Overview of Championship Titles in Boxing
In boxing, the landscape of championship titles can be particularly challenging to navigate due to the proliferation of weight classes and multiple governing bodies. There are currently 17 weight classes in professional boxing, each governed by four prominent sanctioning organizations: the WBO, IBF, WBA, and WBC. Each of these bodies has its own titles, which can often result in several titles existing within the same weight class due to interim and secondary championship designs.
To assist enthusiasts of the sport, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of the current titleholders across the various organizations. For rankings that identify the top ten fighters in each weight category, fans can refer to ESPN’s divisional rankings. Additionally, ESPN’s pound-for-pound list highlights the finest boxers without regard to their weight classifications.
Current Titleholders
- Heavyweight:
- WBO: Oleksandr Usyk
- IBF: Daniel Dubois
- WBA: Oleksandr Usyk
- WBC: Oleksandr Usyk
- Interim Champions: Joseph Parker (WBO), Kubrat Pulev (WBA “regular”), Agit Kabayel (WBC)
- Light Heavyweight:
- WBO: Gilberto Ramirez
- IBF: Jai Opetaia
- WBA: Gilberto Ramirez
- WBC: Badou Jack
- Dmitry Bivol holds titles for WBO, IBF, and WBA, while David Benavidez is the WBC champion. Callum Smith serves as the interim champion under WBO.
- Super Middleweight:
- WBO: Canelo Alvarez
- IBF: Canelo Alvarez
- WBA: Canelo Alvarez
- WBC: Canelo Alvarez
- Middleweight:
- WBO: Janibek Alimkhanuly
- IBF: Janibek Alimkhanuly
- WBA: Erislandy Lara
- WBC: Carlos Adames
- Junior Middleweight:
- WBO: Sebastian Fundora
- IBF: Bakhram Murtazaliev
- WBA: Terence Crawford, who is also recognized as the interim champion with Jermell Charlo on recess.
- WBC: Sebastian Fundora, with Vergil Ortiz Jr. as an interim champion.
- Welterweight:
- WBO: Brian Norman Jr.
- IBF: Jaron Ennis
- WBA: Jaron Ennis
- WBC: Mario Barrios; Terence Crawford remains the WBC champion but is currently in recess.
- Junior Welterweight:
- WBO: Teofimo Lopez Jr.
- IBF: Richardson Hitchins
- WBA: Gary Antuanne Russell
- WBC: Alberto Puello; Devin Haney also holds the WBC title in recess.
- Lightweight:
- WBO: Keyshawn Davis
- IBF: Vasiliy Lomachenko
- WBA: Gervonta Davis
- WBC: Shakur Stevenson, with interim champions Raymond Muratalla (IBF) and William Zepeda (WBC).
- Junior Lightweight:
- WBO: Emanuel Navarrete
- IBF: Currently vacant
- WBA: Lamont Roach
- WBC: O’Shaquie Foster; Albert Batyrgaziev serves as the interim champion (WBA).
- Featherweight:
- WBO: Naoya Inoue, also recognized by the IBF, WBA, and WBC.
- Interim champion with WBO: Yoshiki Takei; IBF: Ryosuke Nishida; WBA: Seiya Tsutsumi; WBC: Junto Nakatani with Antonio Vargas holding the interim title for WBA.
- Bantamweight:
- WBO: Phumelele Cafu
- IBF: Currently vacant
- WBA: Fernando Martinez
- WBC: Jesse Rodriguez, with David Jimenez in the interim champion position for WBA.
- Junior Bantamweight:
- WBO: Anthony Olascuaga
- IBF: Masamichi Yabuki
- WBA: Kenshiro Teraji, who also holds the WBC title.
- Flyweight:
- WBC: Petchmanee CP Freshmart serves as a holder along with Galal Yafai being the interim champion in this weight class.
- WBO: Oscar Collazo
- IBF: Pedro Taduran
- WBA: Oscar Collazo and WBC: Melvin Jerusalem.
