Editing Light heavyweight (section)

==Boxing==

===Professional===
In [[professional boxing]], the division is above {{convert|168|lb|kg}} and up to {{convert|175|lb|kg}}, falling between [[super middleweight]] and [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]].

The light heavyweight class has produced some of boxing's greatest champions: [[Bernard Hopkins]] (who, upon becoming champion, broke the record for oldest man to win a world title), [[Tommy Loughran]], [[Billy Conn]], [[Joey Maxim]], [[Archie Moore]], [[Michael Moorer]], [[Bob Foster (boxer)|Bob Foster]], [[Ann Wolfe]], [[Michael Spinks]], [[Dariusz Michalczewski]], [[Roy Jones Jr.]], [[Joe Calzaghe]], [[Sergey Kovalev (boxer)|Sergey Kovalev]] and [[Zsolt Erdei]].

Many light heavyweight champions unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight crown until Michael Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight championship. [[Bob Fitzsimmons]] captured the light heavyweight championship after losing his heavyweight championship. Two all-time great heavyweight champions, [[Ezzard Charles]] and [[Floyd Patterson]], started out as light heavyweights. Charles defeated Archie Moore and Joey Maxim several times in non-title bouts before becoming heavyweight champion and Patterson lost an eight-round decision to Joey Maxim before becoming heavyweight champion himself. [[Evander Holyfield]] successfully moved up from the light heavyweight division to the cruiserweight division and eventually the heavyweight division and became undisputed champion of the latter two.

====Current world champions====
{{Main|List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Sanctioning body
!Reign began
!Champion
!Record
!Defenses 
|-
|[[World Boxing Association|WBA]]
|February 22, 2025
|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|24–1 (12 KO)
|align=center|0
|-
|[[World Boxing Council|WBC]]
|April 7, 2025
|[[David Benavidez]]
|30–0 (24 KO)
|align=center|0
|-
|[[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]
|February 22, 2025
|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|24–1 (12 KO)
|align=center|0
|-
|[[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] 
|February 22, 2025
|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|24–1 (12 KO)
|align=center|0
|}

====Current world rankings====

=====''The Ring''=====
As of February 26, 2025.<ref name=ring-lhw-ratings>{{Cite web|url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/ring-ranking|title=The Ring ratings: light heavyweight|access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref>

Keys:
:{{Color box|gold|C|border=darkgray}} Current ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' world champion

{| class="wikitable"
!Rank
!Name
!Record (W–L–D)
!Title(s)
|-
|bgcolor=gold|C
|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|24–1 (12 KO)
|[[International Boxing Federation|IBF]], [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]], [[World Boxing Association|WBA]]
|-
|1
|[[Artur Beterbiev]]
|21–1 (20 KO)
|
|-
|2
|[[David Benavidez]]
|30–0 (24 KO)
|[[World Boxing Council|WBC]]
|-
|3
|[[Callum Smith]]
|31–2 (21 KO)
|
|-
|4
|[[Anthony Yarde]]
|26–3 (24 KO)
|
|-
|5
|[[Joshua Buatsi]]
|19–1 (13 KO)
|
|-
|6
|[[Albert Ramírez]]
|20–0 (17 KO)
|
|-
|7
|[[Oleksandr Gvozdyk]]
|20–2 (16 KO)
|
|-
|8
|[[David Morrell (boxer)|David Morrell]]
|11–1 (9 KO)
|
|-
|9
|[[Willy Hutchinson]]
|18–2 (13 KO)
|
|-
|10
|[[Imam Khataev]]
|9–0 (9 KO)
|
|}

=====BoxRec=====
{{As of|2022|05|24}}<ref name=boxrec-lhw-ratings>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/ratings?r%5Brole%5D=proboxer&r%5Bsex%5D=M&r%5Bdivision%5D=Light+Heavyweight&r%5Bcountry%5D=&r%5Bstance%5D=&r%5Bstatus%5D=a&r_go=|title=BoxRec ratings: light heavyweight, active|access-date=13 December 2021 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Rank
!Name
!Record (W–L–D)
!Points
!Title(s)
|-
|1
|[[Artur Beterbiev]]
|21–0 (20 KO)
|
|[[International Boxing Federation|IBF]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]], [[World Boxing Association|WBA]]
|-
|2
|[[Dmitry Bivol]]
|23–1 (12 KO)
|
|-
|3
||[[Callum Smith]]
|29–2 (20 KO)
|188.5
|
|- 
|4
|[[Gilberto Ramirez]]
|46–1 (30 KO)
|144.2
|
|-
|5
|[[Joe Smith Jr.]]
|28–3 (22 KO)
|127.2
|
|-
|6
|[[Maxim Vlasov]]
|46–4 (26 KO)
|70.65
|
|-
|7
|[[Jean Pascal]]
|36–6–1 (20 KO)
|63.58
|
|-
|8
|[[Marcus Browne]]
|24–2 (16 KO)
|58.90
|
|-
|9
|[[Joshua Buatsi]]
|15–0 (13 KO)	
|38.34
|
|-
|10
|[[Sullivan Barrera]]
|22–4 (14 KO)
|29.16
|
|-
|}

====Longest reigning world light heavyweight champions====
Below is a list of longest reigning light heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!!!Name!!Title reign!!Title recognition!!Successful defenses!!Beaten opponents!!Fights
|-
| 1. || [[Archie Moore]] || 9 years, 4 months, 24 days || NYSAC, NBA || align="center" | 9 || align="center" | 7 || <ref name=moore-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/8995|title=Professional boxing record: Archie Moore|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=[[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]] |title=Archie Moore, p. 612|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 2. || [[Dariusz Michalczewski]] || 9 years, 1 months, 8 days || IBF, WBA, WBO || align="center" | 23 || align="center" | 20 || <ref name=michalczewski-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/4141|title=Professional boxing record: Dariusz Michalczewski|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 3. || [[Artur Beterbiev]] || 7 years, 3 months, 1 week and 5 days || IBF, WBC, WBO || align="center" | 8 || align="center" | 8 || <ref name=beterbiev-record>{{Cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/646981|title=Professional boxing record: Artur Beterbiev|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 4. || [[Gus Lesnevich]] || 7 years, 2 months, 2 days || NYSAC, NBA|| align="center" | 5 || align="center" | 3 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/010346|title = Please login}}</ref>
|-
| 5. || [[Dmitry Bivol]] || 7 years, 3 weeks and 3 days || IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA || align="center" | 12|| align="center" | 12 || <ref name=Bivol-record>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/703924|title=Professional boxing record: Dmitry Bivol|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 6. || [[Bob Foster (boxer)|Bob Foster]] || 6 years, 0 months, 23 days || WBC, WBA || align="center" | 14 || align="center" | 13 || <ref name=foster-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9000|title=Professional boxing record: Bob Foster|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 7. || [[Zsolt Erdei]] ||  5 years, 9 months, 27 days  || WBO || align="center" | 11 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=erdei-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/23935|title=Professional boxing record: Zsolt Erdei|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 8. || [[Adonis Stevenson]] || 5 years, 5 months, 24 days  || WBC || align="center" | 9 || align="center" | 9 || <ref name=adonis-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/amateurboxer/372003|title=Professional boxing record: Adonis Stevenson|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 9. || [[Charles Williams (boxer)|Charles Williams]] || 5 years, 4 months, 21 days || IBF || align="center" | 8 || align="center" | 8 || <ref name=charles-williams-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/340|title=Professional boxing record: Charles Williams|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|- 
| 10. || [[Roy Jones Jr.]] || 5 years, 2 months, 25 days || WBC, IBF, WBA (Super) || align="center" | 11 || align="center" | 11 || <ref name=rjj-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/774820|title=Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr.|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 11. || [[Virgil Hill]] || 4 years, 9 months, 15 days || WBA || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=hill-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/479|title=Professional boxing record: Virgil Hill|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 12. || [[Maxie Rosenbloom]] || 4 years, 4 months, 22 days || NYSAC, NBA|| align="center" | 7 || align="center" | 6 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/011349|title = Please login}}</ref>
|-
| 13. || [[Michael Spinks]] || 4 years, 2 months, 3 days || IBF, WBA, WBC || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 10 || <ref name=m-spinks-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/1286|title=Professional boxing record: Michael Spinks|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 14. || [[Battling Levinsky]] || 3 years, 11 months, 19 days || World || align="center" | 1 || align="center" | 1 || <ref name=levinsky-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10598?&offset=100|title=Professional boxing record: Battling Levinsky|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book2>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=[[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]] |title=Battling Levinsky, p. 184|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 15. || [[Victor Galindez]] ||  3 years, 9 months, 8 days  || WBA || align="center" | 10 || align="center" | 7 || <ref name=galindez-record>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/18206|title=Professional boxing record: Victor Galindez|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=ibhof-book3>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheBoxingRegisterInternationalBoxingHallOfFameOfficialRecordBook|work=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book |publisher=[[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]] |title=Victor Galindez, p. 468|format=pdf |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
|}

:{{Color box|#B2FFFF|border=darkgray}} Active title reign
:{{Color box|transparent|border=darkgray}} Reign has ended
<ref>[http://boxrec.com/ratings.php?sex=m&division=Light%20Heavyweight BoxRec Light Heavyweight Ratings] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.</ref><ref>[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/WBC_Light_Heavyweight_Champion BoxRec WBC Light Heavyweight Champion] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.</ref><ref>[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Light_heavyweight BoxRec Light Heavyweight Division] Retrieved on 27 December 2012.</ref>

===Amateur===
In [[amateur boxing]], light heavyweight is a [[boxing weight classes|weight division]] above {{convert|165|lb|kg}} and up to {{convert|178|lb|kg}}, falling between [[middleweight]] and [[heavyweight]]. 

====Olympic champions====
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Boxing at the 1920 Summer Olympics|1920]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Eddie Eagan]]|USA|1920 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Harry Mitchell (boxer)|Harry Mitchell]]|GBR|1924 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Víctor Avendaño]]|ARG|1928 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1932 Summer Olympics|1932]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[David Carstens]]|RSA|1932 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1936 Summer Olympics|1936]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Roger Michelot]]|FRA|1936 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[George Hunter (boxer)|George Hunter]]|RSA|1948 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Norvel Lee]]|USA|1952 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[James Boyd (boxer)|James Boyd]]|USA|1956 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Muhammad Ali]] |USA|1960 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Cosimo Pinto]]|ITA|1964 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Danas Pozniakas]]|URS|1968 Summer}} 
*[[Boxing at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Mate Parlov]]|YUG|1972 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Leon Spinks]]|USA|1976 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Slobodan Kacar]]|YUG|1980 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Anton Josipović]]|YUG|1984 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Andrew Maynard (boxer)|Andrew Maynard]]|USA|1988 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Torsten May]]|GER|1992 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Vassiliy Jirov]]|KAZ|1996 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Aleksandr Lebziak]]|RUS|2000 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Andre Ward]]|USA|2004 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Zhang Xiaoping]]|CHN|2008 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Egor Mekhontsev]]|RUS|2012 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 2016 Summer Olympics|2016]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Julio César La Cruz]]|CUB|2016 Summer}}
*[[Boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020]] &ndash; {{flagIOCathlete|[[Arlen López]]|CUB|2020 Summer}}
{{div col end}}