The Cruiserweight Division in professional boxing was established to accommodate smaller heavyweight boxers who couldn’t compete with the growing size of boxers in that division. Before the current cruiserweight class, the terms “light heavyweight” and “cruiserweight” were sometimes used interchangeably in the United Kingdom. The division’s weight limit was originally set at 190 pounds but it is currently 200 pounds . 

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The World Boxing Council (WBC) was the first organization to recognize the cruiserweight division. On December 8, 1979, they sanctioned a bout between Marvin Camel and Mate Parlov for their version of the title. Although the first fight ended in a draw, in the rematch in March 1980, Marvin Camel emerged as the inaugural cruiserweight champion.

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In 1982, the World Boxing Association (WBA) recognized Ossie Ocasio as their first cruiserweight champion when he defeated South African Robbie Williams (although at that time, the WBA called the division “junior heavyweight”).

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The International Boxing Federation (IBF) followed suit in 1983, matching former WBC champion Marvin Camel against Rick Sekorski for their inaugural title. Camel won and became the first IBF cruiserweight champion.

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Notable champions in the division have included Evander Holyfield (who later moved up to heavyweight after unifying the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles), Bobby Czyz, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Tomasz Adamek, Virgil Hill, Al Cole, Orlin Norris, James Toney, David Haye, Tony Bellew, and Oleksandr Usyk