User:Fpwlada/sandbox

This is a list of current world boxing champions. Since at least John L. Sullivan, in the late 19th century, there have been world champions in professional boxing. The first of today's organizations to award a world title was the World Boxing Association (WBA), then known as the National Boxing Association (NBA), when it sanctioned its first title fight in 1921 between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier for the world heavyweight championship.

There are now four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. The official rules and regulations of the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) all recognize each other in their rankings and title unification rules. Each of these organizations sanction and regulate championship bouts and award world titles. American boxing magazine The Ring began awarding world titles in 1922.

There are seventeen weight divisions. To compete in a division, a boxer's weight must not exceed the upper limit. Manny Pacquiao has won world championships in eight different weight divisions, more than any other boxer. The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, held all four major titles in the heavyweight division from 2011 to 2013; they were the first brothers to hold versions of the heavyweight championship at the same time.

Major sanctioning bodies
When a champion, for reasons beyond his control such as an illness or injury, is unable to defend his title within the normal mandatory time, the sanctioning bodies may order an interim title bout and award the winner an interim championship. The WBA and WBC have changed the status of their inactive champions to "Champion in Recess" in the past.

World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association (WBA) was founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), a national regulating body of the United States. On August 23, 1962, the NBA became the WBA, which today has its head office in Panama. According to WBA championship rules, when a champion also holds a title of one of the other three major sanctioning bodies in an equivalent weight division, that boxer is granted a special recognition of "Unified Champion", and is given more time between mandatory title defences. The WBA Championships Committee and President may also designate a champion as a "Super Champion" or "Undisputed Champion" in exceptional circumstances; the standard WBA title is then vacated and contested between WBA-ranked contenders. When a WBA "Regular Champion" makes between five and ten successful defences, he may be granted the WBA "Super" title upon discretion of a vote of the WBA's board of governors.

World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico on February 14, 1963 in order to establish an international regulating body. The WBC established many of today's safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count, a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15, and additional weight divisions. More information about the WBC's titles including "Silver", "Diamond", "Emeritus", "Honorary", and "Supreme Champion" can be read at the WBC article.

International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA) when American members of the WBA withdrew in order to legitimize boxing in the United States with "unbiased" ratings. In April 1983, the organization established an international division that was known as the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I). In May 1984, the New Jersey-based USBA-I was renamed and became the IBF.

World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which is a self-governing commonwealth of the United States) in 1988. In its early years the WBO's titles were not widely recognized. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is "dignity, democracy, honesty." When a WBO champion has reached "preeminent status", the WBO's Executive Committee may designate him as a "Super Champion". However, this is only an honorary title and not the same as the WBA's policy of having separate "Super" and "Regular" champions. A WBO "Super Champion" cannot win or lose that recognition in the ring; it is merely awarded by the WBO.

Current champions
The current champions in each weight division are listed below. Each champion's professional boxing record is shown in the following format: wins–losses–draws–no contests (knockout wins).

Heavyweight (200+ lb, 90.7+ kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Anthony Joshua Super champion 20–0–0–0 (20) April 29, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Deontay Wilder 🇺🇸 39–0–0–0 (38) January 17, 2015
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Anthony Joshua 20–0–0–0 (20) April 9, 2016
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Joseph Parker 🇳🇿 24–0–0–0 (18) December 10, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Manuel Charr Regular champion 🇸🇾 31–4–0–0 (17) November 25, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Manuel Charr Regular champion 🇸🇾 31–4–0–0 (17) November 25, 2017

Cruiserweight (200 lb, 90.7 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Denis Lebedev Super champion 🇷🇺 30–2–0–1 (22) May 20, 2016
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Mairis Briedis 23–0–0–0 (18) April 1, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Murat Gassiev 🇷🇺 25–0–0–1 (18) December 3, 2016
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Oleksandr Usyk 🇺🇦 13–0–0–0 (11) September 17, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Yunier Dorticos Regular champion 🇨🇺 22–0–0–0 (21) May 20, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Yunier Dorticos Regular champion 🇨🇺 22–0–0–0 (21) May 20, 2016

Light heavyweight (175 lb, 79.4 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Dmitry Bivol 🇷🇺 12–0–0–0 (10) October 14, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Adonis Stevenson 🇨🇦 29–1–0–0 (24) June 8, 2013
 * style="text-align:center;"|Artur Beterbiev 🇷🇺 12–0–0–0 (12) November 11, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Sergey Kovalev 🇷🇺 31–2–1–0 (27) November 25, 2017

Super middleweight (168 lb, 76.2 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|George Groves Super champion 27–3–0–0 (20) May 27, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|David Benavidez 🇺🇸 19–0–0–0 (17) September 8, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Caleb Truax 🇺🇸 29–3–2–0 (18) December 9, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Gilberto Ramírez 🇲🇽 36–0–0–0 (24) April 9, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Tyron Zeuge Regular champion 🇩🇪 21–0–1–0 (11) November 5, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Andre Dirrell Interim champion 🇺🇸 26–2–0–0 (16) May 20, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Andre Dirrell Interim champion 🇺🇸 26–2–0–0 (16) May 20, 2017

Middleweight (160 lb, 72.6 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Gennady Golovkin Super champion 🇰🇿 37–0–1–0 (33) June 3, 2014
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Gennady Golovkin 🇰🇿 37–0–1–0 (33) May 18, 2016
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Gennady Golovkin 🇰🇿 37–0–1–0 (33) October 17, 2015
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Billy Joe Saunders 25–0–0–0 (12) December 19, 2015
 * style="text-align:center;"|Ryōta Murata Regular champion 🇯🇵 13–1–0–0 (10) October 22, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Ryōta Murata Regular champion 🇯🇵 13–1–0–0 (10) October 22, 2017

Light middleweight (154 lb, 69.9 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Erislandy Lara Super champion 🇨🇺 25–2–2–0 (14) June 8, 2016
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Jermell Charlo 🇺🇸 30–0–0–0 (15) May 21, 2016
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Jarrett Hurd 🇺🇸 21–0–0–0 (15) February 25, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Sadam Ali 🇺🇸 26–1–0–0 (14) December 2, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Brian Castaño Regular champion 🇦🇷 14–0–0–0 (10) October 28, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Brian Castaño Regular champion 🇦🇷 14–0–0–0 (10) October 28, 2017

Welterweight (147 lb, 66.7 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Keith Thurman Super champion 🇺🇸 28–0–0–1 (22) January 16, 2015
 * style="text-align:center;"|Keith Thurman 🇺🇸 28–0–0–1 (22) March 4, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Errol Spence 🇺🇸 22–0–0–0 (19) May 27, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jeff Horn 🇦🇺 18–0–1–0 (12) July 2, 2017

Light welterweight (140 lb, 63.5 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|vacant
 * style="text-align:center;"|vacant
 * style="text-align:center;"|Sergey Lipinets 🇷🇺 13–0–0–0 (10) November 4, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|vacant

Lightweight (135 lb, 61.2 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Jorge Linares 🇻🇪 43–3–0–0 (27) September 24, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Mikey Garcia 🇺🇸 37–0–0–0 (30) January 28, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Robert Easter Jr. 🇺🇸 20–0–0–0 (14) September 9, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|vacant

Super featherweight (130 lb, 59 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Alberto Machado 19–0–0–0 (16) October 21, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Miguel Berchelt 🇲🇽 32–1–0–0 (28) January 28, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Kenichi Ogawa 23–1–0–0 (17) December 9, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Vasyl Lomachenko 🇺🇦 10–1–0–0 (8) June 11, 2016

Featherweight (126 lb, 57.2 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Léo Santa Cruz Super champion 🇲🇽 34–1–1–0 (19) January 28, 2017
 * rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Gary Russell Jr. 🇺🇸 28–1–0–0 (17) March 28, 2015
 * rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Lee Selby 26–1–0–0 (9) May 30, 2015
 * rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Óscar Valdez 🇲🇽 23–0–0–0 (19) July 23, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Abner Mares Regular champion 🇲🇽 31–2–1–0 (15) December 11, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jesus M. Rojas Interim champion 26–1–2–1 (19) September 15, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jesus M. Rojas Interim champion 26–1–2–1 (19) September 15, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jesus M. Rojas Interim champion 26–1–2–1 (19) September 15, 2017

Super bantamweight (122 lb, 55.3 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Daniel Roman Regular champion 🇺🇸 23–2–1–0 (9) September 3, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Rey Vargas 🇲🇽 31–0–0–0 (22) February 25, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Ryosuke Iwasa 🇯🇵 24–2–0–0 (16) September 13, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Jessie Magdaleno 🇺🇸 25–0–0–0 (18) November 5, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Moises Flores Interim champion 🇲🇽 25–0–0–2 (17) April 18, 2015
 * style="text-align:center;"|Moises Flores Interim champion 🇲🇽 25–0–0–2 (17) April 18, 2015

Bantamweight (118 lb, 53.5 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Ryan Burnett Unified champion 18–0–0–0 (9) October 21, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Luis Nery 🇲🇽 25–0–0–0 (19) August 15, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Ryan Burnett 18–0–0–0 (9) June 10, 2017
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Zolani Tete 26–3–0–0 (21) April 22, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jamie McDonnell Regular champion 29–2–1–1 (13) May 31, 2014
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jamie McDonnell Regular champion 29–2–1–1 (13) May 31, 2014

Super flyweight (115 lb, 52.2 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Khalid Yafai 🇬🇧 23–0–0–0 (14) December 10, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Srisaket Sor Rungvisai 🇹🇭 44–4–1–0 (40) March 18, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Jerwin Ancajas 🇵🇭 28–1–1–0 (19) September 3, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Naoya Inoue 🇯🇵 14–0–0–0 (12) December 30, 2014

Flyweight (112 lb, 50.8 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|vacant
 * style="text-align:center;"|Daigo Higa 🇯🇵 14–0–0–0 (14) May 20, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Donnie Nietes 🇵🇭 40–1–4–0 (22) April 29, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Sho Kimura 🇯🇵 15–1–2–0 (8) July 28, 2017

Light flyweight (108 lb, 49 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Ryoichi Taguchi 🇯🇵 26–2–2–0 (12) December 31, 2014
 * style="text-align:center;"|Ken Shiro 🇯🇵 11–0–0–0 (5) May 20, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Milan Melindo $\phi$ 37–2–0–0 (13) May 21, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Ángel Acosta 17–1–0–0 (17) December 2, 2017

Minimumweight (105 lb, 47.6 kg)

 * style="text-align:center;"|Thammanoon Niyomtrong 🇹🇭 16–0–0–0 (7) June 29, 2016
 * style="text-align:center;"|Chayaphon Moonsri 🇹🇭 49–0–0–0 (17) November 6, 2014
 * style="text-align:center;"|Hiroto Kyoguchi 🇯🇵 8–0–0–0 (6) July 23, 2017
 * style="text-align:center;"|Ryuya Yamanaka 🇯🇵 15–2–0–0 (4) August 27, 2017

Lineal titles
In combat sports where champions are decided by a challenge, the lineal championship of a weight class is a world championship title held initially by an undisputed champion and subsequently by a fighter who defeats the reigning champion in a match at that weight class. In professional boxing, the lineal champion is informally called "the man who beat the man".

The Ring
The boxing magazine The Ring maintains its own version of the lineal championship. The original sequence began from the magazine's first publication in the 1920s until the lineal championships were placed on hiatus in 1989, continuing as late as 1992 in some divisions. When The Ring started awarding titles again in 2001, it did not calculate retrospective lineages to fill in the gap years, instead nominating a new champion. CBZ commented in 2004, "The Ring has forfeited its credibility by pulling names out of its ass to name fighters as champions". In 2007, The Ring was acquired by the owners of fight promoter Golden Boy Promotions, which has publicized The Ring's world championships when they are at stake in fights it promotes (such as Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr. in 2008). Since 2012, to reduce the number of vacant titles, The Ring allows fights between a No. 1 or No. 2 contender and a No. 3, No. 4, or No. 5 contender to fill a vacant title. This has prompted further doubts about its credibility.

Some boxing journalists have been extremely critical of the new championship policy and state that if this new policy is followed, the Ring title will lose the credibility it once held.

Transnational Boxing Rankings Board
The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB) hands out the most complete version of the lineal championship and is universally recognized as the most authoritative boxing rankings in the world today. TBRB was formed in October 2012 as a volunteer initiative to provide boxing with authoritative top-ten rankings, identify the singular world champion of every division by strict reasoning and common sense, and to insist on the sport's reform. Board membership includes fifty respected boxing journalists and record keepers from around the world who are uncompromised by sanctioning bodies and promoters.

The board was formed to continue where The Ring "left off" in the aftermath of its purchase by Golden Boy Promotions in 2007 and the following dismissal of the editorial board headed by Nigel Collins. After the new editors announced a controversial new championship policy in May 2012, three prominent members of the Ring Advisory Panel resigned. These three members (Springs Toledo, Cliff Rold and Tim Starks) became the founding members of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, which was formed over the summer of 2012 with the assistance of Stewart Howe of England. The board only awards vacant championships when the two top-ranked fighters in any division meet, and currently recognizes legitimate world champions or "true champions" in each weight class.