RING Light Heavyweight boxing rankings- December 1981

RING Light Heavyweight rankings archive for December 1981. This page is the RING-only list. View all RING rankings, or compare the Light Heavyweight boxing rankings across all organizations, or open the latest RING Light Heavyweight rankings.

Browse the Light Heavyweight archive

Rank	RINGDecember 1981
	Dwight Muhammad QawiNEW World Champion
1	Michael Spinks
2	Matthew Saad Muhammad-2
3	Eddie Mustafa Muhammad-1
4	Jerry Martin
5	Carlos De Leon+1
6	Marvin Camel+1
7	Murray Sutherland+1
8	Jerry Celestine+2
9	James Scott-4
10	Marvin Johnson-1

Source

RING

December 1981 archive

Box-Rank presents each published list in a consistent format. Browse this division and its archive, read the methodology, or see how Box-Rank differs from BoxRec.

Month-over-month changes since November 1981

There is a new Champion: Dwight Muhammad Qawi(previously Matthew Saad Muhammad)

Became champion: 19 December 1981

Won the title by defeating Matthew Saad Muhammad.

First shown in December 1981 rankingsView source

Biggest risers

Jerry CelestineNow ranked #8 (was #10)
+2
Carlos De LeonFrom #6 to #5
+1
Marvin CamelUp one spot to #6
+1

Biggest fallers

James ScottDown 4 places to #9
-4
Eddie Mustafa MuhammadDown one place to #3
-1
Marvin JohnsonDown one place to #10
-1

RING Light Heavyweight Title History

Champions who have held each belt, most recent first. Exact dates are shown where verified; month-only dates reflect available records. Available history begins in January 1924, combining ranking archives and sourced title records.

Explore the light heavyweight title-change timeline across all organizations

RING Light Heavyweight - World Champion

Dmitry Bivol

22 February 2025Current

Became champion: 22 February 2025

Won the Ring light heavyweight title by majority decision over Artur Beterbiev in their rematch in Riyadh.

First shown in March 2025 rankingsView source

Artur Beterbiev

12 October 202422 February 2025

133 days

Became champion: 12 October 2024

Won the title by defeating Dmitry Bivol.

First shown in October 2024 rankingsView source

Andre Ward

17 June 2017August 2017

Became champion: 17 June 2017

Won the vacant title by defeating Sergey Kovalev.

First shown in June 2017 rankingsView source

Adonis Stevenson

8 June 201323 November 2015

898 days

Became champion: 8 June 2013

Won the title by defeating Chad Dawson.

First shown in June 2013 rankingsView source

Chad Dawson

28 April 20128 June 2013

406 days

Became champion: 28 April 2012

Won the title by defeating Bernard Hopkins.

First shown in May 2012 rankingsView source

Bernard Hopkins

21 May 201128 April 2012

343 days

Became champion: 21 May 2011

Won the title by defeating Jean Pascal.

First shown in May 2011 rankingsView source

Jean Pascal

14 August 201021 May 2011

280 days

Became champion: 14 August 2010

Won the vacant title by defeating Chad Dawson.

First shown in August 2010 rankingsView source

Joe Calzaghe

19 April 20085 February 2009

292 days

Became champion: 19 April 2008

Won the title by defeating Bernard Hopkins.

First shown in April 2008 rankingsView source

Bernard Hopkins

10 June 200619 April 2008

679 days

Became champion: 10 June 2006

Won the title by defeating Antonio Tarver.

First shown in June 2006 rankingsView source

Antonio Tarver

18 June 200510 June 2006

357 days

Became champion: 18 June 2005

Won the title by defeating Glen Johnson.

First shown in July 2005 rankingsView source

Glen Johnson

18 December 200418 June 2005

182 days

Became champion: 18 December 2004

Won the title by defeating Antonio Tarver.

First shown in December 2004 rankingsView source

Antonio Tarver

15 May 200418 December 2004

217 days

Became champion: 15 May 2004

Won the title by defeating Roy Jones Jr.

First shown in May 2004 rankingsView source

Roy Jones Jr

2 December 200115 May 2004

895 days

Became champion: 2 December 2001

Awarded the vacant title.

First shown in December 2001 rankingsView source

Michael Spinks

18 March 1983October 1985

Became champion: 18 March 1983

Won the title by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

First shown in March 1983 rankingsView source

Dwight Muhammad Qawi

19 December 198118 March 1983

454 days

Became champion: 19 December 1981

Won the title by defeating Matthew Saad Muhammad.

First shown in December 1981 rankingsView source

Matthew Saad Muhammad

30 November 197919 December 1981

750 days

Became champion: 30 November 1979

Awarded the vacant title.

First shown in November 1979 rankingsView source

Victor Galindez

July 197930 November 1979

The Ring ranking archive lists Galindez as champion from July 1979. His April WBA title win does not establish the separate Ring recognition day.

First shown in July 1979 rankingsView source

Bob Foster

24 May 196816 September 1974

2,306 days

Became champion: 24 May 1968

Won the title by defeating Dick Tiger.

First shown in June 1968 rankingsView source

Dick Tiger

16 December 196624 May 1968

525 days

Became champion: 16 December 1966

Won the title by defeating Jose Torres.

First shown in February 1967 rankingsView source

Jose Torres

30 March 1965December 1966

Became champion: 30 March 1965

Won the title by defeating Willie Pastrano.

First shown in April 1965 rankingsView source

Willie Pastrano

1 June 196330 March 1965

668 days

Became champion: 1 June 1963

Won the title by defeating Harold Johnson.

First shown in June 1963 rankingsView source

Harold Johnson

12 May 19621 June 1963

385 days

Became champion: 12 May 1962

Won the vacant title by defeating Doug Jones.

First shown in July 1962 rankingsView source

Archie Moore

17 December 1952February 1962

Became champion: 17 December 1952

Won the title by defeating Joey Maxim.

First shown in January 1953 rankingsView source

Joey Maxim

24 January 1950November 1952

Became champion: 24 January 1950

Won the title by defeating Freddie Mills.

First shown in February 1950 rankingsView source

Freddie Mills

26 July 194824 January 1950

547 days

Became champion: 26 July 1948

Won the title by defeating Gus Lesnevich.

First shown in August 1948 rankingsView source

Gus Lesnevich

26 August 194126 July 1948

2,526 days

Became champion: 26 August 1941

Won the vacant title by defeating Tami Mauriello.

First shown in September 1941 rankingsView source

Billy Conn

13 July 1939June 1941

Became champion: 13 July 1939

Won the vacant title by defeating Melio Bettina.

First shown in December 1939 rankingsView source

John Henry Lewis

31 October 193513 July 1939

1,351 days

Became champion: 31 October 1935

Won the title by defeating Bob Olin.

First shown in November 1935 rankingsView source

Bob Olin

16 November 193431 October 1935

349 days

Became champion: 16 November 1934

Won the title by defeating Maxey Rosenbloom.

First shown in November 1934 rankingsView source

Maxey Rosenbloom

25 June 193016 November 1934

1,605 days

Became champion: 25 June 1930

Won the title by defeating Jimmy Slattery.

First shown in June 1930 rankingsView source

Tommy Loughran

7 October 1927September 1929

Became champion: 7 October 1927

Won the title by defeating Mike McTigue.

First shown in August 1929 rankingsView source

Jack Delaney

16 July 1926June 1927

Became champion: 16 July 1926

Won the title by defeating Paul Berlenbach.

First shown in July 1926 rankingsView source

Paul Berlenbach

30 May 192516 July 1926

412 days

Became champion: 30 May 1925

Won the title by defeating Mike McTigue.

First shown in May 1925 rankingsView source

Mike McTigue

192430 May 1925

The source gives only the year of this inaugural Ring recognition. An exact award day is not established; 1 January was a placeholder and is not treated as an event date.

First shown in January 1924 rankingsView source

RING Light Heavyweight Title History

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