Featherweight

Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Boxing

Professional boxing

History

A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of 126 pounds (57 kg). In the early days of the division, this limit fluctuated. The British have generally always recognized the limit at 126 pounds, but in America the weight limit was at first 114 pounds. An early champion, George Dixon, moved the limit to 120 and then 122 pounds. Finally, in 1920 the United States fixed the limit at 126 pounds.^[1]

The 1860 fight between Nobby Clark and Jim Elliott is sometimes called the first featherweight championship. However, the division only gained wide acceptance in 1889 after the Ike Weir–Frank Murphy fight.

Since the end of the 2000s and early 2010s the featherweight division is one of the most active in boxing with fighters such as Orlando Salido, Chris John, Juan Manuel López, Celestino Caballero, Elio Rojas, Israel Vazquez, Cristobal Cruz, Rafael Márquez, Rocky Juarez, Steven Luevano, Naseem Hamed, Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao.

Current world champions

Sanctioning Body	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA	June 1, 2024	Nick Ball	21–0–1 (12 KO)	1
WBC	October 18, 2024	Brandon Figueroa	25–1–1 (19 KO)	0
IBF	August 10, 2024	Angelo Leo	25–1 (12 KO)	0
WBO	December 9, 2023	Rafael Espinoza	26–0 (22 KO)	2

Current The Ring world rankings

As of October 26, 2024.^[2]

Keys:

C Current The Ring world champion

Rank	Name	Record	Title(s)
C	vacant
1	Angelo Leo	25–1 (12 KO)	IBF
2	Nick Ball	21–0–1 (12 KO)	WBA
3	Rey Vargas	36–1–1 (22 KO)
4	Luis Alberto Lopez	30–3 (17 KO)
5	Rafael Espinoza	25–0 (21 KO)	WBO
6	Brandon Figueroa	25–1–1 (19 KO)	WBC
7	Raymond Ford	15–1–1 (8 KO)
8	Robeisy Ramírez	14–2 (9 KO)
9	Mirco Cuello	14–0 (11 KO)
10	Bruce Carrington	13–0 (8 KO)

Longest reigning world featherweight champions

Below is a list of longest reigning featherweight 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.	Johnny Kilbane	11 years, 3 months, 24 days	World/NYSAC	4	2	^[3]^[4]
2.	Chris John	10 years, 1 month, 5 days	WBA	18	16	^[5]
3.	Abe Attell	8 years, 5 months, 19 days	World	22	14	^[6]
4.	Eusebio Pedroza	7 years, 1 month, 23 days	WBA	19	18	^[7]
5.	Gary Russell, Jr.	6 years, 9 month, 25 days	WBC	5	5	^[8]
6.	Sandy Saddler	6 years, 4 months, 13 days	World	4	3	^[9]^[10]
7.	Léo Santa Cruz	5 years, 10 months, 13 days	WBA (Super)	5	5	^[11]
8.	Naseem Hamed	4 years, 11 months, 20 days	WBO	15	15	^[12]
9.	George Dixon	4 years, 5 months	World	4	4	^[13]^[14]
10.	Antonio Esparragoza	4 years, 27 days	WBA	7	7	^[15]
11.	Davey Moore	4 years, 3 days	World	5	4	^[16]

Lineal Champions

Billy Murphy (1890-1891)
Young Griffo (1891) Vacated
George Dixon (1891-1897)
Solly Smith (1897-1898)
Dave Sullivan (1898)
George Dixon (1898-1900) (2)
Terry McGovern (1900-1901)
Young Corbett II (1901-1902) Vacated
Abe Attell (1903-1912)
Johnny Kilbane (1912-1923)
Eugene Criqui (1923)
Johnny Dundee (1923–1924) Vacated
Kid Kaplan (1925-1926) Vacated
Tony Canzoneri (1928)
Andre Routis (1928-1929)
Bat Battalino (1929-1932) Vacated
Henry Armstrong (1937-1938) Vacated
Joey Archibald (1939-1940)
Harry Jeffra (1940-1941)
Joey Archibald (1941)
Chalky Wright (1941-1942)
Willie Pep (1942-1948)
Sandy Saddler (1948-1949)
Willie Pep (1949-1950) (2)
Sandy Saddler (1950-1957) (2) Retired
Hogan Bassey (1957-1959)
Davey Moore (1959-1963)
Sugar Ramos (1963-1964)
Vicente Saldivar (1964-1967) Retired
Johnny Famechon (1969-1970)
Vicente Saldivar (1970) (2)
Kuniaki Shibata (1970-1972)
Clemente Sanchez (1972)
Jose Legra (1972-1973)
Eder Jofre (1973-1974) Abandoned
Alexis Arguello (1975-1977) Vacated
Danny Lopez (1979-1980)
Salvador Sanchez (1980-1982) Died
Eusebio Pedroza (1983-1986)
Barry McGuigan (1986)
Stevie Cruz (1986-1987)
Antonio Esparragoza (1987-1991)
Yong-Kyun Park (1991-1993)
Eloy Rojas (1993-1996)
Wilfredo Vazquez (1996-1998)
Naseem Hamed (1998-2001)
Marco Antonio Barerra (2001-2003)
Manny Pacquiao (2003-2005) Vacated

Olympic champions

Men’s

Pan American Champions

1951 – Francisco Núñez (ARG)
1955 – Oswaldo Cañete (ARG)
1959 – Carlos Aro (ARG)
1963 – Rosemiro Mateus (BRA)
1967 – Miguel García (ARG)
1971 – Juan García (MEX)
1975 – Dave Armstrong (United States)
1979 – Bernard Taylor (United States)
1983 – Adolfo Horta (CUB)
1987 – Kelcie Banks (United States)
1991 – Arnaldo Mesa (CUB)
1995 – Arnaldo Mesa (CUB)
1999 – Yudel Johnson (CUB)
2003 – Likar Ramos Concha (COL)
2007 – Idel Torriente (CUB)

Notable featherweights

Kickboxing

In kickboxing, a featherweight fighter generally weighs between 55 and 59 kg (121 and 130 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) featherweight division (professional and amateur) is between 122.1–127 lb (55.4–57.6 kg).

In Glory promotion, a featherweight division is up to 65 kg (143 lb).^[17]

In Bellator Kickboxing promotion, a featherweight division is up to 66 kg (146 lb).

In ONE Championship, the featherweight division limit is 70.3 kg (155 lb).

Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit for featherweight generally differs among promotions in bare-knuckle boxing:

In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the featherweight division has an upper limit of 145 lb (66 kg).
In BKB™, the featherweight division has an upper limit of 76 kg (168 lb).

Lethwei

International Lethwei Federation Japan has a featherweight division with an upper limit of 65 kg (143 lb). In International Lethwei Federation Japan, Thar A Thae Ta Pwint is the Featherweight Champion.

In World Lethwei Championship, the featherweight division has an upper limit of 57 kg (126 lb).

Mixed Martial Arts

In MMA, within the UFC company and most other MMA companies the featherweight range is from 136 to 145 lb (62 to 66 kg).

Current champions

These tables were last updated in February 2024.

Men:

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	February 17, 2024	Ilia Topuria	15–0 (5KO 8SUB)	1
Bellator MMA	April 15, 2022	Patrício Pitbull	33–5 (11KO 12SUB)	1
ONE Championship	August 26, 2022	Tang Kai	15–2 (12KO 0SUB)	0
ACA	July 22, 2022	Alikhan Suleymanov	15–2 (1KO 10SUB)	0
Cage Warriors	November 4, 2022	Paul Hughes	9–1 (3KO 3SUB)	0
M-1 Global		Vacant
AMC Fight Nights	October 14, 2022	Gleb Khabibulin	7–1–2 (4KO 3SUB)	0
Brave Combat Federation	October 22, 2022	Roman Bogatov	13–1 (1KO 5SUB)	0
Titan FC	August 6, 2021	Ali al-Qaisi	12–5 (2KO 4SUB)	0
Legacy Fighting Alliance		Vacant
Road FC	December 18, 2022	Hae Jin Park	10–2 (1KO 4SUB)	0
KSW	December 18, 2021	Salahdine Parnasse	17–1–1 (2KO 6SUB)	1

Women:

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
Bellator MMA	January 25, 2020	Cris Cyborg	29–2 (1) (20KO 1SUB)	4
UFC	December 29, 2018	Amanda Nunes	21–5 (13KO 3SUB)	2
Invicta FC		Vacant

References

^ Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 172. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.
^ "The Ring ratings: featherweight". Retrieved 26 October 2024.
^ "Professional boxing record: Johnny Kilbane". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Johnny Kilbane, p. 172" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
^ "Professional boxing record: Chris John". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Professional boxing record: Abe Attell". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Eusebio Pedrosa, p. 668" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
^ "Professional boxing record: Gary Allen Russell Jr". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Professional boxing record: Sandy Saddler". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Sandy Saddler, p. 720" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
^ "Professional boxing record: Léo Santa Cruz". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Professional boxing record: Naseem Hamed". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Professional boxing record: George Dixon". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "George Dixon, p. 118" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
^ "Professional boxing record: Antonio Esparragoza". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ "Professional boxing record: Davey Moore". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^ OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING Archived 2014-01-18 at the Wayback Machine

[1] Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 172. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.

[ring-sfw-ratings-2] "The Ring ratings: featherweight". Retrieved 26 October 2024.

[kilbane-record-3] "Professional boxing record: Johnny Kilbane". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[ibhof-book-4] "Johnny Kilbane, p. 172" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

[chris-john-record-5] "Professional boxing record: Chris John". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[attell-record-6] "Professional boxing record: Abe Attell". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[ibhof-book3-7] "Eusebio Pedrosa, p. 668" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

[russell-jr-record-8] "Professional boxing record: Gary Allen Russell Jr". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[saddler-record-9] "Professional boxing record: Sandy Saddler". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[ibhof-book2-10] "Sandy Saddler, p. 720" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

[leo-record-11] "Professional boxing record: Léo Santa Cruz". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[naseem-record-12] "Professional boxing record: Naseem Hamed". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[dixon-record-13] "Professional boxing record: George Dixon". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[ibhof-book4-14] "George Dixon, p. 118" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

[esparragoza-record-15] "Professional boxing record: Antonio Esparragoza". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[davey-moore-record-16] "Professional boxing record: Davey Moore". Retrieved 14 April 2020.

[17] OFFICIAL GLORY RANKING Archived 2014-01-18 at the Wayback Machine

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