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WBO Light Heavyweight Boxing Rankings - December 2002

WBO Light Heavyweight rankings for December 2002. Change division or month to compare rankings.

Division
Period
Org
RankWBODecember 2002
🏆Poland flagDariusz Michalczewski
Champion
1United States flagAntonio Tarver
2United States flagDavid Telesco
3Germany flagThomas Ulrich
4Croatia flagStipe Drews▲+1
5Mexico flagJulio Gonzalez▼-1
6Italy flagSilvio Branco▲+1
7United States flagMontell Griffin▼-1
8Hungary flagZsolt Erdei▲+3
9United States flagEric Harding▼-1
10United States flagRichard Hall▼-1
11Romania flagAlejandro Lakatos▼-1
12Argentina flagJorge Castro▲+2
13United States flagJulian Letterlough▼-1
14Ukraine flagAlexei Trofimov▼-1
15Argentina flagHugo Hernan Garay

Source: WBO

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 since November 2002

Entered the top 10

  • HU flag
    Zsolt ErdeiClimbed from #11 up to #8

Dropped out of the top 10

  • RO flag
    Alejandro LakatosNow ranked #11

Biggest risers

  • HU flag
    Zsolt ErdeiUp 3 places to #8
    ▲+3
  • AR flag
    Jorge CastroClimbed from #14 to #12
    ▲+2
  • HR flag
    Stipe DrewsUp one spot to #4
    ▲+1

Biggest fallers

  • MX flag
    Julio GonzalezFrom #4 to #5
    ▼-1
  • US flag
    Montell GriffinDown one place to #7
    ▼-1
  • US flag
    Eric HardingFrom #8 to #9
    ▼-1

WBO 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 WBO monthly rankings (January 2000).

WBO Light Heavyweight — Super Champion

Russia flagSergey Kovalev
February 2015 — December 2016
1 year 11 months

WBO Light Heavyweight — Champion

Russia flagDmitry Bivol
February 2025 — Current
1 year 4 months
Canada flagArtur Beterbiev
July 2022 — February 2025
2 years 8 months
United States flagJoe Smith Jr
April 2021 — July 2022
1 year 4 months
Mexico flagSaul Alvarez
November 2019 — December 2019
2 months
Russia flagSergey Kovalev
February 2019 — November 2019
10 months
Colombia flagEleider Alvarez
August 2018 — February 2019
7 months
Russia flagSergey Kovalev
December 2017 — August 2018
9 months
United States flagAndre Ward
December 2016 — October 2017
11 months
Russia flagSergey Kovalev
August 2013 — February 2015
1 year 7 months
United Kingdom flagNathan Cleverly
June 2011 — August 2013
2 years 3 months
Germany flagJuergen Braehmer
November 2009 — June 2011
1 year 8 months
Hungary flagZsolt Erdei
June 2004 — November 2009
5 years 6 months
United Kingdom flagJoe Calzaghe
May 2004 — June 2004
2 months
Hungary flagZsolt Erdei
February 2004 — May 2004
4 months
Mexico flagJulio Gonzalez
November 2003 — February 2004
4 months
Poland flagDariusz Michalczewski
January 2000 — November 2003
3 years 11 months

WBO Light Heavyweight — Interim Champion

United Kingdom flagCallum Smith
February 2025 — Current
1 year 4 months
United Kingdom flagJoshua Buatsi
September 2024 — February 2025
6 months
United Kingdom flagNathan Cleverly
December 2010 — June 2011
7 months
Germany flagJuergen Braehmer
September 2009 — November 2009
3 months