Open Boxing

The Ring lightweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1924. Last held in 2023; no longer contested.

World title bouts
127
Champions
38
Longest reign (Roberto Duran, 1972–1979)
6 years, 7 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Roberto Duran, 1972–1979)
12

Last champion

Devin Haney2022–2023

Reigns and world title bouts

Jan 2019 – Jan 2024

The Ring
Vasyl LomachenkoTeofimo LopezJrDevin Haney
AprJulOct2020AprJulOct2021AprJulOct2022AprJulOct2023AprJulOct2024
1930194019501960197019801990200020102020

World title bout

Reigns by length

  1. 1Roberto DuranThe Ring 1972–19796 years, 7 months · 12 successful defences
  2. 2Joe BrownThe Ring 1956–19625 years, 7 months · 11 successful defences
  3. 3Sammy MandellThe Ring 1926–19304 years · 4 successful defences
  4. 4Ike WilliamsThe Ring 1947–19513 years, 9 months · 5 successful defences
  5. 5Juan Manuel MarquezThe Ring 2008–20123 years, 7 months · 3 successful defences
  6. 6Carlos OrtizThe Ring 1962–19652 years, 11 months · 4 successful defences
  7. 7Carlos OrtizThe Ring 1965–19682 years, 7 months · 5 successful defences
  8. 8Tony CanzoneriThe Ring 1930–19332 years, 7 months · 4 successful defences
  9. 9Vasyl LomachenkoThe Ring 2018–20202 years, 5 months · 3 successful defences
  10. 10Floyd Mayweather JrThe Ring 2002–20042 years, 1 month · 3 successful defences
  11. 11Lou AmbersThe Ring 1936–19381 year, 11 months · 2 successful defences
  12. 12Joel CasamayorThe Ring 2006–20081 year, 11 months · 2 successful defences
  13. 13Barney RossThe Ring 1933–19351 year, 9 months · 1 successful defence
  14. 14Ken BuchananThe Ring 1970–19721 year, 9 months · 2 successful defences
  15. 15Jorge LinaresThe Ring 2016–20181 year, 7 months · 3 successful defences
  16. 16Alexis ArguelloThe Ring 1981–19831 year, 7 months · 4 successful defences
  17. 17Lew JenkinsThe Ring 1940–19411 year, 7 months · 1 successful defence
  18. 18Devin HaneyThe Ring 2022–20231 year, 5 months · 2 successful defences
  19. 19Diego CorralesThe Ring 2005–20061 year, 5 months · 0 successful defences
  20. 20Jimmy CarterThe Ring 1952–19541 year, 4 months · 3 successful defences
  21. 21Tony CanzoneriThe Ring 1935–19361 year, 3 months · 1 successful defence
  22. 22Wallace Bud SmithThe Ring 1955–19561 year, 1 month · 1 successful defence
  23. 23Teofimo LopezThe Ring 2020–20211 year, 1 month · 0 successful defences
  24. 24Mando RamosThe Ring 1969–19701 year · 1 successful defence
  25. 25Henry ArmstrongThe Ring 1938–19391 year · 1 successful defence
  26. 26Benny LeonardThe Ring 1924–192511 months · 0 successful defences
  27. 27Jimmy CarterThe Ring 1951–195211 months · 2 successful defences
  28. 28Jose Luis CastilloThe Ring 2004–200511 months · 2 successful defences
  29. 29Sammy AngottThe Ring 1941–194210 months · 1 successful defence
  30. 30Lou AmbersThe Ring 1939–19408 months · 0 successful defences
  31. 31Paddy DeMarcoThe Ring 1954–19548 months · 0 successful defences
  32. 32Carlos CruzThe Ring 1968–19697 months · 1 successful defence
  33. 33Jimmy CarterThe Ring 1954–19557 months · 0 successful defences
  34. 34Pernell WhitakerThe Ring 1989–19907 months · 0 successful defences
  35. 35Ismael LagunaThe Ring 1965–19657 months · 0 successful defences
  36. 36Rocky KansasThe Ring 1925–19266 months · 0 successful defences
  37. 37Ismael LagunaThe Ring 1970–19706 months · 1 successful defence
  38. 38George Kambosos JrThe Ring 2021–20226 months · 0 successful defences
  39. 39Lauro SalasThe Ring 1952–19525 months · 0 successful defences
  40. 40Jimmy GoodrichThe Ring 1925–19254 months · 0 successful defences
  41. 41Terence CrawfordThe Ring 2014–20154 months · 0 successful defences
  42. 42Julio Cesar ChavezThe Ring 1988–19894 months · 0 successful defences
  43. 43Al SingerThe Ring 1930–19303 months · 0 successful defences
  44. 44Jim WattThe Ring 1981–19812 months · 0 successful defences

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1924

  2. Benny Leonard becomes The Ring lightweight world champion

    Lightweight · The RingNew champion

  3. 1925

  4. Benny Leonard’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  5. Jimmy Goodrich beats Stanislaus Loayza via knockout 2/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  6. Rocky Kansas beats Jimmy Goodrich via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  7. 1926

  8. Sammy Mandell beats Rocky Kansas via points decision 10/10

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  9. Sammy Mandell beats Joe Jawson via newspaper decision 10/10

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  10. 1927

  11. Sammy Mandell beats Phil McGraw via points decision 10/10

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  12. 1928

  13. Sammy Mandell beats Jimmy McLarnin via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  14. 1929

  15. Sammy Mandell beats Tony Canzoneri via split decision 10/10

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  1. 1930

  2. Al Singer beats Sammy Mandell via knockout 1/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  3. Tony Canzoneri beats Al Singer via knockout 1/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  4. 1931

  5. Tony Canzoneri beats Jack Kid Berg via knockout 3/10

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  6. Tony Canzoneri beats Jack Kid Berg via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  7. Tony Canzoneri beats Kid Chocolate via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  8. 1932

  9. Tony Canzoneri beats Billy Petrolle via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  10. 1933

  11. Barney Ross beats Tony Canzoneri via majority decision 10/10

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  12. Barney Ross beats Tony Canzoneri via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  13. 1935

  14. Barney Ross’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  15. Tony Canzoneri beats Lou Ambers via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  16. Tony Canzoneri beats Al Roth via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  17. 1936

  18. Lou Ambers beats Tony Canzoneri via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion

  19. 1937

  20. Lou Ambers beats Tony Canzoneri via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  21. Lou Ambers beats Pedro Montanez via majority decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  22. 1938

  23. Henry Armstrong beats Lou Ambers via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  24. 1939

  25. Henry Armstrong beats Lew Feldman via knockout 1/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  26. Lou Ambers beats Henry Armstrong via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  1. 1940

  2. Lew Jenkins beats Lou Ambers via knockout 3/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC and The RingNew Ring champion

  3. Lew Jenkins beats Pete Lello via knockout 2/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC and The Ring

  4. 1941

  5. Sammy Angott beats Lew Jenkins via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  6. 1942

  7. Sammy Angott beats Allie Stolz via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  8. Sammy Angott’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  9. 1947

  10. Ike Williams beats Bob Montgomery via knockout 6/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  11. 1948

  12. Ike Williams beats Enrique Bolanos via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  13. Ike Williams beats Beau Jack via knockout 6/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  14. Ike Williams beats Jesse Flores via knockout 10/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  15. 1949

  16. Ike Williams beats Enrique Bolanos via knockout 4/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  17. Ike Williams beats Freddie Dawson via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  1. 1951

  2. Jimmy Carter beats Ike Williams via knockout 14/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  3. Jimmy Carter beats Art Aragon via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  4. 1952

  5. Jimmy Carter beats Lauro Salas via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  6. Lauro Salas beats Jimmy Carter via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  7. Jimmy Carter beats Lauro Salas via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  8. 1953

  9. Jimmy Carter beats Tommy Collins via knockout 4/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  10. Jimmy Carter beats George Araujo via knockout 13/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  11. Jimmy Carter beats Armand Savoie via knockout 5/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  12. 1954

  13. Paddy DeMarco beats Jimmy Carter via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  14. Jimmy Carter beats Paddy DeMarco via knockout 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  15. 1955

  16. Wallace Bud Smith beats Jimmy Carter via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  17. Wallace Bud Smith beats Jimmy Carter via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  18. 1956

  19. Joe Brown beats Wallace Bud Smith via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  20. 1957

  21. Joe Brown beats Wallace Bud Smith via knockout 11/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  22. Joe Brown beats Orlando Zulueta via knockout 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  23. Joe Brown beats Joey Lopes via knockout 11/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  24. 1958

  25. Joe Brown beats Ralph Dupas via knockout 8/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  26. Joe Brown beats Kenny Lane via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  27. 1959

  28. Joe Brown beats Johnny Busso via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  29. Joe Brown beats Paolo Rosi via knockout 9/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  30. Joe Brown beats Dave Charnley via knockout 6/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  1. 1960

  2. Joe Brown beats Cisco Andrade via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  3. 1961

  4. Joe Brown beats Dave Charnley via points decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  5. Joe Brown beats Bert Somodio via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  6. 1962

  7. Carlos Ortiz beats Joe Brown via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  8. Carlos Ortiz beats Teruo Kosaka via knockout 5/15

    Lightweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  9. 1963

  10. Carlos Ortiz beats Douglas Vaillant via knockout 13/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  11. 1964

  12. Carlos Ortiz beats Flash Elorde via knockout 14/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  13. Carlos Ortiz beats Kenny Lane via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  14. 1965

  15. Ismael Laguna beats Carlos Ortiz via majority decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  16. Carlos Ortiz beats Ismael Laguna via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  17. 1966

  18. Carlos Ortiz beats Johnny Bizzarro via knockout 12/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  19. Carlos Ortiz beats Sugar Ramos via knockout 5/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  20. Carlos Ortiz beats Flash Elorde via knockout 14/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  21. 1967

  22. Carlos Ortiz beats Sugar Ramos via knockout 4/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  23. Carlos Ortiz beats Ismael Laguna via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  24. 1968

  25. Carlos Cruz beats Carlos Ortiz via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  26. Carlos Cruz beats Mando Ramos via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  27. 1969

  28. Mando Ramos beats Carlos Cruz via knockout 11/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  29. Mando Ramos beats Yoshiaki Numata via knockout 6/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  1. 1970

  2. Ismael Laguna beats Mando Ramos via knockout 9/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  3. Ismael Laguna beats Guts Ishimatsu via knockout 13/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  4. Ken Buchanan beats Ismael Laguna via split decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  5. 1971

  6. Ken Buchanan beats Ruben Navarro via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  7. Ken Buchanan beats Ismael Laguna via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  8. 1972

  9. Roberto Duran beats Ken Buchanan via knockout 13/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The RingNew Ring champion

  10. 1973

  11. Roberto Duran beats Jimmy Robertson via knockout 5/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  12. Roberto Duran beats Hector Thompson via knockout 8/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  13. Roberto Duran beats Guts Ishimatsu via knockout 10/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  14. 1974

  15. Roberto Duran beats Esteban de Jesus via knockout 11/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  16. Roberto Duran beats Masataka Takayama via knockout 1/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  17. 1975

  18. Roberto Duran beats Ray Lampkin via knockout 14/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  19. Roberto Duran beats Leoncio Ortiz via knockout 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  20. 1976

  21. Roberto Duran beats Lou Bizzarro via knockout 14/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  22. Roberto Duran beats Alvaro Rojas via knockout 1/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  23. 1977

  24. Roberto Duran beats Vilomar Fernandez via knockout 13/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  25. Roberto Duran beats Edwin Viruet via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  26. 1978

  27. Roberto Duran beats Esteban de Jesus via knockout 12/15

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  28. 1979

  29. Roberto Duran’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  1. 1981

  2. Jim Watt becomes The Ring lightweight world champion

    Lightweight · The RingNew champion

  3. Alexis Arguello beats Jim Watt via unanimous decision 15/15

    Lightweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  4. Alexis Arguello beats Ray Mancini via knockout 14/15

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  5. Alexis Arguello beats Roberto Elizondo via knockout 7/15

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  6. 1982

  7. Alexis Arguello beats James Busceme via knockout 6/15

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  8. Alexis Arguello beats Andy Ganigan via knockout 5/15

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  9. 1983

  10. Alexis Arguello’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  11. 1988

  12. Julio Cesar Chavez beats Jose Luis Ramirez via technical decision 11/12

    Lightweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  13. 1989

  14. Julio Cesar Chavez’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  15. Pernell Whitaker beats Jose Luis Ramirez via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC, IBF and The RingNew Ring champion

  1. 1990

  2. Pernell Whitaker’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  1. 2002

  2. Floyd Mayweather Jr beats Jose Luis Castillo via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  3. Floyd Mayweather Jr beats Jose Luis Castillo via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  4. 2003

  5. Floyd Mayweather Jr beats Victoriano Sosa via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  6. Floyd Mayweather Jr beats Phillip Ndou via knockout 7/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  7. 2004

  8. Floyd Mayweather Jr’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  9. Jose Luis Castillo beats Juan Lazcano via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  10. Jose Luis Castillo beats Joel Casamayor via split decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  11. 2005

  12. Jose Luis Castillo beats Julio Diaz via knockout 10/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The Ring

  13. Diego Corrales beats Jose Luis Castillo via knockout 10/12

    Lightweight · WBC, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion

  14. 2006

  15. Joel Casamayor beats Diego Corrales via split decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion

  16. 2007

  17. Joel Casamayor beats Jose Armando Santa Cruz via split decision 12/12

    Lightweight · The Ring

  18. 2008

  19. Joel Casamayor beats Michael Katsidis via knockout 10/12

    Lightweight · The Ring

  20. Juan Manuel Marquez beats Joel Casamayor via knockout 11/12

    Lightweight · The RingNew champion

  21. 2009

  22. Juan Manuel Marquez beats Juan Diaz via knockout 9/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBO and The Ring

  1. 2010

  2. Juan Manuel Marquez beats Juan Diaz via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBO and The Ring

  3. Juan Manuel Marquez beats Michael Katsidis via knockout 9/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBO and The Ring

  4. 2012

  5. Juan Manuel Marquez’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  6. 2014

  7. Terence Crawford beats Raymundo Beltran via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBO and The RingNew Ring champion

  8. 2015

  9. Terence Crawford’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring

  10. 2016

  11. Jorge Linares beats Anthony Crolla via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Regular and The RingNew Ring champion

  12. 2017

  13. Jorge Linares beats Anthony Crolla via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Regular and The Ring

  14. Jorge Linares beats Luke Campbell via split decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Regular and The Ring

  15. 2018

  16. Jorge Linares beats Mercito Gesta via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Regular and The Ring

  17. Vasyl Lomachenko beats Jorge Linares via knockout 10/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super and The RingNew Ring champion

  18. Vasyl Lomachenko beats Jose Pedraza via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBO and The Ring

  19. 2019

  20. Vasyl Lomachenko beats Anthony Crolla via knockout 4/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBO and The Ring

  21. Vasyl Lomachenko beats Luke Campbell via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBC, WBO and The Ring

  1. 2020

  2. Teofimo Lopez beats Vasyl Lomachenko via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion

  3. 2021

  4. George Kambosos Jr beats Teofimo Lopez via split decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion

  5. 2022

  6. Devin Haney beats George Kambosos Jr via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion

  7. Devin Haney beats George Kambosos Jr via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  8. 2023

  9. Devin Haney beats Vasyl Lomachenko via unanimous decision 12/12

    Lightweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  10. Devin Haney’s reign as The Ring lightweight world champion ends

    Lightweight · The Ring