RING Lightweight boxing rankings- April 1981

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

Browse the Lightweight archive

Rank	RINGApril 1981
	Jim WattNEW World Champion
1	Sean O'Grady+6
2	Hilmer Kenty-1
3	Alexis Arguello
4	Aaron Pryor
5	Rodolfo Gonzalez
6	Howard Davis
7	Claude Noel+1
8	Edwin Viruet+1
9	Ernesto Espana+1
10	Gonzalo MontellanoNEW

Source

RING

April 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 March 1981

There is a new Champion: Jim Watt

Became champion: 12 April 1981

Awarded the title.

First shown in April 1981 rankingsView source

Entered the top 10

Gonzalo MontellanoInto the top 10 at #10

Biggest risers

Sean O'GradyUp 6 places to #1
+6
Claude NoelUp one spot to #7
+1
Edwin ViruetFrom #9 to #8
+1

Biggest fallers

Hilmer KentySlipped a spot to #2
-1

RING Lightweight 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 lightweight title-change timeline across all organizations

RING Lightweight - World Champion

Devin Haney

5 June 2022June 2023

Became champion: 5 June 2022

Won the title by defeating George Kambosos Jr.

First shown in June 2022 rankingsView source

George Kambosos Jr

27 November 20215 June 2022

190 days

Became champion: 27 November 2021

Won the title by defeating Teofimo Lopez.

First shown in December 2021 rankingsView source

Teofimo Lopez

17 October 202027 November 2021

406 days

Became champion: 17 October 2020

Won the title by defeating Vasyl Lomachenko.

First shown in November 2020 rankingsView source

Vasyl Lomachenko

12 May 201817 October 2020

889 days

Became champion: 12 May 2018

Won the title by defeating Jorge Linares.

First shown in May 2018 rankingsView source

Jorge Linares

24 September 201612 May 2018

595 days

Became champion: 24 September 2016

Won the title by defeating Anthony Crolla.

First shown in October 2016 rankingsView source

Terence Crawford

29 November 2014March 2015

Became champion: 29 November 2014

Won the title by defeating Ray Beltran.

First shown in January 2015 rankingsView source

Juan Manuel Marquez

13 September 200823 April 2012

1,318 days

Became champion: 13 September 2008

Won the title by defeating Joel Casamayor.

First shown in September 2008 rankingsView source

Joel Casamayor

7 October 200613 September 2008

707 days

Became champion: 7 October 2006

Won the title by defeating Diego Corrales.

First shown in October 2006 rankingsView source

Diego Corrales

7 May 20056 October 2006

517 days

Became champion: 7 May 2005

Won the title by defeating Jose Luis Castillo.

First shown in May 2005 rankingsView source

Jose Luis Castillo

5 June 20047 May 2005

336 days

Became champion: 5 June 2004

Won the title by defeating Juan Lazcano.

First shown in June 2004 rankingsView source

Floyd Mayweather Jr

20 April 200222 May 2004

763 days

Became champion: 20 April 2002

Won the title by defeating Jose Luis Castillo.

First shown in May 2002 rankingsView source

Pernell Whitaker

20 August 198931 December 1989

133 days

Became champion: 20 August 1989

Won the vacant title by defeating Jose Luis Ramirez.

First shown in August 1989 rankingsView source

Julio Cesar Chavez

29 October 19882 March 1989

124 days

Became champion: 29 October 1988

Won the title by defeating Jose Luis Ramirez.

First shown in October 1988 rankingsView source

Alexis Arguello

20 June 1981February 1983

Became champion: 20 June 1981

Won the title by defeating Jim Watt.

First shown in July 1981 rankingsView source

Jim Watt

12 April 198120 June 1981

69 days

Became champion: 12 April 1981

Awarded the title.

First shown in April 1981 rankingsView source

Roberto Duran

26 June 1972February 1979

Became champion: 26 June 1972

Won the title by defeating Ken Buchanan.

First shown in September 1972 rankingsView source

Ken Buchanan

26 September 197026 June 1972

639 days

Became champion: 26 September 1970

Won the title by defeating Ismael Laguna.

First shown in October 1970 rankingsView source

Ismael Laguna

3 March 197026 September 1970

207 days

Became champion: 3 March 1970

Won the title by defeating Mando Ramos.

First shown in April 1970 rankingsView source

Mando Ramos

18 February 19693 March 1970

378 days

Became champion: 18 February 1969

Won the title by defeating Carlos (Teo) Cruz.

First shown in March 1969 rankingsView source

Carlos (teo) Cruz

29 June 196818 February 1969

234 days

Became champion: 29 June 1968

Won the title by defeating Carlos Ortiz.

First shown in July 1968 rankingsView source

Carlos Ortiz

13 November 196529 June 1968

959 days

Became champion: 13 November 1965

Won the title by defeating Ismael Laguna.

First shown in April 1966 rankingsView source

Ismael Laguna

10 April 1965October 1965

Became champion: 10 April 1965

Won the title by defeating Carlos Ortiz.

First shown in May 1965 rankingsView source

Carlos Ortiz

21 April 196210 April 1965

1,085 days

Became champion: 21 April 1962

Won the title by defeating Joe Brown.

First shown in July 1962 rankingsView source

Joe Brown

24 August 1956April 1962

Became champion: 24 August 1956

Won the title by defeating Wallace Bud Smith.

First shown in September 1956 rankingsView source

Wallace Bud Smith

29 June 195524 August 1956

422 days

Became champion: 29 June 1955

Won the title by defeating Jimmy Carter.

First shown in July 1955 rankingsView source

Jimmy Carter

17 November 195429 June 1955

224 days

Became champion: 17 November 1954

Won the title by defeating Paddy DeMarco.

First shown in November 1954 rankingsView source

Paddy DeMarco

5 March 195417 November 1954

257 days

Became champion: 5 March 1954

Won the title by defeating Jimmy Carter.

First shown in March 1954 rankingsView source

Jimmy Carter

15 October 19525 March 1954

506 days

Became champion: 15 October 1952

Won the title by defeating Lauro Salas.

First shown in October 1952 rankingsView source

Lauro Salas

14 May 195215 October 1952

154 days

Became champion: 14 May 1952

Won the title by defeating Jimmy Carter.

First shown in May 1952 rankingsView source

Jimmy Carter

25 May 195114 May 1952

355 days

Became champion: 25 May 1951

Won the title by defeating Ike Williams.

First shown in May 1951 rankingsView source

Ike Williams

4 August 194725 May 1951

1,390 days

Became champion: 4 August 1947

Won the title by defeating Bob Montgomery.

First shown in August 1947 rankingsView source

Sammy Angott

19 December 194113 November 1942

329 days

Became champion: 19 December 1941

Won the title by defeating Lew Jenkins.

First shown in January 1942 rankingsView source

Lew Jenkins

10 May 1940November 1941

Became champion: 10 May 1940

Won the title by defeating Lou Ambers.

First shown in May 1940 rankingsView source

Lou Ambers

22 August 193910 May 1940

262 days

Became champion: 22 August 1939

Won the title by defeating Henry Armstrong.

First shown in September 1939 rankingsView source

Henry Armstrong

17 August 193822 August 1939

370 days

Became champion: 17 August 1938

Won the title by defeating Lou Ambers.

First shown in August 1938 rankingsView source

Lou Ambers

3 September 193617 August 1938

713 days

Became champion: 3 September 1936

Won the title by defeating Tony Canzoneri.

First shown in September 1936 rankingsView source

Tony Canzoneri

10 May 19353 September 1936

482 days

Became champion: 10 May 1935

Won the title by defeating Lou Ambers.

First shown in June 1935 rankingsView source

Barney Ross

23 June 193315 April 1935

661 days

Became champion: 23 June 1933

Won the title by defeating Tony Canzoneri.

First shown in June 1933 rankingsView source

Tony Canzoneri

14 November 193023 June 1933

952 days

Became champion: 14 November 1930

Won the title by defeating Al Singer.

First shown in November 1930 rankingsView source

Al Singer

17 July 193014 November 1930

120 days

Became champion: 17 July 1930

Won the title by defeating Sammy Mandell.

First shown in July 1930 rankingsView source

Sammy Mandell

3 July 192617 July 1930

1,475 days

Became champion: 3 July 1926

Won the title by defeating Rocky Kansas.

First shown in August 1929 rankingsView source

Rocky Kansas

7 December 1925July 1926

Became champion: 7 December 1925

Won the title by defeating Jimmy Goodrich.

First shown in December 1925 rankingsView source

Jimmy Goodrich

13 July 19257 December 1925

147 days

Became champion: 13 July 1925

Won the vacant title.

First shown in July 1925 rankingsView source

Benny Leonard

1924January 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 Lightweight Title History

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