Cruiserweight
Encyclopedia
Cruiserweight is a weight class in boxing
between light heavyweight
and heavyweight
. Before the advent of the current cruiserweight class, "light heavyweight" and "cruiserweight" were sometimes used interchangeably in the United Kingdom.
The current weight limit for the division is 200 pounds (14 stone 4 pounds / 90.7kg). This weight limit, the highest in boxing, dates from 2003. When originally established, the weight limit was 190 pounds (86.2kg). The division was established in order to accommodate smaller heavyweight boxers who could not compete with the growing size of boxers in that division. While many great heavyweight champions (such as Rocky Marciano
and Joe Louis
) weighed around 190 pounds in their career, during the 1970s it became fairly standard that heavyweight boxers weighed 220 pounds or 230 pounds. It was felt by many boxing authorities that asking men weighing between 176 pounds and 190 pounds to fight these larger men was unfair.
The WBC was the first boxing organization to recognize the cruiserweight division when it sanctioned a bout between Marvin Camel
and Mate Parlov
on December 8, 1979, for their version of the title. That fight was a draw, but in the rematch in March 1980 Camel won and became the first cruiserweight champion. In 1982 the World Boxing Association
recognized Ossie Ocasio
as their first cruiserweight champion when he defeated South African Robbie Williams (although at that time the WBA called the division "junior heavyweight"). The International Boxing Federation
followed suit in 1983 when it matched former WBC champion Marvin Camel
against Rick Sekorski for their inaugural title. Camel won and became the first IBF cruiserweight champion.
This division has received little respect from many boxing writers. This is partially because it is common that after some success at this weight, good cruiserweights decide to add some weight and campaign in the heavyweight division. However, regardless of that there is no question this division features some the hardest punchers in boxing. Also relatively large fighters can box without some of the size deficits seen at heavyweight. Evander Holyfield
unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles, the first to do so, and then moved up to the heavyweight division in 1988. On January 7, 2006, then IBF champion O'Neil Bell
became the second undisputed champion by knocking out Jean-Marc Mormeck to capture the Frenchman's WBA and WBC belts, unifying the titles once more. David Haye
became the third undisputed champion when he TKO'd WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli
to unify the belt with his WBA and WBC titles. On March 12, 2008, Haye relinquished the WBC cruiserweight title, ending his undisputed reign. Haye would later relinquish the WBO title (as well as Ring Magazine
championship) to move up to heavyweight.
Other notable champions in the division have been Bobby Czyz
, Tomasz Adamek
, Virgil Hill, Alfred Cole, Orlin Norris
, Roy Jones Jr and James Toney
.
The current cruiserweight title holders are the WBA champion Guillermo Jones
, WBC champion Krzysztof Włodarczyk, IBF champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez
and WBO champion Marco Huck
.
, a cruiserweight fighter generally weighs between 82 kg (181 lb) and 88 kg (195 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example the International Kickboxing Federation
(IKF) Cruiserweight (professional and amateur) division is 186.1 lbs.–195 lbs. or 84.6 kg–88.6 kg.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
between light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
and heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
. Before the advent of the current cruiserweight class, "light heavyweight" and "cruiserweight" were sometimes used interchangeably in the United Kingdom.
The current weight limit for the division is 200 pounds (14 stone 4 pounds / 90.7kg). This weight limit, the highest in boxing, dates from 2003. When originally established, the weight limit was 190 pounds (86.2kg). The division was established in order to accommodate smaller heavyweight boxers who could not compete with the growing size of boxers in that division. While many great heavyweight champions (such as Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
and Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
) weighed around 190 pounds in their career, during the 1970s it became fairly standard that heavyweight boxers weighed 220 pounds or 230 pounds. It was felt by many boxing authorities that asking men weighing between 176 pounds and 190 pounds to fight these larger men was unfair.
The WBC was the first boxing organization to recognize the cruiserweight division when it sanctioned a bout between Marvin Camel
Marvin Camel
Marvin Camel is a boxer and member of the Salish Kootenai Nation of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwestern Montana. He was born in Ronan and fought out of Missoula...
and Mate Parlov
Mate Parlov
Mate Parlov was a Croatian boxer, and an Olympic gold medalist for former Yugoslavia. As a professional, he won the European light heavyweight title in 1976 and WBC light heavyweight world title in 1978....
on December 8, 1979, for their version of the title. That fight was a draw, but in the rematch in March 1980 Camel won and became the first cruiserweight champion. In 1982 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...
recognized Ossie Ocasio
Ossie Ocasio
Osvaldo Ocasio, , better known as Ossie Ocasio and nicknamed Jaws, is a Puerto Rican who was a boxer and world Cruiserweight champion. He got his peculiar nickname after accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session...
as their first cruiserweight champion when he defeated South African Robbie Williams (although at that time the WBA called the division "junior heavyweight"). 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 :...
followed suit in 1983 when it matched former WBC champion Marvin Camel
Marvin Camel
Marvin Camel is a boxer and member of the Salish Kootenai Nation of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwestern Montana. He was born in Ronan and fought out of Missoula...
against Rick Sekorski for their inaugural title. Camel won and became the first IBF cruiserweight champion.
This division has received little respect from many boxing writers. This is partially because it is common that after some success at this weight, good cruiserweights decide to add some weight and campaign in the heavyweight division. However, regardless of that there is no question this division features some the hardest punchers in boxing. Also relatively large fighters can box without some of the size deficits seen at heavyweight. Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles, the first to do so, and then moved up to the heavyweight division in 1988. On January 7, 2006, then IBF champion O'Neil Bell
O'Neil Bell
O'Neil "Super Nova" Bell is a boxer who is a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, having held the WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring magazine cruiserweight titles.- Professional career :...
became the second undisputed champion by knocking out Jean-Marc Mormeck to capture the Frenchman's WBA and WBC belts, unifying the titles once more. David Haye
David Haye
David Deron Haye is a retired English professional boxer,Haye is the former WBA heavyweight champion. He is also the former unified world cruiserweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring cruiserweight titles, and also the former European cruiserweight champion.- Amateur :Haye...
became the third undisputed champion when he TKO'd WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli
Enzo Maccarinelli
Enzo Maccarinelli is a Welsh professional boxer who fights in the light heavyweight division. He is a former World Boxing Organization cruiserweight title holder and also held the European title at that weight limit...
to unify the belt with his WBA and WBC titles. On March 12, 2008, Haye relinquished the WBC cruiserweight title, ending his undisputed reign. Haye would later relinquish the WBO title (as well as Ring Magazine
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
championship) to move up to heavyweight.
Other notable champions in the division have been Bobby Czyz
Bobby Czyz
Robert Edward "Bobby" Czyz is a retired American boxer. A New Jersey native of mostly Polish and Italian descent, he is both a former world light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion.Czyz was born in Orange, New Jersey...
, Tomasz Adamek
Tomasz Adamek
Tomasz Adamek is a Polish professional heavyweight boxer. His record is 44-2 .He is the former WBC world light heavyweight champion and the former IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine cruiserweight champion. As of the end of 2009, Ring Magazine has ranked Adamek as the 30th best boxer in the world...
, Virgil Hill, Alfred Cole, Orlin Norris
Orlin Norris
Orlin Levance Norris, born October 4, 1965 in Lubbock, TX, is an American boxer who held the WBA cruiserweight title and fought in several noteworthy boxing matches in the 1980s and 1990s...
, Roy Jones Jr and James Toney
James Toney
James Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
.
The current cruiserweight title holders are the WBA champion Guillermo Jones
Guillermo Jones
Guillermo Jones is a Panamanian boxer best known for losing three world title fights in controversial decisions...
, WBC champion Krzysztof Włodarczyk, IBF champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez
Yoan Pablo Hernández
Yoan Pablo Hernández Suárez is a Cuban professional boxer. Hernández has been featured in the top 10 rankings of Ring Magazine at Cruiserweight. He is the current IBF Cruiserweight Champion.-Amateur career:...
and WBO champion Marco Huck
Marco Huck
Marco Huck is a German professional boxer of Bosniak origin. He is the current WBO Cruiserweight Champion.Marco started Taekwando and kickboxing at the age of ten...
.
Current champions
| Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA 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... |
September 27, 2008 |  Guillermo JonesGuillermo Jones Guillermo Jones is a Panamanian boxer best known for losing three world title fights in controversial decisions... |
38-3-2 (30 KO) | 2 |
| WBC 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... |
May 15, 2010 |  Krzysztof WlodarczykKrzysztof Wlodarczyk Krzysztof "Diablo" Włodarczyk in Warsaw, Poland is a professional Polish boxer, the current WBC Cruiserweight World champion and the former IBF Cruiserweight World champion.... |
46-2-1 (33 KO) | 3 |
| IBF 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 :... |
October 1, 2011 |  Yoan Pablo HernandezYoan Pablo Hernández Yoan Pablo Hernández Suárez is a Cuban professional boxer. Hernández has been featured in the top 10 rankings of Ring Magazine at Cruiserweight. He is the current IBF Cruiserweight Champion.-Amateur career:... |
25-1 (13 KO) | 0 |
| WBO 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... |
August 29, 2009 |  Marco HuckMarco Huck Marco Huck is a German professional boxer of Bosniak origin. He is the current WBO Cruiserweight Champion.Marco started Taekwando and kickboxing at the age of ten... |
34-1 (25 KO) | 8 |
- List of Cruiserweight Champions
Kickboxing cruiserweight
In kickboxingKickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, a cruiserweight fighter generally weighs between 82 kg (181 lb) and 88 kg (195 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example the International Kickboxing Federation
International Kickboxing Federation
The International Kickboxing Federation is a kickboxing sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.-Styles:...
(IKF) Cruiserweight (professional and amateur) division is 186.1 lbs.–195 lbs. or 84.6 kg–88.6 kg.