Light welterweight


Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

Professional boxing

In professional boxing, light welterweight is contested between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, in which boxers weigh above 61.2kg or 135 pounds and up to 63.5 kg or 140 pounds. The first champion of this weight class was Pinky Mitchell in 1946, though he was only awarded his championship by a vote of the readers of the Boxing Blade magazine.
There was not widespread acceptance of this new weight division in its early years, and the New York State Athletic Commission withdrew recognition of it in 1930. The National Boxing Association continued to recognize it until its champion, Barney Ross relinquished the title in 1935 to concentrate on regaining the welterweight championship.
A few commissions recognized bouts in the 1940s as being for the light welterweight title, but the modern beginnings of this championship date from 1959 when Carlos Ortiz won the vacant title with a victory over Kenny Lane. Both the WBA and WBC recognized the same champions until 1967, when the WBC stripped Paul Fuji of the title and matched Pedro Adigue and Adolph Pruitt for their version of the championship. Adigue won a fifteen-round decision. The International Boxing Federation recognized Aaron Pryor as its first champion in 1984.

Current world champions

Sanctioning BodyReign BeganChampionRecordDefensesBeaten opponents
IBFMay 18, 2019 Josh Taylor16–0–0 11
WBAOctober 26, 2019 Josh Taylor16–0–0 00
WBCMarch 17, 2018 José Ramírez25–0–0 33
WBOJuly 27, 2019 José Ramírez25–0–0 00

Current interim champions
Sanctioning BodyReign BeganChampionRecordDefensesBeaten opponents
WBAJuly 27, 2019 Alberto Puello17–0 00

Current ''The Ring'' world rankings

As of ,.
Keys:
RankNameRecordTitle
C Josh Taylor16–0 IBF, WBA
1 José Ramírez25–0 WBO, WBC
2 Regis Prograis24–1
3 Ivan Baranchyk20–1
4 Viktor Postol31–2
5 Kiryl Relikh23–3
6 Maurice Hooker27–1–3
7 Jose Zepeda31–2
8 Mario Barrios25–0
9 Arnold Barboza23–0
10 Batyrzhan Jukembayev18–0

Amateur boxing

In amateur boxing, light welterweight is a weight class for fighters weighing up to 64 kilograms. For the 1952 Summer Olympics, the division was created when the span from 54–67 kg was changed from three weight classes to four. Perhaps the most famous amateur light welterweight champion is Sugar Ray Leonard, who went on to an impressive professional career.

Olympic Champions