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.
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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 Organization
World Bantamweight Title (as of 2025-09-14)
* Bolded letters in the competitor's name, if any, indicate the surname/family name.
Israel Contreras
1989-02-03
Caracas, VEN
Defeats Maurizio Lupino; vacates in 90 to challenge for the WBA title.
Gaby Canizales
1991-03-12
Auburn Hills, MI, USA
Defeats Miguel Lora.
Duke McKenzie
1991-03-12
London, ENG, GBR
Rafael del Valle
1992-05-13
London, ENG, GBR
Alfred Kotey
1994-07-30
London, ENG, GBR
Daniel Jiménez
1995-10-21
London, ENG, GBR
Robbie Regan
1996-04-26
Cardiff, WEL, GBR
Vacates in 96 upon retirement.
Jorge Eliécer Julio
1997-07-28
Inglewood, CA, USA
Defeats Oscar Maldonado.
Johnny Tapia
2000-01-08
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Vacates in 00 to move up to the super bantamweight class.
Mauricio Martínez
2000-09-04
Manchester, ENG, GBR
Defeats Lester Fuentes.
Cruz Carbajal
2002-03-15
Veracruz, VC, MEX
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin
2004-05-07
Bangkok, THA
Jhonny González
2005-10-29
Tucson, AZ, USA
Gerry Peñalosa
2007-08-11
Sacramento, CA, USA
Stripped of the title in 09-04 due to lack of defenses.
Fernando Montiel
2009-03-28
Baja California, MEX
Defeats Diego Oscar Silva.
Nonito Donaire
2011-02-19
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Vacates on 11-10-01 to move up to the super bantamweight class.
Jorge Arce
2011-11-26
Mazatlan, SI, MEX
Defeats Angky Angkotta; vacates in 12-08 to move up to the super bantamweight class.
Pungluang Sor Singyu
2012-10-20
Pasay City, PHI
Defeats A. J. Banal.
Paulus Ambunda
2013-03-02
Windhoek, NAM
Kameda Tomoki
2013-08-01
Cebu, PHI
Vacates on 15-04-23 when Kameda's request to fight with WBA champion Jaime McDonnell in a unification bout is rejected by the WBO as McDonnell is only the "Regular" world champion but not the "Super" world champion.
Pungluang Sor Singyu
2015-08-08
Ratchaburi, THA
Defeats Ryo Akaho.
Marlon Tapales
2016-07-27
Ayutthaya, THA
Stripped of the title on 17-04-22 for failure to make the weight limit for the title defense against Shohei Omori.
Zolani Tete
2017-04-23
Interim champion since defeating Arthur Villanueva on 17-04-22 in Leicester, ENG, GBR; status promoted on 17-04-23.
John Riel Casimero
2019-11-30
Birmingham, ENG, GBR
Stripped of the title on 22-05-03 due to the usuage of sauna to cut down weight before the title defense against Paul Butler on 22-04-22.
Paul Butler
2022-05-03
Interim champion since defeating Jonas Sultan on 22-04-22 in Liverpool, Merseyside, ENG; status promoted on 22-05-03.
Inoue Naoya
2022-12-13
Tōkyō, JPN
Also holds WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles; vacates all four titles on 23-01-13 upon moving up to the junior featherweight class.
