[Xander Zayas](/source/Xander_Zayas) |23–0 (13 KO) |align=center|0 |- |[WBC](/source/World_Boxing_Council) |March 30, 2024 |[Sebastian Fundora](/source/Sebastian_Fundora) |24–1–1 (16 KO) |align=center|2 |- |[IBF](/source/International_Boxing_Federation) |January 31, 2026 |[Josh Kelly](/source/Josh_Kelly_(boxer)) |18–1–1 (9 KO) |align=center|0 |- |[WBO](/source/World_Boxing_Organization) |July 26, 2025 |[Xander Zayas](/source/Xander_Zayas) |23–0 (13 KO) |align=center|1 |} '''Female champions''' {| class="wikitable" !Sanctioning Body !Reign Began !Champion !Record !Defenses |- |[WBA](/source/World_Boxing_Association) |September 28, 2024 |[Mary Spencer](/source/Mary_Spencer) |10–2 (6 KO) |align=center|1 |- |[WBC](/source/World_Boxing_Council) |November 18, 2023 |[Ema Kozin](/source/Ema_Kozin) |24–1–1 (12 KO) |align=center|0 |- |[IBF](/source/International_Boxing_Federation) |November 22, 2024 |[Oshae Jones](/source/Oshae_Jones) |9–0 (3 KO) |align=center|1 |- |[WBO](/source/World_Boxing_Organization) |November 18, 2023 |[Ema Kozin](/source/Ema_Kozin) |24–1–1 (12 KO) |align=center|0 |} ===Current world rankings=== ====''The Ring''==== As of February 15, 2026{{Cite web |title=Official Boxing Rankings |url=https://www.ringmagazine.com/fighters/rankings |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=The Ring |language=en-US}}. Keys: :{{Color box|gold|C|border=darkgray}} Current ''[The Ring](/source/The_Ring_(magazine))'' world champion {| class="wikitable" !Rank !Name !Record (W–L–D) !Title(s) |- |bgcolor=gold|C |{{font color|gray|vacant}} | | |- |1 |[Vergil Ortiz Jr.](/source/Vergil_Ortiz_Jr.) |24–0 (22 KO) | |- |2 |[Sebastian Fundora](/source/Sebastian_Fundora) |24–1–1 (16 KO) |[WBC](/source/World_Boxing_Council) |- |3 |[Xander Zayas](/source/Xander_Zayas) |23–0 (13 KO) |[WBA](/source/World_Boxing_Association)/[WBO](/source/World_Boxing_Organization) |- |4 |[Israil Madrimov](/source/Israil_Madrimov) |11-2-1 (7 KO) | |- |5 |[Jaron Ennis](/source/Jaron_Ennis) |35–0 (31 KO) | |- |6 |[Josh Kelly](/source/Josh_Kelly_(boxer)) |18-1-1 (9 KO) |[IBF](/source/International_Boxing_Federation) |- |7 |[Bakhram Murtazaliev](/source/Bakhram_Murtazaliev) |23-1 (17 KO) | |- |8 |[Brandon Adams](/source/Brandon_Adams_(boxer)) |26-4 (16 KO) | |- |9 |[Abass Baraou](/source/Abass_Baraou) |17–2 (9 KO) | |- |10 |[Bakary Samake](/source/Bakary_Samake) |19-0 (11 KO) | |} ====BoxRec==== {{As of|2026|02|15}}{{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}}. {| class="wikitable" !Rank !Name !Record (W–L–D) !Title(s) |- |1 |[Jaron Ennis](/source/Jaron_Ennis) |35–0 (31 KO) | |- |2 |[Vergil Ortiz Jr.](/source/Vergil_Ortiz_Jr.) |24-0 (22 KO) | |- |3 |[Xander Zayas](/source/Xander_Zayas) |23-0 (13 KO) |[WBA](/source/World_Boxing_Association)/[WBO](/source/World_Boxing_Organization) |- |4 |[Sebastian Fundora](/source/Sebastian_Fundora) |23-1-1 (15 KO) |[WBC](/source/World_Boxing_Council) |- |5 |[Keith Thurman](/source/Keith_Thurman) |31–1 (23 KO) | |- |6 |[Israil Madrimov](/source/Israil_Madrimov) |11-2-1 (7 KO) | |- |7 |[Josh Kelly](/source/Josh_Kelly_(boxer)) |18-1-1 (9 KO) |[IBF](/source/International_Boxing_Federation) |- |8 |[Bakhram Murtazaliev](/source/Bakhram_Murtazaliev) |23-1 (17 KO) | |- |9 |[Bakary Samake](/source/Bakary_Samake) |19-0 (11 KO) | |- |10 |[Erickson Lubin](/source/Erickson_Lubin) |27-3 (19 KO) | |- |} ==Kickboxing== In the [International Kickboxing Federation](/source/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](/source/World_Lethwei_Championship) recognizes the light middleweight with an upper limit of {{convert|71|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. In [World Lethwei Championship](/source/World_Lethwei_Championship), [Sasha Moisa](/source/Sasha_Moisa) is the Light middleweight Champion. ==References and notes== ==External links== * http://www.ffboxe.com/ {{Boxing weight classes}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Light Middleweight}} Category:Boxing weight classes Category:Kickboxing weight classes * --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Light middleweight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_middleweight) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_middleweight?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.