Bantamweight Boxing Weight Class

One of boxing's classic divisions at 118 pounds, currently dominated by elite talent.

Pounds

118 lbs

Kilos

53.5 kg

Stone

8 st 6 lb

WBC: Takuma Inoue

WBA: Seiya Tsutsumi

IBF: Ryosuke Nishida

WBO: Yoshiki Takei

Check if you're a Bantamweight

Current Bantamweight Champions

Sanctioning Body	Champion
wbc	Takuma Inoue
wba	Seiya Tsutsumi
ibf	Ryosuke Nishida
wbo	Yoshiki Takei

All-Time Greats

Carlos Zárate
Mexican KO artist with 63 knockouts in 66 wins.
Rubén Olivares
Two-time bantamweight champion and Mexican icon.
Naoya Inoue
Undisputed champion before moving to super bantam.

History of the Bantamweight Division

Bantamweight has existed since the late 19th century and was one of the original divisions sanctioned by the National Sporting Club of London.

Mexican fighters have a particularly strong tradition in the class, with names like Rubén Olivares, Carlos Zárate and Lupe Pintor.

Naoya Inoue became undisputed bantamweight champion in 2022, winning all four major belts after earlier claiming the 2019 World Boxing Super Series title, before moving up to super bantamweight.

Weight Cut Tips for Bantamweight

Most pros walk at 126–130; a gradual cut over 6–8 weeks followed by a controlled 3–4 lb water cut in fight week works well, with electrolyte rehydration immediately after the weigh-in.