Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51kg (112lb) for a title fight.

Professional boxing

The flyweight division was the last of boxing's eight traditional weight classes to be established. Before 1909, anyone below featherweight was considered a bantamweight, regardless of how small the boxer. In 1911, the organization that eventually became the British Boxing Board of Control held a match that crowned Sid Smith as the first flyweight champion of the world. Jimmy Wilde, who reigned from 1916 to 1923, was the first fighter recognized both in Britain and the United States as a flyweight champion.

Other notable flyweights include Victor Perez, Pancho Villa, Walter McGowan, Pascual Pérez, Pone Kingpetch, Salvatore Burruni, Fighting Harada, Masao Ohba, Chartchai Chionoi, Efren Torres, Erbito Salavarria, Miguel Canto, Dave McAuley, Charlie Magri, Gabriel Bernal, Santos Laciar, Sot Chitalada, Yong-Kang Kim, Yuri Arbachakov, Danny Romero, Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson, Manny Pacquiao, Jorge Arce, Vic Darchinyan, Nonito Donaire, Omar Andrés Narváez, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Amnat Ruenroeng, Román González, Donnie Nietes, Nicola Adams.

World champions

Sanctioning BodyReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
WBAJuly 30, 2025Ricardo Sandoval27–2 (18 KO)0
WBCJuly 30, 2025Ricardo Sandoval27–2 (18 KO)0
IBFMarch 29, 2025Masamichi Yabuki20–4 (18 KO)2
WBOJuly 20, 2024Anthony Olascuaga12–1 (9 KO)5

The Ring world rankings

As of August 8, 2025

Keys:

CThe Ring world champion

RankNameRecordTitle(s)
Cvacant
1Ricardo Sandoval27–2 (18 KO)WBC, WBA
2Kenshiro Teraji25–2 (16 KO)
3Seigo Yuri Akui21–3–1 (11 KO)
4Masamichi Yabuki18–4 (17 KO)IBF
5Galal Yafai9–0–0–1 (7 KO)
6Ángel Ayala18–1 (8 KO)
7Felix Alvarado42–4 (35 KO)
8Anthony Olascuaga9–1 (6 KO)WBO
9Tobias Reyes17–1–1 (16 KO)
10Jukiya Iimura9–1 (2 KO)

Longest reigning world flyweight champions

Below is a list of longest reigning flyweight 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.Omar Andres Narvaez7 years, 10 monthsWBO1615
2.Jimmy Wilde7 years, 4 months, 4 daysWorld33
3.Pongsaklek Wonjongkam6 years, 4 months, 16 daysWBC1716
4.Artem Dalakian5 years, 10 months, 27 daysWBA55
3.Irene Pacheco5 years, 8 months, 6 daysIBF66
6.Pascual Perez5 years, 4 months, 20 daysWorld99
7.Yuri Arbachakov5 years, 4 months, 19 daysWBC99
8.Jackie Paterson4 years, 9 months, 4 daysNBA11
9.Miguel Canto4 years, 2 months, 10 daysWBC1411
10.Moruti Mthalane4 years, 1 month, 23 daysIBF44
11.Sot Chitalada3 years, 9 months, 16 daysWBC65

Amateur boxing

Olympic Champions

Men's

Women's

Pan American Champions

Men's

Kickboxing

In kickboxing, a flyweight fighter generally weighs 53kg (116lb) or under. The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Flyweight division (professional and amateur) is 112.1 lb. – 117 lb. or 50.95kg – 53.18kg.

In ONE Championship, the flyweight division is up to 61.2kg (135lb).

Bare-knuckle boxing

The limit for flyweight generally differs among promotions in bare knuckle boxing:

Mixed martial arts

The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine and by the Association of Boxing Commissions – groups together all competitors 125lb (57kg) and below. It sits between Strawweight (106 lb-115 lb) and Bantamweight (126 lb-135lb).

The flyweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:

  • The UFC's flyweight division, which groups competitors within 116 to 125 lb (53 to 57 kg)
  • The Pancrase light flyweight division with an upper limit of 54 kg (119 lb)
  • The Shooto flyweight division with an upper limit of 114.6 lb (52 kg)
  • The ONE Championship's flyweight division, with upper limit at 61.2kg (134.9lb)
  • The Road FC's flyweight division, with upper limit at 125lb (57kg)

Professional champions

These tables were last updated in December of 2025.

Active title reign

Active title reign (interim)

Men:

OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCDecember 6, 2025Myanmar Joshua Van17-2-0 (9KO 2SUB)1
ONE ChampionshipApril 29, 2026Uzbekistan Avazbek Kholmirzaev18-2-0 (9KO 6SUB)0
Rizin FFJune 6, 2026Japan Makoto Takahashi23-5-1 (1) (0KO 7SUB)0
ACAJune 28, 2025Russia Azamat Pshukov14-3-0 (8KO 3SUB)0
Brave CFNovember 7, 2025United Kingdom Muhammad Mokaev16-0-0 (3KO 7SUB)0
CFFCSeptember 27, 2024Indonesia Bilal Hasan7-0-0 (5KO 1SUB)2
Cage WarriorsDecember 6, 2025France Nicolas Leblond13-4-0 (3KO 6SUB)0
PancraseApril 3, 2024Japan Seiichiro Ito18-4-0 (3KO 12SUB)0
Jungle FightMarch 22, 2023Brazil Wagner Reis9-4-0 (7KO 1SUB)0
LFAMarch 22, 2025Brazil Eduardo Henrique15-2-0 (7KO 4SUB)2
LFAFebruary 7, 2025Brazil Marcos Degli13-3-0 (8KO 4SUB)1
LUX Fight LeagueFebruary 13, 2026Mexico Paulino Siller17-3-0 (2KO 7SUB)0
Oktagon MMAJune 28, 2025Kazakhstan Zhalgas Zhumagulov18-9-0 (8KO 1SUB)0
DEEPAugust 17, 2025Japan Yutaro Muramoto14-9-2 (5KO 2SUB)0

Women:

OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCSeptember 14, 2024Kyrgyzstan Valentina Shevchenko26–4–0 (1) (8KO 7SUB)2
Invicta FCN/AVacantN/AN/A
Deep JewelsMay 8, 2022Japan Rin Nakai28-2 (10KO 12SUB)0
PancraseMarch 9, 2025Japan Fumika Watanabe3-1 (1KO 0SUB)0
Jungle FightMarch 26, 2023Brazil Elora Dana8-1 (1KO 5SUB)2
LFAFebruary 23, 2024Canada Shannon Clark7-1 (3KO 1SUB)2

See also

  • List of current MMA Flyweight Champions
  • List of Road FC Flyweight Champions
  • List of current MMA Women's Flyweight Champions

External links