It’s already quite an accomplishment to be the boxing division champion. Nevertheless, a few boxers went against the odds to win more titles in a different weight division. Pound for pound champions have been born out of this accomplishment.
Due to their ability to seamlessly transfer their speed, power, and skill set to whichever division they choose to compete in, these pound-for-pound fighters have found success. These legendary fighters are now well-known on the internet boxing betting lines thanks to their audacious decision to increase their weight.
The top five boxers with the most division titles are shown below.
1. Manny Pacquaio – 8 Division Titles
Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2) is a Filipino sports legend who began his career as a flyweight and won his first championship in December 1998 after stopping Chatchai Sasakul in the eighth round of their fight. He defeated Lehlo Ledwaba in the sixth round by technical knockout to capture the IBF Super Bantamweight title in 2001, his second title.
The senator from the Philippines then defeated two legendary fighters from Mexico, Juan Manuel Marquez (split decision) and Marco Antonio Barrera (eleventh round TKO), to win his third and fourth featherweight and super featherweight titles, respectively, in 2003 and 2008. The “Pacman” continued to wreak havoc in the upper class after switching to the 135- and 140-pound weight classes.
2. Oscar De La Hoya – 6 Division Titles
The record for the most victories throughout the various weight classes belonged to Oscar De La Hoya (39–6), but Manny Pacquiao broke it in 2009. Similar to the well-known Filipino fighter, De La Hoya started winning titles in the lighter weight division. In order to earn the super featherweight strap in 1994, he first victimized Jimmi Bredahl. In July 1994, he defeated Jorge Paez and won the lightweight title in the same year, instantly making him a two-division champion.
In June 1996, after dominating the renowned Julio Cesar Chavez, he won the light welterweight belt. This was his third title victory. It was a difficult road for the Golden Boy to become a four-weight champion.
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – 5 Division Titles
One of the greatest boxers of all time is Floyd Mayweather Jr., the undefeated superstar. His record is 50-0. His pound-for-pound career, which includes five distinct titles in five different weight classes, is one of the primary supporting evidence for this assertion. In 1998, he won his first boxing championship in the super featherweight division after stopping Genaro Hernandez in the eighth round.
Before moving up to the higher categories, where he decisively defeated Jose Luis Castillo in 2002 to win the lightweight title, Mayweather dominated the class for four years. Three years later, after stopping Arturo Gatti in the sixth round of their fight, “Money Mayweather” added the junior welterweight to his collection.
4. Sugar Ray Leonard – 5 Division Titles
Former five-division champion Sugar Ray Leonard (36-3-1) was the first, ahead of fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao, and De La Hoya. From 1979 until 1988, Leonard won nine titles, moving up from the welterweight class to the light heavyweight division. Initially, he won his first world title after stopping Wilfred Benitez in the closing seconds. He moved up to the super welterweight class and stopped Ayub Kalule in the ninth round to win the WBA Super Welterweight Championship after making two successful title defenses.
In 1987, Leonard won his third title after narrowly defeating Marvin Hagler via split decision. Later, he faced Donny Lalonde in a major bout that both the super middleweight and light heavyweight titles up for grabs. In the ninth round of their championship match, Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Donny Lalonde to win five titles in five categories.
5. Thomas Hearns – 5 Division Titles
Concurrent with Sugar Ray Leonard’s ascent at the top of the boxing pound-for-pound rankings is Thomas Hearns’ equally remarkable record (61-5-1). The Detroit fighter became the welterweight champion in August 1980 after defeating Pipino Cuevas via second-round TKO. This was his first of five championship victories. He moved up to the super welterweight class two years after his historic victory, where he defeated Wilfred Benitez to earn his second title in 1982.
Hearns successfully defended that title on multiple occasions before moving up to the middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions. He achieved success by defeating opponents like Dennis Andries, Juan Domingo Roldan, and James Kinchen, adding his five titles to his professional record.
