Welterweight Rankings Archive | April 1961

Note: The WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO did not exist in April 1961.

Rank	RINGApril 1961
	Emile GriffithNEW World Champion
1	Benny Paret-1
2	Luis Rodriguez+1
3	Ralph Dupas-1
4	Jorge Fernandez+2
5	Federico Thompson-1
6	Duilio Loi-1
7	Gaspar Ortega
8	Brian Curvis
9	Ted Wright
10	Guy SumlinNEW

Sources

April 1961 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 April 1961

Month-over-month changes since March 1961

RINGApril 1961 vs March 1961

There is a new Champion: Emile Griffith(previously Benny Paret)

Became champion: 1 April 1961

Won the title by defeating Benny Paret.

First shown in April 1961 rankingsView source

Entered the top 10

Guy SumlinInto the top 10 at #10

Dropped out of the top 10

Gomeo BrennanOut of the top 10 after being #10

Biggest risers

Jorge FernandezClimbed from #6 to #4
+2
Luis RodriguezClimbed a place to #2
+1

Biggest fallers

Ralph DupasSlipped a spot to #3
-1
Federico ThompsonFrom #4 to #5
-1
Duilio LoiSlipped a spot to #6
-1

WBA Welterweight 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 1921, combining ranking archives and sourced title records.

Explore the welterweight title-change timeline across all organizations

WBA Welterweight - Super Champion

Teofimo Lopez

22 August 2026Current

Became champion: 22 August 2026

Won the title by majority decision against Rolando Romero in Las Vegas.

First shown in August 2026 rankingsView source

Rolando Romero

21 May 202622 August 2026

93 days

Became champion: 21 May 2026

Promoted to the title.

First shown in May 2026 rankingsView source

Jaron Ennis

22 April 20251 August 2025

101 days

Became champion: 22 April 2025

Promoted to this title.

First shown in April 2025 rankingsView source

Terence Crawford

29 July 202330 August 2024

398 days

Became champion: 29 July 2023

Won the title by defeating Errol Spence Jr.

First shown in July 2023 rankingsView source

Errol Spence Jr

16 April 202229 July 2023

469 days

Became champion: 16 April 2022

Won the title by defeating Yordenis Ugas.

First shown in April 2022 rankingsView source

Yordenis Ugas

29 January 202116 April 2022

442 days

Became champion: 29 January 2021

Promoted to this title.

First shown in January 2021 rankingsView source

Manny Pacquiao

20 July 201929 January 2021

559 days

Became champion: 20 July 2019

Won the title by defeating Keith Thurman.

First shown in July 2019 rankingsView source

Keith Thurman

2 November 201620 July 2019

990 days

Became champion: 2 November 2016

Was designated WBA Super Champion by resolution 201611021112 dated 2 November 2016, as identified in the WBA’s later signed special-permit resolution.

First shown in January 2017 rankingsView source

Floyd Mayweather Jr

3 May 201419 January 2016

626 days

Became champion: 3 May 2014

Won the title by defeating Marcos Maidana.

First shown in May 2014 rankingsView source

Shane Mosley

24 January 200921 May 2010

482 days

Became champion: 24 January 2009

Won the title by stopping Antonio Margarito in the ninth round.

First shown in January 2009 rankingsView source

Antonio Margarito

26 July 2008November 2008

Became champion: 26 July 2008

Won the title by defeating Miguel Cotto.

First shown in September 2008 rankingsView source

Zab Judah

5 February 20057 January 2006

336 days

Became champion: 5 February 2005

Won the title by defeating Cory Spinks.

First shown in February 2005 rankingsView source

Cory Spinks

13 December 2003December 2004

Became champion: 13 December 2003

Won the title by defeating Ricardo Mayorga.

First shown in December 2003 rankingsView source

Ricardo Mayorga

25 January 200313 December 2003

322 days

Became champion: 25 January 2003

Won the title by defeating Vernon Forrest.

First shown in January 2003 rankingsView source

WBA Welterweight - World Champion

Jack Catterall

23 May 2026Current

Became champion: 23 May 2026

Won the vacant WBA World title by unanimous decision against Shakhram Giyasov in Giza while Rolando Romero held the separate Super Championship.

First shown in May 2026 rankingsView source

Rolando Romero

2 May 202523 May 2026

386 days

Became champion: 2 May 2025

Won the title by defeating Ryan Garcia.

First shown in May 2025 rankingsView source

Eimantas Stanionis

16 April 20222 May 2025

1,112 days

Became champion: 16 April 2022

Won the title by defeating Radzhab Butaev.

First shown in April 2022 rankingsView source

Radzhab Butaev

30 October 202116 April 2022

168 days

Became champion: 30 October 2021

Won the title by defeating Jamal James.

First shown in October 2021 rankingsView source

Jamal James

4 February 202130 October 2021

268 days

Became champion: 4 February 2021

Was elevated from interim to WBA world champion following Yordenis Ugas’s promotion to Super Champion.

First shown in February 2021 rankingsView source

Yordenis Ugas

6 September 202029 January 2021

145 days

Became champion: 6 September 2020

Won the title by defeating Abel Ramos.

First shown in September 2020 rankingsView source

Alexander Besputin

30 November 2019June 2020

Became champion: 30 November 2019

Initially awarded the vacant title against Radzhab Butaev, the bout was later declared a no-decision after positive anti-doping tests and Besputin lost the title.

First shown in November 2019 rankingsView source

Manny Pacquiao

15 July 2018July 2019

Became champion: 15 July 2018

Won the title by defeating Lucas Matthysse.

First shown in July 2018 rankingsView source

Lucas Martin Matthysse

27 January 201815 July 2018

169 days

Became champion: 27 January 2018

Won the vacant title by defeating Tewa Kiram.

First shown in January 2018 rankingsView source

Lamont Peterson

18 February 20173 October 2017

227 days

Became champion: 18 February 2017

Won the title by defeating David Avanesyan.

First shown in February 2017 rankingsView source

David Avanesyan

2 November 201618 February 2017

108 days

Became champion: 2 November 2016

Was elevated from interim to WBA world champion on 2 November 2016, the title date explicitly recorded in the WBA’s January 2017 ratings.

First shown in January 2017 rankingsView source

Keith Thurman

28 January 20152 November 2016

644 days

Became champion: 28 January 2015

Promoted from Interim Champion to the WBA world title.

First shown in December 2014 rankingsView source

Marcos Rene Maidana

14 December 2013April 2014

Became champion: 14 December 2013

Won the title by defeating Adrien Broner.

First shown in December 2013 rankingsView source

Adrien Broner

22 June 201314 December 2013

175 days

Became champion: 22 June 2013

Won the title by defeating Paul Malignaggi.

First shown in June 2013 rankingsView source

Paul Malignaggi

30 April 201222 June 2013

418 days

Became champion: 30 April 2012

Won the title by defeating Vyacheslav Senchenko.

First shown in April 2012 rankingsView source

Vyacheslav Senchenko

10 April 200930 April 2012

1,116 days

Became champion: 10 April 2009

Won the title by defeating Yuriy Nuzhnenko.

First shown in April 2009 rankingsView source

Yuriy Nuzhnenko

3 October 200810 April 2009

189 days

Became champion: 3 October 2008

Was elevated from interim to WBA world champion when Antonio Margarito was designated Super Champion.

First shown in September 2008 rankingsView source

Antonio Margarito

26 July 20083 October 2008

69 days

Became champion: 26 July 2008

Won the title by defeating Miguel Cotto.

First shown in July 2008 rankingsView source

Miguel Cotto

2 December 200626 July 2008

602 days

Became champion: 2 December 2006

Won the title by defeating Carlos Quintana.

First shown in December 2006 rankingsView source

Ricky Hatton

13 May 200631 August 2006

110 days

Became champion: 13 May 2006

Won the title by defeating Luis Collazo.

First shown in May 2006 rankingsView source

Luis Collazo

2 April 200513 May 2006

406 days

Became champion: 2 April 2005

Won the title by defeating José Antonio Rivera.

First shown in April 2005 rankingsView source

Jose Antonio Rivera

13 September 2003February 2005

Became champion: 13 September 2003

Won the title by defeating Michel Trabant.

First shown in September 2003 rankingsView source

Ricardo Mayorga

30 March 2002January 2003

Became champion: 30 March 2002

Won the title by defeating Andrew Lewis.

First shown in March 2002 rankingsView source

Andrew Lewis

17 February 200130 March 2002

406 days

Became champion: 17 February 2001

Won the title by defeating James Page.

First shown in February 2001 rankingsView source

James Page

10 October 199827 September 2000

718 days

Became champion: 10 October 1998

Won the title by defeating Andrey Pestryayev.

First shown in January 2000 rankingsView source

Ike Quartey

4 June 1994August 1998

Became champion: 4 June 1994

Won the title by defeating Crisanto España.

Welterweight boxing rankings- April 1961

Month-over-month changes since April 1961

Month-over-month changes since March 1961

RINGApril 1961 vs March 1961

Entered the top 10

Dropped out of the top 10

Biggest risers

Biggest fallers

WBA Welterweight Title History

WBA Welterweight - Super Champion

WBA Welterweight - World Champion

WBA Welterweight - Interim Champion

WBA Welterweight Title History

WBC Welterweight Title History

WBC Welterweight - World Champion

WBC Welterweight - Interim Champion

WBC Welterweight Title History

IBF Welterweight Title History

IBF Welterweight - World Champion

IBF Welterweight - Interim Champion

IBF Welterweight Title History

WBO Welterweight Title History

WBO Welterweight - Super Champion

WBO Welterweight - World Champion

WBO Welterweight Title History

RING Welterweight Title History

RING Welterweight - World Champion

RING Welterweight Title History

WBA Welterweight Title History

WBA Welterweight - Super Champion

WBA Welterweight - World Champion

WBA Welterweight - Interim Champion

WBC Welterweight Title History

WBC Welterweight - World Champion

WBC Welterweight - Interim Champion

IBF Welterweight Title History

IBF Welterweight - World Champion

IBF Welterweight - Interim Champion

WBO Welterweight Title History

WBO Welterweight - Super Champion

WBO Welterweight - World Champion

RING Welterweight Title History

RING Welterweight - World Champion