Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing.

Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight boxers include Henry Armstrong, Ken Buchanan, Tony Canzoneri, Pedro Carrasco, Joel Casamayor, Al "Bummy" Davis, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Durán, Joe Gans, Artur Grigorian, Benny Leonard, Ray Mancini, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Márquez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Ángel González, Carlos Ortiz, Katie Taylor, Edwin Valero, Len Wickwar, Pernell Whitaker, Manny Pacquiao and Ike Williams.

Current world champions

Sanctioning bodyReign beganChampionRecordDefensesWBA WBCAug 1, 2026William Zepeda34–1 (27 KO)IBFJune 9, 2025Raymond Muratalla24–0 (17 KO)2WBONovember 22, 2025Abdullah Mason20–0 (17 KO)0

Current world rankings

The Ring

As of February 1, 2026.

Keys: Current The Ring world champion

RankNameRecordTitle(s)C1Shakur Stevenson25–0 (11 KO)WBC2Raymond Muratalla24–0 (17 KO)IBF3Gervonta Davis30–0–1 (28 KO)WBA4William Zepeda33–1 (27 KO)5Andy Cruz6–1 (3 KO)6Abdullah Mason20–0 (17 KO)WBO7Floyd Schofield19–0 (13 KO)8Denys Berinchyk19–1 (9 KO)9Sam Noakes17–1 (15 KO)10Lucas Bahdi20–0 (15 KO)

BoxRec

As of May 19, 2025.

RankNameRecord Title(s)1Gervonta Davis30–0–1 (28 KO)WBA2Shakur Stevenson23–0 (11 KO)WBC3Raymond Muratalla23–0 (17 KO)4William Zepeda Segura33-0 (27 KO)5Keyshawn Davis13–0–0–1 (9 KO)6Lamont Roach Jr.25–1–2 (10 KO)7Zaur Abdullaev20–2 (12 KO)8Sam Noakes17–0 (15 KO)9Abdullah Mason20–0 (17 KO)10Jadier Herrera17–0 (15 KO)

Longest reigning world lightweight champions Below is a list of "longest reigning lightweight champions" career time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

NameTitle ReignTitle recognition Successful defenses Beaten opponents Fights 1. Benny Leonard 7 years, 7 months, 17 days World 6 6 2. Artur Grigorian 7 years, 6 months, 20 days WBO 17 17 3. Jack McAuliffe 6 years, 7 months, 12 days World 7 6 4. Roberto Durán 6 years, 7 months, 5 days WBA, WBC 12 11 5. Ike Williams 6 years, 1 month, 7 days World 8 6 6. Joe Gans 6 years, 27 days World 15 13 7. Joe Brown 5 years, 7 months, 27 days World 11 10 8. Devin Haney 4 years, 1 month, 7 days WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 7 6 9. Miguel Vazquez 4 years, 29 days IBF 6 6 10. Sammy Mandell 4 years, 14 days NBA 4 4 11. Paul Spadafora 3 years, 10 months IBF 8 8

Amateur boxing

Olympic Champions Men's

1904 – 1908 – 1920 – 1924 – 1928 – 1952 – 1956 – 1960 – 1964 – 1968 – 1972 – 1976 – 1980 – 1984 – 1988 – 1992 – 1996 – 2000 – 2004 – 2008 – 2012 – 2016 – 2020 –

Pan American Champions

1951 – Oscar Gallardo (ARG) 1955 – Miguel Ángel Péndola (ARG) 1959 – Abel Laudonio (ARG) 1963 – Roberto Caminero (CUB) 1967 – Enrique Regueiferos (CUB) 1971 – Luis Dávila (PUR) 1975 – Chris Clarke (CAN) 1979 – Adolfo Horta (CUB) 1983 – Pernell Whitaker (USA) 1987 – Julio Gonzáles (CUB) 1991 – Julio Gonzáles (CUB) 1995 – Julio Gonzáles (CUB) 1999 – Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB) 2003 – Mario César Kindelán Mesa (CUB) 2007 – Yordenis Ugás (CUB) 2011 – Yasniel Toledo (CUB)

Kickboxing International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Lightweight (Pro & Amateur) 127.1 lb - 132 lb or 57.77 kg - 60 kg. Women's divisions also use this weight class, but usually at a lower weight than the men's divisions. In Glory promotion, a lightweight division is up to 70 kg (154 lb).OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING

In ONE Championship, the lightweight division limit is .

Bare-knuckle boxing The limit for lightweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing: In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the lightweight division has an upper limit of . In BKB™, the lightweight division has an upper limit of .

Lethwei In World Lethwei Championship, the lightweight division has an upper limit of .

Mixed martial arts

In MMA, the lightweight division is from 146 lb (66 kg) to 155 lb (70 kg).

Rowing

At the international level, for crew boats, the limits are:

Men: Crew average – no rower over Women: Crew average – no rower over

For single sculls, the limits are for men and for women.

Originally, lightweight rowing was an introduced as a category at the 1996 Summer Olympics, due to countries with athletes of smaller average stature competing with an unfair disadvantage, as rowing favors taller athletes who have more leverage.

Current Olympic-class lightweight events in rowing are the men's lightweight double sculls, and the women's lightweight double sculls. From 1996 to 2016, there was also the men's lightweight coxless four event.

Sumo In amateur sumo competitions sanctioned by the International Sumo Federation, the lightweight class is defined as no heavier than for men, for boys, for women, and for girls.

References

External links