Boxers who weigh more than 61.2 kg (135 pounds) and up to 63.5 kg (140 pounds) compete in the super lightweight division of professional boxing. Super lightweight is also referred to as junior welterweight or light welterweight.
In a poll conducted by the boxing publication “Boxing Blade” in 1922, readers selected Pinky Mitchell as the best fighter in this division. He would subsequently be named the light-welterweight champion, making him the first official champion in this weight class.
History of the Super Lightweight Class in Pro Boxing
The super lightweight division was initially established by the 1920 New York Walker Law. In 1922, the National Boxing Association (NBA) gave it official recognition.
The 1959 world light welterweight championship bout between Kenny Lane and Carlos Ortiz, which was sanctioned by the NBA, marked the beginning of the belt's modern era. Carlos Ortiz won, and until 1967, the WBC and the NBA both recognized the same winner.
In 1984, Aaron Pryor became the first junior welterweight champion of the IBF. With 12 title defenses, Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez currently holds the record for the longest title reign.
History has produced several notable super lightweight champions, including Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross, Carlos Ortiz, Nicolino Locche, Aaron Pryor, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, and Kosta Tszyu.
List of Current Pro Boxing Super Lightweight Champions
| Division/ Weight | WBA (World Boxing Association) | WBC (World Boxing Council) | IBF (International Boxing Federation) | WBO (World Boxing Organization) | IBO (International Boxing Organization) |
| Super Lightweight | Ismael Barroso (I) | Alberto Puello | Liam Paro | Teofimo Lopez | Zhankosh Turarov |
Latest Results from Super Lightweight Pro Boxing
On June 29, 2024, Teofimo Lopez defeated Steve Claggett via a unanimous decision.
On June 15, 2024, Liam Paro beat Subriel Matías via a unanimous decision to become the new IBF super-lightweight champion.
Pro Boxing Super Lightweight Rankings 2024
| Rank | BoxRec | TBRB | The Ring | WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO |
| C | — | Teofimo Lopez | Teofimo Lopez | Ismael Barroso(I) | Alberto Puello | Liam Paro | Teofimo Lopez |
| 1 | Devin Haney | Regis Prograis | Devin Haney | Kenneth Sims Jr. | Sandor Martin | Richardson Hitchins | Arnold Barboza Jr. |
| 2 | Teofimo Lopez | Jose Carlos Ramirez | Josh Taylor | Nestor Bravo | Gary Antuanne Russell | vacant | Richardson Hitchins |
| 3 | Regis Prograis | Arnold Barboza Jr. | Subriel Matías | Jack Catterall | Dalton Smith | Jack Catterall | Jose Carlos Ramirez |
| 4 | Richardson Hitchins | Jack Catterall | Jose Carlos Ramirez | Regis Prograis | Richardson Hitchins | Regis Prograis | Sandor Martin |
| 5 | Ryan Garcia | Jose Zepeda | Regis Prograis | José Valenzuela | Jack Catterall | Liam Paro | Josh Taylor |
| 6 | Subriel Matías | Gary Antuanne Russell | Richardson Hitchins | Zhankozh Turarov | Jose Carlos Ramirez | Gustavo Lemos | Jack Catterall |
| 7 | Jose Carlos Ramirez | Subriel Matías | Jack Catterall | Andy Hiraoka | Arnold Barboza Jr. | Arnold Barboza Jr. | Elvis Rodriguez |
| 8 | Jamaine Ortiz | Steve Spark | Gary Antuanne Russell | Rolando Romero | Alberto Puello | Mathieu Germain | Regis Prograis |
| 9 | Rolando Romero | Teófimo López | Sandor Martin | Batyrzhan Jukembayev | Steve Claggett | Jamaine Ortiz | Nestor Bravo |
| 10 | Josh Taylor | Sandor Martin | Lindolfo Delgado | Batyr Akhmedov | Lindolfo Delgado | Elvis Rodriguez | Steve Claggett |
Pro-Boxing Weight Divisions
FAQs On Pro-Boxing Super Lightweight
A. The weight range for the super lightweight division is above 61.2 kg (135 pounds) and up to 63.5 kg (140 pounds).
A. Pinky Mitchell was named the first official champion in the super lightweight division.
A. As of August 2024, WBA: Ismael Barroso(I), WBC: Alberto Puello, IBF: Liam Paro, WBO: Teofimo Lopez, IBO: Zhankosh Turarov.
A. As of August 2024, Teofimo Lopez is 28 years old.
