Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

Professional

In professional boxing, the division is above 168 lb and up to 175 lb, falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight. The light heavyweight class has produced some of boxing's greatest champions: Bernard Hopkins (who, upon becoming champion, broke the record for oldest man to win a world title), Tommy Loughran, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore, Michael Moorer, Bob Foster, Ann Wolfe, Michael Spinks, Dariusz Michalczewski, Roy Jones Jr., Sergey Kovalev and Zsolt Erdei. Many light heavyweight champions unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight crown until Michael Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight championship. Bob Fitzsimmons captured the light heavyweight championship after losing his heavyweight championship. Two all-time great heavyweight champions, Ezzard Charles and Floyd Patterson, started out as light heavyweights. Charles defeated Archie Moore and Joey Maxim several times in non-title bouts before becoming heavyweight champion and Patterson lost an eight-round decision to Joey Maxim before becoming heavyweight champion himself. Evander Holyfield successfully moved up from the light heavyweight division to the cruiserweight division and eventually the heavyweight division and became undisputed champion of the latter two.

Current world champions

Current world rankings

The Ring

As of October 14, 2024 Keys:

BoxRec

Longest reigning world light heavyweight champions

Below is a list of longest reigning light heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Amateur

In amateur boxing, light heavyweight is a weight division above 165 lb and up to 178 lb, falling between middleweight and heavyweight.

Olympic champions

Kickboxing

Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit of light heavyweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

Mixed martial arts

In MMA, the light heavyweight division is from 186 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg).