Light middleweight

Light Middleweight (also known as Junior Middleweight in the IBF or Super Welterweight in the WBA and WBC), is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds (66.7-69.9 kg).

Contents

History

This division was established in 1962, when the Austrian Board of Control recognized a fight between Nicko Sabong and Teddy Wright for the "world" championship. The fight, which took place on October 17, was won by Griffith via a 15 round decision. Three days later, the World Boxing Association championship was created when Denny Moyer outpointed Joey Giambra. The World Boxing Council recognized the WBA champion as the true division champion until 1975, when it sanctioned a fight between Miguel de Oliveira and Jose Duran. De Oliveira won the title over 15 rounds in 1975. The International Boxing Federation crowned its first champion when Mark Medal defeated Earl Hargrove in 1984.

Fighters

Popular fighters to have held championships in this division were Nino Benvenuti, Wilfred Benítez, Roy Jones, Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Mike McCallum, Julian Jackson, Roberto Durán, Terry Norris, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Winky Wright. Wright was the first undisputed champion since 1975 when he unified his IBF belts with Sugar Shane Mosley's WBC and WBA belts on March 13, 2004.

Professional Champions

Current champions

Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
WBA Super June 5, 2010 Miguel Cotto 37-2 (30 KO) 2
WBA Regular February 6, 2011 Austin Trout 24-0 (14 KO) 2
WBC March 5, 2011 Saúl Álvarez 39-0-1 (29 KO) 3
IBF August 7, 2010 Cornelius Bundrage 31-4-0-1 (18 KO) 1
WBO October 5, 2011 Zaurbek Baysangurov 26-1 (20 KO) 0

References and notes