Boxing
List Of Light Flyweight Boxing Champions
This article explores the champions of the exciting light-flyweight division in boxing and how they got to where they are today in the 108-pounds division.
Shokichi Iwata defeated Joel Bermudez//Getty Images
In this article, we will look at the current light-flyweight boxing champions and how they got to this stage.
But, before we start, it's important to know that light-flyweight, or sometimes referred to as junior-flyweight by Americans, is the second smallest weight class in the whole of boxing.
The weight limit for light-flyweight is 108-pounds; the weight class below this is called minimum-weight, 105-pounds or below. Above light-flyweight is flyweight, 112-pounds.
Because the smaller divisions have such a smaller gap between weight divisions, you do often see elite fighters jump from one weight class to another, in order to try and become multiple weight world champion.
Is Light-Flyweight a Common Weight Class?
The lighter weights in boxing have produced some of the best technical boxers in the world from several regions on the planet. Places such as the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, South Africa and Latin America have been churning out top class light-flyweight fighters for many a year.
Why? Well, firstly, people on average are smaller than places such as the USA, UK, Russia and other European countries etc. So, it's only natural for these countries to produce a higher quantity of small fighters. Additionally, before they even become fighters, they are likely to be automatically drawn to fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Kid Chocolate and Ricardo Lopez, because they originate from similar regions and are physically small; they already have a role model or an icon to look up to and follow in their footsteps.
As touched on earlier, the smaller weight classes have produced some of the best technical fighters we've ever seen in the squared circle. This is because fighters in weight classes such as light-flyweight have to be technically excellent in order to make up for their lack of power. Also, small fighters mostly already have strong fundamentals for boxing as they naturally have great balance and quickness because of their low centre of gravity.
Despite the 108-pounds division being the second-smallest weight class in boxing, this does not mean stoppage victories are rare. In fact, the champions listed below have a combined record of 42 knockout wins out of 55 total victories, which averages out at a 76% KO rate. When you compare that number to the champions in a much bigger weight class like super-welterweight for example, the average KO rate for the current 154-pounds champions stands at 72%, from 61 KO wins out of 84 victories.
Before we get into this list, spoiler alert: Japan rules this division with an iron fist, nevertheless, it's a weight class packed with insane quality.
WBA & WBC Champion (Now Vacant, But Previously Held By): Kenshiro Teraji
Firstly, let's start with the former WBA and WBC light-flyweight champion, Kenshiro Teraji. The Japanese fighter originally won the WBC belt back in 2017, and he'd defend it eight times in a row before losing to Masamichi Yabuki in 2021. However, the pair would rematch in the early months of 2022 where Teraji got his revenge with a knockout victory.
Later on in 2022, Teraji met his countryman Hiroto Kyoguchi in a unification bout for the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine titles. Teraji got his opponent out of there in the seventh round to retain his title and add two more to his collection. Since this fight, “The Amazing Boy” has successfully defended his titles three times before jumping up to flyweight and winning the vacant WBC title.
WBO Champion: Shokichi Iwata
Kenshiro Teraji of Japan receives his champion belt//Getty Images
With a record of 14-1, Shokichi Iwata is quickly becoming one of the best fighters to watch if you're looking for explosivity and aggression.
Since losing for the first time, against Jonathan Gonzalez for the WBO title back in 2022, Iwata has come back with vengeance and has stopped his last five opponents inside of six rounds, including his recent victory over Jairo Noriega to win the vacant WBO title.
IBF Champion: Masamichi Yabuki
The third and last fighter on this list is yet another Japanese fighter, Masamichi Yabuki. As mentioned previously, the 32-year-old beat Kenshiro Teraji in 2021 to take his WBC belt, but his reign as champion lasted only a few months before being stopped by his fellow countryman.
In spite of that loss, Yabuki used that to inspire him to get back to the top of the division and after winning three straight fights by TKO, Yabuki got another world title opportunity in October 2024, defeating Sivenathi Nontshinga to claim the IBF strap.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp