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Super bantamweight
View on WikipediaSuper bantamweight, also known as junior featherweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from 118 pounds (54 kg) and up to 122 pounds (55 kg).
There were attempts by boxing promoters in the 1920s to establish this weight class, but few sanctioning organizations or state athletic commissions would recognize it. Jack Wolf won recognition as champion when he beat Joe Lynch at Madison Square Garden on September 21, 1922, but afterwards the weight division fell into disuse.[1]
The division was revived in the 1970s and the first title fight in 54 years in the division took place in 1976 when the World Boxing Council recognized Rigoberto Riasco as its champion when he defeated Waruinge Nakayama in eight rounds. The World Boxing Association crowned its first champion in 1977 when Soo Hwan Hong knocked out Hector Carasquilla in three rounds to win the inaugural WBA championship. In 1983 the International Boxing Federation sanctioned the bout between Bobby Berna and Seung-In Suh for its first title. Berna won in the eleventh round.
On December 26, 2023, Naoya Inoue became the division's first undisputed champion.
Notable fighters to hold championship titles at this weight have been Wilfredo Gómez, Lupe Pintor, Jeff Fenech, Daniel Zaragoza, Kennedy McKinney, Érik Morales, Naoya Inoue, Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Rafael Márquez, Toshiaki Nishioka, and Israel Vázquez.
Current world champions
[edit]Current champions
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | December 26, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 31–0 (27 KO) | 4 |
| WBC | July 25, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 31–0 (27 KO) | 5 |
| IBF | December 26, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 31–0 (27 KO) | 4 |
| WBO | July 25, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 31–0 (27 KO) | 5 |
Current The Ring world rankings
[edit]As of October 27, 2025.[2]
Keys:
- C Current The Ring world champion
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Naoya Inoue | 31–0 (27 KO) | WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF |
| 1 | Marlon Tapales | 40–4 (21 KO) | |
| 2 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | 14–2 (11 KO) | |
| 3 | Sam Goodman | 20–1 (8 KO) | |
| 4 | Alan Picasso Romero | 32–0–1 (17 KO) | |
| 5 | Shabaz Masoud | 14–0 (4 KO) | |
| 6 | TJ Doheny | 26–6 (20 KO) | |
| 7 | Ramon Cardenas | 26–2 (14 KO) | |
| 8 | Sebastian Hernandez Reyes | 20–0 (18 KO) | |
| 9 | Subaru Murata | 10–0 (10 KO) | |
| 10 | Bryan Mercado Vazquez | 31–1 (25 KO) |
Lineal Champions
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "World Champions: The Last 20 Years", International Boxing Digest, 39, no. 1: 64, August 1997
- ^ "The Ring ratings: super bantamweight/junior featherweight". Retrieved 16 August 2025.
Super bantamweight
View on GrokipediaOverview
Weight limits
The super bantamweight division in professional boxing encompasses fighters weighing over 118 pounds (53.52 kg) but no more than 122 pounds (55.34 kg) at the official weigh-in.[11] This range ensures competitors are positioned between lighter and heavier divisions while maintaining competitive balance.[12] Positioned above the bantamweight class, which caps at 118 pounds (53.52 kg), super bantamweight serves as a bridge to the featherweight division, where the minimum weight exceeds 122 pounds and the maximum is 126 pounds (57.15 kg).[12] The World Boxing Council (WBC) established the division with its 122-pound upper limit in 1976 to address the need for an intermediate class, followed by the World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1977.[13] Post-weigh-in, fighters are permitted to rehydrate, but many professional bouts incorporate contractual rehydration clauses to curb excessive weight gain and prevent size disparities in the ring.[6] These clauses typically limit regain to around 10 pounds above the division's maximum, though enforcement varies by promoter and commission.[14] As a result, super bantamweight fighters often enter the bout weighing 10 to 15 pounds heavier than at weigh-in, reflecting restored hydration and nutrition levels without exceeding regulated thresholds.[15]Recognition and alternative names
The super bantamweight division, also commonly referred to as junior featherweight, is one of the standard weight classes in professional boxing, spanning from 118 to 122 pounds. This nomenclature is widely adopted across English-speaking boxing communities and official records.[12] The division receives official endorsement from the four primary international sanctioning bodies: the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO), each maintaining rankings and crowning world champions within the class. The WBC pioneered modern recognition of the division by establishing it in 1976, with Panamanian fighter Rigoberto Riasco defeating Kenyan Waruinge Nakayama to become its inaugural champion on April 3 of that year.[16][9] The WBA, IBF, and WBO followed suit in subsequent years, integrating the weight class into their unified frameworks for global competition.[17] Regional variations in naming exist, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries where the division is known as "super gallo," reflecting the translation of bantamweight as "gallo" in Hispanic boxing traditions. This term appears frequently in Latin American promotions and media coverage of WBC, WBA, and other bouts. Official titles from these sanctioning bodies hold primary status, distinguishing them from interim, silver, or regional designations, which serve as secondary honors and do not confer full world champion prestige until elevation or unification. For instance, the WBA differentiates between its "super" champion—typically the lineal or unified titleholder—and a "regular" champion to accommodate multiple contenders without diluting the division's top tier.[17] Unregulated or unsanctioned claims to the super bantamweight crown lack institutional validity and are not acknowledged by the major organizations.[10]History
Origins in professional boxing
The super bantamweight division traces its origins to the early 20th century. The 1920 Walker Law in New York formalized weight classes in professional boxing, including an attempt to establish the 122-pound (55.3 kg) category, though it received limited recognition from sanctioning bodies and commissions during the 1920s.[2] The World Boxing Council (WBC) revived and formally established the super bantamweight division in 1976 to fill the gap between the bantamweight class, limited to 118 pounds (53.52 kg), and the featherweight class, capped at 126 pounds (57.15 kg). This introduction addressed growing demand for an intermediate weight category, as numerous professional boxers competed in the 122-pound range without formal recognition, often leading to mismatched or oversized contests in adjacent divisions. The move aligned with the WBC's broader initiative to enhance fighter safety by minimizing weight disparities between classes, which previously spanned up to 8 pounds. The division's inaugural title bout occurred on April 3, 1976, in Panama City, where Panamanian fighter Rigoberto Riasco defeated Kenyan Waruinge Nakayama by ninth-round technical knockout to become the first recognized WBC super bantamweight champion. Riasco's victory marked the official launch of the modern super bantamweight era, though his reign lasted only until October 1976, when he lost to Royal Kobayashi. This short initial championship period underscored the division's nascent status and the rapid emergence of contenders from the 122-pound bracket, where informal non-title bouts had proliferated during the 1960s and 1970s as bantamweights sought opportunities against slightly heavier opponents.[18][12] By 1977, Puerto Rican powerhouse Wilfredo Gómez solidified the division's prominence, capturing the WBC title on May 21 in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, with a 12th-round knockout of South Korean champion Dong Kyun Yum. Gómez's ascent, following a string of knockouts in the super bantamweight range, exemplified how the new class attracted elite talent previously squeezed between weight limits. Promoters actively supported the division's growth by staging high-profile defenses, capitalizing on the competitive depth revealed through earlier unofficial matchups in the 122-126 pound spectrum. Gómez's early dominance, including defenses against top contenders, helped establish super bantamweight as a viable and exciting professional category through the late 1970s.[19]Key developments and unifications
The super bantamweight division gained considerable prominence in the 1980s through the extraordinary reign of Puerto Rican fighter Wilfredo Gómez, who captured the WBC title on May 21, 1977, and made a division-record 17 successful defenses—all by knockout—before vacating it in 1983 to pursue opportunities at featherweight.[20] This period marked a key development in establishing the weight class as a showcase for high-stakes, action-oriented bouts, drawing increased attention from promoters and fans amid boxing's global expansion. A pivotal event during Gómez's dominance was his December 3, 1982, defense against Mexico's Lupe Pintor at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, where Gómez retained the WBC title via 14th-round TKO in a grueling war that epitomized the intense Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalries fueling the division's growth.[21] The fight, part of Don King's "Carnival of Champions" card, highlighted the division's rising competitive depth and international appeal, as Pintor vacated his WBC bantamweight crown to challenge at 122 pounds. The 1990s further solidified the division's status with American Olympic gold medalist Kennedy McKinney emerging as a standout, winning the IBF super bantamweight title on December 2, 1992, via 11th-round knockout over South Africa's Welcome Ncita in Tortolì, Italy, in a thrilling comeback victory after being dropped multiple times.[22] McKinney's success, combined with defenses against top contenders, underscored the era's blend of technical skill and knockout power, contributing to sustained interest through the decade. Global expansion became evident as Latin American fighters maintained strong representation— with Mexican standouts like Daniel Zaragoza capturing the WBC title in 1991 via unanimous decision over Kiyoshi Hatanaka—while the division's reach extended beyond the Americas.[23] This regional dominance, particularly from Mexico and Puerto Rico, paired with emerging talents from other areas, helped elevate the weight class's profile on the world stage. The most significant unification in the division's history occurred in the 2020s with Japan's Naoya Inoue, who first unified the WBC and WBO titles on July 25, 2023, by stopping Stephen Fulton in the eighth round, then added the IBF belt on December 26, 2023, via 10th-round knockout of Marlon Tapales, becoming the undisputed champion with all four major belts.[24] Inoue's achievement marked the first four-belt undisputed reign at super bantamweight, further boosted by successful defenses, including against Luis Nery in May 2024, TJ Doheny in September 2024, Ramon Cardenas in May 2025, and Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September 2025, solidifying Asian influence and inspiring a new wave of international contenders.[25][26][27] As of November 2025, Inoue continues to hold undisputed status ahead of his upcoming defense.[28]Professional boxing
Current world champions
As of November 16, 2025, Naoya Inoue of Japan holds all four major world titles in the super bantamweight division, making him the undisputed champion.[29][9] Inoue first captured the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles on July 25, 2023, by defeating Stephen Fulton via eighth-round technical knockout in Las Vegas, Nevada.[30] He then unified the division on December 26, 2023, by adding the WBA and IBF belts with a tenth-round stoppage of Marlon Tapales in Tokyo, Japan. Since becoming undisputed, Inoue has made five successful defenses of the full set of titles: a sixth-round knockout of Luis Nery on May 6, 2024, in Tokyo; a technical knockout of TJ Doheny in the ninth round on September 3, 2024, in Tokyo; a fourth-round knockout of Ye-Joon Kim on January 24, 2025, in Tokyo; an eighth-round technical knockout of Ramon Cardenas on May 4, 2025, in Tokyo; and a unanimous decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev on September 14, 2025, in Nagoya, Japan.[30][31] His record stands at 31-0 with 27 knockouts.[32] No interim or secondary belts are currently active in this division among the major sanctioning bodies, as Inoue's reign has remained intact without vacancies or strips since 2023. His next defense is scheduled for December 27, 2025, against Alan Picasso in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[29]| Sanctioning Body | Champion | Date Won | Defenses Since Unification |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBA (Super) | Naoya Inoue | December 26, 2023 | 5 |
| WBC | Naoya Inoue | July 25, 2023 | 6 |
| IBF | Naoya Inoue | December 26, 2023 | 5 |
| WBO | Naoya Inoue | July 25, 2023 | 6 |
Lineal champions
The lineal championship in professional boxing represents a direct line of succession, where the title is held by the fighter who defeats the reigning lineal champion in the ring, often referred to as "the man who beat the man." This contrasts with the "alphabet soup" of multiple titles issued by sanctioning bodies like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, which can create several simultaneous "world" champions in a division and dilute the notion of a true top contender. The Ring magazine has been instrumental in documenting and recognizing lineal champions since 2002, using historical records to trace unbroken chains of victory while prioritizing fights against the recognized lineal titleholder.[33] The super bantamweight lineal title originated on April 3, 1976, when Panamanian Rigoberto Riasco defeated Japan's Waruinge Nakayama by unanimous decision to claim the inaugural WBC super bantamweight crown, which served as the division's sole major belt and thus the lineal championship. The title passed through early holders before Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gómez claimed it in 1977 by defeating South Korea's Dong-Kyun Yum and dominated with 17 defenses until vacating in 1983 to campaign at featherweight. The lineal title remained vacant from 1983 until 2002, when it was revived with Paulie Ayala's recognition following key wins. It has since passed through notable fighters, often aligning with unifications and major rivalries like the Vázquez-Márquez trilogy. Naoya Inoue became the current lineal champion in 2023 upon unifying all belts. The progression of recognized super bantamweight lineal champions from inception is as follows (noting vacancies and revivals):| Champion | Nationality | Reign | Key Transition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigoberto Riasco | Panama | 1976 | Defeated Waruinge Nakayama (inaugural WBC/lineal). Lost to Royal Kobayashi. |
| Royal Kobayashi | Japan | 1976 | Defeated Riasco. Lost to Dong-Kyun Yum. |
| Dong-Kyun Yum | South Korea | 1976–1977 | Defeated Kobayashi. Lost to Wilfredo Gómez. |
| Wilfredo Gómez | Puerto Rico | 1977–1983 | Defeated Yum; 17 defenses. Vacated for featherweight. |
| Vacant | - | 1983–2002 | No recognized lineal titleholder. |
| Paulie Ayala | United States | 2002–2003 | Revived via key wins; vacated. |
| Israel Vázquez | Mexico | 2005–2007 | Defeated Rafael Márquez (first of trilogy); lost rematch. |
| Rafael Márquez | Mexico | 2007 | Defeated Vázquez (second fight); lost third fight to Vázquez. |
| Israel Vázquez | Mexico | 2007–2009 | Regained vs. Márquez; vacated after fourth fight loss to Márquez. |
| Rafael Márquez | Mexico | 2009 | Defeated Vázquez (fourth fight); lost to Juan Manuel López. |
| Nonito Donaire | Philippines | 2012–2013 | Defeated Wilfredo Vázquez Jr.; lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux. |
| Guillermo Rigondeaux | Cuba | 2013–2022 | Defeated Donaire; abandoned after inactivity. |
| Naoya Inoue | Japan | 2023–present | Unified all belts by defeating Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales; defended against Nery, Doheny, Kim, Cardenas, Akhmadaliev, maintaining lineal status as undisputed champion.[34] |
Rankings
Current The Ring rankings
The Ring magazine's rankings for the super bantamweight division are determined by a panel of boxing experts who evaluate fighters based on merit, recent performances, quality of opposition, and activity, independent of sanctioning body titles or affiliations. These rankings emphasize in-ring accomplishments and are updated periodically to reflect significant bouts, with the champion designated as the top-ranked fighter holding The Ring's belt. As of October 2025, the rankings reflect adjustments from key 2025 fights, including Naoya Inoue's successful defense against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, which solidified Inoue's position while prompting minor shifts among contenders, and Marlon Tapales' October knockout victory over Fernando Toro that elevated his standing.[35][36][37] The current top 10, including the designated champion, is as follows:| Rank | Fighter | Nationality | Record (KOs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| c-1 | Naoya Inoue | Japan | 31-0 (27) |
| 2 | Marlon Tapales | Philippines | 40-4 (21) |
| 3 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | Uzbekistan | 14-2 (11) |
| 4 | Sam Goodman | Australia | 20-1 (8) |
| 5 | Luis Nery | Mexico | 37-2 (28) |
| 6 | Robeisy Ramirez | Cuba | 14-3 (9) |
| 7 | Shabaz Masoud | United Kingdom | 14-0 (4) |
| 8 | Liam Davies | United Kingdom | 17-1 (8) |
| 9 | TJ Doheny | Ireland | 26-6 (20) |
| 10 | Alan Picasso Romero | Mexico | 32-0-1 (17) |
