Bantamweight
Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports. For boxing, the range is above 115 lb (52.2 kg) and up to 118 lb (53.5 kg). In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between 53 and 55 kilograms (117 and 121 lb). In MMA, bantamweight is 126–135 lb (57.2–61.2 kg).
Boxing
    
Bantamweight is a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds (52.2 kg) and up to 118 pounds (53.5 kg).
History
    
The first title fight with gloves was between Chappie Moran and Ray Lewis in 1889. At that time, the limit for this weight class was 110 pounds. In 1910, however, the British settled on a limit of 118.[2]
Current world champions
    
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | November 7, 2019 |  Naoya Inoue | 22–0 (19 KO) | 3 | 
| WBC | May 29, 2021 |  Nonito Donaire | 42–6 (28 KO) | 1 | 
| IBF | May 18, 2019 |  Naoya Inoue | 22–0 (19 KO) | 4 | 
| WBO | May 3, 2022 |  Paul Butler | 34–2 (15 KO) | 0 | 
Current The Ring world rankings
    
As of May 4, 2022.[3]
Keys:
- C Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record (W–L–D) | Title(s) | 
|---|---|---|---|
| C |  Naoya Inoue | 22–0 (19 KO) | WBA, IBF | 
| 1 |  Nonito Donaire | 42–6 (28 KO) | WBC | 
| 2 |  John Riel Casimero | 31–4 (21 KO) | WBO | 
| 3 |  Emmanuel Rodríguez | 19–2–0–1 (12 KO) | |
| 4 |  Nordine Oubaali | 17–1 (12 KO) | |
| 5 | .svg.png.webp) Jason Moloney | 22–2 (18 KO) | |
| 6 |  Takuma Inoue | 14–1 (3 KO) | |
| 7 |  Raushee Warren | 19–3–0–1 (5 KO) | |
| 8 |  Gary Antonio Russell | 19–0–0–1 (12 KO) | |
| 9 |  Lee McGregor | 11–0–1 (9 KO) | |
| 10 |  Vincent Astrolabio | 17–3 (12 KO) | 
Longest reigning world bantamweight champions
    
Below is a list of longest reigning bantamweight 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. |  Anselmo Moreno | 6 years, 3 months, 26 days | WBA | 12 | 11 | [4] | 
| 2. |  Veeraphol Sahaprom | 6 years, 3 months, 17 days | WBC | 14 | 11 | [5] | 
| 3. |  Orlando Canizales | 6 years, 3 months, 16 days | IBF | 16 | 15 | [6] | 
| 4. |  Shinsuke Yamanaka | 5 years, 9 months, 9 days | WBC | 12 | 11 | [7] | 
| 5. |  Tim Austin | 5 years, 6 months, 26 days | IBF | 9 | 9 | [8] | 
| 6. |  Hozumi Hasegawa | 5 years, 14 days | WBC | 10 | 10 | [9] | 
| 7. |  Panama Al Brown | 4 years, 9 months, 28 days | NYSAC, NBA, IBU | 10 | 8 | [10][11] | 
| 8. |  Eder Jofre | 4 years, 6 months | NBA, WBA, WBC | 8 | 8 | [12] | 
| 9. |  Manuel Ortiz | 4 years, 4 months, 29 days | World | 15 | 11 | [13] | 
- Active Title Reign
- Reign has ended
Olympic Champions
    
- 1904: .svg.png.webp) Oliver Kirk (USA) Oliver Kirk (USA)
- 1908:  Henry Thomas (GBR) Henry Thomas (GBR)
- 1920: .svg.png.webp) Clarence Walker (RSA) Clarence Walker (RSA)
- 1924: .svg.png.webp) William Smith (RSA) William Smith (RSA)
- 1928: .svg.png.webp) Vittorio Tamagnini (ITA) Vittorio Tamagnini (ITA)
- 1932: .svg.png.webp) Horace Gwynne (CAN) Horace Gwynne (CAN)
- 1936: .svg.png.webp) Ulderico Sergo (ITA) Ulderico Sergo (ITA)
- 1948: .svg.png.webp) Tibor Csík (HUN) Tibor Csík (HUN)
- 1952:  Pentti Hämäläinen (FIN) Pentti Hämäläinen (FIN)
- 1956:  Wolfgang Behrendt (EUA) Wolfgang Behrendt (EUA)
- 1960:  Oleg Grigoryev (URS) Oleg Grigoryev (URS)
- 1964: .svg.png.webp) Takao Sakurai (JPN) Takao Sakurai (JPN)
- 1968:  Valeriy Sokolov (URS) Valeriy Sokolov (URS)
- 1972:  Orlando Martínez (CUB) Orlando Martínez (CUB)
- 1976: .svg.png.webp) Gu Yong-Ju (PRK) Gu Yong-Ju (PRK)
- 1980:  Juan Hernández (CUB) Juan Hernández (CUB)
- 1984:  Maurizio Stecca (ITA) Maurizio Stecca (ITA)
- 1988:  Kennedy McKinney (USA) Kennedy McKinney (USA)
- 1992:  Joel Casamayor (CUB) Joel Casamayor (CUB)
- 1996:  István Kovács (HUN) István Kovács (HUN)
- 2000:  Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB) Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB)
- 2004:  Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB) Guillermo Rigondeaux (CUB)
- 2008:  Enkhbatyn Badar-Uugan (MGL) Enkhbatyn Badar-Uugan (MGL)
- 2012:  Luke Campbell (GBR) Luke Campbell (GBR)
- 2016:  Robeisy Ramírez (CUB) Robeisy Ramírez (CUB)
Pan American Champions
    
- 1951:  Ricardo Gonzales (ARG) Ricardo Gonzales (ARG)
- 1955:  Salvador Enriquez (VEN) Salvador Enriquez (VEN)
- 1959:  Waldo Claudiano (BRA) Waldo Claudiano (BRA)
- 1963:  Abel Almaraz (ARG) Abel Almaraz (ARG)
- 1967:  Juvencio Martínez (MEX) Juvencio Martínez (MEX)
- 1971:  Pedro Flores (MEX) Pedro Flores (MEX)
- 1975:  Orlando Martínez (CUB) Orlando Martínez (CUB)
- 1979:  Jackie Beard (USA) Jackie Beard (USA)
- 1983:  Manuel Vilchez (VEN) Manuel Vilchez (VEN)
- 1987:  Manuel Martínez (CUB) Manuel Martínez (CUB)
- 1991:  Enrique Carrion (CUB) Enrique Carrion (CUB)
- 1995:  Juan Despaigne (CUB) Juan Despaigne (CUB)
- 1999:  Gerald Tucker (USA) Gerald Tucker (USA)
- 2003:  Daniel Chyutin (CUB) Daniel Chyutin (CUB)
- 2007:  Carlos Cuadras (MEX) Carlos Cuadras (MEX)
- 2011:  Lázaro Álvarez (CUB) Lázaro Álvarez (CUB)
Kickboxing
    
In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between 53 kg (116 lb) and 55 kg (120 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Bantamweight division (professional and amateur) is 117.1 lbs.–122 lbs. or 53.22 kg–55.45 kg.
In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is 65.8 kg (145 lb).
Lethwei
    
In International Lethwei Federation Japan, the bantamweight division is up to 60 kg (130 lb). In International Lethwei Federation Japan, Yuta Hamamoto is the Bantamweight Champion.
The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the bantamweight division with an upper limit of 54 kg (119 lb). In World Lethwei Championship, Souris Manfredi is the Bantamweight Champion.
Mixed Martial Arts
    
In MMA, bantamweight is 126–135 pounds (57.2–61.2 kg).
Current champions
    
These tables were last updated in June 2021.
| Organization | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | ||||
| UFC | Mar 6, 2021 |  Aljamain Sterling | 20–3 (2KO 8SUB) | 1 | 
| Bellator | September 12, 2020 |  Sergio Pettis | 21-5 (3KO 4SUB) | 0 | 
| Rizin FF | August 10, 2020 |  Kyoji Horiguchi | 29-3 (15KO 3SUB) | 0 | 
| ONE Championship | March 31, 2019 |  Bibiano Fernandes | 24–4 (2KO 9SUB) | 1 | 
| Fight Nights Global | October 10, 2017 |  Tomáš Deák | 20–10–1 (6KO 8SUB) | 1 | 
| Cage Warriors | September 6, 2019 |  Jack Cartwright | 8–0 (3KO 4SUB) | 1 | 
| ACA | March 6, 2020 |  Daniel Oliveira | 27–6 (9KO 11SUB) | 0 | 
| Brave CF | November 17, 2017 |  Stephen Loman | 13–2 (4KO 2SUB) | 4 | 
| Legacy Fighting Alliance | N/A |  Vacant | N/A | N/A | 
| Women | ||||
| UFC | December 11, 2021 |  Julianna Peña | 11-4 (3KO 5SUB) | 0 | 
| Invicta FC | N/A |  Vacant | N/A | N/A | 
Muay Thai
    
In Muay Thai, bantamweight is 115–118 pounds (52.2-53.5 kg). A notable Muai Thai bantamweight fighter is Randy Thong Phoun Phim.
Wrestling
    
Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight.
See also
    
    
References
    
- "Bantamweight and Featherweight, New Pinoy Niche Weight Classes?".
- Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 178. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.
- "The Ring ratings: bantamweight". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Professional boxing record: Anselmo Moreno". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Professional boxing record: Veeraphol Sahaprom". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Orlando Canizales, p. 366" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- "Professional boxing record: Shinsuke Yamanaka". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Professional boxing record: Tim Austin". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Professional boxing record: Hozumi Hasegawa". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Professional boxing record: Panama Al Brown". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Panama Al Brown, p. 84" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- "Professional boxing record: Eder Jofre". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- "Manuel Ortiz, p. 648" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.