Super bantamweight, also known as junior featherweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from 118 pounds (54 kg) and up to 122 pounds (55 kg).
There were attempts by boxing promoters in the 1920s to establish this weight class, but few sanctioning organizations or state athletic commissions would recognize it. Jack Wolf won recognition as champion when he beat Joe Lynch at Madison Square Garden on September 21, 1922, but afterwards the weight division fell into disuse.[1]
The division was revived in the 1970s and the first title fight in 54 years in the division took place in 1976 when the World Boxing Council recognized Rigoberto Riasco as its champion when he defeated Waruinge Nakayama in eight rounds. The World Boxing Association crowned its first champion in 1977 when Soo Hwan Hong knocked out Hector Carasquilla in three rounds to win the inaugural WBA championship. In 1983 the International Boxing Federation sanctioned the bout between Bobby Berna and Seung-In Suh for its first title. Berna won in the eleventh round.
On December 26, 2023, Naoya Inoue became the division's first undisputed champion.
Notable fighters to hold championship titles at this weight have been Wayne McCullough, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Scott Quigg, Wilfredo Gómez, Lupe Pintor, Jeff Fenech, Fabrice Benichou, Daniel Zaragoza, Kennedy McKinney, Érik Morales, Naoya Inoue, Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Rafael Márquez, Toshiaki Nishioka, Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz, and Israel Vázquez. Gómez holds the record for longest title reign, at five years and ten months.
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Main article: List of world super-bantamweight boxing champions |
Current champions
| Sanctioning body | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | December 26, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 26–0 (23 KO) | 0 |
| WBC | July 25, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 26–0 (23 KO) | 1 |
| IBF | December 26, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 26–0 (23 KO) | 0 |
| WBO | July 25, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | 26–0 (23 KO) | 1 |
As of January 6, 2024.[2]
Keys:
| Rank | Name | Record | Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Naoya Inoue | 26–0 (23 KO) | WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF |
| 1 | Stephen Fulton | 21–1 (8 KO) | |
| 2 | Marlon Tapales | 37–4 (19 KO) | |
| 3 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | 12–1 (9 KO) | |
| 4 | Sam Goodman | 17–0 (7 KO) | |
| 5 | Luis Nery | 35–1 (27 KO) | |
| 6 | Ra'eese Aleem | 20–1 (12 KO) | |
| 7 | Azat Hovhannisyan | 21–4 (17 KO) | |
| 8 | Elijah Pierce | 18–2 (15 KO) | |
| 9 | TJ Doheny | 25–4 (19 KO) | |
| 10 | Liam Davies | 15–0 (7 KO) |