Cruiserweight

Limit: 200 lb / 90.7 kg

Created in 1979 (WBC) to bridge the gap between 175-pound light heavies and increasingly large heavyweights, cruiserweight (200 lb) was undisputed only twice in its history: once by Evander Holyfield in 1988 (he immediately moved up) and once by Oleksandr Usyk in 2018, winning the World Boxing Super Series final against Murat Gassiev. The current era is shaped by Australia's Jai Opetaia and the surprise return of Gilberto Ramírez.

Current world champions

wba
Gilberto Ramírez
wbc
Badou Jack
ibf
Jai Opetaia
wbo
Gilberto Ramírez

Alternate division names

wbc
Cruiserweight
wba
Cruiserweight
ibf
Cruiserweight
wbo
Cruiserweight

Legends of the division

Evander HolyfieldCarlos De LeónMarco HuckAleksandr UsykMairis BriedisJai Opetaia

Trivia

  • Oleksandr Usyk became the first four-belt undisputed cruiserweight in 2018 — and then the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight in 2024.
  • Jai Opetaia holds The Ring and IBF cruiserweight titles undefeated despite breaking his jaw in two places in the 4th round of his win over Mairis Briedis (2022).
  • The WBC moved the cruiserweight limit from 190 to 200 in 2003, then created the bridgerweight division above it in 2020 — moves both criticised as fee-generating reshuffles.