List of current world boxing champions
At least since John L. Sullivan, in the late 19th century, there have been world boxing champions. The first of today's organizations to award a world title was the World Boxing Association, known as the National Boxing Association when it sanctioned its first title fight in 1921 between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier for the heavyweight championship.
There are now four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. The official rules and regulations of the World Boxing Association,[1] World Boxing Council,[2] International Boxing Federation[3] and World Boxing Organization[4] all recognize the other three major sanctioning bodies in their rankings and title unification rules. Each of these organizations sanction and regulate championship bouts and award championships. American boxing magazine The Ring began awarding world championship belts in 1922.
There are seventeen weight divisions. To compete in a weight class, a boxer's weight must not exceed the upper limit. Manny Pacquiao has won world championships in eight different weight classes, more than any other boxer. The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, hold all five major titles in the heavyweight division. They are the first brothers to hold versions of the heavyweight championship at the same time.[5]
Championships
When a champion, for reasons beyond his control such as an illness or injury, is unable to defend his title within the normal mandatory time, the sanctioning bodies may order an interim title bout and award the winner an interim championship. The WBA and WBC may change the status of their inactive champions to Champion in Recess.
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association (WBA) was founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA)—a national regulating body of the United States. On August 23, 1962, the NBA became the WBA, which today has its head office in Panama.[6] According to WBA championship rules, when a champion holds a title of one of the other three major sanctioning bodies in an equivalent weight class, the boxer is granted special recognition: he is called the unified champion and is given more time between mandatory title defences. The WBA Championships Committee and President may designate a champion as a Super Champion in exceptional circumstances.[1] The WBA title is vacated if it is one of the titles the respective boxer holds. When a WBA champion defends his title for the fifth time, he may be granted the WBA "Super" title upon discretion of a vote of the WBA's board of governors.[7]
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico on February 14, 1963 in order to establish an international regulating body.[8] The WBC established many of today's safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight-count,[9] a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15, and additional weight classes. In its discretion, the WBC may designate and recognize, upon a two-thirds majority vote of their Board of Governors, one or more emeritus world champions in each weight class. Such a recognition is for life and is only bestowed upon present or past WBC world champions. The following boxers have earned the Emeritus Championship appellation throughout their careers: Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Bernard Hopkins (Honorary Champion), Mikkel Kessler, Sergio Gabriel Martínez, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Kostya Tszyu, Manny Pacquiao, Érik Morales, Toshiaki Nishioka, Vic Darchinyan, and Édgar Sosa. The WBC has got "Diamond Champions" as well, a title that normally is at stake in very high-profile matches between two top fighters. Manny Pacquiao was the first one to win this title in 2009 by beating then-WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA) when American members of the WBA withdrew in order to legitimize boxing in the United States with "unbiased" ratings.[10] In April 1983, the organization established an international division that was known as the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I).[10] In May 1984, the New Jersey-based USBA-I was renamed and became the IBF.[10]
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which is a self-governing commonwealth of the United States) in 1988. Its motto is "dignity, democracy, honesty."[11] When a WBO champion has reached "preeminent status" the WBO's Executive Committee may designate him as a "Super Champion".[12] Besides the beltholders that are called "Super Champion", there are other fighters that have been named "WBO Super Champion" like Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Kelly Pavlik, Óscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Díaz, Marco Antonio Barrera, Fernando Montiel, Jorge Arce, Iván Calderón. The WBO championships are not universally recognized. Some media sites do not include the WBO in their list of champions,[13][14] but others do.[15][16]
The Ring
The Ring is a respected boxing magazine that was founded in 1922. The Ring has its own version of lineal championship in a given weight class. The Ring began awarding world championship belts in 1922. The Ring stopped giving belts to the world champions in the 1990s but began again in 2002.[17]
In 2002, The Ring created a championship system that is "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class."[17] The Ring claims to be more authoritative and open than the sanctioning bodies' rankings, with a page devoted to full explanations for ranking changes. A fighter pays no sanctioning fees to defend or fight for the title at stake, contrary to practices of the sanctioning bodies. There are currently only two ways that a boxer can win The Ring's title: defeat the reigning champion; or win a box-off between The Ring's number-one and number-two rated contenders (or, sometimes, number-one and number-three rated).[18] There are also only three ways that a boxer can lose The Ring's title: lose a championship fight, move to a different weight class, or retire.[18]
Current champions
The current champions in each weight class are listed below. Each champion's professional boxing record is shown in the following format: wins–losses–draws–no contests (knockout wins).
Heavyweight (200+ lb, 90.7+ kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Wladimir Klitschko Super champion  Ukraine58–3–0–0 (51) July 2, 2011 |
Vitali Klitschko Ukraine 44–2–0–0 (40) October 11, 2008 |
Wladimir Klitschko Ukraine 58–3–0–0 (51) April 22, 2006 |
Wladimir Klitschko Super champion Ukraine58–3–0–0 (51) February 23, 2008 |
Wladimir Klitschko Ukraine 58–3–0–0 (51) June 20, 2009 |
Alexander Povetkin Russia24–0–0–0 (16) August 27, 2011 |
Cruiserweight, Junior heavyweight (200 lb, 90.7 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Guillermo Jones Panama38–3–2–0 (30) September 27, 2008 |
Krzysztof Włodarczyk Poland46–2–1–0 (33) May 15, 2010 |
Yoan Pablo Hernández Cuba26–1–0–0 (13) October 1, 2011 |
Marco Huck Germany34–2–1–0 (25) August 29, 2009 |
Yoan Pablo Hernández Cuba 26–1–0–0 (13) February 4, 2012 |
| Denis Lebedev Interim champion Russia24–1–0–0 (18) November 4, 2011 |
Ola Afolabi Interim champion  United Kingdom19–2–4–0 (9) March 3, 2012 |
Light heavyweight (175 lb, 79.4 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Beibut Shumenov Kazakhstan13–1–0–0 (8) January 29, 2010 |
Chad Dawson United States31–1–0–2 (17) April 28, 2012 |
Tavoris Cloud United States 24–0–0–0 (19) August 28, 2009 |
Nathan Cleverly United Kingdom 24–0–0–0 (11) May 18, 2011 |
Chad Dawson United States 31–1–0–2 (17) April 28, 2012 |
Super middleweight (168 lb, 76.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Andre Ward Super champion United States25–0–0–0 (13) November 21, 2009 |
Andre Ward United States 25–0–0–0 (13) December 17, 2011 |
Carl Froch United Kingdom 29–2–0–0 (21) May 26, 2012 |
Robert Stieglitz Germany 42–2–0–0 (23) August 22, 2009 |
Andre Ward United States 25–0–0–0 (13) December 17, 2011 |
Károly Balzsay Hungary25–2–0–0 (18) August 26, 2011 | ||||
| Brian Magee Interim champion United Kingdom36–4–1–0 (25) July 30, 2011 |
Middleweight (160 lb, 72.6 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Felix Sturm Super champion Germany37–2–2–0 (16) March 22, 2010 |
Julio César Chávez Jr Mexico46–0–1–1 (32) June 4, 2011 |
Daniel Geale Australia27–1–0–0 (15) May 7, 2011 |
Dmitry Pirog Russia 20–0–0–0 (15) July 31, 2010 |
Sergio Gabriel Martínez Argentina49–2–2–0 (28) April 17, 2010 |
| Gennady Golovkin Kazakhstan 23–0–0–0 (20) October 14, 2010 |
Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam Interim champion  France27–0–0–0 (17) May 4, 2012 |
Super welterweight, Junior middleweight (154 lb, 69.9 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Floyd Mayweather Jr Super champion United States43–0–0–0 (26) May 5, 2012 |
Saúl Álvarez Mexico 40–0–1–0 (29) March 5, 2011 |
Cornelius Bundrage United States 32–4–0–1 (19) August 7, 2010 |
Zaurbek Baysangurov Russia 27–1–0–0 (20) October 5, 2011 |
vacant |
| Austin Trout United States 25–0–0–0 (14) February 5, 2011 |
Lukáš Konečný Interim champion  Czech Republic48–3–0–0 (23) April 5, 2012 |
Welterweight (147 lb, 66.7 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Paul Malignaggi United States 31–4–0–0 (7) April 29, 2012 |
Floyd Mayweather Jr United States 43–0–0–0 (26) September 17, 2011 |
Randall Bailey United States 43–7–0–1 (37) June 9, 2012 |
Timothy Bradley United States 29–0–0–1 (12) June 9, 2012 |
vacant |
| Ismael El Massoudi Interim champion France36–3–0–0 (14) July 14, 2011 |
Super lightweight, Junior welterweight (140 lb, 63.5 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| vacant | Danny García United States 23–0–0–0 (14) March 24, 2012 |
Lamont Peterson United States 30–1–1–0 (15) December 10, 2011 |
Juan Manuel Márquez Super champion Mexico54–6–1–0 (39) June 9, 2012 |
vacant |
| Marcos René Maidana Argentina 31–3–0–0 (28) July 23, 2011 | ||||
| Johan Pérez Interim champion  Venezuela15–0–1–1 (12) December 10, 2011 |
Lightweight (135 lb, 61.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| vacant | Antonio DeMarco Mexico 27–2–1–0 (20) October 15, 2011 |
Miguel Vázquez Mexico 31–3–0–0 (13) August 14, 2010 |
Ricky Burns United Kingdom 34–2–0–0 (9) March 10, 2012 |
vacant |
| Richard Abril Interim champion Cuba17–3–1–0 (8) October 22, 2011 |
Super featherweight, Junior lightweight (130 lb, 59 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Takashi Uchiyama Japan18–0–0–0 (15) January 11, 2010 |
Takahiro Ao Japan 23–2–1–0 (10) November 26, 2010 |
Juan Carlos Salgado Mexico 25–1–1–1 (16) September 10, 2011 |
Adrien Broner United States 23–0–0–0 (19) November 26, 2011 |
vacant |
| Bryan Vásquez Interim champion  Costa Rica28–0–0–0 (14) November 3, 2011 |
Featherweight (126 lb, 57.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Chris John Super champion  Indonesia47–0–2–0 (22) July 23, 2009 |
Jhonny González Mexico 52–7–0–0 (45) April 8, 2011 |
Billy Dib Australia 34–1–0–1 (21) July 29, 2011 |
Orlando Salido Mexico 38–11–2–1 (26) April 16, 2011 |
vacant |
| Celestino Caballero Panama 36–4–0–0 (23) October 14, 2011 |
Super bantamweight, Junior featherweight (122 lb, 55.3 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Guillermo Rigondeaux Cuba 10–0–0–0 (8) January 20, 2012 |
Abner Mares Mexico 24–0–1–0 (13) April 21, 2012 |
Nonito Donaire Philippines29–1–0–0 (18) July 7, 2012 |
Nonito Donaire Philippines 29–1–0–0 (18) February 4, 2012 |
vacant |
Bantamweight (118 lb, 53.5 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Anselmo Moreno Super champion Panama33–1–1–0 (12) November 16, 2010 |
Shinsuke Yamanaka Japan 16–0–2–0 (11) November 6, 2011 |
Leo Santa Cruz Mexico 20–0–1–0 (11) June 2, 2012 |
vacant | vacant |
| Koki Kameda In recess Japan28–1–0–0 (17) June 7, 2012 | ||||
| Hugo Ruiz Interim champion Mexico31–1–0–0 (28) January 22, 2011 |
Super flyweight, Junior bantamweight (115 lb, 52.2 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Tepparith Kokietgym Thailand20–2–0–0 (13) November 10, 2011 |
Yota Sato Japan 25–2–1–0 (12) March 27, 2012 |
Juan Carlos Sánchez Jr Mexico 14–1–1–0 (7) February 11, 2012 |
Omar Andrés Narváez Super champion Argentina36–1–2–0 (19) May 15, 2010 |
vacant |
| Liborio Solís Interim champion Venezuela14–3–1–0 (7) December 10, 2011 |
Flyweight (112 lb, 50.8 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Hernán Márquez Mexico 33–2–0–0 (25) April 2, 2011 |
Sonny Boy Jaro Philippines 34–10–5–0 (24) March 2, 2012 |
Moruti Mthalane South Africa28–2–0–0 (19) November 20, 2009 |
Brian Viloria Philippines 31–3–0–2 (18) July 16, 2011 |
Sonny Boy Jaro Philippines 34–10–5–0 (24) March 2, 2012 |
| Juan Carlos Reveco Interim champion Argentina28–1–0–0 (16) June 10, 2011 |
Light flyweight, Junior flyweight (108 lb, 49 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
Román González Nicaragua32–0–0–0 (27) February 4, 2011 |
Kompayak Porpramook Thailand 45–3–0–0 (30) December 23, 2011 |
Ulises Solís Mexico 34–2–3–0 (21) April 30, 2011 |
Donnie Nietes Philippines 30–1–3–0 (16) October 8, 2011 |
vacant |
| Alberto Rossel Interim champion  Peru28–8–0–1 (13) April 14, 2012 |
John Riel Casimero Interim champion Philippines16–2–0–0 (10) February 10, 2012 |
Minimumweight, Strawweight, Mini flyweight (105 lb, 47.6 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Kazuto Ioka Japan 10–0–0–0 (6) June 20, 2012 |
vacant | Nkosinathi Joyi South Africa 22–0–0–1 (15) March 26, 2010 |
Moisés Fuentes Mexico 15–1–0–0 (7) August 27, 2011 |
vacant |
See also
References
- Specific
- ^ a b "Rules of World Boxing Association" (PDF). World Boxing Association. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ "World Boxing Council Rules and Regulations" (PDF). World Boxing Council. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- ^ "IBF/USBA RULES GOVERNING CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS" (PDF). International Boxing Federation. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
- ^ "World Boxing Organization Regulations of World Championship Contests". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ Lewis, Ron (October 13, 2008). "Vitali Klitschko impressive in comeback victory". The Times. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- ^ "World Boxing Association History". World Boxing Association. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ "World Boxing Association Super Belt winners". World Boxing Association. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ "World Boxing Council". World Boxing Council. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- ^ "Rules that have changed the History of Boxing". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on September 25, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2006.
- ^ a b c "History of the IBF". International Boxing Federation. December 4, 2000. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved June 6, 2006.
- ^ "WBO logo". World Boxing Organization. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ "WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests" (PDF). World Boxing Organization. Section 14.
- ^ "Current Boxing Champions' Career Records". Sports Illustrated. March 22, 1998. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ "Current Boxing Champions". Yahoo!. December 11, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ "Reigning Champions". ESPN Internet Ventures. January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- ^ "List of Champions". BBC Sport. May 5, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
- ^ a b "About The Ring". The Ring. February 14, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Kellerman, Max (January 22, 2004). "Gatti vs. the unknown". ESPN. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
- General
- "BoxRec title search". BoxRec.com. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
- "IBF-USBA official ratings". International Boxing Federation. April 25, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
- "WBA official ratings". World Boxing Association. March 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- "The Ring Ratings". The Ring. February 9, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "WBC official ratings". World Boxing Council. September 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- "Rankings - World Boxing Organization". World Boxing Organization. October 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2011.