Bantamweight


Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. For boxing, the range is above and up to. In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between. In MMA, bantamweight is.
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 1
WBCNovember 24, 2025Takuma Inoue21–2 0
IBFDecember 13, 2025José Salas17–0 0
WBOMay 6, 2024Christian Medina26–4 0

Current ''The Ring'' world rankings

As of September 24, 2025.
Keys:
RankNameRecordTitle
C
1Seiya Tsutsumi12–0–3
2Christian Medina26–4 WBO
3Ryosuke Nishida10–1
4Takuma Inoue20–2
5Daigo Higa21–3–3
6Antonio Vargas19–1–1–1 WBA
7Yoshiki Takei11–1
8Tenshin Nasukawa7–0
9Jason Moloney27–4
10Jeyvier Cintrón13–1–0–1

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 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

Lineal Champions

Olympic Champions

World Champions

Pan American Champions

European Champions

Kickboxing

In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between 53 kg and 55 kg. However, some governing bodies have slightly different classes. For example, the International Kickboxing Federation Bantamweight division is 117.1 lbs.–122 lbs. or 53.22 kg–55.45 kg.
In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is.

Bare-knuckle boxing

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

Lethwei

In International Lethwei Federation Japan, the bantamweight division is up to. In International Lethwei Federation Japan, Yuta Hamamoto is the Bantamweight Champion.
The World Lethwei Championship recognizes the bantamweight division with an upper limit of. In World Lethwei Championship, Souris Manfredi is the Bantamweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts

In MMA, bantamweight is usually 126–135 pounds. In ONE Championship, the bantamweight division limit is. In Shooto, the limit is 56 kg.

Current champions

These tables were last updated in December of 2025.
Men:
OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCDecember 6, 2025

Muay Thai

In Muay Thai, bantamweight is 115–118 pounds. A notable Muai Thai bantamweight fighter is Randy Thong Phoun Phim.

Wrestling

Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight.