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WBO Light Heavyweight Boxing Rankings — January 2022

Official Light Heavyweight rankings for January 2022 from the WBO.

Presented as a historical snapshot for that month. Use the weight-class arrows to move up or down divisions, the month controls to jump between updates, and click any fighter's name to see their ranking history with the WBO.

Division
Period
Org
RankWBOJanuary 2022
🏆United States flagJoe Smith Jr
Champion

1United Kingdom flagAnthony Yarde
2Mexico flagGilberto Ramirez
3Russia flagMaksim Vlasov▲+1
4United Kingdom flagJoshua Buatsi▼-1
5United Kingdom flagCallum Johnson
6United Kingdom flagCallum Smith
7France flagMathieu Bauderlique
8China flagFanlong Meng
9United States flagAndre Dirrell
10Germany flagAdam Deines
11Germany flagLeon Bunn
12Australia flagFaris Chevalier
13Russia flagAli Izmailov
14Argentina flagBraian Nahuel SuarezNEW
15United States flagSteve Geffrard

Source: WBO

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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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Month-over-month changes since December 2021

Biggest risers

  • RU flag
    Maksim VlasovClimbed a place to #3
    ▲+1

Biggest fallers

  • GB flag
    Joshua BuatsiDown one place to #4
    ▼-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