Open Boxing

IBF light heavyweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1984. Current champion: Dmitry Bivol, since 22nd Feb 2025.

World title bouts
81
Champions
20
Longest reign (Artur Beterbiev, 2017–2025)
7 years, 3 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Henry Maske, 1993–1996)
10

Current champion

Dmitry BivolSince 22nd Feb 2025 · 1 year, 8 months · 1 successful defence

Upcoming world title bouts

  1. Dmitry Bivol v Callum Smith

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

Reigns and world title bouts

Feb 2022 – Feb 2027

IBF
Artur BeterbievDmitry Bivol
AprJulOct2023AprJulOct2024AprJulOct2025AprJulOct2026AprJulOct2027
1990200020102020

World title boutScheduled

Reigns by length

  1. 1Artur BeterbievIBF2017–20257 years, 3 months · 9 successful defences
  2. 2Charles WilliamsIBF1987–19935 years, 4 months · 8 successful defences
  3. 3Roy Jones JrIBF1999–20033 years, 8 months · 7 successful defences
  4. 4Henry MaskeIBF1993–19963 years, 8 months · 10 successful defences
  5. 5Tavoris CloudIBF2009–20133 years, 6 months · 4 successful defences
  6. 6Clinton WoodsIBF2005–20083 years, 1 month · 4 successful defences
  7. 7Sergey KovalevIBF2014–20162 years · 4 successful defences
  8. 8Dmitry BivolIBF2025–present1 year, 8 months · 1 successful defence
  9. 9Bernard HopkinsIBF2013–20141 year, 7 months · 2 successful defences
  10. 10Michael SpinksIBF1984–19851 year, 6 months · 2 successful defences
  11. 11Reggie JohnsonIBF1998–19991 year, 3 months · 2 successful defences
  12. 12Bobby CzyzIBF1986–19871 year, 1 month · 3 successful defences
  13. 13Andre WardIBF2016–201710 months · 1 successful defence
  14. 14Glen JohnsonIBF2004–20048 months · 1 successful defence
  15. 15Slobodan KacarIBF1985–19868 months · 0 successful defences
  16. 16Chad DawsonIBF2008–20097 months · 1 successful defence
  17. 17Virgil HillIBF1996–19976 months · 0 successful defences
  18. 18William GuthrieIBF1997–19986 months · 0 successful defences
  19. 19Antonio TarverIBF2003–20036 months · 0 successful defences
  20. 20Antonio TarverIBF2008–20085 months · 0 successful defences
  21. 21Dariusz MichalczewskiIBF1997–19973 days · 0 successful defences

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1984

  2. Michael Spinks beats Eddie Davis via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The RingNew IBF champion

  3. 1985

  4. Michael Spinks beats David Sears via knockout 3/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  5. Michael Spinks beats Jim MacDonald via knockout 8/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  6. Michael Spinks’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  7. Slobodan Kacar beats Eddie Mustafa Muhammad via split decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  8. 1986

  9. Bobby Czyz beats Slobodan Kacar via knockout 5/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  10. Bobby Czyz beats David Sears via knockout 1/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  11. 1987

  12. Bobby Czyz beats Willie Edwards via knockout 2/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  13. Bobby Czyz beats Jim MacDonald via knockout 6/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  14. Charles Williams beats Bobby Czyz via corner retirement 9/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  15. 1988

  16. Charles Williams beats Richard Caramanolis via knockout 11/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  17. Charles Williams beats Rufino Angulo via knockout 3/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  18. 1989

  19. Charles Williams beats Bobby Czyz via corner retirement 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  1. 1990

  2. Charles Williams beats Frankie Swindell via corner retirement 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  3. 1991

  4. Charles Williams beats Mwehu Beya via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  5. Charles Williams beats James Kinchen via knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  6. Charles Williams beats Vincent Boulware via knockout 3/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  7. Charles Williams beats Freddie Delgado via knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  8. 1993

  9. Henry Maske beats Charles Williams via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  10. Henry Maske beats Anthony Hembrick via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  11. Henry Maske beats David Vedder via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  12. 1994

  13. Henry Maske beats Ernesto Magdaleno via knockout 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  14. Henry Maske beats Andrea Magi via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  15. Henry Maske beats Iran Barkley via corner retirement 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  16. 1995

  17. Henry Maske beats Egerton Marcus via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  18. Henry Maske beats Graciano Rocchigiani via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  19. Henry Maske beats Graciano Rocchigiani via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  20. 1996

  21. Henry Maske beats Duran Williams via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  22. Henry Maske beats John Scully via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  23. Virgil Hill beats Henry Maske via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA and IBFNew IBF champion

  24. 1997

  25. Dariusz Michalczewski beats Virgil Hill via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  26. Dariusz Michalczewski’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  27. William Guthrie beats Darrin Allen via knockout 3/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  28. 1998

  29. Reggie Johnson beats William Guthrie via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  30. Reggie Johnson beats Ole Klemetsen via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  31. 1999

  32. Reggie Johnson beats Will Taylor via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  33. Roy Jones Jr beats Reggie Johnson via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  1. 2000

  2. Roy Jones Jr beats David Telesco via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  3. Roy Jones Jr beats Richard Hall via knockout 11/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  4. Roy Jones Jr beats Eric Harding via corner retirement 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  5. 2001

  6. Roy Jones Jr beats Derrick Harmon via corner retirement 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC and IBF

  7. Roy Jones Jr beats Julio Cesar Gonzalez via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC and IBF

  8. 2002

  9. Roy Jones Jr beats Glen Kelly via knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  10. Roy Jones Jr beats Clinton Woods via knockout 6/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  11. 2003

  12. Roy Jones Jr’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  13. Antonio Tarver beats Montell Griffin via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  14. Antonio Tarver’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  15. Glen Johnson and Clinton Woods draw via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  16. 2004

  17. Glen Johnson beats Clinton Woods via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  18. Glen Johnson beats Roy Jones Jr via knockout 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  19. Glen Johnson’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  20. 2005

  21. Clinton Woods beats Rico Hoye via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  22. Clinton Woods beats Julio Cesar Gonzalez via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  23. 2006

  24. Clinton Woods beats Jason DeLisle via knockout 6/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  25. Clinton Woods beats Glen Johnson via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  26. 2007

  27. Clinton Woods beats Julio Cesar Gonzalez via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  28. 2008

  29. Antonio Tarver beats Clinton Woods via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  30. Chad Dawson beats Antonio Tarver via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  31. 2009

  32. Chad Dawson beats Antonio Tarver via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  33. Chad Dawson’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  34. Tavoris Cloud beats Clinton Woods via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  1. 2010

  2. Tavoris Cloud beats Glen Johnson via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  3. Tavoris Cloud beats Fulgencio Zuniga via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  4. 2011

  5. Tavoris Cloud beats Yusaf Mack via knockout 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  6. 2012

  7. Tavoris Cloud beats Gabriel Campillo via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  8. 2013

  9. Bernard Hopkins beats Tavoris Cloud via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  10. Bernard Hopkins beats Karo Murat via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  11. 2014

  12. Bernard Hopkins beats Beibut Shumenov via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super and IBF

  13. Sergey Kovalev beats Bernard Hopkins via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  14. 2015

  15. Sergey Kovalev beats Jean Pascal via knockout 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  16. Sergey Kovalev beats Nadjib Mohammedi via knockout 3/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  17. 2016

  18. Sergey Kovalev beats Jean Pascal via corner retirement 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  19. Sergey Kovalev beats Isaac Chilemba via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  20. Andre Ward beats Sergey Kovalev via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  21. 2017

  22. Andre Ward beats Sergey Kovalev via knockout 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  23. Andre Ward’s reign as the IBF light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  24. Artur Beterbiev beats Enrico Koelling via knockout 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  25. 2018

  26. Artur Beterbiev beats Callum Johnson via knockout 4/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  27. 2019

  28. Artur Beterbiev beats Radivoje Kalajdzic via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBF

  29. Artur Beterbiev beats Oleksandr Gvozdyk via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  1. 2021

  2. Artur Beterbiev beats Adam Deines via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  3. Artur Beterbiev beats Marcus Browne via knockout 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  4. 2022

  5. Artur Beterbiev beats Joe Smith Jr via technical knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and WBO

  6. 2023

  7. Artur Beterbiev beats Anthony Yarde via technical knockout 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and WBO

  8. 2024

  9. Artur Beterbiev beats Callum Smith via technical knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and WBO

  10. Artur Beterbiev beats Dmitry Bivol via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  11. 2025

  12. Dmitry Bivol beats Artur Beterbiev via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The RingNew IBF champion

  13. 2026

  14. Dmitry Bivol beats Michael Eifert via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and The Ring

    Source: Bivol ends layoff, dominates Eifert in light heavyweight title defense(opens in a new tab), The Ring, Nate Pardo-Marrero,

  15. Dmitry Bivol v Callum Smith

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The RingScheduled

    Source: Bivol to defend light-heavyweight titles against Britain's Smith in Russia(opens in a new tab), Dawn, Reuters,