Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the competitor has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a competitor held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the competitor shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized.
World Boxing Council
World Super Middleweight Title (as of 2025-09-13)
* Bolded letters in the competitor's name, if any, indicate the surname/family name.
Sugar Ray Leonard
1988-11-07
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Defeats Donny Lalonde to win the light heavyweight title and also becomes the first super middleweight champion; vacant on 90-12-15 upon retirement.
Mauro Galvano
1990-12-15
Monte Carlo, MON
Defeats Dario Matteoni.
Nigel Benn
1992-10-03
Marino, ITA
Thulani Malinga
1996-03-02
Newcastle, ENG, GBR
Vincenzo Nardiello
1996-07-06
Manchester, ENG, GBR
Robin Reid
1996-10-12
Milano, ITA
Thulani Malinga [2]
1997-12-19
London, ENG, GBR
Richie Woodhall
1998-03-27
Telford, ENG, GBR
Markus Beyer
1999-10-23
Telford, ENG, GBR
Glenn Catley
2000-05-06
Frankfurt, HE, GER
Dingaan Thobela
2000-09-01
Brakpan, RSA
Dave Hilton, Jr.
2000-12-15
Montreal, QC, CAN
Stripped of the title in 01-05 because of child molestation charges.
Éric Lucas
2001-06-10
Montreal, QC, CAN
Defeats Glenn Catley.
Markus Beyer
2003-04-05
Leipzig, GER
Cristian Sanavia
2004-06-05
Chemnitz, GER
Markus Beyer [2]
2004-10-09
Erfurt, GER
Mikkel Kessler
2006-10-14
Copenhagen, DEN
Joe Calzaghe
2007-11-03
Cardiff, WEL, GBR
Vacant on 08-06-28 when Calzaghe moves up to the light heavyweight class.
Carl Froch
2008-12-06
Nottingham, ENG, GBR
Defeats Jean Pascal.
Mikkel Kessler [2]
2010-04-25
Herning, DEN
Vacates in 10-11 due to eye injury.
Carl Froch [2]
2010-11-27
Helsinki, FIN
Defeats Arthur Abraham.
Andre Ward
2011-12-17
Atlantic City, NJ, USA
Stripped of the title on 13-03-23 for being inactive for a long period of time but is granted the champion emeritus status, which grants him the right to fight for the title at any given time; vacates the champion emeritus title on 13-05-20.
Bika Sakio
2013-06-22
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Anthony Dirrell
2014-08-16
Carson, NY, USA
Badou Jack
2015-04-24
Chicago, IL, USA
Vacant on 17-01-18 when Jack moves up to the light heavyweight class.
David Benavidez
2017-09-08
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Defeats Ronald Gavril; stripped of the title on 18-10-03 for being tested positive for cocaine.
Anthony Dirrell
2019-02-23
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Defeats Avni Yildirim.
David Benavidez [2]
2019-09-28
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Stripped of the title on 20-08-14 for failing to make weight for scheduled title defense.
