WBA Cruiserweight boxing rankings- September 2026

WBA Cruiserweight rankings archive for September 2026. This page is the WBA-only list. View all WBA rankings, or compare the Cruiserweight boxing rankings across all organizations, or open the latest WBA Cruiserweight rankings.

Browse the Cruiserweight archive

Rank	WBASeptember 2026
	David Benavidez Super Champion
	Jai OpetaiaNEW World Champion
1	Leonardo Mosquea+1
2	Chris Billam-Smith+1
3	Lenar Perez+1
4	Muslim Gadzhimagomedov+1
5	Gilberto Ramirez+1
6	Pat Brown+5
7	Julio Cesar La Cruz
8	Aloys Youmbi
9	Mike Perez
10	Leon Harth
11	Robin Sirwan Safar+1
12	Mitsuro Brandon Tajima+1
13	Efetobor Apochi+1
14	Yuniel DorticosNEW
15	Edin Puhalo

Source

September 2026 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 August 2026

There is a new World Champion: Jai Opetaia

Became champion: 12 September 2026

Won the WBA world title by stopping Norair Mikaeljan in the ninth round in Las Vegas.

First shown in September 2026 rankingsView source

Entered the top 10

Pat BrownPreviously #11, enters at #6

Biggest risers

Pat BrownJumped from #11 to #6
+5
Leonardo MosqueaUp one spot to #1
+1
Chris Billam-SmithUp one spot to #2
+1

WBA Cruiserweight 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 February 1982, combining ranking archives and sourced title records.

Explore the cruiserweight title-change timeline across all organizations

WBA Cruiserweight - Super Champion

David Benavidez

2 May 2026Current

Became champion: 2 May 2026

Won the title by knocking out Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth round in Las Vegas, also taking his WBO title.

First shown in May 2026 rankingsView source

Gilberto Ramirez

4 November 20242 May 2026

544 days

Became champion: 4 November 2024

Listed as Super Champion in the WBA October 2024 ratings posted on 4 November.

First shown in November 2024 rankingsView source

Arsen Goulamirian

August 201930 March 2024

The August 2019 ratings already list Goulamirian as Super Champion. A later WBA resolution instead associates the designation with the 15 November Watts fight; these conflicting official records do not establish a reliable decision day.

First shown in August 2019 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

April 2019June 2019

Was reinstated from champion in recess after Usyk moved up. The April 2019 ratings, covering movements through 30 April, already list him as Super Champion. Reports on 1 May describe that ratings update, and the 13 May resolution treats him as Super Champion without dating the reinstatement.

First shown in April 2019 rankingsView source

Oleksandr Usyk

21 July 201827 March 2019

249 days

Became champion: 21 July 2018

Won the title by unanimous decision against Murat Gassiev in Moscow.

First shown in July 2018 rankingsView source

Murat Gassiev

3 February 201821 July 2018

168 days

Became champion: 3 February 2018

Won the unified title by defeating Yuniel Dorticos.

First shown in February 2018 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

21 May 20163 February 2018

623 days

Became champion: 21 May 2016

Won the title by defeating Victor Ramirez.

First shown in May 2016 rankingsView source

David Haye

10 November 200719 June 2008

222 days

Became champion: 10 November 2007

Won the title by defeating Jean Marc Mormeck.

First shown in November 2007 rankingsView source

Jean Marc Mormeck

17 March 2007September 2007

Became champion: 17 March 2007

Regained the title by defeating O'Neil Bell.

First shown in March 2007 rankingsView source

O'Neil Bell

7 January 200617 March 2007

434 days

Became champion: 7 January 2006

Won the title by defeating Jean Marc Mormeck.

First shown in January 2006 rankingsView source

Jean Marc Mormeck

2 April 2005November 2005

Became champion: 2 April 2005

Won the unified title by defeating Wayne Braithwaite.

First shown in April 2005 rankingsView source

WBA Cruiserweight - World Champion

Jai Opetaia

12 September 2026November 2026

Became champion: 12 September 2026

Won the WBA world title by stopping Norair Mikaeljan in the ninth round in Las Vegas.

First shown in September 2026 rankingsView source

Gilberto Ramirez

30 March 20244 November 2024

219 days

Became champion: 30 March 2024

Won the title by unanimous decision against Arsen Goulamirian in Inglewood.

First shown in March 2024 rankingsView source

Ryad Merhy

29 January 202112 August 2022

560 days

Became champion: 29 January 2021

Promoted from interim champion after Beibut Shumenov was stripped.

First shown in January 2021 rankingsView source

Beibut Shumenov

August 201929 January 2021

Was reinstated as WBA world champion in August 2019. The WBA later confirmed that his period in recess ended that month after his promoter said he could return. The exact reinstatement day remains unverified.

First shown in August 2019 rankingsView source

Arsen Goulamirian

31 May 2019July 2019

Became champion: 31 May 2019

Was listed as WBA world champion in the rankings released on 31 May 2019 after Beibut Shumenov was placed in recess by the 13 May resolution. The displayed date is the rankings publication, not a verified promotion decision day.

First shown in May 2019 rankingsView source

Beibut Shumenov

7 July 201831 May 2019

328 days

Became champion: 7 July 2018

Won the regular title by defeating Hizni Altunkaya.

First shown in July 2018 rankingsView source

Yuniel Dorticos

19 June 20173 February 2018

229 days

Became champion: 19 June 2017

Was promoted from interim to WBA world champion after Beibut Shumenov relinquished the title because of an eye injury, the WBA announced the resolution on 19 June 2017.

First shown in May 2017 rankingsView source

Beibut Shumenov

21 May 201619 June 2017

394 days

Became champion: 21 May 2016

Won the regular title by defeating Junior Anthony Wright.

First shown in May 2016 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

18 October 201321 May 2016

946 days

Became champion: 18 October 2013

Reinstated as champion after Guillermo Jones was stripped for a positive drug test.

First shown in October 2013 rankingsView source

Guillermo Jones

17 May 2013August 2013

Became champion: 17 May 2013

Was initially recognized after stopping Denis Lebedev on 17 May 2013, following Jones’s positive anti-doping test, the WBA withdrew that recognition and recognized Lebedev again.

First shown in May 2013 rankingsView source

Denis Lebedev

30 October 201217 May 2013

199 days

Became champion: 30 October 2012

Was elevated from interim to WBA world champion at the 30 October 2012 Jakarta convention, as his promoter confirmed that day after Guillermo Jones was placed in recess.

First shown in October 2012 rankingsView source

Guillermo Jones

27 September 200830 October 2012

1,494 days

Became champion: 27 September 2008

Won the title by defeating Firat Arslan.

First shown in September 2008 rankingsView source

Firat Arslan

24 November 200727 September 2008

308 days

Became champion: 24 November 2007

Won the regular title by defeating Virgil Hill.

First shown in November 2007 rankingsView source

Virgil Hill

27 January 2006September 2007

Became champion: 27 January 2006

Won the regular title by defeating Valery Brudov.

First shown in January 2006 rankingsView source

Jean Marc Mormeck

23 February 20022 April 2005

1,134 days

Became champion: 23 February 2002

Won the title by defeating Virgil Hill.

First shown in February 2002 rankingsView source

Virgil Hill

9 December 200023 February 2002

441 days

Became champion: 9 December 2000

Won the title by defeating Fabrice Tiozzo.

First shown in December 2000 rankingsView source

Fabrice Tiozzo

8 November 19979 December 2000

1,127 days

Became champion: 8 November 1997

Won the title by defeating Nate Miller.

First shown in January 2000 rankingsView source

Nate Miller

22 July 1995November 1997

Became champion: 22 July 1995

Won the title by defeating Orlin Norris.

View source

Orlin Norris

6 November 1993July 1995

Became champion: 6 November 1993

Won the vacant title by defeating Marcelo Figueroa.

View source

Bobby Czyz

8 March 1991October 1993

Became champion: 8 March 1991

Won the title by defeating Robert Daniels.

View source

Robert Daniels

27 November 1989March 1991

Became champion: 27 November 1989

Won the vacant title by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

View source

Taoufik Belbouli

25 March 1989August 1989

Became champion: 25 March 1989

Won the vacant title by defeating Michael Greer.

View source

Evander Holyfield

12 July 1986December 1988

Became champion: 12 July 1986

Won the title by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

View source

Dwight Muhammad Qawi

27 July 1985July 1986

Became champion: 27 July 1985

Won the title by defeating Piet Crous.

View source

Piet Crous

1 December 1984July 1985

Became champion: 1 December 1984

Won the title by defeating Ossie Ocasio.

View source

Ossie Ocasio

13 February 1982December 1984

Became champion: 13 February 1982

Won the title by defeating Robbie Williams.

View source

WBA Cruiserweight - Interim Champion

Yoan Pablo Hernandez

12 February 2011September 2011

Became champion: 12 February 2011

Won the interim title by knocking out Steve Herelius in the seventh round.

First shown in February 2011 rankingsView source

Steve Herelius

3 July 201012 February 2011

224 days

Became champion: 3 July 2010

Won the vacant interim title when Firat Arslan retired at the end of the eleventh round.

First shown in July 2010 rankingsView source

Firat Arslan

16 June 200724 November 2007

161 days

Became champion: 16 June 2007

Won the interim title by split decision against Valery Brudov.

First shown in June 2007 rankingsView source

Valery Brudov

2 December 200616 June 2007

196 days

Became champion: 2 December 2006

Won the interim title by stopping Luis Andres Pineda in Paris.

First shown in December 2006 rankingsView source

WBA Cruiserweight Title History

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