See also List of bare-knuckle boxersList of bare-knuckle lightweight champions is a chronological from England and the United States. In some cases, the champions and their reigns can be disputed. The purpose of this list is an attempt to chronicle the evolution of the lightweight division.
| Reign Began | Reign Ended | Champion | Recognition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ca. 1799 | 1804 | Caleb Baldwin | England | |
| 1804 | 1810-Retired | Dutch Sam | England | |
| 1810s | 1810s-Vacated | Jack Randall | England | |
| 1820s | 1820s-Vacated | Dick Curtis | England | |
| 1830s | 1830s-Vacated | “Young” Dutch Sam | England | |
| ca. 1838 | 1841 | Jack Hannan | England | |
| 1841 | 1842-Retired | Johnny Broome | England | |
| 1842 | ? | Jonny Walker | England | |
| 1850s | ? | Bob Travers | England | |
| 1855 | 1856 | Johnny Moneghan | USA | |
| 1856 | 1856-Vacated |  James Hart | USA | |
| 1856 | 1857 | Johnny Moneghan | USA | |
| 1857 | 1858 | Barney Aaron | USA | |
| 1858 | ca. 1861-Retired | Patrick “Scotty” Brannigan | USA | |
| 1861 | 1863-Retired |  Owney Geoghegan | USA | |
| 1866 | 1867 |  Sam Collyer | USA | |
| 1867 | 1867-Retired | Barney Aaron | USA | |
| 1868-Claimed Title | ?-Vacated | Abe Hicken | USA | |
| 1867-Claimed Title | 1868 | Sam Collyer | USA | |
| 1868 | 1872 | Billy Edwards | USA | |
| 1872 | 1879-Retired | Arthur Chambers | USA | |
| 1880s-Claimed Title | ? | Charley Norton | USA | |
| 1880s-Claimed Title | ca. 1885-Moved up in Weight | "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey | USA | |
| 1885 | 1892-Retired | Jack McAuliffe-Last Bare-knuckle Champion/First Gloved Champion | USA |