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 Dec 1, 2025 Seiya Tsutsumi 12–0–3 (8 KO) 1
WBC November 24, 2025 Takuma Inoue 21–2 (5 KO) 0
IBF December 13, 2025 José Salas 17–0 (11 KO) 0
WBO May 6, 2024 Christian Medina 26–4 (19 KO) 0

Current The Ring world rankings

As of September 24, 2025.[3]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 Seiya Tsutsumi 12–0–3 (8 KO)
2 Christian Medina 26–4 (19 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 Yoshiki Takei 11–1 (9 KO)
8 Tenshin Nasukawa 7–0 (2 KO)
9 Jason Moloney 27–4 (19 KO)
10 Jeyvier Cintrón 13–1–0–1 (6 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

  • George Dixon (1890) Vacated
  • Jimmy Barry (1897–1899) Retired
  • Terry McGovern (1899) Vacated
  • Harry Harris (1901) Vacated
  • Harry Forbes (1901–1903)
  • Frankie Neil (1903–1904)
  • Joe Bowker (1904–1905) Vacated
  • Jimmy Walsh (1905–1909)
  • Jimmy Reagan (1909)
  • Monte Attell (1909–1910)
  • Frankie Conley (1910–1911)
  • Johnny Coulon (1911–1914)
  • Kid Williams (1914–1917)
  • Pete Herman (1917–20)
  • Joe Lynch (1920-21)
  • Pete Herman (1921) (2)
  • Johnny Buff (1921-1922)
  • Joe Lynch (1922-1924)
  • Abe Goldstein (1924)
  • Eddie Martin (1924-1925)
  • Charley Phil Rosenberg (1925-1927) Vacated
  • Al Brown (1931-1935)
  • Baltasar Sangchili (1935-1936)
  • Tony Marino (1936)
  • Sixto Escobar (1936-1937)
  • Harry Jeffra (1937-1938)
  • Sixto Escobar (1938-1939) (2) Vacated
  • Lou Salica (1940-1942)
  • Manuel Ortiz (1942-1947)
  • Harold Dade (1947)
  • Manuel Ortiz (1947-1950)
  • Vic Toweel (1950-1952) South Africa
  • Jimmy Carruthers (1952-1954) Retired
  • Robert Cohen (1954-1956)
  • Mario D'agata (1956-1957)
  • Alphonse Halimi (1957-1959)
  • Jose Becerra (1959-1960) Retired
  • Eder Jofre (1961-1965)
  • Masahiko Harada (1965-1968)
  • Lionel Rose (1968-1969)
  • Ruben Olivares (1969-1970)
  • Jesus Castillo (1970-1971)
  • Ruben Olivares (1971-1972) (2)
  • Rafael Herrera (1972)
  • Enrique Pinder (1972-1973)
  • Romeo Anaya (1973)
  • Arnold Taylor (1973-1974)
  • Soo-Hwan Hong (1974-1975)
  • Alfonso Zamora (1975-1977)
  • Jorge Luján (1977-1980)
  • Julian Solis (1980)
  • Jeff Chandler (1980-1984)
  • Richard Sandoval (1984-1986)
  • Jose Canizales (1986)
  • Bernardo Piñango (1986-1987) Vacated
  • 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 December of 2025.

  Active title reign
  Active title reign (interim)

Men:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC December 6, 2025 Petr Yan 20-5-0 (7KO 1SUB) 0
ONE Championship December 6, 2025 Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu 14-3-0 (3KO 6SUB) 0
Rizin FF September 29, 2024 Naoki Inoue 20-4-0 (2KO 9SUB) 2
Absolute Championship Akhmat February 28, 2025 Josiel Silva 23-7-0 (12KO 2SUB) 1
Brave Combat Federation November 7, 2025 Borislav Nikolić 15-2-0 (6KO 8SUB) 0
Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki January 25, 2025 Sebastian Przybysz 14-4-0 (1) (5KO 5SUB) 1
CFFC July 18, 2025 Sean Mora 7-1-0 (1KO 2SUB) 0
Cage Warriors November 25, 2023 Liam Gittins 13-5-0 (7KO 3SUB) 2
Pancrase December 24, 2023 Tokitaka Nakanishi 12-4-0 (1KO 5SUB) 0
Jungle Fight June 24, 2023 Tiago Pereira 9-0-0 (3KO 3SUB) 3
Legacy Fighting Alliance November 14, 2025 Artem Belakh 11-2-0 (2KO 7SUB) 0
Shooto September 21, 2025 Kanata Nagai 9-0-1 (3KO 1SUB) 0
Oktagon MMA N/A Vacant N/A N/A
DEEP March 29, 2024 Ryuka Fukuda 25-9-1 (12KO 1SUB) 1

Women:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC June 7, 2025 Kayla Harrison 19–1–0 (6KO 8SUB) 0
Invicta FC December 13, 2024 Jennifer Maia 23-10-0 (1) (4KO 5SUB) 0
CFFC July 18, 2025 Emily Martins 4-1-0 (0KO 4SUB) 0
Deep Jewels N/A Vacant N/A N/A
Legacy Fighting Alliance N/A Vacant N/A N/A
Jungle Fight N/A Vacant N/A N/A
Oktagon MMA August 9, 2025 Lucia Szabová 10-0-0 (3KO 5SUB) 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 24 September 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.
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