Light heavyweight

{{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, Zsolt Erdei, Dmitry Bivol, & Artur Beterbiev.

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 |25–1 (12 KO) |align=center|1 |- |WBC |April 7, 2025 |David Benavidez |31–0 (25 KO) |align=center|1 |- |IBF |February 22, 2025 |Dmitry Bivol |25–1 (12 KO) |align=center|1 |- |WBO |February 22, 2025 |Dmitry Bivol |25–1 (12 KO) |align=center|0 |}

====Current world rankings====

=====''The Ring''===== As of May 30, 2026.<ref name=ring-lhw-ratings>{{Cite web|url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/ring-ranking|title=The Ring ratings: light heavyweight|access-date=11 August 2025}}</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 |Dmitry Bivol |25–1 (12 KO) |WBA, IBF, WBO |- |1 |David Benavidez |32–0 (26 KO) |WBC, WBA (Regular) |- |2 |Calum Smith |31–2 (22 KO) |WBO (Interim) |- |3 |Albert Ramirez |22–0 (19 KO) |WBA (Interim) |- |4 |Anthony Yarde |27–4 (24 KO) | |- |5 |Imam Khataev |11–1 (10 KO) | |- |6 |Joshua Buatsi |20–1 (13 KO) | |- |7 |Willy Hutchinson |20–2 (14 KO) | |- |8 |Najee Lopez |16–0 (13 KO) | |- |9 |Umar Dzambekov |13–0 (9 KO) | |- |10 |Zak Chelli |17–3–1 (9 KO) | |}

=====BoxRec===== {{As of|2026|05|31}}<ref name=boxrec-lhw-ratings>{{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 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" !Rank !Name !Record (W–L–D) !Title(s) |- |1 |Dmitry Bivol |25–1 (12 KO) |WBA, IBF, WBO, The Ring |- |2 |Albert Ramírez |22–0 (19 KO) |WBA (Interim) |- |3 ||Joshua Buatsi |20–1 (13 KO) | |- |4 |Mehmet Ünal |15–0 (13 KO) | |- |5 |Willy Hutchinson |20–2 (14 KO) | |- |6 |Najee Lopez |16–0 (13 KO) | |- |7 |Imam Khataev |11–1 (10 KO) | |- |8 |Umar Dzambekov |14–0 (10 KO) | |- |9 |Atif Oberlton |16–0 (14 KO) | |- |10 |Craig Richards |20–4–1 (13 KO) | |- |}

====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" |- !!!Name!!Title reign!!Title recognition!!Successful defenses!!Beaten opponents!!Fights |- | 1. || Archie Moore || 9 years, 4 months, 24 days || NYSAC, NBA || align="center" | 9 || align="center" | 7 || <ref name=moore-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/8995|title=Professional boxing record: Archie Moore|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book>{{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}}</ref> |- | 2. || Dariusz Michalczewski || 9 years, 1 months, 8 days || IBF, WBA, WBO || align="center" | 23 || align="center" | 20 || <ref name=michalczewski-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/4141|title=Professional boxing record: Dariusz Michalczewski|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 3. || Artur Beterbiev || 7 years, 3 months, 1 week and 5 days || IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA || align="center" | 9 || align="center" | 9 || <ref name=beterbiev-record>{{Cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/646981|title=Professional boxing record: Artur Beterbiev|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> |- | 4. || Gus Lesnevich || 7 years, 2 months, 2 days || NYSAC, NBA|| align="center" | 5 || align="center" | 3 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/010346|title = Please login}}</ref> |- | 5. || Dmitry Bivol || 7 years, 3 weeks and 3 days || IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA || align="center" | 12|| align="center" | 12 || <ref name=Bivol-record>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/703924|title=Professional boxing record: Dmitry Bivol|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> |- | 6. || Bob Foster || 6 years, 0 months, 23 days || WBC, WBA || align="center" | 14 || align="center" | 13 || <ref name=foster-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9000|title=Professional boxing record: Bob Foster|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 7. || Zsolt Erdei || 5 years, 9 months, 27 days || WBO || align="center" | 11 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=erdei-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/23935|title=Professional boxing record: Zsolt Erdei|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 8. || Adonis Stevenson || 5 years, 5 months, 24 days || WBC || align="center" | 9 || align="center" | 9 || <ref name=adonis-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/amateurboxer/372003|title=Professional boxing record: Adonis Stevenson|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 9. || Charles Williams || 5 years, 4 months, 21 days || IBF || align="center" | 8 || align="center" | 8 || <ref name=charles-williams-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/340|title=Professional boxing record: Charles Williams|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 10. || Roy Jones Jr. || 5 years, 2 months, 25 days || WBC, IBF, WBA (Super) || align="center" | 11 || align="center" | 11 || <ref name=rjj-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/774820|title=Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr.|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 11. || Virgil Hill || 4 years, 9 months, 15 days || WBA || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=hill-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/479|title=Professional boxing record: Virgil Hill|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 12. || Maxie Rosenbloom || 4 years, 4 months, 22 days || NYSAC, NBA|| align="center" | 7 || align="center" | 6 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/011349|title = Please login}}</ref> |- | 13. || Michael Spinks || 4 years, 2 months, 3 days || IBF, WBA, WBC || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=m-spinks-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/1286|title=Professional boxing record: Michael Spinks|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 14. || Battling Levinsky || 3 years, 11 months, 19 days || World || align="center" | 1 || align="center" | 1 || <ref name=levinsky-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10598?&offset=100|title=Professional boxing record: Battling Levinsky|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book2>{{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}}</ref> |- | 15. || Victor Galindez || 3 years, 9 months, 8 days || WBA || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 7 || <ref name=galindez-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/18206|title=Professional boxing record: Victor Galindez|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book3>{{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}}</ref> |- |}

:{{Color box|#B2FFFF|border=darkgray}} Active title reign :{{Color box|transparent|border=darkgray}} Reign has ended <ref>[http://boxrec.com/ratings.php?sex=m&division=Light%20Heavyweight BoxRec Light Heavyweight Ratings] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.</ref><ref>[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/WBC_Light_Heavyweight_Champion BoxRec WBC Light Heavyweight Champion] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.</ref><ref>[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Light_heavyweight BoxRec Light Heavyweight Division] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.</ref>

===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==== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *1920 – {{flagIOCathlete|Eddie Eagan|USA|1920 Summer}} *1924 – {{flagIOCathlete|Harry Mitchell|GBR|1924 Summer}} *1928 – {{flagIOCathlete|Víctor Avendaño|ARG|1928 Summer}} *1932 – {{flagIOCathlete|David Carstens|RSA|1932 Summer}} *1936 – {{flagIOCathlete|Roger Michelot|FRA|1936 Summer}} *1948 – {{flagIOCathlete|George Hunter|RSA|1948 Summer}} *1952 – {{flagIOCathlete|Norvel Lee|USA|1952 Summer}} *1956 – {{flagIOCathlete|James Boyd|USA|1956 Summer}} *1960 – {{flagIOCathlete|Muhammad Ali |USA|1960 Summer}} *1964 – {{flagIOCathlete|Cosimo Pinto|ITA|1964 Summer}} *1968 – {{flagIOCathlete|Danas Pozniakas|URS|1968 Summer}} *1972 – {{flagIOCathlete|Mate Parlov|YUG|1972 Summer}} *1976 – {{flagIOCathlete|Leon Spinks|USA|1976 Summer}} *1980 – {{flagIOCathlete|Slobodan Kacar|YUG|1980 Summer}} *1984 – {{flagIOCathlete|Anton Josipović|YUG|1984 Summer}} *1988 – {{flagIOCathlete|Andrew Maynard|USA|1988 Summer}} *1992 – {{flagIOCathlete|Torsten May|GER|1992 Summer}} *1996 – {{flagIOCathlete|Vassiliy Jirov|KAZ|1996 Summer}} *2000 – {{flagIOCathlete|Aleksandr Lebziak|RUS|2000 Summer}} *2004 – {{flagIOCathlete|Andre Ward|USA|2004 Summer}} *2008 – {{flagIOCathlete|Zhang Xiaoping|CHN|2008 Summer}} *2012 – {{flagIOCathlete|Egor Mekhontsev|RUS|2012 Summer}} *2016 – {{flagIOCathlete|Julio César La Cruz|CUB|2016 Summer}} *2020 – {{flagIOCathlete|Arlen López|CUB|2020 Summer}} {{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).<ref>[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 }}</ref> * 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}}

Category:Boxing weight classes Category:Kickboxing weight classes Category:Professional wrestling weight classes * *