Cruiserweight (boxing)

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.

This article is about the weight class in boxing. For the weight class in professional wrestling, see cruiserweight (professional wrestling). For the band, see Cruiserweight (band).

Professional boxing

The current weight limit for the division is 200 pounds (14 stone 4 pounds / 90.7 kg). When originally established, the weight limit was 190 pounds (13st. 8 lbs. / 86.2 kg). 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. It was felt by many boxing authorities that asking men weighing between 176 and 190 pounds 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
Main article: List of world cruiserweight boxing champions
Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses Beaten opponents
WBA May 31, 2019 Arsen Goulamirian 24–0–0 (16 KO) 2 2
WBC January 31, 2020 Ilunga Makabu 27–2–0 (24 KO) 0 0
IBF June 15, 2019 Yuniel Dorticos 24–1–0 (22 KO) 0 0
WBO vacant

Current The Ring world rankings

As of August 14, 2020.[1]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record (W–L–D) Title(s)
C vacant
1 Mairis Briedis 26–1 (19 KO)
2 Yuniel Dorticos 24–1 (22 KO) IBF
3 Ilunga Makabu 27–2 (24 KO) WBC
4 Krzysztof Glowacki 31–2 (19 KO)
5 Kevin Lerena 25–1 (12 KO)
6 Andrew Tabiti 17–1 (13 KO)
7 Lawrence Okolie 14–0 (11 KO)
8 Arsen Goulamirian 26–0 (18 KO) WBA
9 Thabiso Mchunu 22–5 (13 KO)
10 Michał Cieślak 19–1 (13 KO)

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.

NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1. Johnny Nelson7 years, 5 months, 26 daysWBO1313[2]
2. Marco Huck5 years, 11 months, 17 daysWBO1310[3]
3. Krzysztof Włodarczyk4 years, 4 months, 12 daysWBC65[4]
4. Denis Lebedev4 years, 1 month, 3 daysWBA, IBF55[5]
4. Guillermo Jones4 years, 1 month, 3 daysWBA22[6]
6. Juan Carlos Gómez3 years, 11 months, 29 daysWBC1010[7]
7. Anaclet Wamba3 years, 11 months, 17 daysWBC77[8]
8. Yoan Pablo Hernández3 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 5 daysIBF44[9]
9. Vassiliy Jirov3 years, 10 months, 21 daysIBF55[10]
10. Oleksandr Usyk3 years, 10 months and 4 weeksWBA, WBC, IBF, WBO66[11]
11. Jean-Marc Mormeck3 years, 10 months, 15 daysWBA, WBC44[12]
12. Ossie Ocasio2 years, 9 months, 18 daysWBA33[13]
13. Evander Holyfield2 yearsWBA, WBC, IBF55[14]
     Active reign
     Reign has ended

[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Kickboxing
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. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Cruiserweight (professional and amateur) division is 186.1 lbs.–195 lbs. or 84.6 kg–88.6 kg.

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