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Middleweight
Weight class in combat sports
Weight class in combat sports
Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Professional
In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above 154 lb and up to 160 lb.
Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1867. Chandler won, becoming known as the American middleweight champion. The first middleweight fight with gloves may have been between George Fulljames and Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey (no relation to the more famous heavyweight Jack Dempsey).
Current world champions
Main article: List of world middleweight boxing champions
| Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | March 9, 2023 | Erislandy Lara | 32–3–3 (19 KO) | 3 |
| WBC | May 7, 2024 | Carlos Adames | 24–1–1 (18 KO) | 2 |
| IBF | October 14, 2023 | Janibek Alimkhanuly | 17–0 (12 KO) | 2 |
| WBO | August 26, 2022 | Janibek Alimkhanuly | 17–0 (12 KO) | 4 |
Current world rankings
''The Ring''
As of January 2, 2026.
Keys: : Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | |||
| 1 | Carlos Adames | 24–1–1 (18 KO) | WBC |
| 2 | Yoenlis Hernández | 9–0 (8 KO) | |
| 3 | Erislandy Lara | 32–3–3 (19 KO) | WBA |
| 4 | Conor Benn | 24–1 (14 KO) | |
| 5 | Troy Isley | 15–0 (5 KO) | |
| 6 | Etinosa Oliha | 22–0 (10 KO) | |
| 7 | Aaron McKenna | 20–0 (10 KO) | |
| 8 | Austin Williams | 19–1 (13 KO) | |
| 9 | Chris Eubank Jr | 35–4 (25 KO) | |
| 10 | Jesus Ramos | 24–1 (19 KO) |
BoxRec
As of , .
| Rank | Name | Record | Points | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gennady Golovkin | 42–2–1 (37 KO) | 687.5 | |
| 2 | Jermall Charlo | 34–0 (23 KO) | 109.1 | |
| 3 | Erislandy Lara | 31–3–3 (19 KO) | 95.18 | WBA |
| 4 | Chris Eubank Jr. | 32–2 (23 KO) | 95.07 | |
| 5 | Jaime Munguía | 38–0 (30 KO) | 91.67 | |
| 6 | Michael Zerafa | 30–4 (19 KO) | 54.77 | |
| 7 | Carlos Adames | 24–1 (18 KO) | 44.18 | |
| 8 | Sergiy Derevyanchenko | 13–4 (10 KO) | 43.24 | |
| 9 | Janibek Alimkhanuly | 17–0 (12 KO) | 30.81 | WBO IBF |
| 10 | Ryōta Murata | 16–3 (13 KO) | 28.35 |
Longest reigning world middleweight champions
Below is a list of longest reigning middleweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) is not counted.
| Rank | Name | Title Reign | Title Recognition | Successful Defenses | Beaten opponents | Fights | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bernard Hopkins | 1995 | 04 | 29 | 2005 | 07 | 16}}" | 10 years, 2 months, 18 days | IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO | 20 | 17 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/001414 | title=Professional boxing record: Bernard Hopkins | access-date=11 April 2020}} | |||
| 2. | Tommy Ryan | 1898 | 10 | 24 | 1907 | 05 | 28}}" | 8 years, 7 months, 4 days | World | 6 | 6 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/031487 | title=Professional boxing record: Tommy Ryan | access-date=11 April 2020}} | |||
| 3. | Gennady Golovkin | 2010 | 8 | 14 | 2018 | 9 | 15}}" | 8 years, 1 months, 1 day | WBA (Super), IBF, WBC | 20 | 19 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/356831 | title=Professional boxing record: Gennadiy Golovkin | access-date=11 April 2020}} | |||
| 4. | Tony Zale | 1940 | 07 | 19 | 1947 | 07 | 16}}" | 6 years, 11 months, 24 days | NBA (current WBA) | 4 | 4 | url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook | work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book | publisher=International Boxing Hall Of Fame | title=Tony Zale, p. 794 | format=pdf | access-date=26 May 2019}} |
| 5. | Carlos Monzón | 1970 | 11 | 07 | 1977 | 08 | 29}}" | 6 years, 9 months, 9 days | WBA, WBC | 14 | 11 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/009036 | title=Professional boxing record: Carlos Monzon | access-date=11 April 2020}} | |||
| 6. | Marvelous Marvin Hagler | 1980 | 09 | 27 | 1987 | 04 | 06}}" | 6 years, 7 months, 10 days | WBC, WBA, IBF | 12 | 10 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/008684 | title=Professional boxing record: Marvin Hagler | access-date=11 April 2020}} | |||
| 7. | Nonpareil Jack Dempsey | 1884 | 07 | 30 | 1891 | 01 | 14}}" | 6 years, 6 months, 15 days | World | 2 | 2 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/017958 | title=Professional boxing record: Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey | access-date=11 April 2020}} | |||
| 8. | Felix Sturm | 2007 | 04 | 28 | 2012 | 09 | 01}}" | 5 years, 4 months, 4 days | WBA | 12 | 10 | ||||||
| 9. | Jermall Charlo | month1=6 | day1=26 | year1=2019 }}" | WBC | 4 | 4 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/471634 | title=Professional boxing record: Jermall Charlo | access-date=18 January 2022}} | |||||||
| 10. | Demetrius Andrade | 2018 | 10 | 18 | 2022 | 08 | 30 }}" | 3 years, 10 month, 12 days | WBO | 5 | 5 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/468433 | title=Professional boxing record:Demetrius Andrade | access-date=22 May 2022}} | |||
| 11. | Bob Fitzsimmons | 1891 | 01 | 14 | 1894 | 09 | 26}}" | 3 years, 8 months, 12 days | World | 1 | 1 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10552 | title=Professional boxing record: Bob Fitzsimmons | access-date=14 March 2020}} | |||
| 12. | Arthur Abraham | 2005 | 12 | 10 | 2009 | 07 | 12}}" | 3 years, 7 months, 2 days | IBF | 10 | 10 | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/208432 | title=Professional boxing record: Arthur Abraham | access-date=11 April 2020}} |
: Active Title Reign : Reign has ended
Amateur
Olympic champions
- 1904: Charles Mayer
- 1908: John Douglas
- 1920: Harry Mallin
- 1924: Harry Mallin
- 1928: Piero Toscani
- 1932: Carmen Barth
- 1936: Jean Despeaux
- 1948: László Papp
- 1952: Floyd Patterson
- 1956: Gennadiy Shatkov
- 1960: Eddie Crook, Jr.
- 1964: Valeriy Popenchenko
- 1968: Chris Finnegan
- 1972: Vyacheslav Lemeshev
- 1976: Michael Spinks
- 1980: José Gómez Mustelier
- 1984: Shin Joon-Sup
- 1988: Henry Maske
- 1992: Ariel Hernández
- 1996: Ariel Hernández
- 2000: Jorge Gutiérrez
- 2004: Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov
- 2008: James DeGale
- 2012: Ryota Murata
- 2016: Arlen López
- 2020: Hebert Conceição
Kickboxing
- International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Middleweight (Pro & Amateur) 159.1–165 lb. or 72.4–75 kg
- In Glory promotion, a middleweight division is up to 85 kg (187 lb).
- In Bellator Kickboxing promotion, a middleweight division is up to 85 kg (187 lb).
- In ONE Championship, the middleweight division limit is 93 kg.
Bare-knuckle boxing
The limit for middleweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:
- In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the middleweight division has an upper limit of 175 lb.
- In BYB Extreme Fighting Series, the middleweight division has an upper limit of 160 lb.
- In BKB™, the middleweight division has an upper limit of 89 kg.
Lethwei
The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the middleweight division with an upper limit of 75 kg. In World Lethwei Championship, Naimjon Tuhtaboyev is the Middleweight Champion.
Mixed Martial Arts
Main article: Middleweight (MMA)
In MMA, the middleweight division is from 171 lb (77.5 kg) to 185 lb (84 kg).
Anderson Silva is considered to be the greatest Middleweight MMA fighter of all time.
Taekwondo
| Category | Men's | Women's | Competitions | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight | 78–84 kg | 67–72 kg | World Championships, Continental Championships, Asian Games | since 1999 |
| Middleweight | 76–83 kg | 65–70 kg | World Championships, Continental Championships, Asian Games | until 1998 |
| Middleweight | 68–80 kg | 57–67 kg | Olympic Games, Pan Am Games, All-Africa Games |
References
References
- (27 August 2022). "In the Matter of the WBO Middleweight Division". World Boxing Organization.
- "The Ring ratings: middleweight".
- "BoxRec ratings: middleweight, active".
- "Professional boxing record: Bernard Hopkins".
- "Professional boxing record: Tommy Ryan".
- "Tommy Ryan, p. 242". [[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]].
- "Professional boxing record: Gennadiy Golovkin".
- https://www.thefightcity.com/golovkin-middleweight-complicated-boxing/
- https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/ggg-records-historic-20th-title-defense
- "Tony Zale, p. 794". [[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]].
- "Professional boxing record: Carlos Monzon".
- "Carlos Monzon, p. 608". [[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]].
- "Professional boxing record: Marvin Hagler".
- "Professional boxing record: Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey".
- "Professional boxing record: Jermall Charlo".
- "Professional boxing record:Demetrius Andrade".
- "Professional boxing record: Bob Fitzsimmons".
- "Bob Fitzsimmons, p. 128". [[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]].
- "Professional boxing record: Arthur Abraham".
- [http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en/fighters/rankings/mw OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING] {{webarchive. link. (2014-01-08)
- (27 May 2020). "Ten greatest middleweight fighters in MMA history: Anderson Silva is the division's clear GOAT".
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