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Cruiserweight (boxing)

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Cruiserweight, also referred to as junior heavyweight, is a weight class in professional boxing between light heavyweight and heavyweight. Before the advent of the current cruiserweight class, "light heavyweight" and "cruiserweight" were sometimes used interchangeably in the United Kingdom.

Professional boxing

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The current weight limit for the division is 200 pounds (90.7 kg; 14 st 4.0 lb). When originally established, the weight limit was 190 pounds (86.2 kg; 13 st 8.0 lb). The division was established in order to accommodate smaller heavyweight boxers who could not compete with the growing size of boxers in that division. While many great heavyweight champions (such as Rocky Marciano and Joe Louis) weighed around 190 pounds during their careers, during the 1970s it became fairly standard that fit heavyweight boxers weighed at least 210 pounds (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb). Many boxing authorities felt that asking men weighing between 176 pounds (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb) and 190 pounds (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) to fight these larger men was unfair.

The World Boxing Council (WBC) was the first boxing organization to recognize the cruiserweight division when it sanctioned a bout between Marvin Camel and Mate Parlov on December 8, 1979, for its version of the title. That fight was a draw, but in the rematch in March 1980 Camel won and became the first cruiserweight champion. In 1982 the World Boxing Association (WBA) recognized Ossie Ocasio as its first cruiserweight champion when he defeated South African Robbie Williams (although at that time the WBA called the division "junior heavyweight"). The International Boxing Federation followed suit in 1983 when it matched former WBC champion Marvin Camel against Rick Sekorski for its inaugural title. Camel won and became the first IBF cruiserweight champion.

Several boxers moved up to heavyweight after winning world titles at cruiserweight. Evander Holyfield unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles to become undisputed champion, the first to do so, and then moved up to the heavyweight division in 1988. In 2006, the second man to become undisputed champion was O’Neil Bell, who was later stripped of the IBF title. Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018; he moved to heavyweight in 2019, becoming the undisputed champion in 2024.

Other notable champions in the division have been Bobby Czyz, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Tomasz Adamek, Virgil Hill, Al Cole, Orlin Norris, James Toney, David Haye, and Tony Bellew.

Current world champions

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Main article: List of world cruiserweight boxing champions
Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
WBA May 31, 2024 Gilberto Ramírez 46–1 (30 KO) 0
WBC November 4, 2023 Noel Mikaelian 27–2 (12 KO) 0
IBF May 19, 2024 Jai Opetaia 26–0 (20 KO) 1
WBO May 27, 2023 Chris Billam-Smith 20–1 (13 KO) 2

Current world rankings

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The Ring

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As of September 28, 2024.[1]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Title(s)
C Jai Opetaia 25–0 (19 KO) IBF
1 Chris Billam-Smith 20–1 (13 KO) WBO
2 Noel Mikaelian 27–2 (12 KO) WBC
3 Gilberto Ramírez 46–1 (30 KO) WBA
4 Alexei Papin 17–1–0–1 (16 KO)
5 Richard Riakporhe 17–1 (13 KO)
6 Arsen Goulamirian 27–1 (18 KO)
7 Michał Cieślak 26–2 (20 KO)
8 Ryan Rozicki 20–1 (19 KO)
9 Yamil Peralta 17–1 (17 KO)
10 Cheavon Clarke 10–0 (7 KO)

BoxRec

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As of June 7, 2023.[2]

Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Points Title(s)
1 Badou Jack 28–3–3 (17 KO) 249.2 WBC
2 Chris Billam-Smith 18–0 (12 KO) 140.4 WBO
3 Jai Opetaia 22–0 (17 KO) 95.87 IBF
4 Lawrence Okolie 19–1 (14 KO) 88.27
5 Mairis Briedis 28–2 (20 KO) 84.86
6 Ilunga Makabu 29–3 (25 KO) 68.90
7 Richard Riakporhe 16–0 (12 KO) 60.74
8 Arsen Goulamirian 27–0 (18 KO) 32.71 WBA
9 Albert Ramirez 16–0 (15 KO) 30.14
10 Mateusz Masternak 47–5 (31 KO) 28.77

Longest reigning world cruiserweight champions

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Below is a list of longest reigning cruiserweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Name Title reign Title recognition Successful defenses Fights
1. Johnny Nelson 6 years, 5 months, 26 days WBO 13 [3]
2. Marco Huck 5 years, 11 months, 17 days WBO 13 [4]
3. Arsen Goulamirian 4 years, 9 month, 28 days WBA 4 [5]
4. Krzysztof Włodarczyk 4 years, 4 months, 12 days WBC 6 [6]
5. Denis Lebedev 4 years, 1 month, 3 days WBA, IBF 5 [7]
6. Guillermo Jones 4 years, 1 month, 3 days WBA 2 [8]
7. Juan Carlos Gómez 3 years, 11 months, 29 days WBC 10 [9]
8. Anaclet Wamba 3 years, 11 months, 17 days WBC 7 [10]
9. Yoan Pablo Hernández 3 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 5 days IBF 4 [11]
10. Vassiliy Jirov 3 years, 10 months, 21 days IBF 5 [12]
11. Jean-Marc Mormeck 3 years, 10 months, 15 days WBA, WBC 4 [13]
12. Ilunga Makabu 3 years. 28 days WBC 2 [14]
13. Ossie Ocasio 2 years, 9 months, 18 days WBA 3 [15]
14. Oleksandr Usyk 2 years, 8 months, 29 days WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 6 [16]
15. Evander Holyfield 2 years WBA, WBC, IBF 5 [17]
  Active reign
  Reign has ended

[18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Kickboxing

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Main article: Kickboxing weight classes

In kickboxing, a cruiserweight fighter generally weighs between 82 kg (181 lb) and 88 kg (195 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Cruiserweight (professional and amateur) division is 186.1 lb–195 lb or 84.6 kg–88.6 kg.

Bare-knuckle boxing

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The limit of cruiserweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

  • In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the cruiserweight division has an upper limit of 205 lb (93 kg).
  • The cruiserweight division has an upper limit of 102 kg (225 lb).

References

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  1. ^ "The Ring ratings: cruiserweight". Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  2. ^ "BoxRec ratings: cruiserweight, active". Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Professional boxing record: Johnny Nelson". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Professional boxing record: Marco Huck". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Professional boxing record: Arsen Goulmirian". Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Professional boxing record: Krzysztof Włodarczyk". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Denis Lebedev". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Professional boxing record: Guillermo Jones". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Juan Carlos Gomez". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Professional boxing record: Anaclet Wamba". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Professional boxing record: Yoan Pablo Hernández". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Vassily Jirov". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Jean-Marc Mormeck". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Professional boxing record: Ilunga Makabu". Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Professional boxing record: Ossie Ocasio". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Professional boxing record: Oleksandr Usyk". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Professional boxing record: Evander Holyfield". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  18. ^ Cruiserweight Boxing News Website Retrieved on 6 December 2013.
  19. ^ Current Cruiserweight Ratings Archived 2015-06-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
  20. ^ Cruiserweight Division Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
  21. ^ IBF Cruiserweight Champions Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
  22. ^ WBA Cruiserweight Champions Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
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