Before we move on to the all time light heavyweight boxing rankings, here are some light heavyweight champions that deserve an honorable mention.

Honorable Mention

Jimmy Bivins

Jimmy Bivins was an American boxer who competed in the light heavyweight and heavyweight division. He was active between and though he did not win a world title, he was recognized as the “Duration” light heavyweight boxing champion. He retired with a record of 86 wins, 26 losses, and 1 draw.

Joey Maxim

Joey Maxim also deserves an honorable mention. Competing between 1941 and 58, he became unified NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight champion, and undisputed light heavyweight champion in 1962. He retired with a record of 82 wins 29 losses and 4 draws

Top 10 Light Heavyweight Boxers All-Time

10. Harold Johnson

Starting off the list, at number 10 we have Harold Johnson, who competed in the middleweight and light heavyweight division between 1946 and 1971. 

He is a former undisputed light heavyweight champion and won the unified NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles in 1962. 

Johnson retired with a record of 76 wins and 11 losses.

9. Jack Delaney

Jack Delaney was a French Canadian Boxer who competed in the light heavyweight and heavyweight division between 1919 and 1932. 

He is the former undisputed Light heavyweight champion of the world, and held the unified NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles. 

Delaney retired with a record of 72 wins, 11 losses, 2 draws and 2 no-contests. 

8. Maxie Rosenbloom

Maxie Rosenbloom is another American Boxer, and he was also a popular actor and television personality. 

Rosenbloom competed between the years of 1923 and 1939, and remained the unified  NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight champion for almost 4 years, from 1930 to 1934 with 7 title defenses. He was recognized as the undisputed light heavyweight champion. 

Rosenbloom retired with an unofficial record of 224 wins, 44 losses, 28 wins, and 2 no-contests.

7. Billy Conn

Billy Conn was an Irish American boxer. The Boxing Hall of Famer competed between 1943 and 1948. 

Throughout his career, he won multiple titles at light heavyweight and also won the unified  NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles in 1939.  

Conn retired with a professional record of 64 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw. 

6. Tommy Loughran

Tommy Loughran also known as the “Phantom of Philly” was an American Boxer who is regarded as one of the best at light heavyweight. 

Competing between 1919 and 1937, Loughran won multiple world titles and became the unified NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light-heavyweight champion in 1928. He defended the unified titles 5 times. 

Loughran retired with a record of 124 wins, 31 losses, 13 draws, and 1 no-contest.

5. Michael Spinks

Michael “Jinx” Sphinx was an American Boxer, who is recognized by many as one of the best boxers at light heavyweight. 

Competing between 1977 and 1988, Spinks held world titles in two weight classes. He was also the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world between 1983 and 1985. 

Spinks retired with a record of 31 wins and 1 loss. 

4. Bob Foster

Bob Foster was an American boxer who competed between 1961 and 1978. 

He reigned as the unified WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight champion and defended the titles 14 times. 

Foster retired with a record of 56 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw. 

3. Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones Jr. is without doubt one of the best Boxers of all time, and he makes it in our list at number 3. 

Roy Jones Jr. started his professional career in 1989, and throughout his career, won multiple world titles in four different weight classes.

At light heavyweight, he simultaneously held the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO, WBF, IBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles, and was also recognized as the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world. 

2. Archie Moore

At number 2, we have American boxer, Archie Moore, who is known to have one of the longest boxing careers with a total of 220 professional fights on his record. 

He competed between 1935 and 1963, during which he won the unified NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles and defended them 10 times. 

Moore retired with a record of 186 wins, 23 losses, 10 draws, and 1 no-contest. 

1. Ezzard Charles

Ezzard Charles, also known as the Cincinnati Cobra, is the best light heavyweight in my opinion.

Over the course of his career, which spanned from 1940 to 1959, Charles had more success at heavyweight, however, at light heavyweight, he had defeated some of the biggest names in the division, even though he did not get a title shot. 

Many people consider Charles to be number one over Archie Moore because he defeated him three times in three fights. Charles was also the unified NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles

He retired with a record of 95 wins, 25 losses, and 1 draw.

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Related Links

• Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time Rankings
• Top 10 Middleweight Boxers of All Time Rankings
• Top 10 Lightweight Boxers of All Time Rankings