Light flyweight

Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a weight class in boxing.

Professional boxing

The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York legalized boxing in 1920, the law stipulated a "junior flyweight" class, with a weight limit of 99 pounds. When the National Boxing Association was formed in 1921, it also recognized this weight class. However, on January 19, 1922, the NBA decided to withdraw recognition of the junior flyweight division. On December 31, 1929, the New York State Athletic Commission also abolished the junior flyweight class. No champion had been crowned in this division prior to its abolition.[1]

The World Boxing Council (WBC) decided to resurrect this division in the 1970s. The first champion in this division was Franco Udella, who won the WBC title in 1975. The World Boxing Association also crowned its first champion in 1975, when Jaime Rios defeated Rigoberto Marcano via fifteen-round decision. The first International Boxing Federation champion was Dodie Boy Peñalosa, who won the belt in 1983.

The first light flyweight "superfight" took place on March 13, 1993, when Michael Carbajal, the IBF champion, knocked out WBC champion Humberto González to unify the championship. Their rematch, on February 19, 1994, was the first time a light flyweight fighter (Carbajal) made a million dollar purse.

Current world champions

Sanctioning body Reign began Champion Record Defenses
WBA December 19, 2024 Erick Rosa 8–0 (2 KO) 0
WBC August 1, 2025 Carlos Cañizales 28–3 (20 KO) 0
IBF June 19, 2025 Thanongsak Simsri 39–1 (34 KO) 0
WBO March 13, 2025 René Santiago 14–4 (9 KO) 0

Current The Ring world rankings

As of July 22, 2025.[2]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion
Rank Name Record Title(s)
C vacant
1 René Santiago 14–4 (9 KO) WBO
2 Thanongsak Simsri 39–1 (34 KO) IBF
3 Sivenathi Nontshinga 13–2 (10 KO)
4 Shokichi Iwata 14–2 (11 KO)
5 Carlos Cañizales 27–3–1 (19 KO)
6 Regie Suganob 16–1 (6 KO)
7 Christian Araneta 25–3 (20 KO)
8 Erick Rosa 8–0 (2 KO) WBA
9 Panya Pradabsri 44–2 (27 KO) WBC
10 Kyosuke Takami 9–0 (7 KO)

Amateur boxing

At the Summer Olympic Games, the division is defined as up to 49 kilograms.

Olympic champions

European champions

  • 1969 – Hungary György Gedó (HUN)
  • 1971 – Hungary György Gedó (HUN)
  • 1973 – Soviet Union Vladislav Sasypko (URS)
  • 1975 – Soviet Union Aleksandr Tkachenko (URS)
  • 1977 – Poland Henryk Średnicki (POL)
  • 1979 – Soviet Union Shamil Sabirov (URS)
  • 1981 – Bulgaria Ismail Mustafov (BUL)
  • 1983 – Bulgaria Ismail Mustafov (BUL)
  • 1985 – East Germany René Breitbarth (GDR)
  • 1987 – Soviet Union Nszan Munczian (URS)
  • 1989 – Bulgaria Ivailo Marinov (BUL)
  • 1991 – Bulgaria Ivailo Marinov (BUL)
  • 1993 – Bulgaria Daniel Petrov (BUL)
  • 1996 – Bulgaria Daniel Petrov (BUL)
  • 1998 – Russia Sergey Kazakov (RUS)
  • 2000 – Ukraine Valeriy Sydorenko (UKR)
  • 2002 – Russia Sergey Kazakov (RUS)
  • 2004 – Russia Sergey Kazakov (RUS)
  • 2006 – Russia David Ayrapetyan (RUS)
  • 2008 – Armenia Hovhannes Danielyan (ARM)
  • 2010 – Republic of Ireland Paddy Barnes (IRL)
  • 2011 – Azerbaijan Salman Alizade (AZE)
  • 2013 – Russia David Ayrapetyan (RUS)

Pan American champions

  • 1971 – Cuba Rafael Carbonell (CUB)
  • 1975 – Cuba Jorge Hernández (CUB)
  • 1979 – Cuba Héctor Ramírez (CUB)
  • 1983 – Puerto Rico Rafael Ramos (PUR)
  • 1987 – Puerto Rico Luis Román Rolón (PUR)
  • 1991 – Cuba Rogelio Marcelo (CUB)
  • 1995 – Venezuela Edgar Velázquez (VEN)
  • 1999 – Cuba Maikro Romero (CUB)
  • 2003 – Cuba Yan Bartelemí Varela (CUB)
  • 2007 – United States Luis Yáñez (USA)
  • 2011 – Mexico Joselito Velázquez (MEX)

Notable light flyweights

References

  1. ^ Goldman, Herbert (June 1980), "Junior Divisions", The Ring, 59, no. 4: 74, 75
  2. ^ "The Ring ratings: junior flyweight". Retrieved 22 July 2025.
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