Since writing for boxingnews24, I appreciate the comments from the readers, for they educate me. I was thinking about boxers who held titles in different weight classes. I’m sure I will leave someone out as usual.
When there was only one world champion in each weight class before we got four organizations like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF, there were boxers that held titles in two weight classes like Mickey “Toy Bulldog” Walker and “Sugar” Ray Robinson holding both welterweight and middleweight titles. Today, and especially in the past, there are quite a few who held titles in two weight classes too numerous to name.
The co-leader would most likely be East L.A. California’s Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya, 39-6 with 30 stoppages, who held titles in six weight classes, including super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, light middleweight, and middleweight.
The other co-leader would be Philippines Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, 62-8-2 with 39 stoppages, who held titles in six weight classes, including flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, and light middleweight.
“Sugar” Ray Leonard has held titles in five weight classes including welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight.
Detroit’s Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, 61-5-1 with 48 stoppages, has held titles in five weight classes, including welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight.
Panama’s Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, 103-16 with 70 stoppages, has held four in the lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight, and middleweight titles.
Pensacola, Florida’s Roy Jones, Jr., 66-10 with 47 stoppages, has held four in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight titles.
Norfolk, Virginia’s Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, 40-4-1 with 17 stoppages, has held four in the lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight titles.
New Zealand’s “Ruby” Bob Fitzsimmons, 61-8-4 with 57 stoppages, has held the middleweight, heavyweight, and light heavyweight titles. New York’s Tony Canzoneri 137-24-10 with 44 stoppages, has held the featherweight, lightweight, and junior welterweight titles.
Chicago’s Barney Ross, 72-4-3 with 22 stoppages, has held the lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight titles. L.A., California’s Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, 149-21-10 with 99 stoppages, has held the featherweight, welterweight and lightweight titles.
Puerto Rico’s Wilfred ”El Radar” Benitez, 53-8-1 with 31 stoppages, has held the light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight titles. Nicaragua’s Alexis “Thin Man” Arguello, 77-8 with 62 KOs, has held the featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight titles.
Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, 44-3-1 with 42 stoppages, has held the super bantamweight, featherweight, and super featherweight titles. Australia’s Jeff “Marrickville Mauler” Fenech, 29-3-1 with 21 stoppages, has held the bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight titles.
Mexico’s Julio “J.C.” Cesar Chavez, 107-6-2 with 85 stoppages, has held the super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight titles. Jamaica’s Mike “Bodysnatcher” McCallum, 49-5-1 with 36 knockouts, has held the light middleweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight titles.
Only Armstrong has held three titles simultaneously, including featherweight, welterweight and lightweight.