Light heavyweight

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Please improve this article if you can. (March 2007)

For the mixed martial arts division of the same name, see Light Heavyweight (MMA)

In boxing, the light heavyweight (above 168 pounds up to 175 pounds) division is the weight division between cruiserweight and super middleweight. The light heavyweight class has produced some of boxing's greatest champions: Tommy Loughran, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore, Bob Foster, Michael Spinks and Roy Jones Jr., to name a few.

Many light heavyweight champions unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight crown until Michael Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight championship. Interestingly, Bob Fitzsimmons captured the light heavyweight championship after losing his heavyweight championship. Two all-time great heavyweight champions, Ezzard Charles and Floyd Patterson, started out as light heavyweights. Charles defeated Archie Moore and Joey Maxim several times in non-title bouts before becoming heavyweight champion and Patterson lost an eight-round decision to Joey Maxim before becoming heavyweight champion himself.

[edit] Olympic champions

1920 – Image:US flag 48 stars.svg Eddie Eagan (USA)
1924 – Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harry Mitchell (boxer) (GBR)
1928 – Image:Flag of Argentina.svg Víctor Avendaño (ARG)
1932 – Image:Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg David Carstens (RSA)
1936 – Image:Flag of France.svg Roger Michelot (FRA)
1948 – Image:Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg George Hunter (RSA)
1952 – Image:US flag 48 stars.svg Norvel Lee (USA)
1956 – Image:US flag 48 stars.svg James Boyd (USA)
1960 – Image:Flag of the United States.svg Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) (USA)
1964 – Image:Flag of Italy.svg Cosimo Pinto (ITA)
1968 – Image:Flag of the Soviet Union 1955.svg Danas Pozniakas (URS)
1972 – Image:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Mate Parlov (YUG)
1976 – Image:Flag of the United States.svg Leon Spinks (USA)
1980 – Image:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Slobodan Kacar (YUG)
1984 – Image:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Anton Josipovic (YUG)
1988 – Image:Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Maynard (USA)
1992 – Image:Flag of Germany.svg Torsten May (GER)
1996 – Image:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Vassiliy Jirov (KAZ)
2000 – Image:Flag of Russia.svg Aleksandr Lebziak (RUS)
2004 – Image:Flag of the United States.svg Andre Ward (USA)

[edit] Professional Champions

List of light heavyweight boxing champions

[edit] See also

Boxing

v • d • e Weight divisions in boxing
Professional boxing
Minimumweight \| Light Flyweight \| Flyweight \| Super Flyweight \| Bantamweight \| Super Bantamweight \| Featherweight \| Super Featherweight \| Lightweight \| Light Welterweight \| Welterweight \| Light Middleweight \| Middleweight \| Super Middleweight \| Light Heavyweight \| Cruiserweight \| Super-cruiserweight \| Heavyweight
Olympic boxing
Light Flyweight \| Flyweight \| Bantamweight \| Featherweight \| Lightweight \| Light Welterweight \| Welterweight \| Middleweight \| Light Heavyweight \| Heavyweight \| Super Heavyweight