Super middleweight

Super middleweight or super-middleweight^[1] is a weight class in combat sports.^[2]

Boxing

In professional boxing, super middleweight is contested between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, in which boxers weigh above 160 pounds (73 kg) and up to 168 pounds (76 kg). The class first appeared in 1967.

Joe Calzaghe and Sven Ottke jointly hold the record for most consecutive title defenses in this division, with 21 defenses of the WBO and IBF titles respectively.

History

1960s–1983

There was interest in a division between middleweight and light heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s. A few states briefly recognized a "Junior Light Heavyweight" division at 167 pounds (76 kg) and the fringe World Athletic Association (WAA) later inaugurated a "super middleweight" division at 168 pounds (76 kg). On April 3, 1967, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Don Fullmer, a brother of former world middleweight champion Gene Fullmer won the first version by stopping previously unbeaten Joe Hopkins in six rounds. He never defended it. On November 25, 1974, in Columbus, Ohio, Billy Douglas, the father of future world heavyweight champion James "Buster" Douglas halted Danny Brewer in two rounds to win the Ohio Commission's version of the world junior light heavyweight title. He too never made a defense of the title. Then, on April 3, 1982, in Denver, Colorado, Jerry "Wimpy" Halstead stopped Ron Brown in six rounds to win the WAA's inaugural super middleweight title bout. Halstead made one defense, knocking out Darren Encline in one round on May 29. 1982 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following that fight, Halstead moved up to the light heavyweight class and eventually campaigned as a heavyweight. The media and most commissions did not recognize Fullmer's, Douglas', or Halstead's titles. Nor did they recognize the division during this period.^[3]

1984–1989

The current super middleweight division traces its beginning to 1984, when Murray Sutherland defeated Ernie Singletary for the International Boxing Federation version of the title. The World Boxing Association created its version of the super middleweight title when reigning Lineal champion Chong Pal Park defeated Jesus Gallardo in 1987 (Park had been IBF champion before relinquishing the title to fight for the inaugural WBA version). The World Boxing Council crowned its first champion in 1988 when Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Donny Lalonde in a fight that was also for its version of the light heavyweight title.

1990–2007

Since the early 1990s, there has been a highly competitive super middleweight division in Britain and Ireland, including the rivalry between Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, and Michael Watson, which included two memorable fights and the tragic injury to Watson, followed by the emergence of Steve Collins, who defeated Benn and Eubank, before retiring and vacating the title, as well as the 10-year reign of Joe Calzaghe. In addition, fellow Brits Richie Woodhall and Robin Reid also held versions of the title between 1996–97 and 1997-98. In 2007, two champions of the division, the undefeated Calzaghe and the likewise undefeated Mikkel Kessler, had a title unification fight which Calzaghe won by a unanimous decision to become the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world.

2008–present

At the end of the 2000s and start of the 2010s the division was one of the most active in boxing with the likes of Lucian Bute, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Anthony Mundine, Arthur Abraham, Robert Stieglitz, Sakio Bika, Allan Green, Jesse Brinkley, Librado Andrade, Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor. This was showcased with Showtime's, Super Six World Boxing Classic that sought out to find the best super middleweight in the world at the time. Andre Ward went on to defeat Carl Froch by unanimous decision and win the tournament in late 2011.

Professional champions

Current champions

Sanctioning Body	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA (Super)	February 20, 2016	Felix Sturm	40-5-3 (1) (18 KO)	0
WBA (Regular)	January 9, 2016	Giovanni De Carolis	24-6 (12 KO)	0
WBC	April 24, 2015	Badou Jack	20-1-2 (12 KO)	2
IBF	May 23, 2015	James DeGale	23-1 (14 KO)	2
WBO	April 9, 2016	Gilberto Ramirez	34-0 (24 KO)	0

Current female champions

Sanctioning Body	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA		Vacant
WBC	November 30, 2013	Nikki Adler	12-0 (7 KO)	0
IBF		Vacant
WBO		Vacant

Longest reigning super middleweight champions

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

	Name	Title reign	Title recognition	Successful defenses
1.	Joe Calzaghe	10 years, 11 months, 22 days	WBO	21
2.	Andre Ward	5 years, 11 months, 21 days	WBA (Super)	6
3.	Sven Ottke	5 years, 5 months, 3 days	IBF	21
4.	Frankie Liles	4 years, 10 months, 0 days	WBA	8
5.	Lucian Bute	4 years, 7 months, 7 days	IBF	9
6.	Chris Eubank	4 years, 4 months, 0 days	WBO	14
7.	Chong-Pal Park	3 years, 7 months, 17 days	IBF, lineal	10
8.	Nigel Benn	3 years, 4 months, 28 days	WBC	9
9.	Robert Stieglitz	3 years, 0 months, 3 days	WBO	6
10.	Mikkel Kessler	2 years, 11 months, 23 days	WBA (Super)	4

     Active Title Reign

     Reign has ended

Current The Ring magazine super middleweight rankings

Updated 4 August 2015 ^[4]

Rank	Name	Record	Title(s)
1	James DeGale	23-1 (14 KO)	IBF
2	Badou Jack	20-1-2 (12 KO)	WBC
3	Gilberto Ramírez	34-0 (24 KO)	WBO
4	Andre Dirrell	25-2 (16 KO)
5	George Groves	23-3 (18 KO)
6	Callum Smith	19-0 (14 KO)
7	Arthur Abraham	44-5 (29 KO)
8	Anthony Dirrell	29-1-1 (23 KO)
9	Felix Sturm	40-5-3 (18 KO)	WBA
10	Fedor Chudinov	14-1 (10 KO)

^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Kickboxing

• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Super Middleweight (Pro & Amateur) 165.1 - 172 lb (75.1 - 78.2 kg)

References

1. "Rankings". Boxing News. Newsquest. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
2. "BoxRec Boxing Records". BoxRec. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
3. Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 150. ISBN 0-7858-0641-5.
4. Current super middleweight rankings. Ring Magazine.
5. Super Middleweight Division Retrieved on 28 December 2012.
6. WBC Super Middleweight Champions Retrieved on 28 December 2012.
7. WBO Super Middeweight Champions Retrieved on 28 December 2012.
8. IBF Super Middleweight Champions Retrieved on 28 December 2012.