List of world welterweight boxing champions explained

Beginning with Mysterious Billy Smith to Harry Lewis, the welterweight world champions listed below are more widely recognized in the United States and are not as widely sanctioned as the boxers that follow. Beginning with boxer Pat Bradley, is a chronological widely recognized List of World Welterweight Boxing Champions, as recognized by four of the better-known sanctioning organizations:

Lists of Champions

World claimants

Date wonDate lostName
14 December 189226 July 1894Mysterious Billy SmithWorld claim
Continued to claim title after losing to Mike "Twin" Sullivan1 November 1907William "Honey" MellodyWorld claim
1 November 190723 Jan 1908 Frank MantellWorld claim
23 Jan 1908March 1911-vacated Harry LewisWorld claim

World/Undisputed

Date wonDate lostName
30 October 188810 July 1890 (died)Paddy DuffyWorld
17 February 189120 December 1897 (vacated)World
25 August 189817 April 1900Mysterious Billy SmithWorld
17 April 19005 June 1900Matty MatthewsWorld
5 June 190013 August 1900Eddie ConnollyWorld
13 August 190016 October 1900Rube FernsWorld
16 October 190024 May 1901Matty MatthewsWorld
24 May 190118 December 1901Rube FernsWorld
18 December 190116 October 1906Barbados Joe WalcottWorld
16 October 190623 April 1907William "Honey" MellodyWorld
23 April 19071908 (vacated)Mike "Twin" SullivanWorld
1 April 19121 January 1914Ray BronsonWorld
1 January 191424 January 1914Waldemar HolbergWorld
24 January 191421 March 1914Tom McCormickWorld
21 March 19141 June 1915Matt WellsWorld
1 June 191522 June 1915Mike GloverWorld
22 June 191531 August 1915Jack BrittonWorld
31 August 191524 April 1916Ted Kid LewisWorld
24 April 191625 June 1917Jack BrittonWorld
25 June 191717 March 1919Ted Kid LewisWorld
17 March 19191 November 1922Jack BrittonWorld/NYSAC/NBA
1 November 1922 20 May 1926Mickey WalkerNBA/NYSAC
20 May 19263 June 1927Pete LatzoNBA/NYSAC
3 June 192725 July 1929Joe DundeeNBA/NYSAC
25 July 19299 May 1930Jackie FieldsNBA/NYSAC
9 May 19305 September 1930Jack ThompsonNBA/NYSAC
5 September 193014 April 1931Tommy FreemanNBA/NYSAC
14 April 193123 October 1931Jack ThompsonNBA/NYSAC
23 October 193128 January 1932Lou BrouillardNBA/NYSAC
28 January 193222 February 1933Jackie FieldsNBA/NYSAC
22 February 193329 May 1933Young Corbett IIINBA/NYSAC
29 May 193328 May 1934Jimmy McLarninNBA/NYSAC
28 May 193417 September 1934Barney RossNBA/NYSAC
17 September 193428 May 1935Jimmy McLarninNBA/NYSAC
28 May 193531 May 1938Barney RossNBA/NYSAC
31 May 19384 October 1940Henry ArmstrongNBA/NYSAC
4 October 194029 July 1941Fritzie ZivicNBA/NYSAC
29 July 19411 February 1946Freddie 'Red' CochraneNBA/NYSAC
1 February 19461 February 1946 (vacated)Marty ServoNBA/NYSAC
20 December 19469 August 1950 (vacated)Sugar Ray RobinsonNBA/NYSAC
14 March 195118 May 1951Johnny BrattonNBA
18 May 195129 August 1951Kid GavilánNBA/NYSAC
4 February 195220 October 1954Kid GavilánNBA/NYSAC
20 October 19541 April 1955Johnny SaxtonNBA/NYSAC
1 April 195510 June 1955Tony DeMarcoNBA/NYSAC
10 June 195514 March 1956Carmen BasilioNBA/NYSAC
14 March 195612 September 1956Johnny SaxtonNBA/NYSAC
12 September 195622 February 1957 (vacated)Carmen BasilioNBA/NYSAC
6 June 19585 December 1958Virgil AkinsNBA/NYSAC
5 December 195827 May 1960Don JordanNBA/NYSAC
27 May 19601 April 1961Benny 'Kid' ParetNBA/NYSAC
1 April 196130 September 1961Emile GriffithNBA/NYSAC
30 September 196124 March 1962Benny 'Kid' ParetNBA/NYSAC
24 March 196221 March 1963Emile GriffithNBA/NYSAC—WBA/WBC
Title Splits into WBA and WBC Belts during Griffith's reign
21 March 19638 June 1963Luis Manuel RodríguezWBA/WBC
8 June 196310 December 1965 (vacated)Emile GriffithWBA/WBC
28 November 196618 April 1969Curtis CokesWBA/WBC
18 April 19693 December 1970José NápolesWBA/WBC
3 December 19704 June 1971Billy BackusWBA/WBC
4 June 19716 December 1975José NápolesWBA/WBC
16 September 19819 November 1982 (retires)Sugar Ray LeonardWBA/WBC
Title Split into WBA, WBC, and IBF Belts
6 December 198527 September 1986Donald CurryWBA/WBC/IBF
27 September 198622 August 1987Lloyd HoneyghanWBA/WBC/IBF
13 December 20035 February 2005Cory SpinksWBA/WBC/IBF
5 February 20057 January 2006Zab JudahWBA/WBC/IBF
29 July 2023Present Terence CrawfordWBO/WBA (Super)/WBC/IBF

WBC

Date wonDate lostName

Separate WBA and WBC champions began when José Nápoles gives up WBA title[1]

8 December 196221 March 1963 Emile GriffithWBC
21 March 19638 June 1963 Luis Manuel RodriguezWBC
8 June 196325 April 1966-Vacated Emile GriffithWBC
24 August 196618 April 1969 Curtis CokesWBC
18 April 19693 December 1970 José NapolesWBC
3 December 19704 June 1971 Billy BackusWBC
4 June 19716 December 1975 José NapolesWBC
6 December 197522 June 1976 John H StraceyWBC
22 June 197614 January 1979 Carlos PalominoWBC
14 January 197930 November 1979 Wilfred BenítezWBC
30 November 197920 June 1980 Sugar Ray LeonardWBC
20 June 198025 November 1980 Roberto DuránWBC
25 November 19809 November 1982-Retired Sugar Ray LeonardWBC
13 August 19836 December 1985 Milton McCroryWBC
6 December 198527 September 1986 Donald CurryWBC
27 September 198628 October 1987 Lloyd HoneyghanWBC
28 October 198729 March 1988 Jorge VacaWBC
29 March 19884 February 1989 Lloyd HoneyghanWBC
4 February 198919 August 1990 Marlon StarlingWBC
19 August 199018 March 1991 Maurice BlockerWBC
18 March 199129 November 1991 Simon BrownWBC
29 November 19916 March 1993 James McGirtWBC
6 March 199312 April 1997 Pernell WhitakerWBC
12 April 199718 September 1999 Oscar De La HoyaWBC
18 September 19993 March 2000- Vacated Félix TrinidadWBC
4 March 200017 June 2000 Oscar De La HoyaWBC
17 June 200026 January 2002 Shane MosleyWBC
26 January 200225 January 2003 Vernon ForrestWBC
25 January 200313 December 2003 Ricardo MayorgaWBC
13 December 20035 February 2005 Cory SpinksWBC
5 February 20057 January 2006 Zab JudahWBC
7 January 20064 November 2006 Carlos Manuel BaldomirWBC
4 November 20066 June 2008- Retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.WBC
21 June 200816 April 2011 Andre BertoWBC
16 April 201117 September 2011 Victor OrtizWBC
17 September 201112 September 2015- Retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.WBC
23 January 20164 March 2017 Danny GarcíaWBC
4 March 201724 April 2018- Vacated Keith ThurmanWBC
8 September 201828 September 2019 Shawn PorterWBC
28 September 201929 July 2023WBC
29 July 202318 June 2024-Stripped Terence CrawfordWBC
18 June 2024Present Mario BarriosWBC

WBA

Date wonDate lostName
8 December 196221 March 1963Emile GriffithWBA
21 March 19638 June 1963 Luis Manuel RodriguezWBA
8 June 196325 April 1966-Vacated Emile GriffithWBA
24 August 196618 April 1969 Curtis CokesWBA
18 April 19693 December 1970 Jose NapolesWBA
3 December 19704 June 1971 Billy BackusWBA
4 June 19711975-Stripped Jose NapolesWBA
28 June 197517 July 1976 Ángel EspadaWBA
17 July 19762 August 1980 Pipino CuevasWBA
2 August 198016 September 1981 Thomas HearnsWBA
16 September 19819 November 1982-Retired Sugar Ray LeonardWBA
13 February 198327 September 1986 Donald CurryWBA
27 September 19861987-Vacated Lloyd HoneyghanWBA
6 February 198722 August 1987 Mark BrelandWBA
22 August 198729 July 1988 Marlon StarlingWBA
29 July 198812 December 1988-Vacated Tomas MolinaresWBA
4 February 19898 July 1990 Mark BrelandWBA
8 July 199019 January 1991 Aaron DavisWBA
19 January 199131 October 1992 Meldrick TaylorWBA
31 October 19924 June 1994 Crisanto EspañaWBA
4 June 199417 October 1997-Vacated Ike QuarteyWBA
10 October 19982000-Stripped James PageWBA
17 February 200130 March 2002 Andrew LewisWBA
30 March 200213 December 2003 Ricardo MayorgaWBA Super Champion
12 September 20032 April 2005 Jose Antonio RiveraWBA Regular Champion
13 December 20035 February 2005 Cory SpinksWBA Super Champion
5 February 20057 January 2006-Stripped Zab JudahWBA Super Champion
2 April 200513 May 2006 Luis CollazoWBA Regular Champion
13 May 200631 August 2006-Vacated Ricky HattonWBA
2 December 200626 July 2008 Miguel CottoWBA
26 July 200824 January 2009 Antonio MargaritoWBA Super Champion
3 October 200810 April 2009 Yuriy NuzhnenkoWBA Regular Champion
24 January 200922 May 2010-Stripped Shane MosleyWBA Super Champion
10 April 200929 April 2012 Vyacheslav SenchenkoWBA Regular Champion
29 April 201222 June 2013 Paul MalignaggiWBA
22 June 201314 December 2013 Adrien BronerWBA
14 December 20133 May 2014 Marcos MaidanaWBA
3 May 201411 January 2016-Retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.WBA Super Champion
February 20157 November 2016 Keith ThurmanWBA Regular Champion
7 November 201620 July 2019 Keith ThurmanWBA Super Champion
7 November 201618 February 2017 David AvanesyanWBA Regular Champion
18 February 20173 October 2017-Vacated Lamont PetersonWBA Regular Champion
27 January 201815 July 2018 Lucas MatthysseWBA Regular Champion
15 July 201820 July 2019 Manny PacquiaoWBA Regular Champion
20 July 201929 January 2021-Stripped Manny PacquiaoWBA Super Champion
6 September 202029 January 2021-Elevated Yordenis UgásWBA Regular Champion
29 January 202116 April 2022 Yordenis UgásWBA Super Champion
30 October 202116 April 2022 Radzhab ButaevWBA Regular Champion
16 April 2022Present Eimantas StanionisWBA Regular Champion
16 April 202229 July 2023 Errol Spence Jr.WBA Super Champion
29 July 2023Present Terence CrawfordWBA Super Champion

IBF

Date wonDate lostName
Title inaugurated
4 February 198427 September 1986 Donald CurryIBF
27 September 198628 October 1987-Stripped Lloyd HoneyghanIBF
23 April 19884 October 1991-Vacated Simon BrownIBF
4 October 199119 June 1993 Maurice BlockerIBF
19 June 19933 March 2000-Vacated Félix TrinidadIBF
12 May 200112 December 2001-Vacated Vernon ForrestIBF
13 April 200222 March 2003 Michele PiccirilloIBF
22 March 20035 February 2005 Cory SpinksIBF
5 February 20058 April 2006 Zab JudahIBF
8 April 200620 June 2006-Vacated Floyd Mayweather Jr.IBF
28 October 200612 April 2008 Kermit CintronIBF
12 April 2008July 2008-Stripped Antonio MargaritoIBF
2 August 200816 April 2009-Vacated Joshua ClotteyIBF
1 August 200911 December 2009 Isaac HlatshwayoIBF
11 December 20093 September 2011 Dejan ZavecIBF
3 September 20118 November 2011-Vacated Andre BertoIBF
9 June 201220 October 2012 Randall BaileyIBF
20 October 20127 December 2013 Devon AlexanderIBF
7 December 201316 August 2014 Shawn PorterIBF
16 August 201427 May 2017 Kell BrookIBF
27 May 201729 July 2023 Errol Spence Jr.IBF
29 July 20239 November 2023-Stripped Terence CrawfordIBF
9 November 2023Present Jaron EnnisIBF

WBO

Date wonDate lostName
Title inaugurated
6 May 198915 December 1989-Vacated Genaro LeonWBO
15 December 198912 February 1993 Manning GallowayWBO
12 February 199316 October 1993-Vacated Gert Bo JacobsenWBO
16 October 199313 April 1996 Eamonn LoughranWBO
13 April 19966 October 1996-Vacated José Luis LópezWBO
22 February 19971997-Vacated Michael LoeweWBO
14 February 19986 May 2000 Ahmed KotievWBO
6 May 200016 March 2002-Vacated Daniel SantosWBO
16 March 200214 July 2007 Antonio MargaritoWBO
14 July 20079 February 2008 Paul WilliamsWBO
9 February 20087 June 2008 Carlos QuintanaWBO
7 June 200812 November 2008-Vacated Paul WilliamsWBO
21 February 200914 November 2009 Miguel CottoWBO
14 November 20099 June 2012 Manny PacquiaoWBO
9 June 201212 April 2014 Timothy BradleyWBO
12 April 20142 May 2015 Manny PacquiaoWBO
2 May 20156 July 2015-Stripped Floyd Mayweather Jr.WBO
6 July 20159 February 2016-Vacated Timothy BradleyWBO
5 March 20165 November 2016 Jessie VargasWBO
5 November 20162 July 2017 Manny PacquiaoWBO
2 July 20176 June 2018 Jeff HornWBO
9 June 2018Present Terence CrawfordWBO

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mullan , Harry . The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing . Carlton Books . 1996 . London, England . 0-7858-0641-5 . 159.