Lightweight

The lightweight division is the 130 pounds (59 kilograms) to 135 pounds (61 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight champions include Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Roberto Duran, Hector Camacho, Julio Cesar Chavez, Benny Leonard, Joe Gans, Henry Armstrong, Tony Canzoneri, Carlos Ortiz, Ike Williams, Alexis Arguello, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Diego Corrales. While not as popular as the heavier divisions among the mass of boxing fans, many find the often lightning-fast action of the lightweight divisions more compelling than the relatively slower matches of the heavier fighters.

Lightweight Olympic Champions

• 1904 Harry Spanger, USA
• 1908 Frederick Grace, Great Britain
• 1920 Samuel Mosberg, USA
• 1924 Hans Nielsen, Denmark
• 1928 Carlo Orlandi, Italy
• 1932 Lawrence Stevens, South Africa
• 1936 Imre Harangi, Hungary
• 1948 Gerald Dreyer, South Africa
• 1952 Aureliano Bolognesi, Italy
• 1956 Richard McTaggart, Great Britain
• 1960 Kazimierz Pazdzior, Poland
• 1964 Jozef Grudzien, Poland
• 1968 Ronald Harris, USA
• 1972 Jan Szczepanski, Poland
• 1976 Howard Davis, USA
• 1980 Angel Herrera, Cuba
• 1984 Pernell Whitaker, USA
• 1988 Andreas Zuelow, East Germany
• 1992 Oscar De La Hoya, USA
• 1996 Hocine Soltani, Algeria
• 2000 Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa, Cuba
• 2004 Mario Cesar Kindelan Mesa, Cuba