Middleweight

{{short description|Weight class in combat sports}} {{pp-pc1}} '''Middleweight''' is a weight class in combat sports.

==Boxing== ===Professional===

In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above {{convert|154|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and up to {{convert|160|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.

Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1867. Chandler won, becoming known as the American middleweight champion. The first middleweight fight with gloves ''may'' have been between George Fulljames and Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey (no relation to the more famous heavyweight Jack Dempsey).

====Current world champions==== {{main|List of world middleweight boxing champions}}

{| class="wikitable" !Sanctioning Body !Reign Began !Champion !Record !Defenses |- |WBA |March 9, 2023 |Erislandy Lara |32–3–3 (19 KO) |align=center|3 |- |WBC |May 7, 2024 |Carlos Adames |24–1–1 (18 KO) |align=center|2 |- |IBF |{{font color|gray|vacant}} | | | |- |WBO |August 26, 2022 |Janibek Alimkhanuly<ref>{{cite web |title=In the Matter of the WBO Middleweight Division |date=27 August 2022 |url=https://wboboxing.com/boxing-news/wbo-championship-committee-resolution-in-the-matter-of-the-wbo-middleweight-division/ |publisher=World Boxing Organization |access-date=29 August 2022}}</ref> |17–0 (12 KO) |align=center|4 |}

====Current world rankings====

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

As of May 30, 2026.<ref name=ring-mw-ratings>{{Cite web|url= https://ringmagazine.com/en/ring-ranking |title=The Ring ratings: middleweight|access-date=11 August 2025}}</ref>

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

{| class="wikitable" !Rank !Name !Record !Title(s) |- |bgcolor=gold|C |{{font color|gray|vacant}} | | |- |1 |Carlos Adames |25–1–1 (18 KO) |WBC |- |2 |Yoenlis Hernández |10–0 (9 KO) | |- |3 |Erislandy Lara |32–3–3 (19 KO) |WBA |- |4 |Troy Isley |15–0 (5 KO) | |- |5 |Etinosa Oliha |22–0 (9 KO) | |- |6 |Aaron Mckenna |20–0 (10 KO) | |- |7 |Amari Jones |15–0 (13 KO) | |- |8 |Chris Eubank Jr. |35–4 (25 KO) | |- |9 |Jesus Ramos |24–1 (19 KO) |WBC (Interim) |- |10 |Denzel Bentley |22–3–1 (18 KO) |WBO (Interim) |}

=====BoxRec=====

As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.<ref name=boxrec-mw-ratings>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/ratings?r%5Brole%5D=proboxer&r%5Bsex%5D=M&r%5Bdivision%5D=Middleweight&r%5Bcountry%5D=&r%5Bstance%5D=&r%5Bstatus%5D=a&r_go=|title=BoxRec ratings: middleweight, active|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" !Rank !Name !Record !Title(s) |- |1 |Erislandy Lara |32–3–3 (19 KO) |WBA |- |2 |Carlos Adames |25–1–1 (18 KO) |WBC |- |3 |Jesus Ramos |24–1 (19 KO) |WBC (Interim) |- |4 |Chris Eubank Jr |35–4 (25 KO) | |- |5 |Callum Walsh |16–0 (11 KO) | |- |6 |Michael Zerafa |34–5 (1) (22 KO) | |- |7 |Shane Mosley Jr. |23–5 (13 KO) | |- |8 |Andreas Katzourakis |17–0 (11 KO) | |- |9 |Amari Jones |17–0 (15 KO) | |- |10 |Vito Mielnicki Jr. |23–1 (13 KO) | |}

====Longest reigning world middleweight champions==== Below is a list of '''longest reigning middleweight champions''' in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) is ''not'' counted. {|class="sortable wikitable" |- !Rank !Name !Title Reign !Title Recognition !Successful Defenses !Beaten opponents !Fights |- | 1. || Bernard Hopkins || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1995|04|29|2005|07|16}}" | 10 years, 2 months, 18 days || IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO || align="center" | 20 || align="center" | 17 || <ref name=hopkins-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/001414|title=Professional boxing record: Bernard Hopkins|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 2. || Tommy Ryan || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1898|10|24|1907|05|28}}" | 8 years, 7 months, 4 days || World || align="center" |6 || align="center" |6 || <ref name=tommy-ryan-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/031487|title=Professional boxing record: Tommy Ryan|access-date=11 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=Tommy Ryan, p. 242|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref> |- | 3. || Gennady Golovkin || data-sort-value="{{age in days|2010|8|14|2018|9|15}}" | 8 years, 1 months, 1 day || WBA (Super), IBF, WBC || align="center" | 20 || align="center" | 19 || <ref name=golovkin-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/356831|title=Professional boxing record: Gennadiy Golovkin|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref><ref>https://www.thefightcity.com/golovkin-middleweight-complicated-boxing/</ref><ref>https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/ggg-records-historic-20th-title-defense</ref> |- | 4. || Tony Zale || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1940|07|19|1947|07|16}}" | 6 years, 11 months, 24 days || NBA (current WBA) || align="center" | 4 || align="center" | 4 || <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=Tony Zale, p. 794|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref> |- | 5. || Carlos Monzón || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1970|11|07|1977|08|29}}" | 6 years, 9 months, 9 days || WBA, WBC || align="center" | 14 || align="center" | 11 || <ref name=monzon-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/009036|title=Professional boxing record: Carlos Monzon|access-date=11 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=Carlos Monzon, p. 608|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref> |- | 6. || Marvelous Marvin Hagler || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1980|09|27|1987|04|06}}" | 6 years, 7 months, 10 days || WBC, WBA, IBF || align="center" | 12 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=hagler-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/008684|title=Professional boxing record: Marvin Hagler|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 7. || Nonpareil Jack Dempsey || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1884|07|30|1891|01|14}}" | 6 years, 6 months, 15 days || World || align="center" | 2 || align="center" | 2 || <ref name=nonpareil-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/017958|title=Professional boxing record: Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref> |- | 8. || Felix Sturm || data-sort-value="{{age in days|2007|04|28|2012|09|01}}" | 5 years, 4 months, 4 days || WBA || align="center" | 12|| align="center" | 10 || |- | 9. || Jermall Charlo || data-sort-value="data-sort-value="{{Age in days |month1=6 |day1=26 |year1=2019 }}" | {{Age in years, months, weeks and days |month1=6 |day1=29 |year1=2019}} || WBC || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || <ref name="charlo-record">{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/471634|title=Professional boxing record: Jermall Charlo |access-date=18 January 2022}}</ref> |- |10. || Demetrius Andrade || data-sort-value="{{age in days |2018|10|18|2022|08|30 }}" | 3 years, 10 month, 12 days || WBO || align="center" | 5 || align="center" | 5 || <ref name=andrade-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/468433|title=Professional boxing record:Demetrius Andrade|access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref> |- |11. || Bob Fitzsimmons || data-sort-value="{{age in days|1891|01|14|1894|09|26}}" | 3 years, 8 months, 12 days || World || align="center" | 1 || align="center" | 1 || <ref name=fitzsimmons-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10552|title=Professional boxing record: Bob Fitzsimmons|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book4>{{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=Bob Fitzsimmons, p. 128|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref> |- |12. || Arthur Abraham || data-sort-value="{{age in days|2005|12|10|2009|07|12}}" | 3 years, 7 months, 2 days || IBF || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=abraham-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/208432|title=Professional boxing record: Arthur Abraham|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref> |}

:{{Color box|#B2FFFF|border=darkgray}} Active Title Reign :{{Color box|transparent|border=darkgray}} Reign has ended

===Amateur=== ====Olympic champions==== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * 1904: {{FlagIOCathlete|Charles Mayer|USA|1904 Summer}} * 1908: {{FlagIOCathlete|John Douglas|GBR|1908 Summer}} * 1920: {{FlagIOCathlete|Harry Mallin|GBR|1920 Summer}} * 1924: {{FlagIOCathlete|Harry Mallin|GBR|1924 Summer}} * 1928: {{FlagIOCathlete|Piero Toscani|ITA|1928 Summer}} * 1932: {{FlagIOCathlete|Carmen Barth|USA|1932 Summer}} * 1936: {{FlagIOCathlete|Jean Despeaux|FRA|1936 Summer}} * 1948: {{FlagIOCathlete|László Papp|HUN|1948 Summer}} * 1952: {{FlagIOCathlete|Floyd Patterson|USA|1952 Summer}} * 1956: {{FlagIOCathlete|Gennadiy Shatkov|URS|1956 Summer}} * 1960: {{FlagIOCathlete|Eddie Crook, Jr.|USA|1960 Summer}} * 1964: {{FlagIOCathlete|Valeriy Popenchenko|URS|1964 Summer}} * 1968: {{FlagIOCathlete|Chris Finnegan|GBR|1968 Summer}} * 1972: {{FlagIOCathlete|Vyacheslav Lemeshev|URS|1972 Summer}} * 1976: {{FlagIOCathlete|Michael Spinks|USA|1976 Summer}} * 1980: {{FlagIOCathlete|José Gómez Mustelier|CUB|1980 Summer}} * 1984: {{FlagIOCathlete|Shin Joon-Sup|KOR|1984 Summer}} * 1988: {{FlagIOCathlete|Henry Maske|GDR|1988 Summer}} * 1992: {{FlagIOCathlete|Ariel Hernández|CUB|1992 Summer}} * 1996: {{FlagIOCathlete|Ariel Hernández|CUB|1996 Summer}} * 2000: {{FlagIOCathlete|Jorge Gutiérrez|CUB|2000 Summer}} * 2004: {{FlagIOCathlete|Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov|RUS|2004 Summer}} * 2008: {{FlagIOCathlete|James DeGale|GBR|2008 Summer}} * 2012: {{FlagIOCathlete|Ryota Murata|JPN|2012 Summer}} * 2016: {{FlagIOCathlete|Arlen López|CUB|2016 Summer}} * 2020: {{FlagIOCathlete|Hebert Conceição|BRA|2020 Summer}} {{div col end}}

==Kickboxing== * International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Middleweight (Pro & Amateur) 159.1–165&nbsp;lb. or 72.4–75&nbsp;kg * In Glory promotion, a middleweight division is up to 85&nbsp;kg (187&nbsp;lb).<ref>[http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/mw OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108155358/http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/mw |date=2014-01-08 }}</ref> * In Bellator Kickboxing promotion, a middleweight division is up to 85&nbsp;kg (187&nbsp;lb). * In ONE Championship, the middleweight division limit is {{convert|93|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

==Bare-knuckle boxing== The limit for middleweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing: *In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the middleweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|175|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. *In BYB Extreme Fighting Series, the middleweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|160|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. *In BKB™, the middleweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|89|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.

==Lethwei== The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the middleweight division with an upper limit of {{convert|75|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. In World Lethwei Championship, Naimjon Tuhtaboyev is the Middleweight Champion.

==Mixed Martial Arts== {{main|Middleweight (MMA)}} In MMA, the middleweight division is from 171&nbsp;lb (77.5&nbsp;kg) to 185&nbsp;lb (84&nbsp;kg).

Anderson Silva is considered to be the greatest Middleweight MMA fighter of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ten-greatest-middleweight-fighters-in-mma-history-anderson-silva-is-the-divisions-clear-goat/|title=Ten greatest middleweight fighters in MMA history: Anderson Silva is the division's clear GOAT|website=CBSSports.com|date=27 May 2020 }}</ref>

==Taekwondo== {| class="wikitable" !Category !Men's !Women's !Competitions !Note |- |Middleweight |78–84&nbsp;kg |67–72&nbsp;kg |World Championships, Continental Championships, Asian Games |since 1999 |- |Middleweight |76–83&nbsp;kg |65–70&nbsp;kg |World Championships, Continental Championships, Asian Games |until 1998 |- |Middleweight |68–80&nbsp;kg |57–67&nbsp;kg |Olympic Games, Pan Am Games, All-Africa Games | |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Boxing weight classes}}

Category:Boxing weight classes Category:Kickboxing weight classes Category:Professional wrestling weight classes Category:Taekwondo weight classes Category:Wrestling weight classes Category:Middleweight boxers *