Mini flyweight


Mini flyweight, also known as strawweight or minimumweight, is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

In professional boxing, boxers in the minimumweight division may weigh no more than. This is a relatively new weight category for professionals, first inaugurated by the major boxing sanctioning bodies between 1987 and 1990.

History

The minimumweight division was originally introduced in 1968 for the Summer Olympic Games under the name light flyweight. However the division was not recognized by any of the four most widely regarded sanctioning bodies until the International Boxing Federation in June 1987 when Kyung-Yun Lee knocked out Masaharu Kawakami to become the inaugural champion.
The division was then later recognized by the World Boxing Council in October 1987, the World Boxing Association in January 1988, and the World Boxing Organization in August 1989, while Ring magazine did not begin ranking minimumweights until 1997 under the name strawweights and has yet to name a champion in their rankings.
Historically the weight class has been dominated by Latin Americans and Asians with only a limited amount of success coming from other nationalities.

Late 1980s (1987–1989)

In the early years of the division, fighters such as Napa Kiatwanchai found success defending the WBC belt. Including early wins over a young up-and-coming Hiroki Ioka who later found success at light flyweight, flyweight, and super flyweight.
Other notable champions of this period included Nico Thomas, Jum-Hwan Choi and Leo Gamez.
Other successful fighters of this period include:
The division also saw its first champions not from Latin America or Asia when Scotland's Paul Weir won the vacant WBO title over Fernando Martinez in May 1993. This was followed by South Africa's Zolani Petelo who won the IBF title in December 1997.
Other notable fighters of this period included, Hi-Yong Choi, Hideyuki Ohashi, Alex Sánchez, Wandee Chor Chareon, Rocky Lin, Ala Villamor, Kermin Guardia, Noel Arambulet, Songkram Porpaoin, and Osvaldo Guerrero.

2000s

In the early part of the decade, José Antonio Aguirre and Iván Calderón were the most decorated champions.
Muhammad Rachman, Yutaka Niida, and Eagle Kyowa became champions. José Antonio Aguirre began to decline but Iván Calderón continued to defend his WBO title until August 2007 when he moved up to light flyweight.
In the later part of the decade, Oleydong Sithsamerchai, Donnie Nietes, Raúl García, and Román González were champions.

2010s

In the early part of the decade many of the fighters from the end of the 2000s continued to find success. However new faces have included Denver Cuello and Kazuto Ioka. In the latter part of the decade Thai boxers returned to dominance with Thammanoon Niyomtrong and Chayaphon Moonsri winning titles and staying undefeated.

Professional boxing

Current world champions

Sanctioning BodyReign BeganChampionRecordDefensesBeaten opponents
WBAJune 19, 2016 Knockout CP Freshmart21–0–0 88
WBCNovember 6, 2014 Wanheng Menayothin54–0–0 1212
IBFSeptember 7, 2019 Pedro Taduran14–2–1 11
WBOAugust 24, 2019 Wilfredo Mendez16–1–0 22

Current ''The Ring'' world rankings

As of ,.
Keys:
RankNameRecord Title
C
1 Wanheng Menayothin54–0 WBC
2 Knockout CP Freshmart21–0 WBA
3 Wilfredo Mendez16–1 WBO
4 Byron Rojas27–4–3
5 Vic Saludar20–4
6 Jose Argumedo23–4–1
7 Simphiwe Khonco19–6
8 Pedro Taduran14–2–1 IBF
9 Carlos Licona15–1
10 Daniel Valladares22–1–1

Amateur boxing

Since 1968, the Summer Olympic Games has featured the 48 kilogram division under the name light flyweight.

Olympic champions

In Kickboxing, the International Kickboxing Federation Strawweight division is below 108.1 lbs. or 49.09 kg.

Mixed martial arts

In MMA, strawweight is considered 115lbs and below and is typically contested by women. It is never referred to as "minimumweight" in MMA.

Other sports

Other sports to include a minimumweight division include the following,