Flyweight

Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight.^[1]

The flyweight division was the last of boxing's eight traditional weight classes to be established. Before 1909, anyone below featherweight was considered a bantamweight, regardless of how small the boxer. In 1911, the organization that eventually became the British Boxing Board of Control held a match that crowned Sid Smith as the first flyweight champion of the world. Jimmy Wilde, who reigned from 1916 to 1923, was the first fighter recognized both in Britain and the United States as a flyweight champion.^[2]

Other notable flyweights include Victor Perez, Pancho Villa, Walter McGowan, Pascual Pérez, Pone Kingpetch, Fighting Harada, Masao Ohba, Chartchai Chionoi, Efren Torres, Erbito Salavarria, Miguel Canto, Dave McAuley, Charlie Magri, Gabriel Bernal, Santos Laciar, Sot Chitalada, Yong-Kang Kim, Yuri Arbachakov, Danny Romero, Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson, Manny Pacquiao, Jorge Arce, Vic Darchinyan, Nonito Donaire, Omar Andrés Narváez, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Amnat Ruenroeng, Román González, Donnie Nietes, Nicola Adams.

Sanctioning Body	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA	January 23, 2024	Seigo Yuri Akui	21–2–1 (11 KO)	2
WBC	October 13, 2024	Kenshiro Teraji	24–1 (15 KO)	0
IBF	August 9, 2024	Ángel Ayala	18–0 (8 KO)	0
WBO	July 20, 2024	Anthony Olascuaga	7–1 (5 KO)	0

As of October 19, 2024^[3]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion

Rank	Name	Record	Title(s)
C	vacant
1	Sunny Edwards	21–1 (4 KO)
2	Ángel Ayala	18–0 (8 KO)	IBF
3	Kenshiro Teraji	24–1 (15 KO)	WBC
4	Seigo Yuri Akui	21–2–1 (11 KO)	WBA
5	Artem Dalakian	22–1 (15 KO)
6	Ricardo Rafael Sandoval	25–2 (18 KO)
7	Felix Alvarado	41–4 (35 KO)
8	Anthony Olascuaga	7–1 (5 KO)	WBO
9	Galal Yafai	8–0 (6 KO)
10	Francisco Rodríguez Jr.	39–6–1 (27 KO)

Below is a list of longest reigning flyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

	Name	Title reign	Title recognition	Successful defenses	Beaten opponents	Fights
1.	Omar Andres Narvaez	7 years, 10 months	WBO	16	15	[4]
2.	Jimmy Wilde	7 years, 4 months, 4 days	World	3	3	[5]
3.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	6 years, 4 months, 16 days	WBC	17	16	[6]
4.	Artem Dalakian	5 years, 10 months, 27 days	WBA	5	5	[7]
3.	Irene Pacheco	5 years, 8 months, 6 days	IBF	6	6	[8]
6.	Pascual Perez	5 years, 4 months, 20 days	World	9	9	[9][10]
7.	Yuri Arbachakov	5 years, 4 months, 19 days	WBC	9	9	[11]
8.	Jackie Paterson	4 years, 9 months, 4 days	NBA	1	1	[12]
9.	Miguel Canto	4 years, 2 months, 10 days	WBC	14	11	[13]
10.	Moruti Mthalane	4 years, 1 month, 23 days	IBF	4	4	[14]
11.	Sot Chitalada	3 years, 9 months, 16 days	WBC	6	5	[15]

In kickboxing, a flyweight fighter generally weighs 53 kg (116 lb) or under. The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Flyweight division (professional and amateur) is 112.1 lb. – 117 lb. or 50.95 kg – 53.18 kg.

In ONE Championship, the flyweight division is up to 61.2 kg (135 lb).

The limit for flyweight generally differs among promotions in bare knuckle boxing:

• In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the flyweight division has an upper limit of 125 lb (57 kg).
• In BKB™, the flyweight division has an upper limit of 70 kg (154 lb).

The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine^[16] and by the Association of Boxing Commissions^[17] – groups together all competitors 125 lb (57 kg) and below. It sits between Strawweight (106 lb-115 lb) and Bantamweight (126 lb-135lb).

The flyweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:

• The UFC's flyweight division, which groups competitors within 116 to 125 lb (53 to 57 kg)
• The Pancrase light flyweight division with an upper limit of 54 kg (119 lb)
• The Shooto flyweight division with an upper limit of 114.6 lb (52 kg) ^[18]
• The ONE Championship's flyweight division, with upper limit at 61.2 kg (134.9 lb)
• The Road FC's flyweight division, with upper limit at 125 lb (57 kg)

These tables are not always up to date. Last updated on July 8, 2023.

Men:

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	July 8, 2023	Alexandre Pantoja	29-5 (8KO 11SUB)	3
Bellator MMA	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
ONE Championship	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
Rizin FF	December 31, 2023	Kyoji Horiguchi	33-5 (1) (15KO 5SUB)	0
Fight Nights Global	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
ACA	February 25, 2023	Kurban Gadzhiev	19-3 (5KO 6SUB)	0
CWFC	December 31, 2022	Shajidul Haque	15-5 (5KO)	0
Legacy Fighting Alliance	June 23, 2023	Cody Davis	8-1 (1KO 3SUB)	0

Women:

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	September 14, 2024	Valentina Shevchenko	24-4-1 (8KO 7SUB)	0
Bellator MMA	April 22, 2022	Liz Carmouche	22-7 (9KO 6SUB)	3
Invicta FC	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
KSW	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
Legacy Fighting Alliance	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A

• List of current MMA Flyweight Champions
• List of Road FC Flyweight Champions
• List of current MMA Women's Flyweight Champions