Lineal Strawweight World Champions

[105lbs]

Strawweight World Championship: Vacant

1.     Hiroki Ioka (1988) Japan

2.     Napa Kiatwanchai (1988 - 1989) Thailand

3.     Jum Hwan Choi (1989 - 1990) South Korea

4.     Hideyuki Ohashi (1990) Japan

5.     Ricardo Lopez (1990 - 1999) Vacated. Mexico

The division was created by the IBF in 1987. On June 14th, 1987, South Korea's Kyung-Yun Lee knocked out Masaharu Kawakami in the 2nd round of their fight in Seoul, South Korea, to become the first holder of the IBF "miniflyweight" title (1) - his opponent, Kawakami had been making his debut as a professional (and went on to lose his next two fights, finishing his career with a 0-3 record, with all three losses coming by KO).

On October 18th, 1987, Hiroki Ioka outpointed Mai Thomburifarm to become the division's second titlist, winning the WBC's inaugural belt.

Kyung-Yun Lee then abandoned this IBF belt in December 1987 in order to fight Hiroki Ioka, on January 31st, 1988, for Ioka's WBC belt. Ioka defeated Kyung-Yun via 12th round TKO, making him, in our view, the first true World Champion of the new 105lbs weight class.

The division's biggest star so far has been Mexican, Ricardo Lopez, who dominated as undefeated Lineal Champion throughout 9 consecutive years during the 1990s. The weight class has been devoid of a true champion since Lopez vacated, when he moved up to Junior Flyweight back in 1999.

@LinealBoxChamp