Lightweight
Lightweight is a weight class in the sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and rowing.
Boxing
Professional boxing
The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight boxers include Alexis Argüello, Henry Armstrong, Ken Buchanan, Tony Canzoneri, Pedro Carrasco, Joel Casamayor, Al "Bummy" Davis, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Durán, Artur Grigorian, Joe Gans, Benny Leonard, Ray Mancini, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Ángel González, Carlos Ortiz, Edwin Valero, Pernell Whitaker, and Ike Williams.
Artur Grigorian holds the record for most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 17 defenses of the WBO title.
Professional Champions
Current Champions
Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
WBA | September 24, 2016 | Jorge Linares | 41-3 (27 KO) | 0 |
WBC | June 11, 2016 | Dejan Zlatičanin | 22-0 (15 KO) | 0 |
IBF | September 9, 2016 | Robert Easter Jr. | 18-0 (14 KO) | 0 |
WBO | July 11, 2015 | Terry Flanagan | 31-0 (12 KO) | 3 |
Longest reigning lightweight champions
Below is a list of "longest reigning lightweight champions" career time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
Name | Title Reign | Title recognition | Successful defenses | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Benny Leonard | 7 years, 7 months, 17 days | World | 7 |
2. | Artur Grigorian | 7 years, 6 months, 20 days | WBO | 17 |
3. | Jack McAuliffe | 6 years, 7 months, 12 days | World | 3 |
4. | Roberto Durán | 6 years, 7 months, 5 days | WBA | 12 |
5. | Ike Williams | 6 years, 1 month, 7 days | World | 5 |
6. | Joe Gans | 6 years, 27 days | World | 10 |
7. | Joe Brown (boxer) | 5 years, 7 months, 27 days | World | 11 |
8. | Miguel Vazquez | 4 years, 29 days | IBF | 6 |
9. | Sammy Mandel | 4 years, 14 days | NBA | 2 |
10. | Paul Spadafora | 3 years, 10 months | IBF | 7 |
Amateur boxing
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).[1]
Mixed martial arts
In MMA, the lightweight division is from 146 lb (66 kg) to 155 lb (70 kg).
Rowing
Lightweight rowing was a category entered into the Olympic sport, originally due to countries of smaller stature competing with an unfair disadvantage, as rowing favors the taller athlete who has more leverage.
Current Olympic class lightweight events in rowing are a men's lightweight Coxless Four and Double Scull, and a women's lightweight Double Scull.