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🏠Home📊Rankings🔍Search🏆Champions

IBF Light Heavyweight Boxing Rankings

Current IBF Light Heavyweight rankings. Change division or month to compare rankings.

Division
Period
Org
RankIBFMay 2026
🏆Kyrgyzstan flagDmitry Bivol
Champion
1
Vacant
2Australia flagConor Wallace
3United Kingdom flagBen Whittaker
4Russia flagSharabutdin Ataev▲+2
5Russia flagImam Khataev▼-1
6United Kingdom flagJoshua Buatsi▲+1
7United Kingdom flagWilly Hutchinson▲+1
8Russia flagAli Izmailov▲+2
9Puerto Rico flagNajee Lopez
10United States flagAtif Oberlton▲+3
11Russia flagVasyli Voytsekhovsky
12Netherlands flagGradus Kraus▲+2
13United Kingdom flagCraig Richards▼-1
14Australia flagPaulo Aokuso▲+1
15France flagBenjamin Mendes TaniNEW

Source: IBF

About the Light Heavyweight Division

Weight Limit: 168-175 lbs (76.2-79.4 kg)

Light Heavyweight is one of boxing's classic divisions, featuring fighters who combine speed, power, and technical skill. The division has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century.

Division Characteristics

Light Heavyweights are known for their balance of speed and power. Fighters in this division are typically athletic and skilled, capable of both technical boxing and explosive knockouts.

Notable Facts

The Light Heavyweight division has been home to many legendary fighters, including Archie Moore, Bob Foster, and more recently, fighters like Bernard Hopkins and Sergey Kovalev.

Historical Context

Light Heavyweight has long been considered one of boxing's premier divisions, consistently producing competitive matchups and memorable fights throughout boxing history.

Learn more about how boxing rankings work or explore current world champions across all divisions.

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Compare WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO & Ring in Light Heavyweight.

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Month-over-month changes across the site.

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Month-over-month changes since April 2026

Entered the top 10

  • US flag
    Atif OberltonJumped from #13 into the top 10

Dropped out of the top 10

  • DE flag
    Michael EifertOut of the top 10 after being #1
  • UA flag
    Daniel LapinLast ranked #5

Biggest risers

  • US flag
    Atif OberltonNow #10 after being #13 last month
    ▲+3
  • RU flag
    Sharabutdin AtaevFrom #6 to #4
    ▲+2
  • RU flag
    Ali IzmailovFrom #10 to #8
    ▲+2

Biggest fallers

  • RU flag
    Imam KhataevDown one place to #5
    ▼-1
  • GB flag
    Craig RichardsFrom #12 to #13
    ▼-1

IBF Light Heavyweight Title History

Champions who have held each belt, from oldest to most recent. Title history only goes back as far as our earliest IBF monthly rankings (December 2005).

IBF Light Heavyweight — Champion

Russia flagDmitry Bivol
February 2025 — Current
1 year 4 months
Canada flagArtur Beterbiev
November 2017 — February 2025
7 years 4 months
United States flagAndre Ward
November 2016 — September 2017
11 months
Russia flagSergey Kovalev
December 2014 — November 2016
2 years
United States flagBernard Hopkins
March 2013 — December 2014
1 year 10 months
United States flagTavoris Cloud
September 2009 — March 2013
3 years 7 months
United States flagChad Dawson
November 2008 — June 2009
8 months
United States flagAntonio Tarver
May 2008 — November 2008
7 months
United Kingdom flagClinton Woods
December 2005 — May 2008
2 years 6 months