WBC Light Heavyweight Rankings Archive | September 2026

Rank	WBCSeptember 2026
	David Benavidez World Champion
1	Artur Beterbiev
2	Ben Whittaker
3	Joshua Buatsi
4	Willy Hutchinson
5	Imam Khataev
6	Radivoje Kalajdzic
7	Najee Lopez+4
8	Anthony Yarde-1
9	Zach Parker-1
10	Craig Richards-1
11	Mehmet Unal-1
12	Arlen Lopez
13	Umar Dzambekov
14	Zak Chelli
15	Atif Oberlton+1
16	David Morrell-1
17	Lewis Edmondson
18	Oleksandr Gvozdyk
19	Ronald Gavril
20	Luca D'Ortenzi+1
21	Yoann Kongolo+1
22	Lerrone Richards+1
23	Jesse Hart+1
24	Kajetan Kalinowski+1
25	Badien Hasso+1
26	Austin Aokuso+1
27	Juan Carrillo-7
28	Ali Akhmedov
29	Yair Gallardo
30	Paulo Aokuso
31	Oleksandr KhyzhniakNEW
32	Pawel Stepien+1
33	Benjamin Mendes Tani-2
34	Joseph WardNEW
35	Lawrence King-3
36	Dante Benjamin-2
37	Constantino Nanga-1
38	Pablo Ezequiel Corzo-1
39	Bradley Rea-1
40	Kirra RustonNEW

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

Entered the top 10

Najee LopezUp from #11 - now #7

Dropped out of the top 10

Mehmet UnalNow ranked #11

Biggest risers

Najee LopezUp 4 places to #7
+4
Atif OberltonUp one spot to #15
+1
Luca D'OrtenziUp one spot to #20
+1

Biggest fallers

Juan CarrilloDropped from #20 to #27
-7
Lawrence KingDropped from #32 to #35
-3
Benjamin Mendes TaniFrom #31 to #33
-2

WBC 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 February 1963, combining ranking archives and sourced title records.

Explore the light heavyweight title-change timeline across all organizations

WBC Light Heavyweight - World Champion

David Benavidez

7 April 2025Current

Became champion: 7 April 2025

Promoted from Interim Champion after Dmitry Bivol vacated the WBC light heavyweight title.

First shown in April 2025 rankingsView source

Dmitry Bivol

22 February 20257 April 2025

44 days

Became champion: 22 February 2025

Won the title by defeating Artur Beterbiev.

First shown in March 2025 rankingsView source

Artur Beterbiev

18 October 201922 February 2025

1,954 days

Became champion: 18 October 2019

Won the title by defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

First shown in January 2020 rankingsView source

Oleksandr Gvozdyk

1 December 2018October 2019

Became champion: 1 December 2018

Won the title by defeating Adonis Stevenson.

View source

Adonis Stevenson

8 June 2013December 2018

Became champion: 8 June 2013

Won the title by defeating Chad Dawson.

First shown in January 2014 rankingsView source

Chad Dawson

28 April 2012June 2013

Became champion: 28 April 2012

Won the title by defeating Bernard Hopkins.

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Bernard Hopkins

21 May 2011April 2012

Became champion: 21 May 2011

Won the title by defeating Jean Pascal.

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Jean Pascal

19 June 2009May 2011

Became champion: 19 June 2009

Won the title by defeating Adrian Diaconu.

First shown in August 2009 rankingsView source

Adrian Diaconu

11 July 2008June 2009

Became champion: 11 July 2008

Was promoted from interim champion after Chad Dawson relinquished the title, confirmed in the WBC statement dated 11 July 2008, which does not separately date the promotion ruling.

First shown in July 2008 rankingsView source

Chad Dawson

3 February 200711 July 2008

524 days

Became champion: 3 February 2007

Won the title by defeating Tomasz Adamek.

View source

Tomasz Adamek

21 May 2005February 2007

Became champion: 21 May 2005

Won the vacant title by defeating Paul Briggs.

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Antonio Tarver

15 May 2004November 2004

Became champion: 15 May 2004

Won the title by defeating Roy Jones Jr.

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Roy Jones Jr

8 November 2003May 2004

Became champion: 8 November 2003

Won the title by defeating Antonio Tarver.

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Antonio Tarver

26 April 2003November 2003

Became champion: 26 April 2003

Won the vacant title by defeating Montell Griffin.

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Roy Jones Jr

June 1998April 2003

The WBC restored Jones as champion in late June 1998. The court record documents that reversal without an exact day, so his earlier Griffin win is not substituted.

First shown in June 1998 rankingsView source

Graciano Rocchigiani

21 March 1998June 1998

Became champion: 21 March 1998

Won the vacant title by defeating Michael Nunn.

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Roy Jones Jr

7 August 1997November 1997

Became champion: 7 August 1997

Won the title by defeating Montell Griffin.

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Montell Griffin

21 March 1997August 1997

Became champion: 21 March 1997

Won the title by defeating Roy Jones Jr.

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Roy Jones Jr

13 January 1997March 1997

Became champion: 13 January 1997

Was promoted from interim champion to WBC Light Heavyweight Champion.

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Fabrice Tiozzo

16 June 1995January 1997

Became champion: 16 June 1995

Won the title by defeating Mike McCallum.

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Mike McCallum

23 July 1994June 1995

Became champion: 23 July 1994

Won the title by defeating Jeff Harding.

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Jeff Harding

11 September 1991July 1994

Became champion: 11 September 1991

Won the title by defeating Dennis Andries.

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Dennis Andries

28 July 1990September 1991

Became champion: 28 July 1990

Won the title by defeating Jeff Harding.

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Jeff Harding

24 June 1989July 1990

Became champion: 24 June 1989

Won the title by defeating Dennis Andries.

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Dennis Andries

21 February 1989June 1989

Became champion: 21 February 1989

Won the vacant title by defeating Tony Willis.

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Sugar Ray Leonard

7 November 1988November 1988

Became champion: 7 November 1988

Won the title by defeating Donny Lalonde.

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Donny Lalonde

27 November 1987November 1988

Became champion: 27 November 1987

Won the vacant title by defeating Eddie Davis.

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Thomas Hearns

7 March 1987August 1987

Became champion: 7 March 1987

Won the title by defeating Dennis Andries.

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Dennis Andries

30 April 1986March 1987

Became champion: 30 April 1986

Won the title by defeating J. B. Williamson.

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J. B. Williamson

10 December 1985April 1986

Became champion: 10 December 1985

Won the vacant title by defeating Prince Mama Mohammed.

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Michael Spinks

18 March 1983October 1985

Became champion: 18 March 1983

Won the title by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

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Dwight Muhammad Qawi

19 December 1981March 1983

Became champion: 19 December 1981

Won the title by defeating Matthew Saad Muhammad.

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Matthew Saad Muhammad

22 April 1979December 1981

Became champion: 22 April 1979

Won the title by defeating Marvin Johnson.

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Marvin Johnson

2 December 1978April 1979

Became champion: 2 December 1978

Won the title by defeating Mate Parlov.

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Mate Parlov

8 January 1978December 1978

Became champion: 8 January 1978

Won the title by defeating Miguel Ángel Cuello.

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Miguel Angel Cuello

21 May 1977January 1978

Became champion: 21 May 1977

Won the vacant title by defeating Jesse Burnett.

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John Conteh

1 October 1974May 1977

Became champion: 1 October 1974

Won the vacant title by defeating Jorge Ahumada.

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Bob Foster

24 May 1968August 1974

Became champion: 24 May 1968

Won the title by defeating Dick Tiger.

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Dick Tiger

16 December 1966May 1968

Became champion: 16 December 1966

Won the title by defeating José Torres.

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Jose Torres

30 March 1965December 1966

Became champion: 30 March 1965

Won the title by defeating Willie Pastrano.

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Willie Pastrano

1 June 1963March 1965

Became champion: 1 June 1963

Won the title by defeating Harold Johnson.

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Harold Johnson

14 February 1963June 1963

Became champion: 14 February 1963

Was recognized as the inaugural WBC champion when the organization was founded, while already holding the world championship.

First shown in February 1963 rankingsView source

WBC Light Heavyweight - Interim Champion

David Benavidez

15 June 20247 April 2025

296 days

Became champion: 15 June 2024

Won the vacant interim title by unanimous decision against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Las Vegas.

First shown in July 2024 rankingsView source

WBC Light Heavyweight Title History

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WBC Light Heavyweight boxing rankings- September 2026

Month-over-month changes since August 2026

Entered the top 10

Dropped out of the top 10

Biggest risers

Biggest fallers

WBC Light Heavyweight Title History

WBC Light Heavyweight - World Champion

WBC Light Heavyweight - Interim Champion

WBC Light Heavyweight Title History

WBC Light Heavyweight Title History

WBC Light Heavyweight - World Champion

WBC Light Heavyweight - Interim Champion