Lineal Welterweight World Champions
[147lbs]
Welterweight World Champion: Terence Crawford
Paddy Duffy (1888 - 1890) Died
"Mysterious" Billy Smith (1892 - 1894)
Tommy Ryan (1894 - 1898) Vacated
"Mysterious" Billy Smith (1898 - 1900)
James "Rube" Ferns (1900)
William "Matty" Matthews (1900 - 1901)
James "Rube" Ferns (1901)
Joe Walcott (1901 - 1904)
Dixie Kid (1904 - 1910) Vacated
Ted "Kid" Lewis (1915 - 1916)
Jack Britton (1916 - 1917)
Ted "Kid' Lewis (1917 - 1919)
Jack Britton (1919 - 1922)
Mickey Walker (1922 - 1926)
Pete Latzo (1926 - 1927)
Joe Dundee (1927 - 1929)
Jackie Fields (1929 - 1930)
"Young" Jack Thompson (1930)
Tommy Freeman (1930 - 1931)
"Young" Jack Thompson (1931)
Lou Brouillard (1931 - 1932)
Jackie Fields (1932 - 1933)
Young Corbett III (1933)
Jimmy McLarnin (1933 - 1934)
Barney Ross (1934)
Jimmy McLarnin (1934 - 1935)
Barney Ross (1935 - 1938)
Henry Armstrong (1938 - 1940)
Fritzie Zivic (1940 - 1941)
Freddie "Red" Cochrane (1941 - 1946)
Marty Servo (1946) Retired
"Sugar" Ray Robinson (1946 - 1951) Vacated
Kid Gavilan (1951 - 1954)
Johnny Saxton (1954 - 1955)
Tony DeMarco (1955)
Carmen Basilio (1955 - 1956)
Johnny Saxton (1956)
Carmen Basilio (1956 - 1957) Vacated
Virgil Akins (1958)
Don Jordan (1958 - 1960)
Benny "Kid" Paret (1960 - 1961)
Emile Griffith (1961)
Benny "Kid" Paret (1961 - 1962)
Emile Griffith (1962 - 1963)
Luis Manuel Rodriguez (1963)
Emile Griffith (1963 - 1966) Vacated
Curtis Cokes (1966 - 1969)
Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles (1969 - 1970)
Billy Backus (1970 - 1971)
Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles (1971 - 1975)
John H. Stracey (1975 - 1976)
Carlos Palomino (1976 - 1979)
Wilfred Benitez (1979)
"Sugar" Ray Leonard (1979 - 1980)
Roberto Duran (1980)
"Sugar" Ray Leonard (1980 - 1982) Retired
Lloyd Honeyghan (1986 - 1987)
Jorge Vaca (1987 - 1988)
Lloyd Honeyghan (1988 - 1989)
Marlon Starling (1989 - 1990)
Maurice Blocker (1990 - 1991)
Simon Brown (1991)
James "Buddy" McGirt (1991 - 1993)
Pernell Whitaker (1993 - 1997)
Oscar De La Hoya (1997 - 1999)
Felix Trinidad Jr. (1999 - 2000) Vacated
"Sugar" Shane Mosley (2000 - 2002)
Vernon Forrest (2002 - 2003)
Ricardo Mayorga (2003)
Cory Spinks (2003 - 2005)
Zab Judah (2005 - 2006)
Carlos Baldomir (2006)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2006 - 2008) Retired
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2015) Retired
Terence Crawford (2023 - Present)
The Welterweight Division
In the middle of the 19th century the welterweight and middleweight divisions were created to bridge the gap between lightweight and heavyweight. A welterweight limit of 142lbs was set and Paddy Duffy became the first champion in 1888. After Paddy died in 1890 the weight division became dormant and did not come to prominence again until December 14th 1892, when Mysterious Billy Smith and Danny Needham fought for the vacant crown. (9) In 1905 a journalist (12) for the San Francisco Examiner explained the vague parameters of the Welterweight division:
"Sporting writers are often asked to define the boundaries of the welterweight division. The safest answer to make is that it is a point on which authorities differ.
"In England men scaling between 140 and 148 pounds are classed as welters."
From September 17th, 1920, the limit for title bouts was set at 147lbs (29).
Since Ted "Kid" Lewis brought clarity to the division in 1915, gaining universal recognition as the World Champion during a confusing period when multiple fighters had been claiming titles, the welterweight division has gone from strength to strength. "Sugar" Ray Robinson, frequently rated by historians as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all-time, is regarded as being in his prime years at the 147lbs weight class. Part of Henry Armstrong's record of three world championships, held simultaneously at three different weight divisions, included the welterweight crown in 1938 - 1940.
More recently, arguably the two best fighters of from the first two decades of the century, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, had many of their most famous battles at 147lbs, including their fight against each other in 2015, a fight which has the record as the richest in history.
1888: Paddy Duffy became the inaugural Welterweight World Champion by defeating Billy McMillan in the 17th round of their contest at Fort Foote, Virginia, USA, on October 30th, 1888. "Seventeen bloody rounds were fought, in which Duffy clearly outfought his opponent. Duffy was awarded the fight on a foul, McMillan having repeatedly butted him." (28) The agreed terms before the bout stated that each man had to fight at 140lbs," give and take 2 pounds," and that "skin-tight gloves" would be worn (27) Titles: Welterweight Championship of the United States. (28)
1890: Paddy Duffy died on July 10th, 1890 of tuberculosis, age 25. The Boston Globe reported on July 11, 1890: “Paddy Duffy, the champion welterweight pugilist of the world, died at his residence, 5 Endicott Ct., yesterday morning.”
1892: "Mysterious" Billy Kid filled the Lineal vacancy and was "acknowledged king of the division" when he stopped Danny Needham in 14 rounds in San Francisco, on December 14th, 1892. (9)
1896: Kid McCoy defeated Tommy Ryan in the 10th round on March 2nd, 1896, but the bout was not for the championship, as it had been agreed it would take place at 154lbs. (10)
1898: Tommy Ryan's fight against Tommy West on June 13th, 1898, was billed as a welterweight title fight, but both men weighed above the 142lbs weight limit. From this date onwards, Ryan's focus moved to the middleweight division.
1898: "Mysterious" Billy Kid fills the championship vacancy by defeating Matty Matthews in New York, on points over 25 rounds, on August 25th, 1898 (11).
1904: Champion, Walcott, lost to Dixie Kid via 20th round disqualification, although the verdict was greatly disputed by most observers. One reporter (15) stated: "Sullivan's (the referee) claim that Joe had committed a foul, upon which he rendered his erratic decision, was weak, indeed, and if there was a foul committed, Sullivan is probably the only man in the building who saw it come off.
"Walcott won his fight as fairly as any boxer ever earned a decision, and was clearly entitled to the verdict."
The Boxing Register (14) states that it was discovered that the referee had bet on Dixie Kid to win the fight, and so consequently, the result was disregarded. However, heading into his 1904 bout with Sam Langford, Walcott was referred to as "the ex-welterweight champion of the world." (13)
Historian Nat Fleischer took the view that Dixie Kid left for England soon after beating Joe Walcott and "announced his retirement from the division due to weight difficulties, and Walcott reclaimed the crown," (9) where as others claim the Dixie Kid/Walcott result was disregarded (14), meaning that this version of the title passed from Walcott, to Honey Mellody, to Mike Sullivan, and ended in 1907 when Sullivan vacated to move up in weight. One boxing reporter (18) in December 1915, explained, "Dixie Kid and Walcott entered counter claims for the title."
Ultimately our research shows no reliable evidence that boxing reporters from the early-mid 20th century disregarded Dixie's victory over Walcott (19) (9). In July 1914, boxing analyst Louis A. Dougher (20) explained: "Honey Mellody, of Boston, long since forgotten, though a wonderful puncher in his day, used to claim the title because he won from Joe Walcott in San Francisco on a foul in 1905, but Walcott had lost the crown by that time and Mellody earned nothing except the victory."
1909: On February 11th, 1909, In London, UK, the National Sporting Club formally stipulated limits for eight weight classes: Flyweight/112lbs, Bantamweight/118lbs, Featherweight, Lightweight/135lbs, Welterweight/147lbs, Middleweight/160lbs, Light Heavyweight/175lbs, Heavyweight/175lbs+ (29).
1910: In September 1910, it was reported in The Buffalo Commercial: "Several pugilists are calling themselves welterweight champions of America, but there is only one holder of that title, according to an opinion backed up by the records. The champion is Dixie Kid, colored, who almost knocked out Willie Lewis recently." The newspaper explained why Jimmy Clabby's title claim was flawed: "Jimmy Clabby of Milwaukee outpointed the Dixie Kid in a ten-round bout at a New York club last spring, but no decision was rendered officially." (21). Although opinions vary considerably as to exactly when Dixie Kid vacated the crown, he began competing at middleweight more frequently in 1910, and one report (22) in 1919, documenting the history of the welterweight division, stated Dixie's reign as lasting from 1904 -1910.
1904 - 1914: During this period there were multiple titlists, which included: Jimmy Clabby, Ray Bronson, Jimmy Gardner, Clarence Kid Ferns, Mike Gibbons, Kid Graves, Mike Glove, Ted Kid Lewis, Jack Britton.
1915: Ted "Kid" Lewis "claimed the vacant title on August by defeating Britton in Boston," via a 12-round decision. (17) Fleischer agreed that "a semblance of order came of the chaotic state" when Lewis defeated Britton on August 31st, 1915 (9).
1922: The NBA launched the Junior Welterweight class, setting a weight range of 135lbs - 140lbs. November 15th, 1922.
1933: Jimmy McLarnin wins the Championship by defeating champion, Young Corbett III - part of a Championship lineage that dates back to when Ted "Kid" Lewis filled the vacancy in 1915. In 1933 The Ring Magazine name Jimmy as their first Welterweight champion.
1946: Marty Servo retired from boxing on September 25th, 1946, due to a nose injury (26).
1946: Sugar Ray Robinson defeats Tommy Bell on December 20th, 1946, to fill the Championship vacancy (24) (14). Titles: NBA/NYSAC/Ring.
1951: Sugar Ray Robinson defeated Jake LaMotta on February 14th, 1951, and vacated the Welterweight Championship (25).
1951: The February 1951 Ring Magazine rankings had Kid Gavilan #1, Billy Graham #2, Charley Fusari #3, and Johnny Bratton #4. Johnny Bratton outpointed Charley Fusari on March 14th, 1951, and two months later, on May 18th, Gavilan defeated Bratton. On August 29th Gavilan defeated Billy Graham via a 15 round Split Decision to receive worldwide recognition as the new champion (9). Titles: NBA/Ring.
1957: Carmen Basilio vacated after winning the middleweight crown form Sugar Ray Robinson on September 23rd, 1957.
1958: Between October 1957 and June 1958, Virgil Akins defeated Tony DeMarco (twice), Isaac Logart, Vince Martinez, and Charley Smith, all of whom were in the Ring Magazine top-five at welterweight (February 1958 ratings). With his 4th round TKO victory over Martinez on June 6th, 1958, Akins "proved himself as the true successor to Basilio, who had given up the title so that he might briefly rule of the middleweight division." (8) Titles: Ring.
1966: As per the New York Commission rules (7) Emile Griffith agreed to vacate his 147lbs title after winning the Middleweight World Championship on April 25th, 1966, and did not fight at welterweight again until 1969.
1966: Luis Rodriguez and Manuel Gonzalez were the #1 and #2 rated welterweights in the March 1966 Ring Magazine ratings. Curtis Cokes defeated Luis Rodriguez on July 6th, 1966, and then outpointed Manuel Gonzalez over 15 rounds on August 24th, in a fight that filled the Lineal vacancy. Titles: WBA/Ring.
1982: On November 9th, 1982, Sugar Ray Leonard announced his retirement from boxing, after recovering from surgery (performed in May 1982) for the repair of a partially detached retina of his left eye. "I will not come back, that's it," he told reporters. "A fight with this great man (Marvin Hagler), with this great champion, would be one of the greatest fights in history. Unfortunately it will never happen." (6)
1985: Donald Curry defeated Milton McCrory via 2nd round KO on December 6th, 1985, to crown a new champion, filling the Lineal vacancy (Curry and McCory were rated #1 and #2 respectively at 147lbs in the April 1985 Ring Magazine ratings). Titles: WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring.
2000: Felix Trinidad's last fight at welterweight was his championship winning fight against Oscar De La Hoya on September 18, 1999. His first fight at junior middleweight was against David Reid on March 3rd, 2000. The 147lbs crown became vacant.
2000: The Ring Magazine's April 2000 ratings listed the top 10 welterweights as follows: 1) Felix Trinidad, 2) Oscar De La Hoya, 3) Ike Quartey, 4) James Page, 5) Pernell Whitaker, 6) Shane Mosley, 7) Vernon Forest, 8) Oba Carr, 9) Jose Luis Lopez, 10) Shannon Taylor. By the time of De La Hoya/Mosley on June 17th, 2000, Trinidad was now fighting at 154lbs, and Quartey, Page and Whitaker, had not been active at 147lbs. Mosley's Majority Decision points victory over De La Hoya therefore filled the championship vacancy. Titles: WBC (Ring title has been discontinued during this time).
2008: Mayweather said in a statement, as reported by ESPN on June 6th, 2008: "It is with a heavy heart that I write you this message today. I have decided to permanently retire from boxing." Leonard Ellerbe, Floyd's advisor, added that the retirement was "legit, forever. He made up his mind." CEO of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions commented, "I have been informed by Mayweather's decision and wish him good luck in retirement." (5)
2009: Shane Mosely stopped Antonio Margarito in the 9th round on January 24th, 2009. LBC does not recognise Margarito/Mosley as a fight that filled the Lineal vacancy, as although Margarito was largely considered the #1 in the division, Mosley was only viewed as the #3 or even #4 Welterweight in the world by most impartial analysts.
The Ring ratings prior to the bout (April 2009 edition), had Margarito at #1, Miguel Cotto at #2, and Mosley at #3 - the fight did not fill the Ring 147lbs vacancy.
In the 6 months before Margarito/Mosley, top contender Paul Williams had proved himself capable of fighting at three different divisions, in order to increase his chances of securing a lucrative fight: Welterweight, middleweight, and then junior middleweight. His 2007 victory over Margarito and June 1st 2008 1st round KO of Carlos Quintana at 147lbs meant he was highly regarded in this division. After beating Verno Phillips in November 2008, at ringside, Max Kellerman interviewed Williams:
Kellerman: "You and Antonio Margarito are the 1 and 2 Welterweights in the world. Can you still comfortably make 147lbs?"
Williams: "I came in at 153lbs, so if they sign on the dotted line that we gonna fight at 147, you better believe that the day before weigh in I'll be at 147."
The January 2009 Boxing Monthly ratings had Mosley at #4, behind #3 Cotto, #2 Paul Williams, and #1 Margarito. Cotto had lost to Margarito in 2008 but had defeated Mosley by unanimous decision in November 2007.
2013: May 4th. Floyd Mayweather outpointed Robert Guerrero. The Ring awarded Floyd their belt for this victory, however, while Floyd was widely considered the #1 in the division, Guerrero was rated #5 by the TBRB (behind Juan Marquez, Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley, as per the April 9th, 2013 ratings), #3 by Ring and #4 with Boxing Monthly (April 2013 edition).
2015: Boxing Monthly (April 2015 edition), The Ring (Mayweather Vs Pacquiao: It's On! The fight of the 21st century is at hand), and the TBRB (April 2015), all had Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at #1 and #2 respectively, heading into their May 2nd, 2015, bout, which filled the Lineal vacancy. Titles: WBO/WBA/WBC/Ring/TBRB.
2016: Prior to Pacquiao/Bradley 3, there were mixed views as to who the best two welterweights in the world were, therefore LBC does not recognise it as a fight that filled the Lineal vacancy. Britain's Kell Brook was rated #1 with Ring Magazine, #2 with Boxing Monthly and #3 with the TBRB at 147lbs. Boxing Scene's editor Cliff Rold noted (3) that Bradley/Pacquiao were not universally recognised as the top two Welterweights in the world, and explained that while the winner would have some claim to the Lineal title, "it would be an argued accomplishment," with a "feeling among many that, even if one can rate these two at the top, they aren't necessarily the best.” No sanctioning body titles were at stake for Pacquiao/Bradley 3. Incidentally, the reason the WBO belt was not being fought for in Bradley/Pacquiao 3 was because Bradley had been unable to comply with his obligation of facing WBO mandatory challenger, Sadam Ali. In order to fight Pacquiao in April, he had to relinquish his belt. At the time Ali was not rated inside any independent top-five.
Manny Pacquiao was rated at #1 with ESPN, TBRB and Boxing Monthly, and at #2 with The Ring (Ring/TBRB/ESPN ratings as reported in Boxing Scene on April 9th, 2016 (3). Tim Bradley was rated at #2 with ESPN and the TBRB, and #3 with Boxing Monthly, and was #4 with The Ring (Boxing Monthly March 2016 edition, and from Ring Magazine April 2016 edition). The Ring (Ring Magazine April 2016 edition) had Kell Brook rated at #1.
2023
On July 29, 2023, Terence Crawford defeated Errol Spence Jr. via 9th round TKO, to fill the Lineal Championship vacancy. Entering the bout, Spence Jr was rated as the number one welterweight in the world by Ring, TBRB and Bad Left Hook (with Crawford at number two), and ESPN had Crawford at number one, with Spence Jr at number two. The vacant Ring/TBRB titles were at stake, as well as the WBC/WBA/IBF belts (held by Spence Jr), and WBO belt (held by Crawford).
@LinealBoxChamp
(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
References
(1) Rafael D. (April 10th, 2016) Manny Pacquiao announces retirement from boxing. www.abc13.com. Accessed online: June 5th, 2020.
(2) John A. (April 11th, 2016) Manny Pacquiao retires, Tim Bradley says he'll be back. www.desertsun.com. Accessed online: 05/06/20.
(3) Rold C. (April 9th, 2016) Pacquiao Bradley 3: Pre-fight report card. www.boxingscene.com. Accessed online: 05/06/20.
(4) Trafford B. (January 8th, 2009) Antonio Margarito Vs Shane Mosley: Fight analysis and predictions. www.bleacherreport.com. Accessed online: 05/06/20.
(5) Rafael D. (June 6th, 2008) Mayweather Jr. retires, cancels rematch with De La Hoya. www.espn.com. Accessed online: June 5th, 2020.
(6) Katz M. (November 10th, 1982) Leonard retires from ring. www.nytimes.com. Accessed online: 07/06/20.
(7) The Indianapolis Recorder, Marion County (February 19th, 1966). Griffith to try for double crown in Garden on April 25th.
(8) Kane M. (June 16th, 1958) A surprise party with punch: Virgil Akins becomes welter champion by finding a fatal flaw in Vince Martinez' otherwise perfect defence. Sports Illustrated.
(9) Andre S. and Fleischer N. (1983) A pictorial history of boxing. Hamlyn. Printed in Great Britain.
(10) The Indianapolis Journal (March 3rd, 1896) Ryan knocked out.
(11) New York journal and advertiser (August 27th, 1898).
(12) The San Francisco Examiner (January 9th, 1905) Walcott is out of welterweight division.
(13) The Evening World, New York (September 5th, 1904) Three fights on cards tonight.
(14) Roberts J. and Skutt A. (2011) The boxing register: International hall of fame official record book. 5th Edition. Panda Musgrove. USA.
(15) The Los Angeles Time, California *May 1st, 1904) Very rank decision: Walcott robbed of victory by the referee.
(16) The Boston Globe (October 17th, 1906) Given a hard jolt.
(17) Redlands Facts Daily (March 28th, 1962) Jack Britton, famed boxer, dies at 76.
(18) The Buffalo Evening Times (December 30th, 1915) Ted Lewis now recognized as the welterweight champion.
(19) The Washington Herald (December 20th, 1915) Ted Lewis is recognized as welterweight champion.
(20) Dougher L. (July 19th, 1914) Evening Star. Looking 'em over: Is Benny Leonard next.
(21) The Buffalo Commercial (September 24th, 1910) Dixie Kid, though dub, is champion.
(22) Oarsendale Leader (March 18th, 1919) New champion is eleventh on list.
(23) The New York Age (December 19th, 1946) Ray matched for title.
(24) Daily News, New York (December 21st, 1946)
(25) The Times Record (December 27th, 1951)
(26) The Windsor Daily Star, Windsor, Ontario (September 25th, 1946) Marty Servo retires from boxing: Nose injury reason for quitting.
(27) The Evening Star: Washington (October 30th, 1888) The coming prize fight.
(28) The Evening World, New York (October 31st, 1888) Paddy Duffy whips McMillan.
(29) Hugman B. Weight Divisions. IbroResearch.com Accessed online: June 19th, 2020.
(30) Christ S. (September 7th, 2016) Bad Left Hook. Golovkin Vs Brook: Fight preview and analysis. Accessed online: September 14th, 2020.
(31) Portis R. (March 26th, 2016) The Fight City. Fight report: Brook Vs Bizier. Accessed online: September 14th, 2020.