Winning multiple world titles in boxing was a little harder several decades ago. There were just eight weight divisions back then. Today there are 18 weight classes. This expansion happened because of junior and super divisions plus the cruiserweight class. Some four-division champs achieved the feat by gaining just 10 lbs between weight classes. Others had to bulk up by at least 40 lbs.
The list below consists of the top 16 boxers to win at least four major world or lineal championships in different weight classes throughout their careers. Major world titles are those sanctioned by the IBF, WBO, WBC, and WBA. There have been several other boxers to win four or more different weight classes. These include fringe titles from organizations such as the IBO, WBF, WBU, and NBA. We ignore those.
Before getting underway, we’ll list the current divisions and their weight limits. Jr. Minimumweight (102 lbs). Minimumweight (105). Light Flyweight (108). Flyweight (112). Super Flyweight (115). Bantamweight (118). Super Bantamweight (122). Featherweight (126). Super Featherweight (130). Lightweight (135). Super Lightweight (140). Welterweight (147). Super Welterweight (154). Middleweight (160). Super Middleweight (168). Light Heavyweight (175). Cruiserweight (200). Heavyweight (unlimited).
Leo Gamez: The First Four-Belt Flyweight
Leo Gamez is probably the least unknown boxer listed here as the native of Venezuela fought in the lower weight classes. Gamez won four WBA World Titles in total. He claimed them at minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight. Gamez’s four titles were separated by just 10 lbs. That was about 10 per cent of his body weight. He fought from 1985 to 2005 with a record of 35-12-1 along with 26 Kos. However, six of his losses came in his last nine bouts. Gamez became the first flyweight boxer in history to win titles in four different weight classes. He attempted to make it five. He was beaten by WBA Champion Johnny Bredhal by unanimous decision when he tried to win a bantamweight crown in 2002.
Jorge Arce: A Mexican Pioneer
Mexico’s Jorge Arce was another four-time world champion in the lighter divisions. He won WBO World Belts as a light flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight. He was also the Lineal Light Flyweight Champion and the interim WBC Flyweight Champion. Arce’s titles were spread out over 14 lbs weight difference. He was the second Mexican to win championships in four different divisions after Erik Morales. Arce fought from 1996 to 2014 and was a five-time world champion in total. He won the light flyweight title when he was just 19. Arce also tried to win a fifth belt. He was stopped by Jhonny Gonzalez n the 11th round in a shot for the WBC Featherweight Championship in 2014. Arce retired after the bout with a record of 64-8-2 with 49 Kos and one no-contest.
Adrien Broner: The Fastest Rise
Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner of Cincinnati, Ohio is one of the latest boxers to win world titles in four weight divisions. He achieved the feat in 2015. Broner became the second-youngest boxer to do it at age 25. He trailed only Oscar De La Hoya who was 24. Broner has won the WBO Super Featherweight, WBC Lightweight, WBA Super Lightweight, and Welterweight Titles. There has been a 17 lb weight gap between Broner’s belts. He won them all in a span of just under four years. Broner, who turned pro in 2008, has a current record of 33-2 with 24 Kos and one no-contest. The 27-year-old Broner is scheduled to meet undefeated current WBC Lightweight Champion Mikey Garcia (36-0, 30 Kos) in a junior welterweight bout in Brooklyn, New York on July 29th.
Roman Gonzalez: Nicaragua’s Best
Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez is still considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world right now. He lost his super flyweight title to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai by controversial majority decision in March. Like Leo Gamez, the 30-year-old native of Nicaragua has won world titles as a WBA Minimumweight, WBC Light Flyweight, Flyweight and Super Flyweight. Gonzalez turned pro in 2005 and was 46-0 with 38 Kos when he was upset by Rungvisai. However, he’ll get the chance to regain the WBC Super Flyweight Title. The two will meet in a rematch in California on September 9th. Gonzalez is the first boxer from Nicaragua to win titles in four weight divisions. His idol, the late Alexis Arguello, won three different weight classes. Gonzalez is also the latest boxer to achieve the feat as he pulled it off last September.
Nonito Donaire: Living in Pacquiao’s Shadow
Known as the Filipino Flash, Nonito Donaire is destined to always live in the shadow of fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao. He’s also been based in the USA for most of his career as well. The 34-year-old has won the IBF Flyweight, WBC Bantamweight, WBO and Lineal Super Bantamweight and WBA Featherweight Titles between 2007 and 2014. There has been a 14 lb weight difference between Donaire’s titles. He also beat fellow four-weight champion Jorge Arce by third-round knockout in 2012. However, he lost his WBO Super Bantamweight Title by unanimous decision to Jessie Magdaleno in his last outing in November, 2016. Donaire still has a fine record of 37-4 with 24 Kos. Altogether, Donaire has won seven world titles from the four main sanctioning bodies and has also held the lesser-regarded IBO Flyweight Title and WBA Interim Super Flyweight Crown.
The Four-Division Club: Cotto, Marquez, and the Legacy of Versatility
Miguel Cotto stands alone as Puerto Rico’s first four-division world champion. He moved through the ranks with precision, capturing the WBO Super Lightweight, WBA Welterweight, WBA Super Welterweight, and the WBC and Lineal Middleweight titles. The span from his first belt to his last was a decade, stretching from 2004 to 2014. The weight gap between his lowest and highest championships was a manageable 20 lbs, a testament to his adaptability.
His professional record sits at 40-5, with 33 victories by knockout. He faced the elite of his generation. His five losses read like a who’s who of boxing greatness: Antonio Margarito, Canelo Alvarez, Austin Trout, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao. By the time he defended his titles a combined 12 times, he had proven he could handle any style. He was scheduled to challenge Yoshiro Kamegai for the vacant WBO Jr. Middleweight Title on August 26th in California.
Juan Manuel Marquez: The Veteran’s Resolve
Juan Manuel Marquez is still weighing his options, but if he hangs up the gloves now at 43, his resume is staggering. Since turning pro in 1993, he has compiled a 56-7-1 record with 40 knockouts. His amateur career was equally dominant: 82-4 with 72 KOs.
Marquez captured the WBA and IBF Featherweight, WBC Super Featherweight, Lineal Super Featherweight, WBA and WBO Lightweight, and WBO Super Lightweight championships. He secured these belts between 2003 and 2012, bridging a 14 lb weight differential. He is only the third Mexican to reach this milestone, following Erik Morales and Jorge Arce.
His legacy is cemented by legendary bouts. His four fights against Manny Pacquiao are etched in boxing lore. Battles with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marco Antonio Barrera, Joel Casamayor, Timothy Bradley, and Orlando Salido further defined an era.
Erik Morales: Breaking the Barrier
Erik Morales broke the ground. He was the first Mexican boxer to win world championships in four weight divisions. His run spanned from 1997 to 2011. He took the WBC Super Bantamweight, Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Super Lightweight crowns. The weight difference between his titles was 16 lbs. He also added the IBF Super Featherweight title to his collection.
Morales defeated 15 world champions during his career from 1993 to 2012. He retired with a 52-9 record and 36 KOs. Notably, eight of his nine losses came in his final 13 fights, a sign of the era in which he was competing.
He engaged in epic trilogies with Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. Fights against Danny Garcia, Jesus Chavez, and Marcos Maidana highlighted his durability. He is rightly remembered as one of the most exciting fighters in Mexican boxing history.
Pernell Whitaker: The Defensive Master
Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker started with gold at the 1984 Olympics. He turned pro that same year and fought until 2001. His pro record was 40-4-1, with one no-contest and 17 KOs. His amateur stats were nearly mythical: 201-13 with 91 KOs.
Whitaker claimed the WBA, IBF, WBC, and Lineal Lightweight titles. He also held the IBF Super Lightweight, WBC and Lineal Welterweight, and WBA Super Welterweight belts. His championship window was tight, from 1989 to 1995, with a 19 lb spread between divisions.
His amateur power didn’t fully translate to the pros in the same way, but his defensive skills were flawless. He neutralized Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Buddy McGirt, Julio Cesar Chavez, Greg Haugen, and Azumah Nelson. He didn’t need to brawl to win.
Oscar De La Hoya: The Golden Boy’s Rise
Oscar De La Hoya holds the distinction of being the youngest boxer to win four different world titles. He reached this mark at age 24, beating Pernell Whitaker for the WBC and Lineal Welterweight titles in 1997.
His climb was rapid. He won the WBO Super Featherweight Crown in 1994. He added the WBO Lightweight Title in 1995. He took the WBC and Lineal Super Lightweight Titles in 1996. But he wasn’t done. De La Hoya went on to win the WBC and Lineal Super Welterweight titles. He also captured the WBO and Lineal Middleweight crowns. By 2004, he had championships in six different divisions.
In total, he won 10 belts across six weight classes. He met fellow four-time champs Whitaker, Manny Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Golden Boy turned pro in 1992 after winning Olympic gold as a lightweight. He fought until 2009, finishing with a 39-6 record and 30 KOs. Four of his losses came in his last seven fights.
Roberto Duran: Hands of Stone
Roberto Duran, known as ‘Manos de Piedra’, is a Panamanian legend. He lost to four-division champs Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. Yet, he also beat Leonard on his way to capturing four different world titles.
Duran won the WBA, WBC, and Lineal Lightweight titles. He took the WBC and Lineal Welterweight, WBA Super Welterweight, and WBC Middleweight championships. He almost added more. He lost in attempts to win the super middleweight title and essentially skipped the super lightweight division. He did win a minor NBA title at super middleweight.
Duran’s pro career spanned from 1968 to 2001. He became just the second boxer, after Jack Johnson, to compete in five different decades. His record of 103-16 with 70 KOs speaks to his dominance. He fought the best of his time, repeatedly.
Roy Jones Jr.: Breaking Weight Barriers
Roy Jones Jr. had every reason to quit. He was clearly robbed of the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He didn’t quit. He turned pro immediately after winning the super welterweight silver medal. Now 48, he is still fighting.
A native of Pensacola, Florida, and a Russian citizen, Jones has a 65-9 record with 47 KOs. He is a six-time world champion in four different weight divisions. He won the IBF Middleweight and IBF Super Middleweight titles. He claimed the WBA, IBF, and WBC Light Heavyweight belts. He also won the WBA Heavyweight title. These reigns occurred between 1993 and 2003.
The weight difference between his lowest and highest titles was 40 lbs. Jones is the only boxer to begin his career at junior middleweight and eventually win a heavyweight championship. He was also the first middleweight champion in 106 years to win a heavyweight belt. He did win a cruiserweight title, but it was the minor WBU version. The major ones were his to conquer.
Leonard and Hearns: The Rivalry That Defined an Era
Sugar Ray Leonard didn’t just win belts. He conquered weight classes. The Wilmington, North Carolina native, who took Olympic gold in lightweight in ’76, turned professional in 1977. He stayed in the ring until 1997. His record? 36 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw. 25 of those wins came by knockout.
Two of those losses happened in his final four fights. But the draws and losses tell only part of the story. Leonard fought the giants of his time. He beat Marvin Hagler. He beat Wilfredo Benitez. He had his famous exchanges with Roberto Duran and Tommy Hearns. He won and lost to Duran. He won and drew against Hearns.
Between 1979 and 1988, Leonard claimed titles in five divisions. WBA Welterweight. WBC Welterweight. WBA Super Middleweight. WBC Middleweight. WBC Super Middleweight. Even Light Heavyweight. That’s a 28-pound swing. He was also the Lineal Champion at Welter, Super Welter, and Middleweight. Not bad for a guy who started at 135 pounds.
Then there is Tommy Hearns.
Nicknamed the Hitman. Also the Motor City Cobra. Hearns was born in Memphis but fought out of Detroit’s Kronk Gym. He turned pro in 1977. He fought until 2006. His record is 61-5-1 with 48 KOs.
Hearns won titles in five weight classes between 1980 and 1988. WBA Welterweight. WBA Super Welterweight. WBC Middleweight. WBO Super Middleweight. WBC Light Heavyweight. Again, a 28-pound range. He was the first boxer to win four, then five, distinct division titles. He later picked up minor WBU and IBO belts at cruiserweight.
Hearns and Leonard were the same era. They hit similar divisions. But Hearns took a different path. He went straight from junior middleweight to light heavyweight. Then he came back down to win middleweight and super middleweight crowns. He lost and drew against Leonard. He destroyed Roberto Duran when they met.
Mayweather: The Undefeated Machine
Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn’t need a nickname to be recognized. Money. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native turned pro in 1996. He won an Olympic bronze medal as a featherweight that same year.
Since turning pro, he has faced the best. He is undefeated. 49-0. 26 KOs. He was aiming for 50-0 when he fought Conor McGregor in August.
Mayweather won major world titles in five divisions. The timeline? 1998 to 2007. A 24-pound difference between titles.
He held the Lineal and WBC Super Featherweight titles. Lineal and WBC Lightweight. WBC Super Lightweight. IBF, WBC, and Lineal Welterweight. WBC and Lineal Super Welterweight.
Mayweather beat the heavy hitters. He beat Oscar De La Hoya. He beat Manny Pacquiao. Both names appear on this list. But Mayweather stayed pristine. No losses. No draws. Just wins.
Pacquiao: The Only One to Do It Eight Times
There is Manny Pacquiao.
He is the only man in history to win world titles in eight different weight classes. The Filipino fighter, now 38, claimed belts ranging from 112 to 154 pounds. A 42-pound spread.
He could have won ten. He skipped super flyweight and bantamweight. But eight is enough.
Pacquiao’s titles span decades. WBC and Lineal Flyweight. IBF Super Bantamweight. Lineal Featherweight. WBC and Lineal Super Featherweight. WBC Lightweight. Lineal Super Lightweight. WBO and Lineal Welterweight. WBC Super Welterweight.
He achieved this between 1998 and 2010. His pro record sits at 59-7-2 with 38 KOs. He turned pro in 1995.
Pacquiao faced the legends. Erik Morales. Oscar De La Hoya. Juan Manuel Marquez. Floyd Mayweather.
He beat Morales twice and lost once. He beat De La Hoya. He beat Marquez twice, drew once, and lost once. He lost to Mayweather.
Pacquiao won 11 major world titles in total. He is the only boxer to win the Lineal Championship in five divisions. He is only the third man to win major championships in three of boxing’s original eight weight classes: flyweight, featherweight, and welterweight.
One man. Eight belts. No one else has matched it. Not yet.
