Super welterweight  Greatest 

The super welterweight division is between welterweight and middleweight and is set at 154 pounds (69,853 kg).

This category was established in 1962, when the Austrian Control Council recognized a fight between Emile Griffith and Teddy Wright for the world championship, in which Griffith emerged as the winner.

The inaugural fight of the super welterweight title of the World Boxing Council was held on February 19, 1963 at the Civic Auditorium in Honolulu, Hawaii, between Americans Denny Moyer and Stan Harrington, and Denny won by decision after 15 rounds.

Since then, there have been so many more great champions in this division, all recognized for their quality and today we remember some of the most outstanding in history.

Nino Benvenuti

Benvenuti has been without a doubt one of the best champions from Italy. He was recognized for his enormous heart and wonderful skills in the ring. The Olympic gold medallist had an immediate impact at 154 where he displayed brilliance. He won the WBC super welterweight title by defeating compatriot Sandro Mazzinghi. He fought a memorable trilogy with Emile Griffith.

Terry Norris

Norris was one of the most powerful fighters of his day. He faced Julian Jackson, Steve Little, Quincy Taylor, Jorge Castro, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Meldrick Taylor. 

Terry won the WBC Green and Gold Belt by knocking out John Mugabi in the first raound in 1990.

Thomas hearns

The famed and explosive “Hitman” was dominant in this division, and his performances placed him right up there in the history books.

He fought Roberto Durán, Iran Barkley, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pipino Cuevas among others.

He won the WBC crown by defeating Puerto Rican Wilfredo Benitez in 1982.

Wilfredo Benitez

Born in New York but of Puerto Rican roots, since childhood he showed precocious qualities as a boxer, becoming the youngest boxer to win a world title at just seventeen!  Wlifredo won titles in three different divisions and one of the ones he excelled in was 154 pounds.  He won the world title of this division in 1981 by defeating and stopping Maurice Hope. He faced in his career fighters of the quality of Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Carlos Santos and Ray Leonard. 

Koichi Wajima

Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Wajima was a boxer who attracted a lot of attention, as this country has been characterized by having smaller division champions. In 1971 he won the Green and Gold super welterweight title by defeating Italian Carmelo Bossi. From there he had a 3-year reign showing great qualities and becoming one of the most highly regarded and recognized champions in Japan.

Saul Canelo Alvarez

Without a doubt, Canelo is the face of boxing today. He has fought 19 world champions in his career, including Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Sergey Kovalev, Julio César Chávez Jr,  Rocky Fielding, Billy Joe Saunders and Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

He conquered the WBC super welterweight title in 2011 defeating Ryan Rhodes and made 5 successful defenses.

Winky Wright

Wright was a very astute and skilled left-handed champion who faced great fighters during his career.

He fought Felix Trinidad, Bronco McKart, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Fernando Vargas, to name a few. The WBC 154-pound title was won by defeating Shane Mosley in 2004. Later that year a rematch, with the same result.

Javier Castillejo

The “Lince de Parla” as he is also known, is a legend of Spanish sports and the most successful boxer in the history of his country. Retired since 2009, he hung up his gloves with an astonishing 72 fights with 62 wins. He is the only boxer from Spain who has been crowned world champion in two different divisions facing great boxers of his time, including Oscar de la Hoya, Keith Mullings, Fernando Vargas and Julio César Vásquez. He won the WBC super welterweight title by categorically defeating Keith Mullings from Jamaica, in 1999.

Oscar de la Hoya

Oscar proved throughout his career to be an exceptional fighter utilizing multiple resources and skills in the ring to defeat his opponents. He won the WBC 154-pound title by defeating Spaniard Javier Castillejo. His next defense, just over a year later, was one of his best and most memorable performances, when he defeated Fernando Vargas.

Jermell Charlo

Jermell is the current WBC super welterweight champion and is considered by many experts to be the finest fighter in his division today. Jermell won the title by knocking out John Jackson in the sixth round in 2016. He made three successful defenses before losing the title to Tony Harrison via decision. In the rematch, he regained the category crown by knocking out Harrison in the eleventh round.

Jermell  (34-1-0, 18 Kos) will have a tough test against Argentinian Brian Castaño (17-0-1, 12 ko`s), WBO champion, on July 17 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, in an historic unification fight, when we discover who is the best fighter in the 154 pounds today.