Bantamweight

Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. 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).

The name for the class is derived from bantam chickens.[1] Brazilian jiu-jitsu has an equivalent Rooster weight.

Boxing

The first gloved world title fight in this division was fought between George Dixon and Nunc Wallace on June 27, 1890, with Dixon winning and thus becoming the inaugural world bantamweight champion. At the time, the limit for this weight class was 110 pounds. In 1910, however, the British settled on a limit of 118.[2]

From 2018 to 2019, an eight-man tournament called the World Boxing Super Series was held to determine the best bantamweight in the world. The tournament was won by Naoya Inoue, who defeated Nonito Donaire in the final.

On December 13, 2022, Naoya Inoue became the first undisputed champion of the division in the four-belt era.

Current world champions

Main article: List of world bantamweight boxing champions
Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA May 17, 2025 Antonio Vargas 19–1–1–1 (11 KO) 1
WBC February 24, 2024 Junto Nakatani 31–0 (24 KO) 4
IBF June 8, 2025 Junto Nakatani 31–0 (24 KO) 0
WBO May 6, 2024 Yoshiki Takei 11–0 (9 KO) 2

Current The Ring world rankings

As of August 18, 2025.[3]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C Junto Nakatani 31–0 (23 KO) WBC, IBF
1 Seiya Tsutsumi 12–0–3 (8 KO)
2 Yoshiki Takei 11–0 (9 KO) WBO
3 Ryosuke Nishida 10–1 (2 KO)
4 Takuma Inoue 20–2 (5 KO)
5 Daigo Higa 21–3–3 (19 KO)
6 Antonio Vargas 19–1–1–1 (11 KO) WBA
7 Tenshin Nasukawa 7–0 (2 KO)
8 Jason Moloney 27–4 (19 KO)
9 Jeyvier Cintrón 13–1–0–1 (6 KO)
10 Kenneth Llover 15–0 (10 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. Naoya Inoue 4 years, 7 months, 13 days WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 8 7 [12]
9. Eder Jofre 4 years, 6 months NBA, WBA, WBC 8 8 [13]
10. Manuel Ortiz 4 years, 4 months, 29 days World 15 11 [14]
  Active Title Reign
  Reign has ended

Lineal Champions

  • Canada George Dixon (1890) Vacated
  • United States Jimmy Barry (1897–1899) Retired
  • United States Terry McGovern (1899) Vacated
  • United States Harry Harris (1901) Vacated
  • United States Harry Forbes (1901–1903)
  • United States Frankie Neil (1903–1904)
  • United Kingdom Joe Bowker (1904–1905) Vacated
  • United States Jimmy Walsh (1905–1909)
  • United States Jimmy Reagan (1909)
  • United States Monte Attell (1909–1910)
  • United States Frankie Conley (1910–1911)
  • United States Johnny Coulon (1911–1914)
  • United States Kid Williams (1914–1917)
  • United States Pete Herman (1917–20)
  • United States Joe Lynch (1920-21)
  • United States Pete Herman (1921) (2)
  • United States Johnny Buff (1921-1922)
  • United States Joe Lynch (1922-1924)
  • United States Abe Goldstein (1924)
  • United States Eddie Martin (1924-1925)
  • United States Charley Phil Rosenberg (1925-1927) Vacated
  • Panama Al Brown (1931-1935)
  • Spain Baltasar Sangchili (1935-1936)
  • United States Tony Marino (1936)
  • Puerto Rico Sixto Escobar (1936-1937)
  • United States Harry Jeffra (1937-1938)
  • Puerto Rico Sixto Escobar (1938-1939) (2) Vacated
  • United States Lou Salica (1940-1942)
  • United States Manuel Ortiz (1942-1947)
  • United States Harold Dade (1947)
  • United States Manuel Ortiz (1947-1950)
  • South Africa Vic Toweel (1950-1952) South Africa
  • Australia Jimmy Carruthers (1952-1954) Retired
  • France Robert Cohen (1954-1956)
  • Italy Mario D'agata (1956-1957)
  • France Alphonse Halimi (1957-1959)
  • Mexico Jose Becerra (1959-1960) Retired
  • Brazil Eder Jofre (1961-1965)
  • Japan Masahiko Harada (1965-1968)
  • Australia Lionel Rose (1968-1969)
  • Mexico Ruben Olivares (1969-1970)
  • Mexico Jesus Castillo (1970-1971)
  • Mexico Ruben Olivares (1971-1972) (2)
  • Mexico Rafael Herrera (1972)
  • Panama Enrique Pinder (1972-1973)
  • Mexico Romeo Anaya (1973)
  • South Africa Arnold Taylor (1973-1974)
  • South Korea Soo-Hwan Hong (1974-1975)
  • Mexico Alfonso Zamora (1975-1977)
  • Panama Jorge Luján (1977-1980)
  • Puerto Rico Julian Solis (1980)
  • United States Jeff Chandler (1980-1984)
  • United States Richard Sandoval (1984-1986)
  • United States Jose Canizales (1986)
  • Venezuela Bernardo Piñango (1986-1987) Vacated
  • Japan Naoya Inoue (2022-2023) Vacated

Olympic Champions

World Champions

Pan American Champions

European Champions


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).

Bare-knuckle boxing

The bantamweight division limit generally differs among bare-knuckle boxing promotions:

  • In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the bantamweight division has an upper limit of 135 lb (61 kg).
  • In BKB, the bantamweight division has an upper limit of 73 kg (161 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

Main article: Bantamweight (MMA)

In MMA, bantamweight is usually 126–135 pounds (57.2–61.2 kg). In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is 65.8 kg (145 lb). In Shooto, the limit is 56 kg (123.4 lb).

Current champions

These tables were last updated in July 2025.

Organization Reign began Champion Record Defenses
Men
UFC September

14th, 2024

Merab Dvalishvili 20–4 (3KO 2SUB) 2
Bellator May 7, 2021 Sergio Pettis[15] 22–5 (4KO 4SUB) 1
Rizin FF N/A Vacant N/A N/A
ONE Championship February, 2023 Fabrício Andrade<[16] 9–2 (1) (5KO 2SUB 1NC) 0
AMC Fight Nights October 14, 2022 Sabit Zhusupov 15–3 (1) (6KO 3SUB 1NC) 0
Cage Warriors October 7, 2022 Michele Martignoni 8–1 (2) (2KO 3SUB 2NC) 0
KSW January 25, 2025 Sebastian Przybysz 14–4–1 (5KO 5SUB) 1
ACA March 26, 2022 Oleg Borisov 25–6 (12KO 1SUB) 0
Brave CF November 11, 2022 Brad Katona 12–2 (1KO 3SUB) 1
Legacy Fighting Alliance October 14, 2022 Muin Gafurov 18–4 (10KO 7SUB) 0
Women
UFC January 20, 2024 Raquel Pennington 16–8 (1KO 4SUB) 0
Invicta FC January 18, 2023 Talita Bernardo 10–4 (6SUB) 0

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

  1. ^ "Bantamweight and Featherweight, New Pinoy Niche Weight Classes?".
  2. ^ Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 178. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.
  3. ^ "The Ring Bantamweight Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Professional boxing record: Anselmo Moreno". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Professional boxing record: Veeraphol Sahaprom". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Professional boxing record: Shinsuke Yamanaka". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Professional boxing record: Tim Austin". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Professional boxing record: Hozumi Hasegawa". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Professional boxing record: Panama Al Brown". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Professional boxing record: Naoya Inoue". Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Professional boxing record: Eder Jofre". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "Bellator MMA". Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  16. ^ "Athlete Rankings".
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