Chronological lightweight boxing champions

This is a chronological list of world lightweight boxing champions, as recognized by the following organizations:

The World Boxing Association
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...

(WBA), founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA),
The World Boxing Council
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...

(WBC), founded in 1963,
The International Boxing Federation
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...

(IBF), founded in 1983,
The World Boxing Organization
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...

(WBO), founded in 1988

Prior to the rise of sanctioning bodies, champions were acknowledged by the public at large.

Click here for a List of lightweight boxing champions by organization.

Reign Began	Reign Ended	Champion	Recognition
29 October 1886	9 June 1893²	Jack McAuliffe Jack McAuliffe Jack McAuliffe was an Irish-American boxer. Nicknamed 'The Napolean of the Ring', and fighting mostly out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he was one of only nine boxers to remain undefeated throughout his entire career. He was the Lightweight Champion of the World from 1886 to 1893...	Universal
After McAuliffe's retirement the title remained inactive until 1896 when the title was won by George "Kid" Lavigne in a 17 Round KO against Dick Burge. Levingne's victory, the first fought under the Marquess of Queensberry rules Marquess of Queensberry rules The Marquess of Queensberry rules is a code of generally accepted rules in the sport of boxing. They were named so because John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry publicly endorsed the code, although they were written by a sportsman named John Graham Chambers. The code of rules on which modern... , was considered by boxing promoters of the time as the first officially recognized world Lightweight Champion.
1 June 1896	3 July 1899	George "Kid" Lavigne Kid Lavigne George Henry "Kid" Lavigne was an American boxer from Michigan. He was the second American boxer to hold the lightweight champion, winning the title on June 1, 1896.-Pro career:...	Universal
3 July 1899	12 May 1902	Frank Erne	Universal
12 May 1902	9 June 1908²	Joe Gans Joe Gans Joe Gans was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Gans was rated as the greatest lightweight boxer of all time by boxing historian and Ring Magazine founder, Nat Fleischer and was known as the "Old Master". He fought from 1891 to 1909.Gans started boxing professionally about 1891 in Baltimore...	Universal
9 June 1908	22 May 1910	Oscar "Battling" Nelson Battling Nelson Oscar Mathæus Nielsen, also known as Battling Nelson, was a Danish boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions...	Universal
22 February 1910	28 November 1912	Adolph "Ad" Wolgast Adolph Wolgast Adolphus Wolgast , nicknamed Michigan Wildcat, was a world lightweight boxing champion.-Biography:He was born on 8 February 1888, his siblings were, fellow boxers Johnny Wolgast and Al Wolgast....	Universal
28 November 1912	7 July 1914	Willie Ritchie Willie Ritchie Willie Ritchie , was the world lightweight boxing champion from 1912 to 1914.-Biography:He was born in San Francisco, California as Gerhardt Anthony Steffen on February 13, 1891...	Universal
7 July 1914	28 May 1917	Freddie Welsh Freddie Welsh Freddie Welsh was a Welsh lightweight boxing champion. Born in Pontypridd, Wales, and christened Frederick Hall Thomas, he was nicknamed the "Welsh Wizard". Brought up in a tough mining community, Welsh left a middle-class background to make a name for himself in America...	Universal
28 May 1917	15 January 1925²	Benny Leonard Benny Leonard Benny Leonard was an American lightweight boxer. He was named as number 8 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years and number 7 on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time....	Universal
13 July 1925	7 December 1925	Jimmy Goodrich	Universal
7 December 1925	3 July 1926	Rocky Kansas Rocky Kansas Rocky Kansas was a tough, short former lightweight champion of the world. He was born Rocco Tozzo on April 21, 1893 in Italy and came to America in 1898. He died on January 10, 1954.-Background:...	Universal
3 July 1926	17 July 1930	Sammy Mandel Sammy Mandel Sammy Mandell was a former world lightweight boxing champion...	NBA
17 July 1930	14 November 1930	Al Singer Al Singer Al Singer was an American boxer. He was born in the Lower East Side in New York City....	Universal
14 November 1930	23 June 1933	Tony Canzoneri Tony Canzoneri Tony Canzoneri was an American boxer who was born in the town of Slidell, Louisiana.Canzoneri, an Italian American, was one of the members of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions.- Early life :When he was a teenager, he and his family moved...	Universal
23 June 1933	?? Apr 1935¹	Barney Ross Barney Ross Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...	Universal
10 May 1935	3 September 1936	Tony Canzoneri Tony Canzoneri Tony Canzoneri was an American boxer who was born in the town of Slidell, Louisiana.Canzoneri, an Italian American, was one of the members of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions.- Early life :When he was a teenager, he and his family moved...	Universal
3 September 1936	17 July? 1938	Lou Ambers Lou Ambers Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio , aka Lou Ambers, was a lightweight boxer who fought from 1932 to 1941.Managed by Al Weill and trained by Charley Goldman, the "Herkimer Hurricane", as he was known, began his career losing only once in more than three years when he faced future hall of fame lightweight...	Universal
17 August? 1938	22 August 1939	Henry Armstrong Henry Armstrong Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...	Universal
22 August 1939	10 May 1940	Lou Ambers Lou Ambers Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio , aka Lou Ambers, was a lightweight boxer who fought from 1932 to 1941.Managed by Al Weill and trained by Charley Goldman, the "Herkimer Hurricane", as he was known, began his career losing only once in more than three years when he faced future hall of fame lightweight...	NBA
10 May 1940	19 December 1941	Lew Jenkins	Universal
19 December 1941	13 November 1942²	Sammy Angott Sammy Angott Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...	Universal
Following Angott's retirement the title was disputed between Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, and Juan Zurita as well as Agnott, who later came out of retirement. Ike Williams defeats over Zurita and Montgomery, in 1945 and 1947 respectively, would become recognized as the universal Lightweight Champion.
23 September 1943	21 May 1943	Beau Jack Beau Jack Sidney Walker, better known as Beau Jack, , was an American lightweight boxer, he was a world champion twice...	New York
21 May 1943	19 November 1943	Bob Montgomery Bob Montgomery (boxer) Bob Montgomery was an American lightweight boxer. He was born in Sumter, South Carolina.Montgomery went undefeated in his first 23 fights, going 22-0-1 and winning the Pennsylvania State Lightweight Title....	New York
19 November 1943	3 March 1944	Beau Jack Beau Jack Sidney Walker, better known as Beau Jack, , was an American lightweight boxer, he was a world champion twice...	NBA
With Jack and Montgomery enlisting in the US Army, Juan Zurita defeated Sammy Angott, after 15 Rounds, for the NBA Lightweight championship.
8 March 1944	18 April 1945	Juan Zurita Juan Zurita Juan Zurita was a Mexican boxer in the Lightweight division and a former Lightweight world champion.-Pro career:During his career he won a version of the Lightweight Championship of the World and other belts such as the NBA Lightweight Championship of the World, Featherweight Championship of...	NBA
18 April 1945	25 May 1951	Ike Williams Ike Williams (boxer) Ike Williams was a former lightweight world boxing champion. Williams was known for his great right hand, and was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time as well as Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year for 1948.-Professional Career:During his career, Williams faced and...	Universal
25 May 1951	1 April 1952	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter (boxer) James Walter Carter was a world lightweight boxing champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year...	Universal
1 April 1952	15 October 1952	Lauro Salas Lauro Salas Lauro Salas was a former world lightweight boxing champion.-Professional career:...	Universal
15 October 1952	6 February 1954	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter (boxer) James Walter Carter was a world lightweight boxing champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year...	Universal
5 March 1954	17 November 1954	Paddy DeMarco Paddy DeMarco Paddy DeMarco, alias Billygoat, was a lightweight professional boxer from Brooklyn, New York.-Personal life:DeMarco was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but died in Salt Lake City, Utah....	Universal
17 November 1954	29 June 1955	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter (boxer) James Walter Carter was a world lightweight boxing champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year...	Universal
29 June 1955	24 August 1956	Wallace "Bud" Smith	Universal
24 August 1956	21 April 1962	Joe Brown Joe Brown (boxer) Joe Brown was an accomplished boxer who won the undisputed Lightweight Championship of the World in 1956, making 11 successful defences before losing his crown in his old age to Carlos Ortiz in 1962. Brown was a classic boxer and a knockout puncher...	Universal
21 April 1962	10 April 1965	Carlos Ortiz Carlos Ortiz For the Cuban wrestler with the same name see Carlos Julian OrtízCarlos Ortiz is a Puerto Rican who was a three time world boxing champion, twice in the lightweight division and once in the Jr. Welterweights....	Universal
10 April 1965	13 November 1965	Ismael Laguna Ismael Laguna Ismael Laguna Meneses was a professional boxer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.Known as "El Tigre Colonense", Laguna was the Panamanian Featherweight Champion from 1962-63...	Universal
13 November 1965	29 June 1968	Carlos Ortiz Carlos Ortiz For the Cuban wrestler with the same name see Carlos Julian OrtízCarlos Ortiz is a Puerto Rican who was a three time world boxing champion, twice in the lightweight division and once in the Jr. Welterweights....	Universal
29 June 1968	18 February 1969	Carlos Teo Cruz	Universal
18 February 1969	3 March 1970	Mando Ramos Mando Ramos Armando Ramos was a Mexican-American professional boxer and the former two-time WBC and WBA Lightweight Champion. He was born in Long Beach, California. Armando "Mando" Ramos was one of the most popular and exciting fighters in Southern California during the 1960s. Ramos was an outstanding amateur... ¹	Universal
3 March 1970	26 September 1970	Ismael Laguna Ismael Laguna Ismael Laguna Meneses was a professional boxer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.Known as "El Tigre Colonense", Laguna was the Panamanian Featherweight Champion from 1962-63...	Universal
Laguna was stripped of the WBC championship on September 15, 1970. He was only the WBA champion afterward.
26 September 1970	26 June 1972	Ken Buchanan Ken Buchanan Ken Buchanan is a former boxing undisputed world lightweight champion. Many consider Buchanan to be the best boxer ever to come out of Scotland.- Early career :...	Universal
Buchanan won the WBA championship on September 26, 1970. He added the vacant WBC championship by defeating Rubén Navarro and was recognized as the universal world champion on February 12, 1971. Buchanan was stripped of the WBC championship on June 25, 1971 and maintained only the WBA championship afterwards.
26 June 1972	1 February 1979	Roberto Durán Roberto Durán Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career.... ²	Universal
Duran won the WBA championship on June 26, 1972. He added the WBC championship by defeating Esteban De Jesús and was recognized as the universal world champion on January 21, 1978.
17 April 1979	20 June 1981	Jim Watt	WBC
16 June 1979	2 May 1980	Ernesto España Ernesto España Ernesto España was a Venezuelan boxer who held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship in 1979 and 1980.España became a professional boxer in 1975 and won all of his bouts except one when he fought Claude Noel on June 16, 1979, for the vacant WBA lightweight title that had been given...	WBA
20 June 1981	15 February 1982	Alexis Argüello Alexis Argüello Alexis Argüello , also known by the stage name El Flaco Explosivo , was a Nicaraguan professional boxer and politician...	WBC
2 May 1980	12 April 1981	Hilmer Kenty Hilmer Kenty James Kenty, also known as Hilmer Kenty is a former WBA professional boxing champion in the lightweight division.- Amateur career :...	WBA
12 April 1981	August 1981	Sean O'Grady	WBA
12 September 1981	5 December 1981	Claude Noel	WBA
5 December 1981	8 May 1982	Arturo Frias Arturo Frias Arturo Frias is a retired American boxer. He is a native of Montebello, California.-Boxing career:Frias began his professional boxing career on February 7, 1975, one month and a half after he had turned eighteen years old. He beat Alfredo Medrano by a six round decision in San Diego that night...	WBA
8 May 1982	1 June 1984	Ray Mancini Ray Mancini Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...	WBA
1 May 1983	3 November 1984	Edwin Rosario Edwin Rosario Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario was a Puerto Rican boxer. He was the WBC world lightweight champion from 1983–84 and the WBA world champion in 1986–87 and again in 1989–90...	WBC
1 June 1984	26 September 1986	Livingstone Bramble Livingstone Bramble Ras-I Alujah Bramble is a boxer. However, Bramble was raised on Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He became the first world champion from Saint Kitts and Nevis. As of 2005, Bramble is still active in professional boxing...	WBA
3 November 1984	10 August 1985	José Luis Ramírez José Luis Ramírez José Luis Ramírez is a retired Mexican boxer. He was a two-time World Lightweight Champion.-Career:A native of Huatabampo, Sonora and a resident of Culiacán, Ramírez made his professional debut on March 25, 1973 at the age of 15. He climbed slowly but steadily on boxing's rankings...	WBC
10 August 1985	May 1987	Héctor Camacho Héctor Camacho Héctor Camacho , nicknamed "Macho Camacho", is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. His son, Héctor Camacho Jr., is also a boxer.- Early life and amateur career :...	WBC
26 September 1986	21 November 1987	Edwin Rosario Edwin Rosario Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario was a Puerto Rican boxer. He was the WBC world lightweight champion from 1983–84 and the WBA world champion in 1986–87 and again in 1989–90...	WBC
19 July 1987	29 October 1988	José Luis Ramírez José Luis Ramírez José Luis Ramírez is a retired Mexican boxer. He was a two-time World Lightweight Champion.-Career:A native of Huatabampo, Sonora and a resident of Culiacán, Ramírez made his professional debut on March 25, 1973 at the age of 15. He climbed slowly but steadily on boxing's rankings...	WBC
21 November 1987	May 1989	Julio César Chávez Julio César Chávez Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world... ³	WBA/WBC
Chavez became WBA champion in 1987 by defeating Edwin Rosario. He partially unified the titles on October 29, 1988, by defeating José Luis Ramírez.
18 February 1989	1992	Pernell Whitaker Pernell Whitaker Pernell Whitaker , nicknamed "Sweet Pea", is a professional boxing trainer and retired American professional boxer... ⁴	WBC, WBA, IBF
Pernell Whitaker becomes the undisputed champion of the lightweight division by winning the IBF title in February, 1989, and then defeating José Luis Ramírez for the vacant WBC title on August 20, 1989, and Juan Nazario for the WBA title on August 11, 1990.
18 February 1989	4 April 1990	Edwin Rosario Edwin Rosario Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario was a Puerto Rican boxer. He was the WBC world lightweight champion from 1983–84 and the WBA world champion in 1986–87 and again in 1989–90...	WBA
4 April 1990	11 August 1990	Juan Nazario Juan Nazario Juan Nazario is a former professional boxer. During his career, which lasted from 1982 to 1993, Nazario won the WBA world lightweight title. His first world title challenge came in 1987 when he fought fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rosario for the WBA belt, Roasario won the fight by an eighth round...	WBA
6 May 1989	22 September 1990	Mauricio Aceves Mauricio Aceves Mauricio Aceves was a Mexican boxer in the Light Welterweight division. He was the first ever WBO Lightweight Champion.-Professional career:...	WBO
22 September 1990	14 September 1991	Digaan Thobela	WBO
14 September 1992	24 September 1993	Giovanni Parisi Giovanni Parisi Giovanni Parisi was an Italian boxer, who won the gold medal in the Men's Featherweight category at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.- Biography:...	WBO
10 January 1993	19 February 1994	Freddie Pendleton Freddie Pendleton Freddie Pendleton is a retired professional boxer in the lightweight division.Known as "Fearless", Pendleton had a 1-5 amateur career & turned pro in 1982 losing to Rodney Watts at the Tropicana Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.Pendleton won his first title in October 1985 knocking out...	IBF
19 February 1994	6 May 1995	Rafael Ruelas Rafael Ruelas Rafael Ruelas is a former professional boxer. Ruelas was a very popular Mexican fighter, best known for his devastating knockout loss to Oscar De La Hoya; a loss which left Oscar somewhat scorned by the Mexican community due to his ruthless destruction of a hero.Shortly after a TKO in 10 over the...	IBF
29 July 1994	15 December 1995	Oscar De La Hoya Oscar de la Hoya Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...	WBO
6 May 1995	1996	Oscar De La Hoya Oscar de la Hoya Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...	IBF/WBO
19 August 1995	2 August 1997	Philip Holiday Philip Holiday Philip James Holiday is a professional boxer in the junior middleweight division. Holiday turned pro in 1991 and captured the Vacant IBF Lightweight Title in 1995 with a win over Miguel Julio...	IBF
13 April 1996	3 January 2004	Artur Grigorian Artur Grigorian Artur Grigorian is an Uzbek boxer of Armenian descent.- Amateur highlights :*1991 2nd place as a Lightweight at the World Championships in Sydney, Australia...	WBO
2 August 1997	April 1999	Shane Mosley Shane Mosley “Sugar” Shane Mosley is an American professional boxer from Pomona, California who has held world titles in three weight divisions.-Amateur career:Mosley was an amateur standout, capturing various amateur titles, including:...	IBF
20 August 1999	22 November 2003	Paul Spadafora Paul Spadafora Paul Spadafora is a native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania who is a professional boxer. Spadafora was the IBF's world Lightweight champion.-Personal background:...	IBf
5 January 2002	17 May 2004	Leonard Dorin	WBC
22 November 2003	13 May 2004	Javier Jauregui Javier Jauregui Javier Rogelio Jáuregui Delgado is a Mexican professional boxer in the lightweight division....	IBF
3 January 2004	7 August 2004	Acelino Freitas Acelino Freitas Acelino "Popó" Freitas is a Brazilian boxer and a former world junior lightweight and lightweight champion. Freitas is also a state legislator for the state of Bahia . His style of fighting in the ring has garnered him a reputation for being more of a brawler than a boxer. His nickname, Popó, was...	WBO
10 April 2004	17 July 2004	Lakva Sim Lakva Sim Lakva Sim, , is a professional boxer. Sim was the first Mongolian boxer to capture a world boxing title. He has held belts as both the World Boxing Association lightweight champion and the WBA super featherweight champion.Sim was born in Ulan Bator, Mongolia...	WBC
13 May 2004	17 June 2005	Julio Díaz Julio Díaz Julio Díaz is a Mexican professional boxer in the Light Welterweight division. A former IBF lightweight champion, he is also the brother of boxing trainer Joel Díaz and former World Champion Antonio Díaz.-Professional career:Diaz captured the IBF lightweight interim title with a win over Ricky...	IBF
4 May 2004	7 May 2005	José Luis Castillo José Luis Castillo José Luis Castillo is a Mexican boxer. Nicknamed El Temible, Castillo is considered one the best lightweights of his era. He is the former The Ring and two-time WBC Lightweight champion....	WBC
17 July 2004	current	Juan Díaz	WBA
7 August 2004	6 March 2006	Diego Corrales Diego Corrales Diego "Chico" Corrales was an American boxer.He was the WBC, WBO, & The Ring lightweight champion, and the WBO & IBF super featherweight champion....	WBO
7 May 2005	current	Diego Corrales Diego Corrales Diego "Chico" Corrales was an American boxer.He was the WBC, WBO, & The Ring lightweight champion, and the WBO & IBF super featherweight champion....	WBC & WBO
17 June 2005	17 November 2005	Leavander Johnson Leavander Johnson Leavander Johnson was an American lightweight boxer from Atlantic City, New Jersey, who once held the International Boxing Federation version of the world title...	IBF
17 November 2005	3 February 2007	Jesús Chávez Jesús Chávez Jesús Auerelio Chávez is a Mexican professional boxer in the Lightweight division. He is the former NABF, WBC Super Featherweight and IBF Lightweight Champion.-Personal life:...	IBF
29 April 2006	4 October 2006 ²	Acelino Freitas Acelino Freitas Acelino "Popó" Freitas is a Brazilian boxer and a former world junior lightweight and lightweight champion. Freitas is also a state legislator for the state of Bahia . His style of fighting in the ring has garnered him a reputation for being more of a brawler than a boxer. His nickname, Popó, was...	WBO
3 February 2007	current	Julio Díaz Julio Díaz Julio Díaz is a Mexican professional boxer in the Light Welterweight division. A former IBF lightweight champion, he is also the brother of boxing trainer Joel Díaz and former World Champion Antonio Díaz.-Professional career:Diaz captured the IBF lightweight interim title with a win over Ricky...	IBF

Footnotes

¹ Disputed. See article on Pedro Carrasco

Pedro Carrasco

Pedro Carrasco was a Spanish boxer whose fame transcended the boxing ring. During the 1970s, he was a media darling in Spain.Carrasco was crowned European Lightweight champion in 1967...

² Relinquished championship title.

³ Retired as champion, relinquishing title.

⁴ Championship recognition withdrawn by sanctioning organization due to champion's failure or refusal to defend title against the organization's #1 ranked contender.

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