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Wikipedia / Bantamweight

Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In MMA, bantamweight is .

The name for the class is derived from bantam chickens. 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.

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

Current The Ring world rankings

As of September 24, 2025.

Keys:

  1. Current The Ring world champion

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.

  1. Active Title Reign

  2. 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 53kg (116lb) and 55kg (120lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Bantamweight division (professional and amateur) is 117.1lbs.–122lbs. or 53.22kg–55.45kg.

In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is .

Bare-knuckle boxing

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

Lethwei

In International Lethwei Federation Japan, the bantamweight division is up to . In International Lethwei Federation Japan, Yuta Hamamoto is the Bantamweight Champion.

The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the bantamweight division with an upper limit of . In World Lethwei Championship, Souris Manfredi is the Bantamweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts

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

Current champions

These tables were last updated in December of 2025.

  1. Active title reign

  2. Active title reign (interim)

Men:Women:

Muay Thai

In Muay Thai, bantamweight is 115–118 pounds (52.2-53.5kg). A notable Muai Thai bantamweight fighter is Randy Thong Phoun Phim.

Wrestling

Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight.

See also

References

sv:Viktklass