Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

Professional

In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , 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 and Zsolt Erdei. 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

Current world rankings

=''The Ring''

= As of February 26, 2025. Keys: : Current '' The Ring'' world champion

=BoxRec

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. : Active title reign : Reign has ended

Amateur

In amateur boxing, light heavyweight is a weight division above and up to , falling between middleweight and heavyweight.

Olympic champions

* 1920 – * 1924 – * 1928 – * 1932 – * 1936 – * 1948 – * 1952 – * 1956 – * 1960 – * 1964 – * 1968 – * 1972 – *

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

– * 1980 – * 1984 – * 1988 – * 1992 – * 1996 – * 2000 – *

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

– * 2008 – * 2012 – * 2016 – * 2020 –

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).Official Glory Ranking
* 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 .

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 . *In BKB™, the light heavyweight division has an upper limit of .

Mixed martial arts

In MMA, the light heavyweight division is from 186 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg).

References

{{Boxing weight classes Boxing weight classes Kickboxing weight classes Professional wrestling weight classes * *