super middleweight

Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds (76.2 kilograms). There was interest in a division between middleweight (160 pounds) and light heavyweight (175 pounds) in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s. A few states briefly recognized a "Junior Light Heavyweight" division at 167 pounds and the fringe World Athletic Association (WAA) later inaugurated a "Super Middleweight" division at 168. 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. It should be noted that the media and most commissions did not recognize Fullmer's, Douglas', or Halstead's titles nor did they recognize the division during this period.^[1]

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 Chong Pal Park defeated Jesus Gallardo in 1987 (Park had been IBF champion before relinquishing the title to fight for the 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.

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, and the ongoing 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 champion of the division. Calzaghe since moved to the light heavyweight division, retiring after his victory over Roy Jones Jr..

Professional Champions

Current champions

Sanctioning Body	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA	November 21, 2009	Andre Ward	21-0 (13 KO)	0
WBC	December 6, 2008	Carl Froch	25-0 (19 KO)	2
IBF	October 19, 2007	Lucian Bute	25-0 (20 KO)	4
WBO	January 10, 2009	Robert Stieglitz	36-2 (22 KO)	0
IBO	November 13, 2008	Sakio Bika	23-3 (17 KO)	0

• List of super middleweight boxing champions

References and Notes

1. ^ Mullan, Harry (1996). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London, England: Carlton Books. p. 150. ISBN 0785806415.