Open Boxing

WBC light heavyweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1963. Current champion: Willy Hutchinson, since 7th Nov 2026.

World title bouts
126
Champions
34
Longest reign (Bob Foster, 1968–1974)
6 years, 3 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Bob Foster, 1968–1974)
13

Current champion

Willy HutchinsonSince 7th Nov 2026 · 8 days · 0 successful defences

Reigns and world title bouts

Jan 2022 – Jan 2027

WBC
Artur BeterbievDavid Benavidez
AprJulOct2023AprJulOct2024AprJulOct2025AprJulOct2026AprJulOct2027
197019801990200020102020

World title bout

Reigns by length

  1. 1Bob FosterWBC1968–19746 years, 3 months · 13 successful defences
  2. 2Roy Jones JrWBC1997–20035 years, 6 months · 11 successful defences
  3. 3Adonis StevensonWBC2013–20185 years, 5 months · 8 successful defences
  4. 4Artur BeterbievWBC2019–20255 years, 4 months · 6 successful defences
  5. 5Jeff HardingWBC1991–19942 years, 10 months · 2 successful defences
  6. 6Matthew Saad MuhammadWBC1979–19812 years, 7 months · 8 successful defences
  7. 7John ContehWBC1974–19772 years, 7 months · 3 successful defences
  8. 8Michael SpinksWBC1983–19852 years, 6 months · 4 successful defences
  9. 9Jean PascalWBC2009–20111 year, 11 months · 3 successful defences
  10. 10Willie PastranoWBC1963–19651 year, 9 months · 2 successful defences
  11. 11Jose TorresWBC1965–19661 year, 8 months · 3 successful defences
  12. 12Fabrice TiozzoWBC1995–19971 year, 8 months · 1 successful defence
  13. 13Tomasz AdamekWBC2005–20071 year, 8 months · 2 successful defences
  14. 14David BenavidezWBC2025–20261 year, 6 months · 1 successful defence
  15. 15Dick TigerWBC1966–19681 year, 5 months · 2 successful defences
  16. 16Chad DawsonWBC2007–20081 year, 5 months · 3 successful defences
  17. 17Dwight Muhammad QawiWBC1981–19831 year, 2 months · 3 successful defences
  18. 18Dennis AndriesWBC1990–19911 year, 1 month · 2 successful defences
  19. 19Chad DawsonWBC2012–20131 year, 1 month · 0 successful defences
  20. 20Jeff HardingWBC1989–19901 year, 1 month · 2 successful defences
  21. 21Donny LalondeWBC1987–198811 months · 1 successful defence
  22. 22Adrian DiaconuWBC2008–200911 months · 0 successful defences
  23. 23Bernard HopkinsWBC2011–201211 months · 0 successful defences
  24. 24Mate ParlovWBC1978–197810 months · 1 successful defence
  25. 25Mike McCallumWBC1994–199510 months · 1 successful defence
  26. 26Oleksandr GvozdykWBC2018–201910 months · 1 successful defence
  27. 27Dennis AndriesWBC1986–198710 months · 1 successful defence
  28. 28Thomas HearnsWBC1987–19878 months · 0 successful defences
  29. 29Miguel Angel CuelloWBC1977–19787 months · 0 successful defences
  30. 30Antonio TarverWBC2004–20046 months · 0 successful defences
  31. 31Antonio TarverWBC2003–20036 months · 0 successful defences
  32. 32Roy Jones JrWBC2003–20046 months · 0 successful defences
  33. 33Marvin JohnsonWBC1978–19794 months · 0 successful defences
  34. 34JB WilliamsonWBC1985–19864 months · 0 successful defences
  35. 35Montell GriffinWBC1997–19974 months · 0 successful defences
  36. 36Dennis AndriesWBC1989–19894 months · 0 successful defences
  37. 37Harold JohnsonWBC1963–19633 months · 0 successful defences
  38. 38Dmitry BivolWBC2025–20251 month · 0 successful defences
  39. 39Roy Jones JrWBC1997–199720 days · 0 successful defences
  40. 40Sugar Ray LeonardWBC1988–198810 days · 0 successful defences
  41. 41Willy HutchinsonWBC2026–present8 days · 0 successful defences

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1963

  2. Harold Johnson becomes the WBC light heavyweight world champion

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  3. Willie Pastrano beats Harold Johnson via split decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  4. 1964

  5. Willie Pastrano beats Gregorio Peralta via corner retirement 5/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  6. Willie Pastrano beats Terry Downes via knockout 11/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  7. 1965

  8. Jose Torres beats Willie Pastrano via knockout 9/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  9. 1966

  10. Jose Torres beats Wayne Thornton via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  11. Jose Torres beats Eddie Cotton via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  12. Jose Torres beats Chic Calderwood via knockout 2/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  13. Dick Tiger beats Jose Torres via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  14. 1967

  15. Dick Tiger beats Jose Torres via split decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  16. Dick Tiger beats Roger Rouse via knockout 12/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  17. 1968

  18. Bob Foster beats Dick Tiger via knockout 4/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  19. 1969

  20. Bob Foster beats Frank DePaula via knockout 1/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  21. Bob Foster beats Andy Kendall via knockout 4/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  1. 1970

  2. Bob Foster beats Roger Rouse via corner retirement 3/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  3. Bob Foster beats Mark Tessman via knockout 10/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  4. 1971

  5. Bob Foster beats Hal Carroll via knockout 4/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  6. Bob Foster beats Ray Anderson via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  7. Bob Foster beats Tommy Hicks via knockout 8/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  8. Bob Foster beats Brian Kelly via knockout 3/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  9. 1972

  10. Bob Foster beats Vicente Rondon via knockout 2/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  11. Bob Foster beats Mike Quarry via knockout 4/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  12. Bob Foster beats Chris Finnegan via knockout 14/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  13. 1973

  14. Bob Foster beats Pierre Fourie via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  15. Bob Foster beats Pierre Fourie via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  16. 1974

  17. Bob Foster and Jorge Ahumada draw via split decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  18. Bob Foster’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  19. John Conteh beats Jorge Ahumada via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  20. 1975

  21. John Conteh beats Lonnie Bennett via knockout 5/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  22. 1976

  23. John Conteh beats Yaqui Lopez via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  24. 1977

  25. John Conteh beats Len Hutchins via knockout 3/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  26. Miguel Angel Cuello beats Jesse Burnett via knockout 9/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  27. 1978

  28. Mate Parlov beats Miguel Angel Cuello via knockout 9/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  29. Mate Parlov beats John Conteh via split decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  30. Marvin Johnson beats Mate Parlov via knockout 10/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  31. 1979

  32. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Marvin Johnson via knockout 8/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  33. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats John Conteh via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  1. 1980

  2. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats John Conteh via knockout 4/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  3. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Louis Pergaud via knockout 5/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  4. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Yaqui Lopez via knockout 14/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  5. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Lottie Mwale via knockout 4/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  6. 1981

  7. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Vonzell Johnson via knockout 11/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  8. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Murray Sutherland via knockout 9/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  9. Matthew Saad Muhammad beats Jerry Martin via knockout 11/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  10. Dwight Muhammad Qawi beats Matthew Saad Muhammad via knockout 10/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  11. 1982

  12. Dwight Muhammad Qawi beats Jerry Martin via knockout 6/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  13. Dwight Muhammad Qawi beats Matthew Saad Muhammad via knockout 6/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  14. Dwight Muhammad Qawi beats Eddie Davis via knockout 11/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  15. 1983

  16. Michael Spinks beats Dwight Muhammad Qawi via unanimous decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  17. Michael Spinks beats Oscar Rivadeneyra via knockout 10/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  18. 1984

  19. Michael Spinks beats Eddie Davis via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  20. 1985

  21. Michael Spinks beats David Sears via knockout 3/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  22. Michael Spinks beats Jim MacDonald via knockout 8/15

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  23. Michael Spinks’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  24. JB Williamson beats Prince Mama Mohammed via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  25. 1986

  26. Dennis Andries beats JB Williamson via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  27. Dennis Andries beats Tony Sibson via knockout 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  28. 1987

  29. Thomas Hearns beats Dennis Andries via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  30. Donny Lalonde beats Eddie Davis via knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  31. 1988

  32. Donny Lalonde beats Leslie Stewart via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  33. Sugar Ray Leonard beats Donny Lalonde via knockout 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  34. Sugar Ray Leonard’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  35. 1989

  36. Dennis Andries beats Tony Willis via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  37. Jeff Harding beats Dennis Andries via knockout 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  38. Jeff Harding beats Tom Collins via corner retirement 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  1. 1990

  2. Jeff Harding beats Nestor Hipolito Giovannini via knockout 11/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  3. Dennis Andries beats Jeff Harding via knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  4. Dennis Andries beats Sergio Daniel Merani via corner retirement 4/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  5. 1991

  6. Dennis Andries beats Guy Waters via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  7. Jeff Harding beats Dennis Andries via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  8. 1992

  9. Jeff Harding beats Christophe Tiozzo via knockout 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  10. Jeff Harding beats David Vedder via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  11. 1994

  12. Mike McCallum beats Jeff Harding via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  13. 1995

  14. Mike McCallum beats Carl Jones via knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  15. Fabrice Tiozzo beats Mike McCallum via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  16. 1996

  17. Fabrice Tiozzo beats Eric Lucas via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  18. 1997

  19. Fabrice Tiozzo’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

    Roy Jones Jr becomes the WBC light heavyweight world champion

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  20. Montell Griffin beats Roy Jones Jr via disqualification 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  21. Roy Jones Jr beats Montell Griffin via knockout 1/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  22. 1998

  23. Graciano Rocchigiani beats Michael Nunn via split decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  24. Roy Jones Jr beats Lou Del Valle via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA and WBC

  25. Roy Jones Jr beats Otis Grant via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA and WBC

  26. 1999

  27. Roy Jones Jr beats Richard Frazier via knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA and WBC

  28. Roy Jones Jr beats Reggie Johnson via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  1. 2000

  2. Roy Jones Jr beats David Telesco via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  3. Roy Jones Jr beats Richard Hall via knockout 11/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  4. Roy Jones Jr beats Eric Harding via corner retirement 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  5. 2001

  6. Roy Jones Jr beats Derrick Harmon via corner retirement 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC and IBF

  7. Roy Jones Jr beats Julio Cesar Gonzalez via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC and IBF

  8. 2002

  9. Roy Jones Jr beats Glen Kelly via knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  10. Roy Jones Jr beats Clinton Woods via knockout 6/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  11. 2003

  12. Roy Jones Jr’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  13. Antonio Tarver beats Montell Griffin via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBFNew WBC champion

  14. Roy Jones Jr beats Antonio Tarver via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  15. 2004

  16. Antonio Tarver beats Roy Jones Jr via knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  17. Antonio Tarver’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  18. 2005

  19. Tomasz Adamek beats Paul Briggs via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  20. Tomasz Adamek beats Thomas Ulrich via knockout 6/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  21. 2006

  22. Tomasz Adamek beats Paul Briggs via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  23. 2007

  24. Chad Dawson beats Tomasz Adamek via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  25. Chad Dawson beats Jesus Ruiz via knockout 6/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  26. Chad Dawson beats Epifanio Mendoza via knockout 4/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  27. 2008

  28. Chad Dawson beats Glen Johnson via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  29. Chad Dawson’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

    Adrian Diaconu becomes the WBC light heavyweight world champion

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  30. 2009

  31. Jean Pascal beats Adrian Diaconu via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  32. Jean Pascal beats Silvio Branco via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  33. Jean Pascal beats Adrian Diaconu via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  1. 2010

  2. Jean Pascal beats Chad Dawson via technical decision 11/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  3. Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins draw via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  4. 2011

  5. Bernard Hopkins beats Jean Pascal via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  6. Bernard Hopkins v Chad Dawson ends in a no contest

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  7. 2012

  8. Chad Dawson beats Bernard Hopkins via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  9. 2013

  10. Adonis Stevenson beats Chad Dawson via knockout 1/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The RingNew WBC champion

  11. Adonis Stevenson beats Tavoris Cloud via corner retirement 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  12. Adonis Stevenson beats Tony Bellew via knockout 6/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  13. 2014

  14. Adonis Stevenson beats Andrzej Fonfara via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  15. Adonis Stevenson beats Dmitry Sukhotskiy via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  16. 2015

  17. Adonis Stevenson beats Sakio Bika via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  18. Adonis Stevenson beats Tommy Karpency via knockout 3/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  19. 2016

  20. Adonis Stevenson beats Thomas Williams Jr via knockout 4/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  21. 2017

  22. Adonis Stevenson beats Andrzej Fonfara via knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  23. 2018

  24. Adonis Stevenson and Badou Jack draw via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  25. Oleksandr Gvozdyk beats Adonis Stevenson via knockout 11/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

  26. 2019

  27. Oleksandr Gvozdyk beats Doudou Ngumbu via knockout 5/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  28. Artur Beterbiev beats Oleksandr Gvozdyk via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBFNew WBC champion

  1. 2021

  2. Artur Beterbiev beats Adam Deines via knockout 10/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  3. Artur Beterbiev beats Marcus Browne via knockout 9/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  4. 2022

  5. Artur Beterbiev beats Joe Smith Jr via technical knockout 2/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and WBO

  6. 2023

  7. Artur Beterbiev beats Anthony Yarde via technical knockout 8/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and WBO

  8. 2024

  9. Artur Beterbiev beats Callum Smith via technical knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and WBO

  10. Artur Beterbiev beats Dmitry Bivol via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  11. 2025

  12. Dmitry Bivol beats Artur Beterbiev via majority decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The RingNew WBC champion

  13. Dmitry Bivol’s reign as the WBC light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

    David Benavidez becomes the WBC light heavyweight world champion

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

    Source: David Benavidez is WBC Light Heavyweight Champion(opens in a new tab), World Boxing Council, Cesar Navarro,

  14. David Benavidez beats Anthony Yarde via technical knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Regular and WBC

    Source: Benavidez stops Yarde in 7th round to retain WBC light-heavyweight title(opens in a new tab), AP via Fox Sports,

  15. 2026

  16. David Benavidez vacates the WBC light heavyweight world title

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

    Source: Fight Announced for David Benavidez's Vacated Light Heavyweight Title(opens in a new tab), Sports Illustrated, Terrance Biggs,

  17. Willy Hutchinson beats Joshua Buatsi via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBCNew champion

    Source: Hutchinson beats Buatsi to win WBC light-heavyweight title(opens in a new tab), BBC Sport, Charlotte Coates,

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