Cruiserweight (boxing)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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[]

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 in their career, during the 1970s it became fairly standard that fit heavyweight boxers weighed at least 210 pounds (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb). It was felt by many boxing authorities 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 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 their 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 recognized Ossie Ocasio as their 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 their 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. The second man to become undisputed champion was O’Neil Bell in 2006 who was later stripped of the IBF title.

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 Oleksandr Usyk.

Current world champions[]

Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses Beaten opponents
WBA May 31, 2019 France Arsen Goulamirian 24–0–0 (16 KO) 2 2
WBC January 31, 2020 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ilunga Makabu 28–2–0 (25 KO) 1 1
IBF September 26, 2020 Latvia Mairis Briedis 27–1–0 (19 KO) 0 0
WBO March 20, 2021 United Kingdom Lawrence Okolie 16–0–0 (13 KO) 0 0

Current world rankings[]

The Ring[]

As of September 22, 2021.[1]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Title(s)
C Latvia Mairis Briedis 27–1 (19 KO) IBF
1 Cuba Yuniel Dorticos 24–2 (22 KO)
2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ilunga Makabu 28–2 (25 KO) WBC
3 Poland Krzysztof Glowacki 31–3 (19 KO)
4 South Africa Kevin Lerena 26–1 (13 KO) IBO
5 United States Andrew Tabiti 17–1 (13 KO)
6 United Kingdom Lawrence Okolie 16–0 (13 KO) WBO
7 France Arsen Goulamirian 26–0 (18 KO) WBA
8 South Africa Thabiso Mchunu 23–5 (13 KO)
9 Russia Alexei Papin 12–1 (11 KO)
10 Poland Michal Cieslak 20–1 (14 KO)

BoxRec[]

As of September 22, 2021.[2]

Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Points Title(s)
1 Latvia Mairis Briedis 27–1 (19 KO) 249.2 IBF
2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ilunga Makabu 28–2 (25 KO) 140.4 WBC
3 United Kingdom Lawrence Okolie 16–0 (13 KO) 95.87 WBO
4 Cuba Yuniel Dorticos 24–2 (22 KO) 88.27
5 South Africa Thabiso Mchunu 23–5 (13 KO) 84.86
6 France Arsen Goulamirian 26–0 (18 KO) 68.90 WBA
7 Poland Michal Cieslak 20–1 (14 KO) 60.74
8 Poland Krzysztof Glowacki 31–3 (19 KO) 32.71
9 Belgium Ryad Merhy 29–1 (24 KO) 30.14
10 Russia Alexei Papin 12–1 (11 KO) 28.77

Longest reigning world cruiserweight champions[]

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 Beaten opponents Fights
1. United Kingdom Johnny Nelson 7 years, 5 months, 26 days WBO 13 13 [3]
2. Germany Marco Huck 5 years, 11 months, 17 days WBO 13 10 [4]
3. Poland Krzysztof Włodarczyk 4 years, 4 months, 12 days WBC 6 5 [5]
4. Russia Denis Lebedev 4 years, 1 month, 3 days WBA, IBF 5 5 [6]
4. Panama Guillermo Jones 4 years, 1 month, 3 days WBA 2 2 [7]
6. Cuba Juan Carlos Gómez 3 years, 11 months, 29 days WBC 10 10 [8]
7. France Anaclet Wamba 3 years, 11 months, 17 days WBC 7 7 [9]
8. Cuba Yoan Pablo Hernández 3 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 5 days IBF 4 4 [10]
9. Kazakhstan Vassiliy Jirov 3 years, 10 months, 21 days IBF 5 5 [11]
10. Ukraine Oleksandr Usyk 5 years and 5 days WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 6 6 [12]
11. France Jean-Marc Mormeck 3 years, 10 months, 15 days WBA, WBC 4 4 [13]
12. Puerto Rico Ossie Ocasio 2 years, 9 months, 18 days WBA 3 3 [14]
13. France Arsen Goulamirian 2 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 1 day WBA 4 4 [15]
14. United States Evander Holyfield 2 years WBA, WBC, IBF 5 5 [16]
  Active reign
  Reign has ended

[17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Kickboxing[]

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.

References[]

  1. ^ "The Ring ratings: cruiserweight". Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  2. ^ "BoxRec ratings: cruiserweight, active". Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Professional boxing record: Johnny Nelson". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Professional boxing record: Marco Huck". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Professional boxing record: Krzysztof Włodarczyk". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Professional boxing record: Denis Lebedev". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Guillermo Jones". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Professional boxing record: Juan Carlos Gomez". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Anaclet Wamba". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Professional boxing record: Yoan Pablo Hernández". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Professional boxing record: Vassily Jirov". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Oleksandr Usyk". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Jean-Marc Mormeck". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Professional boxing record: Ossie Ocasio". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Professional boxing record: Arsen Goulmirian". Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Professional boxing record: Evander Holyfield". Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ^ Cruiserweight Boxing News Website Retrieved on 6 December 2013.
  18. ^ Current Cruiserweight Ratings Archived 2015-06-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
  19. ^ Cruiserweight Division Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
  20. ^ IBF Cruiserweight Champions Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
  21. ^ WBA Cruiserweight Champions Retrieved on 27 December 2012.
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