The current weight limit for the division is . When originally established, the weight limit was . The division was established in order to accommodate smaller heavyweight boxers who could not compete with the growing size of boxers in that division. While many heavyweight champions (such as
Rocky Marciano and
Joe Louis) weighed around 190 pounds during their careers, during the 1970s it became fairly standard that fit heavyweight boxers weighed at least . Many boxing authorities felt that asking men weighing between and to fight these larger men was unfair. The
North American Boxing Federation (NABF) was the first sanctioning body to recognize the cruiserweight division when it sanctioned a bout between
Marvin Camel and
Bill Sharkey for its version of the title on June 5, 1979. Camel won the match, which led to the
World Boxing Council (WBC) sanctioning its first cruiserweight title fight between
Marvin Camel and
Mate Parlov on December 8, 1979. That fight was a draw, but in the rematch in March 1980 Camel won and became the first cruiserweight champion. In 1982 the
World Boxing Association (WBA) recognized
Ossie Ocasio as its first cruiserweight champion when he defeated South African Robbie Williams (although at that time the WBA called the division "junior heavyweight"). The
International Boxing Federation followed suit in 1983 when it matched former WBC champion Marvin Camel against Rick Sekorski for its inaugural title. Camel won and became the first IBF cruiserweight champion. Several boxers moved up to
heavyweight after winning world titles at cruiserweight.
Evander Holyfield unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles to become undisputed champion, the first to do so, and then moved up to the heavyweight division in 1988. In 2006, the second man to become undisputed champion was
O’Neil Bell, who was later stripped of the IBF title.
Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018; he moved to heavyweight in 2019, becoming the undisputed champion in 2024. Other notable champions in the division have been
Bobby Czyz,
Dwight Muhammad Qawi,
Tomasz Adamek,
Virgil Hill,
Al Cole,
Orlin Norris,
James Toney,
David Haye, and
Tony Bellew.
Current world champions Current world rankings The Ring As of May 2, 2026. Keys: : Current
The Ring world champion
BoxRec As of April 12, 2026.
Longest reigning world cruiserweight champions Below is a list of
longest reigning cruiserweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply. : Active reign : Reign has ended ==Kickboxing==