Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. For boxing, the range is above 115 lb (52.2 kg) and up to 118 lb (53.5 kg). In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between 53 and 55 kilograms (117 and 121 lb). In MMA, bantamweight is 126–135 lb (57.2–61.2 kg).

The name for the class is derived from bantam chickens. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has an equivalent Rooster weight.

Boxing

The first gloved world title fight in this division was fought between George Dixon and Nunc Wallace on June 27, 1890, with Dixon winning and thus becoming the inaugural world bantamweight champion. At the time, the limit for this weight class was 110 pounds. In 1910, however, the British settled on a limit of 118.

From 2018 to 2019, an eight-man tournament called the World Boxing Super Series was held to determine the best bantamweight in the world. The tournament was won by Naoya Inoue, who defeated Nonito Donaire in the final.

On December 13, 2022, Naoya Inoue became the first undisputed champion of the division in the four-belt era.

Current world champions

Sanctioning bodyReign beganChampionRecordDefenses
WBADec 1, 2025Seiya Tsutsumi12–0–3 (8 KO)1
WBCNovember 24, 2025Takuma Inoue21–2 (5 KO)0
IBFDecember 13, 2025José Salas17–0 (11 KO)0
WBOMay 6, 2024Christian Medina26–4 (19 KO)0

Current The Ring world rankings

As of September 24, 2025.

Keys:

C Current The Ring world champion

RankNameRecordTitle(s)
Cvacant
1Seiya Tsutsumi12–0–3 (8 KO)
2Christian Medina26–4 (19 KO)WBO
3Ryosuke Nishida10–1 (2 KO)
4Takuma Inoue20–2 (5 KO)
5Daigo Higa21–3–3 (19 KO)
6Antonio Vargas19–1–1–1 (11 KO)WBA
7Yoshiki Takei11–1 (9 KO)
8Tenshin Nasukawa7–0 (2 KO)
9Jason Moloney27–4 (19 KO)
10Jeyvier Cintrón13–1–0–1 (6 KO)

Longest reigning world bantamweight champions

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

NameTitle reignTitle recognitionSuccessful defensesBeaten opponentsFights
1.Anselmo Moreno6 years, 3 months, 26 daysWBA1211
2.Veeraphol Sahaprom6 years, 3 months, 17 daysWBC1411
3.Orlando Canizales6 years, 3 months, 16 daysIBF1615
4.Shinsuke Yamanaka5 years, 9 months, 9 daysWBC1211
5.Tim Austin5 years, 6 months, 26 daysIBF99
6.Hozumi Hasegawa5 years, 14 daysWBC1010
7.Panama Al Brown4 years, 9 months, 28 daysNYSAC, NBA, IBU108
8.Naoya Inoue4 years, 7 months, 13 daysWBA, WBC, IBF, WBO87
9.Eder Jofre4 years, 6 monthsNBA, WBA, WBC88
10.Manuel Ortiz4 years, 4 months, 29 daysWorld1511

Active Title Reign

Reign has ended

Lineal Champions

  • Canada George Dixon (1890) Vacated
  • Spain Baltasar Sangchili (1935-1936)
  • Australia Jimmy Carruthers (1952-1954) Retired
  • France Robert Cohen (1954-1956)
  • Italy Mario D'agata (1956-1957)
  • France Alphonse Halimi (1957-1959)
  • Mexico Jose Becerra (1959-1960) Retired
  • Japan Masahiko Harada (1965-1968)
  • Mexico Ruben Olivares (1969-1970)
  • Mexico Jesus Castillo (1970-1971)
  • Mexico Ruben Olivares (1971-1972) (2)
  • Panama Enrique Pinder (1972-1973)
  • Mexico Alfonso Zamora (1975-1977)
  • Panama Jorge Luján (1977-1980)
  • Venezuela Bernardo Piñango (1986-1987) Vacated
  • Japan Naoya Inoue (2022-2023) Vacated

Olympic Champions

World Champions

Pan American Champions

European Champions

Kickboxing

In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between 53 kg (116 lb) and 55 kg (120 lb). However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Bantamweight division (professional and amateur) is 117.1 lbs.–122 lbs. or 53.22 kg–55.45 kg.

In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is 65.8 kg (145 lb).

Bare-knuckle boxing

The bantamweight division limit generally differs among bare-knuckle boxing promotions:

  • In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the bantamweight division has an upper limit of 135 lb (61 kg).
  • In BKB, the bantamweight division has an upper limit of 73 kg (161 lb).

Lethwei

In International Lethwei Federation Japan, the bantamweight division is up to 60 kg (130 lb). In International Lethwei Federation Japan, Yuta Hamamoto is the Bantamweight Champion.

The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the bantamweight division with an upper limit of 54 kg (119 lb). In World Lethwei Championship, Souris Manfredi is the Bantamweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts

In MMA, bantamweight is usually 126–135 pounds (57.2–61.2 kg). In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is 65.8 kg (145 lb). In Shooto, the limit is 56 kg (123.4 lb).

Current champions

These tables were last updated in December of 2025.

Active title reign

Active title reign (interim)

Men:

OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCDecember 6, 2025Russia Petr Yan20-5-0 (7KO 1SUB)0
ONE ChampionshipDecember 6, 2025Mongolia Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu14-3-0 (3KO 6SUB)0
Rizin FFSeptember 29, 2024Japan Naoki Inoue20-4-0 (2KO 9SUB)2
Absolute Championship AkhmatFebruary 28, 2025Brazil Josiel Silva23-7-0 (12KO 2SUB)1
Brave Combat FederationNovember 7, 2025Serbia Borislav Nikolić15-2-0 (6KO 8SUB)0
Konfrontacja Sztuk WalkiJanuary 25, 2025Poland Sebastian Przybysz14-4-0 (1) (5KO 5SUB)1
CFFCJuly 18, 2025Cuba Sean Mora7-1-0 (1KO 2SUB)0
Cage WarriorsNovember 25, 2023United Kingdom Liam Gittins13-5-0 (7KO 3SUB)2
PancraseDecember 24, 2023Japan Tokitaka Nakanishi12-4-0 (1KO 5SUB)0
Jungle FightJune 24, 2023Brazil Tiago Pereira9-0-0 (3KO 3SUB)3
Legacy Fighting AllianceNovember 14, 2025Kazakhstan Artem Belakh11-2-0 (2KO 7SUB)0
ShootoSeptember 21, 2025Japan Kanata Nagai9-0-1 (3KO 1SUB)0
Oktagon MMAN/AVacantN/AN/A
DEEPMarch 29, 2024Japan Ryuka Fukuda25-9-1 (12KO 1SUB)1

Women:

OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCJune 7, 2025United States Kayla Harrison19–1–0 (6KO 8SUB)0
Invicta FCDecember 13, 2024Brazil Jennifer Maia23-10-0 (1) (4KO 5SUB)0
CFFCJuly 18, 2025Brazil Emily Martins4-1-0 (0KO 4SUB)0
Deep JewelsN/AVacantN/AN/A
Legacy Fighting AllianceN/AVacantN/AN/A
Jungle FightN/AVacantN/AN/A
Oktagon MMAAugust 9, 2025Slovakia Lucia Szabová10-0-0 (3KO 5SUB)0

Muay Thai

In Muay Thai, bantamweight is 115–118 pounds (52.2-53.5 kg). A notable Muai Thai bantamweight fighter is Randy Thong Phoun Phim.

Wrestling

Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight.

See also

  • Reigning boxing champions

External links