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Atboxing's beginning, theheavyweight division had noweight limit, and historically the weight class has gone with vague or no definition. During the 19th century many heavyweights were 170pounds (12 st 2 lb, 77 kg) or less, though others weighed considerably more.John L. Sullivan was the first widely recognized champion underMarquess of Queensberry rules. Known as the "Boston Strong Boy", Sullivan weighed around 200 pounds when in shape, and helped transition the sport from its bare-knuckle era. Sullivan would be defeated for the title by"Gentleman" Jim Corbett over 21 rounds on September 7, 1892, the first heavyweight titleholder solely under Queensberry rules.
In 1920, a de facto minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds (12 st 7 lb, 79 kg) with the standardization of a weight limit for the light heavyweight division. The addition of thecruiserweight division, which began in 1979, reset the de facto minimum, first to 190 pounds and then to 200 pounds in 2004 when boxing's major sanctioning bodies universally raised the weight limit at which they would recognize champions. In November 2020, theWorld Boxing Council created a new division calledbridgerweight for boxers weighing between 200 and 224 pounds, and in December 2023, theWorld Boxing Association followed suit. As of March 2025, no other major body has recognized the division.
The championship of the heavyweight division has been fractured or disputed at various times in its history. Until the 1960s, such disputes were settled in the ring, typically with alternate title claimants largely being forgotten. The rise of sanctioning organizations, however, have produced an environment where typically there is no single world heavyweight champion, with titleholders recognized by one of these organizations (a "World Champion") or more (a "Super Champion", a "Unified Champion", or, in the rare cases where the four most prominent organizations recognize the same boxer, an "Undisputed Champion").
Some title reigns are considered dubious owing to long periods of inactivity, the legitimacy of the organization granting championship recognition, and other factors. In 1967, for example,Muhammad Ali was denied a boxing license in every U.S. jurisdiction and stripped of his passport because of hisrefusal to be inducted into the armed forces. On April 29, 1967, his recognition as champion by both theWorld Boxing Association andWorld Boxing Council was withdrawn. Yet Ali remained the lineal champion and was recognized byThe Ring and most boxing purists untilhis defeat in 1971. In pursuit of greater revenues, some organizations have now adopted a practice of simultaneously recognizing multiple champions in a weight division, creating a situation in which a champion may be unable not only to secure recognition from multiple sanctioning bodies but to secure sole recognition from a single one.
World champions were initially recognized by wide public acclamation, with heavyweight champions winning and losing championship recognition solely in the ring. Retirements periodically resulted in no one, true champion being recognized, while in other cases new champions were proclaimed only to see a previously recognized champion come out of retirement. Public interest in boxing resulted in a true champion being determined by means of title claimants facing one another in the ring, with the winner being recognized as world champion.
Currently,International Boxing Hall of Fame recognizes these world heavyweight title lineages from this period:[a]
| Date started | First champion | Date ended | Last champion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 29, 1885 | John L. Sullivan | May 15, 1905 | James J. Jeffries |
| 2 | July 3, 1905 | Marvin Hart | September 23, 1926 | Jack Dempsey |
The Ring has recognized heavyweight champions during two periods, commencing with its inaugural issue in 1922 and continuing until the 1990s, then again from 2002 to the present day. Under its original policy, a champion earned championship recognition in the ring, defeating the preceding champion or winning a bout between its top rated contenders. Once awarded, championship recognition could be lost only by death, retirement, or loss in the ring. In 2012, this policy was revised so championship recognition could be more easily awarded or withdrawn.[10]
TheNational Boxing Association (NBA) was organized in 1921 to serve as a regulating authority for boxing in the United States. The prominence of New York City as the epicenter of boxing would lead to its state boxing regulatory body, theNew York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) joining the NBA in recognizing world champions in each weight class. A third entity, theEuropean Boxing Union (IBU) would follow suit, but with limited exception in the heavyweight division the three organizations recognized the same champion.
At its 1962 convention, the NBA's non-United States members exploited a membership rule and took effective control of the organization, rebranding it as theWorld Boxing Association. The now WBA would be joined the following year by a combination of state and national boxing commissions (including the NYSAC and IBU) to form a new organization, theWorld Boxing Council (WBC). In time, each organization would have its own spin-off sanctioning organization break from its ranks: theUnited States Boxing Association, which disassociated with the WBA in the late 1970s and became theInternational Boxing Federation in 1983, and theWorld Boxing Organization, whose members would split from the WBC in 1988. Today there are over a dozen sanctioning organizations which recognize champions and sanction world championship bouts, but the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO are recognized by theInternational Boxing Hall Of Fame as major sanctioning bodies.
| Organization | Recognition | Champion | Date won | Status of next defense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | Super world champion | Oleksandr Usyk(def.Anthony Joshua) | September 25, 2021 | tbd |
| WBC | World champion | Oleksandr Usyk(def.Tyson Fury) | May 18, 2024 | tbd |
| IBF | World champion | Oleksander Usyk(def.Daniel Dubois) | July 19, 2025 | tbd |
| WBO | World champion | Fabio Wardley(interim champion promoted) | November 17, 2025 | tbd |
| No. | Champion | Recognition | Begin reign | End reign | Day(s) | Title defense(s) | Additional recognition | Note(s) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John L. Sullivan def.Dominick McCaffrey | World | August 29, 1885 | September 7, 1892 | 2,566 | – | 25,4 | [11] | |
| 2 | James J. Corbett | World | September 7, 1892 | March 17, 1897 | 1,652 | def.Charley Mitchell on January 25, 1894 | 5 | [12] | |
| 3 | Bob Fitzsimmons | World | March 17, 1897 | June 9, 1899 | 814 | – | [13] | ||
| 4 | James J. Jeffries | World | June 9, 1899 | May 15, 1905 | 2,166 | def.Tom Sharkey on November 3, 1899 def. John Finnegan on April 6, 1900 def.James J. Corbett on May 11, 1900 def.Gus Ruhlin on November 15, 1901 def.Bob Fitzsimmons on July 25, 1902 def.James J. Corbett on August 14, 1903 def. Jack Munroe on August 26, 1904 | 2,6 | [14] | |
| 5 | Marvin Hart def.Jack Root | World | July 3, 1905 | February 23, 1906 | 235 | – | 1 | [15] | |
| 6 | Tommy Burns | World | February 23, 1906 | December 26, 1908 | 1,037 | def. James J. Walker on March 28, 1906 def. Jim O'Brien on March 28, 1906 def.Fireman Jim Flynn on October 2, 1906 draw vs.Philadelphia Jack O'Brien on November 28, 1906 def.Philadelphia Jack O'Brien on May 8, 1907 def. Bill Squires on July 4, 1907 def.Gunner Moir on December 2, 1907 def.Jack Palmer on February 10, 1908 def.Jem Roche on March 17, 1908 def. Jewey Smith on April 18, 1908 def. Bill Squires on June 13, 1908 def. Bill Squires on August 24, 1908 def. Bill Lang on September 3, 1908 | [16] | ||
| 7 | Jack Johnson | World | December 26, 1908 | April 5, 1915 | 2,291 | draw vs.Philadelphia Jack O'Brien on May 19, 1909 def.Al Kaufman on September 9, 1909 def.Stanley Ketchel on October 16, 1909 def.James J. Jeffries onJuly 4, 1910 def.Fireman Jim Flynn on July 4, 1912 draw vs.Battling Jim Johnson on December 19, 1913 def.Frank Moran on June 27, 1914 | 7 | [17] | |
| 8 | Jess Willard | World | April 5, 1915 | July 4, 1919 | 1,551 | def.Frank Moran on March 25, 1916 | [18] | ||
| 9 | Jack Dempsey | World | July 4, 1919 | July 2, 1921 | 729 | def.Billy Miske on September 6, 1920 def.Bill Brennan on December 14, 1920 def.Georges Carpentier onJuly 2, 1921 | The Ring awarded the title in 1922 | [19] | |
| NBA | July 2, 1921 | July 24, 1922 | 387 | – | [19] | ||||
| NBA, and NYSAC | July 24, 1922 | September 23, 1926 | 1,522 | def.Tommy Gibbons onJuly 4, 1923 def.Luis Angel Firpo onSeptember 14, 1923 | [19] | ||||
| 10 | Gene Tunney | NBA, and NYSAC | September 23, 1926 | July 31, 1928 | 677 | def.Jack Dempsey onSeptember 22, 1927 def.Tom Heeney on July 26, 1928 | The Ring | 2 | [20] |
| 11 | Max Schmeling def.Jack Sharkey | NBA, and NYSAC | June 12, 1930 | January 7, 1931 | 209 | – | The Ring | 1,8 | [21] |
| NBA, and IBU | January 7, 1931 | June 21, 1932 | 531 | def.Young Stribling on July 3, 1931 | 1,10 | [21] | |||
| 12 | Jack Sharkey | NBA, NYSAC, and IBU | June 21, 1932 | June 29, 1933 | 373 | – | The Ring | [22] | |
| 13 | Primo Carnera | NBA, NYSAC, and IBU | June 29, 1933 | June 14, 1934 | 350 | def.Paulino Uzcudun on October 22, 1933 def.Tommy Loughran on March 1, 1934 | The Ring | 1,10 | [23] |
| 14 | Max Baer | NBA, NYSAC, and IBU | June 14, 1934 | June 13, 1935 | 364 | – | The Ring | 9 | [24] |
| 15 | James J. Braddock | NBA, NYSAC, and IBU | June 13, 1935 | June 22, 1937 | 740 | – | The Ring | [25] | |
| 16 | Joe Louis | NBA, NYSAC, and IBU | June 22, 1937 | March 1, 1949 | 4,270 | def.Tommy Farr on August 30, 1937 def. Nathan Mann on February 23, 1938 def. Harry Thomas on April 4, 1938 def.Max Schmeling onJune 22, 1938 def.John Henry Lewis on January 25, 1939 def.Jack Roper on April 17, 1939 def.Tony Galento on June 28, 1939 def.Bob Pastor on September 20, 1939 def.Arturo Godoy on February 9, 1940 def.Johnny Paychek on March 29, 1940 def.Arturo Godoy on June 20, 1940 def.Al McCoy on December 16, 1940 def.Red Burman on January 31, 1941 def. Gus Dorazio on February 17, 1941 def.Abe Simon on March 21, 1941 def. Tony Musto on April 8, 1941 def.Buddy Baer on May 23, 1941 def.Billy Conn onJune 18, 1941 def.Lou Nova on September 29, 1941 def.Buddy Baer on January 9, 1942 def.Abe Simon on March 27, 1942 def. Johnny Davis on November 14, 1944 def.Billy Conn onJune 19, 1946 def.Tami Mauriello on September 18, 1946 def.Jersey Joe Walcott onDecember 5, 1947 def.Jersey Joe Walcott onJune 25, 1948 | The Ring | 2 | [26][27] |
| 17 | Ezzard Charles def.Jersey Joe Walcott | NBA | June 22, 1949 | September 27, 1950 | 462 | def.Gus Lesnevich on August 10, 1949 def. Pat Valentino on October 14, 1949 def. Freddie Beshore on August 15, 1950 def.Joe Louis onSeptember 27, 1950 | The Ring | 1,10 | [28] |
| NBA, and NYSAC | September 27, 1950 | June 16, 1951 | 261 | def. Nick Barone on December 5, 1950 def. Lee Oma on January 12, 1951 def.Jersey Joe Walcott on March 7, 1951 def.Joey Maxim on May 30, 1951 | 1,10 | [28] | |||
| NBA, NYSAC, and IBU | June 16, 1951 | July 18, 1951 | 33 | – | [28] | ||||
| 18 | Jersey Joe Walcott | NBA, and NYSAC | July 18, 1951 | September 23, 1952 | 433 | def.Ezzard Charles on June 5, 1952 | The Ring | [29] | |
| 19 | Rocky Marciano | NBA, and NYSAC | September 23, 1952 | April 27, 1956 | 1,312 | def.Jersey Joe Walcott onMarch 15, 1953 def. Roland LaStarza onSeptember 24, 1953 def.Ezzard Charles onJune 17, 1954 def.Ezzard Charles onSeptember 17, 1954 def.Don Cockell on May 16, 1955 def.Archie Moore onSeptember 21, 1955 | The Ring | 2 | [30] |
| 20 | Floyd Patterson def.Archie Moore | NBA, and NYSAC | November 30, 1956 | June 26, 1959 | 938 | def.Tommy Jackson on July 29, 1957 def.Pete Rademacher on August 22, 1957 def.Roy Harris on August 18, 1958 def.Brian London on May 1, 1959 | The Ring | 1,11 | [31] |
| 21 | Ingemar Johansson | NBA, and NYSAC | June 26, 1959 | June 20, 1960 | 360 | – | The Ring | [32] | |
| 22 | Floyd Patterson (Second reign) | NBA, and NYSAC | June 20, 1960 | September 25, 1962 | 827 | def.Ingemar Johansson onMarch 13, 1961 def.Tom McNeeley on December 4, 1961 | The Ring | [31] | |
| 23 | Sonny Liston | NYSAC, and WBA | September 25, 1962 | July 22, 1963 | 270 | def.Floyd Patterson onJuly 22, 1963 | The Ring | [33] | |
| NYSAC, WBA, and WBC | July 22, 1963 | February 25, 1964 | 248 | – | [33] | ||||
| 24 | Muhammad Ali | NYSAC, WBA, and WBC | February 25, 1964 | June 19, 1964 | 115 | – | The Ring | 12 | [34] |
| NYSAC, and WBC | June 19, 1964 | February 6, 1967 | 962 | def.Sonny Liston onMay 25, 1965 def.Floyd Patterson onNovember 22, 1965 def.George Chuvalo onMarch 29, 1966 def.Henry Cooper onMay 21, 1966 def.Brian London onAugust 6, 1966 def.Karl Mildenberger onSeptember 10, 1966 def.Cleveland Williams onNovember 14, 1966 def.Ernie Terrell onFebruary 6, 1967 | [34] | ||||
| NYSAC, WBA, and WBC | February 6, 1967 | April 29, 1967 | 82 | def.Zora Folley onMarch 22, 1967 | 13 | [34] | |||
| 25 | Ernie Terrell def.Eddie Machen | WBA | March 5, 1965 | February 6, 1967 | 703 | def.George Chuvalo on November 1, 1965 def.Doug Jones on June 28, 1966 | – | 1 | [35] |
| 26 | Joe Frazier def.Buster Mathis | NYSAC | March 4, 1968 | February 16, 1970 | 714 | def.Manuel Ramos on June 24, 1968 def.Oscar Bonavena on December 10, 1968 def. Dave Zyglewicz on April 22, 1969 def.Jerry Quarry on June 23, 1969 def.Jimmy Ellis on February 16, 1970 | The Ring def.Muhammad Ali onMarch 8, 1971 | 1 | [36] |
| WBA, and WBC | February 16, 1970 | January 22, 1973 | 1,071 | def.Bob Foster on November 18, 1970 def.Muhammad Ali onMarch 8, 1971 def. Terry Daniels on January 15, 1972 def.Ron Stander on May 25, 1972 | 15 | [36] | |||
| 27 | Jimmy Ellis def.Jerry Quarry | WBA | April 27, 1968 | February 16, 1970 | 660 | def.Floyd Patterson on September 14, 1968 | – | 1,14 | [37] |
| 28 | George Foreman | WBA, and WBC | January 22, 1973 | October 30, 1974 | 646 | def.José Roman onSeptember 1, 1973 def.Ken Norton onMarch 26, 1974 | The Ring | 1,10 | [38] |
| 29 | Muhammad Ali (Second reign) | WBA, and WBC | October 30, 1974 | February 15, 1978 | 1,204 | def.Chuck Wepner onMarch 24, 1975 def.Ron Lyle onMay 16, 1975 def.Joe Bugner onJune 30, 1975 def.Joe Frazier onOctober 1, 1975 def.Jean-Pierre Coopman onFebruary 20, 1976 def.Jimmy Young onApril 30, 1976 def.Richard Dunn onMay 24, 1976 def.Ken Norton onSeptember 28, 1976 def.Alfredo Evangelista onMay 16, 1977 def.Earnie Shavers onSeptember 29, 1977 | The Ring | [34] | |
| 30 | Leon Spinks | WBA, and WBC | February 15, 1978 | March 18, 1978 | 31 | – | The Ring | 3 | [39] |
| WBA | March 18, 1978 | September 15, 1978 | 181 | – | [39] | ||||
| 31 | Ken Norton awarded the title | WBC | March 18, 1978 | June 9, 1978 | 83 | – | – | 16 | [40] |
| 32 | Larry Holmes | WBC | June 9, 1978 | December 11, 1983 | 2,011 | def.Alfredo Evangelista on November 10, 1978 def.Ossie Ocasio on March 23, 1979 def.Mike Weaver on June 22, 1979 def.Earnie Shavers on September 28, 1979 def. Lorenzo Zanon on February 3, 1980 def.Leroy Jones on March 31, 1980 def.Scott LeDoux on July 7, 1980 def.Muhammad Ali onOctober 2, 1980 def.Trevor Berbick on April 11, 1981 def.Leon Spinks onJune 12, 1981 def.Renaldo Snipes on November 6, 1981 def.Gerry Cooney onJune 11, 1982 def.Randall "Tex" Cobb on November 26, 1982 def. Lucien Rodriguez on March 27, 1983 def.Tim Witherspoon onMay 20, 1983 def. Scott Frank on September 10, 1983 | The Ring def.Muhammad Ali onOctober 2, 1980 | 2 | [41] |
| IBF | December 11, 1983 | September 21, 1985 | 650 | def.James Smith on November 9, 1984 def.David Bey on March 15, 1985 def.Carl Williams on May 20, 1985 | 17 | [41] | |||
| 33 | Muhammad Ali (Third reign) | WBA | September 15, 1978 | October 18, 1979 | 398 | – | The Ring | 2 | [34] |
| 34 | John Tate def.Gerrie Coetzee | WBA | October 20, 1979 | March 31, 1980 | 163 | – | – | 1 | [42] |
| 35 | Mike Weaver | WBA | March 31, 1980 | December 10, 1982 | 984 | def.Gerrie Coetzee on October 25, 1980 def.James Tillis on October 3, 1981 | – | [43] | |
| 36 | Michael Dokes | WBA | December 10, 1982 | September 23, 1983 | 287 | draw vs.Mike Weaver onMay 20, 1983 | – | [44] | |
| 37 | Gerrie Coetzee | WBA | September 23, 1983 | December 1, 1984 | 435 | – | – | [45] | |
| 38 | Tim Witherspoon def.Greg Page | WBC | March 9, 1984 | August 31, 1984 | 175 | – | – | 1 | [46] |
| 39 | Pinklon Thomas | WBC | August 31, 1984 | March 22, 1986 | 568 | def.Mike Weaver on June 15, 1985 | – | [47] | |
| 40 | Greg Page | WBA | December 1, 1984 | April 29, 1985 | 149 | – | – | [48] | |
| 41 | Tony Tubbs | WBA | April 29, 1985 | January 17, 1986 | 263 | – | – | [49] | |
| 42 | Michael Spinks | IBF | September 21, 1985 | February 26, 1987 | 523 | def.Larry Holmes onApril 19, 1986 def.Steffen Tangstad onSeptember 6, 1986 | The Ring | 3 | [50] |
| 43 | Tim Witherspoon (Second reign) | WBA | January 17, 1986 | December 12, 1986 | 329 | def.Frank Bruno onJuly 19, 1986 | – | [46] | |
| 44 | Trevor Berbick | WBC | March 22, 1986 | November 22, 1986 | 245 | – | – | [51] | |
| 45 | Mike Tyson | WBC | November 22, 1986 | March 7, 1987 | 105 | def.James Smith onMarch 7, 1987 | The Ring def.Michael Spinks onJune 27, 1988 | [52] | |
| WBA, and WBC | March 7, 1987 | August 1, 1987 | 147 | def.Pinklon Thomas onMay 30, 1987 def.Tony Tucker onAugust 1, 1987 | [52] | ||||
| WBA, WBC, and IBF | August 1, 1987 | February 11, 1990 | 925 | def.Tyrell Biggs onOctober 16, 1987 def.Larry Holmes onJanuary 22, 1988 def.Tony Tubbs onMarch 21, 1988 def.Michael Spinks onJune 27, 1988 def.Frank Bruno onFebruary 25, 1989 def.Carl Williams onJuly 21, 1989 | [52] | ||||
| 46 | James "Bonecrusher" Smith | WBA | December 12, 1986 | March 7, 1987 | 85 | – | – | [53] | |
| 47 | Tony Tucker def.Buster Douglas | IBF | May 30, 1987 | August 1, 1987 | 64 | – | – | 1 | [54] |
| 48 | Francesco Damiani def.Johnny du Plooy | WBO | May 6, 1989 | January 11, 1991 | 616 | def. Daniel Eduardo Neto on December 16, 1989 | – | 1 | [55] |
| 49 | James "Buster" Douglas | WBA, WBC, and IBF | February 11, 1990 | October 25, 1990 | 257 | – | – | [56] | |
| 50 | Evander Holyfield | WBA, WBC, and IBF | October 25, 1990 | November 13, 1992 | 751 | def.George Foreman onApril 19, 1991 def.Bert Cooper onNovember 23, 1991 def.Larry Holmes onJune 19, 1992 | – | [57] | |
| 51 | Ray Mercer | WBO | January 11, 1991 | December 24, 1991 | 348 | def.Tommy Morrison onOctober 18, 1991 | – | 3 | [58] |
| 52 | Michael Moorer def.Bert Cooper | WBO | May 15, 1992 | February 3, 1993 | 265 | – | – | 1,2 | [59] |
| 53 | Riddick Bowe | WBA, WBC, and IBF | November 13, 1992 | December 14, 1992 | 32 | – | – | 2 | [60] |
| WBA, and IBF | December 14, 1992 | November 6, 1993 | 328 | def.Michael Dokes onFebruary 6, 1993 def.Jesse Ferguson onMay 22, 1993 | – | [60] | |||
| 54 | Lennox Lewis awarded the title | WBC | December 14, 1992 | September 24, 1994 | 650 | def.Tony Tucker onMay 8, 1993 def.Frank Bruno onOctober 1, 1993 def.Phil Jackson onMay 6, 1994 | – | 18 | [61] |
| 55 | Tommy Morrison def.George Foreman | WBO | June 7, 1993 | October 29, 1993 | 145 | def. Tim Tomashek onAugust 30, 1993 | – | 1 | [62] |
| 56 | Michael Bentt | WBO | October 29, 1993 | March 19, 1994 | 142 | – | – | [63] | |
| 57 | Evander Holyfield (Second reign) | WBA, and IBF | November 6, 1993 | April 22, 1994 | 168 | – | – | [57] | |
| 58 | Herbie Hide | WBO | March 19, 1994 | March 11, 1995 | 358 | – | – | [64] | |
| 59 | Michael Moorer (Second reign) | WBA, and IBF | April 22, 1994 | November 5, 1994 | 198 | – | – | [59] | |
| 60 | Oliver McCall | WBC | September 24, 1994 | September 2, 1995 | 344 | def.Larry Holmes onApril 8, 1995 | – | [65] | |
| 61 | George Foreman (Second reign) | WBA, and IBF | November 5, 1994 | March 4, 1995 | 119 | – | – | 3 | [38] |
| IBF | March 4, 1995 | June 29, 1995 | 117 | def.Axel Schulz onApril 22, 1995 | − | 2 | [38] | ||
| 62 | Riddick Bowe (Second reign) | WBO | March 11, 1995 | May 1, 1996 | 418 | def.Jorge Luis Gonzalez onJune 17, 1995 | – | 3 | [60] |
| 63 | Bruce Seldon def.Tony Tucker | WBA | April 8, 1995 | September 7, 1996 | 519 | def.Joe Hipp onAugust 19, 1995 | – | 1 | [66] |
| 64 | Frank Bruno | WBC | September 2, 1995 | March 16, 1996 | 197 | – | – | [67] | |
| 65 | Mike Tyson (Second reign) | WBC | March 16, 1996 | September 7, 1996 | 175 | – | – | [52] | |
| WBA, and WBC | September 7, 1996 | September 24, 1996 | 17 | – | – | 2 | [52] | ||
| WBA | September 24, 1996 | November 9, 1996 | 46 | – | – | [52] | |||
| 66 | Michael Moorer (Third reign) def.Axel Schulz | IBF | June 22, 1996 | November 8, 1997 | 505 | def.Francois Botha onNovember 9, 1996 def.Vaughn Bean onMarch 29, 1997 | – | 1,19 | [59] |
| 67 | Henry Akinwande def.Jeremy Williams | WBO | June 29, 1996 | February 17, 1997 | 234 | def. Alexander Zolkin onNovember 9, 1996 def.Scott Welch on January 11, 1997 | – | 1,2 | [68] |
| 68 | Evander Holyfield (Third reign) | WBA | November 9, 1996 | November 8, 1997 | 365 | def.Mike Tyson onJune 28, 1997 def.Michael Moorer onNovember 8, 1997 | – | [57] | |
| WBA, and IBF | November 8, 1997 | November 13, 1999 | 736 | def.Vaughn Bean onSeptember 19, 1998 draw vs.Lennox Lewis onMarch 13, 1999 | – | [57] | |||
| 69 | Lennox Lewis (Second reign) def.Oliver McCall | WBC | February 7, 1997 | November 13, 1999 | 1010 | def.Henry Akinwande onJuly 12, 1997 def.Andrzej Golota onOctober 4, 1997 def.Shannon Briggs onMarch 28, 1998 def.Željko Mavrović onSeptember 26, 1998 draw vs.Evander Holyfield onMarch 13, 1999 def.Evander Holyfield onNovember 13, 1999 | – | 1 | [61] |
| WBA, WBC, and IBF | November 13, 1999 | April 29, 2000 | 168 | – | – | 3 | [61] | ||
| WBC, and IBF | April 29, 2000 | April 22, 2001 | 358 | def.Michael Grant onApril 29, 2000 def.Francois Botha onJuly 15, 2000 def.David Tua onNovember 11, 2000 | – | [61] | |||
| 70 | Herbie Hide (Second reign) def.Tony Tucker | WBO | June 28, 1997 | June 26, 1999 | 729 | def. Damon Reed onApril 18, 1998 def.Wilhelm Fischer onSeptember 26, 1998 | – | 1 | [64] |
| 71 | Vitali Klitschko | WBO | June 26, 1999 | April 1, 2000 | 281 | def. Ed Mahone on October 9, 1999 def.Obed Sullivan on December 11, 1999 | – | [69] | |
| 72 | Chris Byrd | WBO | April 1, 2000 | October 14, 2000 | 197 | – | – | [70] | |
| 73 | Evander Holyfield (Fourth reign) def.John Ruiz | WBA | August 12, 2000 | March 3, 2001 | 204 | – | – | 1 | [57] |
| 74 | Wladimir Klitschko | WBO | October 14, 2000 | March 8, 2003 | 876 | def.Derrick Jefferson on March 24, 2001 def.Charles Shufford on August 4, 2001 def.Francois Botha on March 16, 2002 def.Ray Mercer onJune 29, 2002 def.Jameel McCline onDecember 7, 2002 | – | [71] | |
| 75 | John Ruiz | WBA | March 3, 2001 | March 1, 2003 | 729 | draw vs.Evander Holyfield onDecember 15, 2001 def.Kirk Johnson on July 27, 2002 | – | [72] | |
| 76 | Hasim Rahman | WBC, and IBF | April 22, 2001 | November 17, 2001 | 210 | – | – | [73] | |
| 77 | Lennox Lewis (Third reign) | WBC, and IBF | November 17, 2001 | September 5, 2002 | 293 | def.Mike Tyson onJune 8, 2002 | The Ring awarded the title in 2002 | 2 | [61] |
| WBC | September 5, 2002 | February 6, 2004 | 519 | def.Vitali Klitschko onJune 21, 2003 | 2 | [61] | |||
| 78 | Chris Byrd (Second reign) def.Evander Holyfield | IBF | December 14, 2002 | 1,591 | def.Fres Oquendo on September 20, 2003 draw vs.Andrzej Golota onApril 17, 2004 def.Jameel McCline onNovember 13, 2004 def.DaVarryl Williamson on October 1, 2005 | – | 1 | [70] | |
| 79 | Roy Jones Jr. | WBA | March 1, 2003 | February 20, 2004 | 357 | – | – | 2 | [74] |
| 80 | Corrie Sanders | WBO | March 8, 2003 | October 9, 2003 | 216 | – | – | 2 | [75] |
| 81 | John Ruiz (Second reign) def.Hasim Rahman for interim title | WBA | February 20, 2004 | December 17, 2005 | 667 | def.Fres Oquendo onApril 17, 2004 def.Andrzej Golota onNovember 13, 2004 | – | 20 | [72] |
| 82 | Lamon Brewster def.Wladimir Klitschko | WBO | April 10, 2004 | April 1, 2006 | 722 | def.Kali Meehan on September 4, 2004 def.Andrzej Golota on May 21, 2005 def.Luan Krasniqi on September 28, 2005 | – | 1 | [76] |
| 83 | Vitali Klitschko (Second reign) def.Corrie Sanders | WBC | April 24, 2004 | November 9, 2005 | 565 | def.Danny Williams onDecember 11, 2004 | The Ring | 1,2 | [69] |
| 84 | Hasim Rahman (Second reign) def.Monte Barrett for interim title | WBC | November 9, 2005 | August 12, 2006 | 277 | draw vs.James Toney onMarch 18, 2006 | – | 21 | [73] |
| 85 | Nikolai Valuev | WBA | December 17, 2005 | April 14, 2007 | 484 | def.Owen Beck on June 3, 2006 def.Monte Barrett on October 7, 2006 def.Jameel McCline on January 20, 2007 | – | 1,10 | [77] |
| 86 | Siarhei Liakhovich | WBO | April 1, 2006 | November 4, 2006 | 218 | – | – | [78] | |
| 87 | Wladimir Klitschko (Second reign) | IBF | April 22, 2006 | February 23, 2008 | 673 | def.Calvin Brock onNovember 11, 2006 def.Ray Austin onMarch 10, 2007 def.Lamon Brewster onJuly 7, 2007 def.Sultan Ibragimov onFebruary 23, 2008 | The Ring def.Ruslan Chagaev onJune 20, 2009 | [71] | |
| IBF, and WBO | February 23, 2008 | July 2, 2011 | 1,226 | def.Tony Thompson onJuly 12, 2008 def.Hasim Rahman onDecember 13, 2008 def.Ruslan Chagaev onJune 20, 2009 def.Eddie Chambers on March 20, 2010 def.Samuel Peter onSeptember 11, 2010 def.David Haye onJuly 2, 2011 | [71] | ||||
| WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO | July 2, 2011 | November 28, 2015 | 1,611 | def.Jean-Marc Mormeck on March 13, 2012 def.Tony Thompson on July 7, 2012 def.Mariusz Wach on November 10, 2012 def.Francesco Pianeta on May 4, 2013 def.Alexander Povetkin onOctober 5, 2013 def.Alex Leapai on April 26, 2014 def.Kubrat Pulev on November 15, 2014 def.Bryant Jennings onApril 25, 2015 | [71] | ||||
| 88 | Oleg Maskaev | WBC | August 12, 2006 | December 9, 2006 | 120 | – | – | [79][80] | |
| December 9, 2006 | March 8, 2008 | 456 | def.Okello Peter on December 10, 2006 | – | |||||
| 89 | Shannon Briggs | WBO | November 4, 2006 | June 2, 2007 | 211 | – | – | [81] | |
| 90 | Ruslan Chagaev | WBA | April 14, 2007 | July 3, 2008 | 799 | def.Matt Skelton on January 19, 2008 | – | 22 | [82] |
| 91 | Sultan Ibragimov | WBO | June 2, 2007 | February 23, 2008 | 267 | def.Evander Holyfield onOctober 13, 2007 | – | [83] | |
| 92 | Samuel Peter | WBC | March 8, 2008 | October 11, 2008 | 218 | – | – | [84] | |
| 93 | Nikolai Valuev (Second reign) def.John Ruiz | WBA | August 30, 2008 | November 7, 2009 | 435 | def.Evander Holyfield onDecember 20, 2008 | – | 1,22 | [77] |
| 94 | Vitali Klitschko (Third reign) | WBC | October 11, 2008 | December 15, 2013 | 1,892 | def.Juan Carlos Gomez on March 21, 2009 def.Chris Arreola on September 26, 2009 def.Kevin Johnson on December 12, 2009 def.Albert Sosnowski on May 29, 2010 def.Shannon Briggs onOctober 16, 2010 def.Odlanier Solís onMarch 19, 2011 def.Tomasz Adamek onSeptember 10, 2011 def.Derek Chisora onFebruary 18, 2012 def.Mahmoud Charr onSeptember 8, 2012 | – | 2 | [69] |
| 95 | David Haye | WBA | November 7, 2009 | July 2, 2011 | 603 | def.John Ruiz onApril 3, 2010 def.Audley Harrison onNovember 13, 2010 | – | [85] | |
| – | Alexander Povetkin def.Ruslan Chagaev | WBA (Regular) | August 27, 2011 | October 5, 2013 | 771 | def.Cedric Boswell on December 3, 2011 def.Marco Huck on February 25, 2012 def.Hasim Rahman on September 29, 2012 def.Andrzej Wawrzyk on May 17, 2013 | – | 1,23 | [86] |
| 96 | Bermane Stiverne def.Chris Arreola | WBC | May 10, 2014 | January 17, 2015 | 253 | – | – | 1 | [87] |
| – | Ruslan Chagaev def.Fres Oquendo | WBA (Regular) | July 6, 2014 | March 5, 2016 | 609 | def.Francesco Pianeta on July 11, 2015 | – | 1 | [82] |
| 97 | Deontay Wilder | WBC | January 17, 2015 | February 22, 2020 | 1,863 | def.Eric Molina on June 13, 2015 def.Johann Duhaupas on September 26, 2015 def.Artur Szpilka on January 16, 2016 def.Chris Arreola on July 16, 2016 def.Gerald Washington on February 25, 2017 def.Bermane Stiverne on November 4, 2017 def.Luis Ortiz onMarch 3, 2018 draw vs.Tyson Fury onDecember 1, 2018 def.Dominic Breazeale onMay 18, 2019 def.Luis Ortiz onNovember 23, 2019 | – | [88] | |
| 98 | Tyson Fury | WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO | November 28, 2015 | December 8, 2015 | 11 | – | The Ring | 3 | [89] |
| WBA (Super), and WBO | December 8, 2015 | October 12, 2016 | 310 | – | 2 | [89] | |||
| 99 | Charles Martin def.Vyacheslav Glazkov | IBF | January 16, 2016 | April 9, 2016 | 85 | – | – | 1 | [90] |
| – | Lucas Browne | WBA (Regular) | March 5, 2016 | May 12, 2016 | 69 | – | – | 24 | [91] |
| 100 | Anthony Joshua | IBF | April 9, 2016 | April 29, 2017 | 386 | def.Dominic Breazeale onJune 25, 2016 def.Eric Molina onDecember 10, 2016 def.Wladimir Klitschko onApril 29, 2017 | – | [92] | |
| WBA (Super), and IBF | April 29, 2017 | March 31, 2018 | 337 | def.Carlos Takam onOctober 28, 2017 def.Joseph Parker onMarch 31, 2018 | – | 1 | [92] | ||
| WBA (Super), IBF, WBO | March 31, 2018 | June 1, 2019 | 428 | def.Alexander Povetkin onSeptember 22, 2018 | – | [92] | |||
| – | Ruslan Chagaev awarded the title | WBA (Regular) | May 12, 2016 | July 25, 2016 | 75 | – | – | 3 | [82] |
| 101 | Joseph Parker def.Andy Ruiz Jr. | WBO | December 10, 2016 | March 31, 2018 | 477 | def.Răzvan Cojanu on May 6, 2017 def.Hughie Fury onSeptember 23, 2017 | – | 1 | [93] |
| – | Mahmoud Charr def.Alexander Ustinov | WBA (Regular) | November 25, 2017 | January 29, 2021 | 1,162 | – | – | 1 | [94] |
| 102 | Andy Ruiz Jr. | WBA (Super), IBF, WBO | June 1, 2019 | December 7, 2019 | 190 | – | – | [95] | |
| 103 | Anthony Joshua (Second reign) | WBA (Super), IBF, WBO | December 7, 2019 | September 25, 2021 | 659 | def.Kubrat Pulev onDecember 12, 2020 | – | [92] | |
| 104 | Tyson Fury (Second reign) | WBC | February 22, 2020 | May 18, 2024 | 1,548 | def.Deontay Wilder onOctober 9, 2021 def.Dillian Whyte onApril 23, 2022 def.Derek Chisora onDecember 3, 2022 | The Ring | [89] | |
| – | Trevor Bryan def.Bermane Stiverne | WBA (Regular) | January 29, 2021 | June 11, 2022 | 498 | def. Jonathan Guidry on January 29, 2022 | – | 1,26 | [96] |
| 105 | Oleksandr Usyk | WBA (Super), IBF, WBO | September 25, 2021 | May 18, 2024 | 967 | def.Anthony Joshua onAugust 20, 2022 def.Daniel Dubois onAugust 26, 2023 def.Tyson Fury onMay 18, 2024 | The Ring def.Anthony Joshua onAugust 20, 2022 | [97][98] | |
| WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO | May 18, 2024 | June 25, 2024 | 38 | ||||||
| WBA (Super), WBC, WBO | June 25, 2024 | July 19, 2025 | 389 | def.Tyson Fury onDecember 21, 2024 def.Daniel Dubois onJuly 19, 2025 | |||||
| WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO | July 19, 2025 | present | 129 | ||||||
| – | Daniel Dubois | WBA (Regular) | June 11, 2022 | August 26, 2023 | 441 | def.Kevin Lerena on December 3, 2022 | – | [99] | |
| – | Mahmoud Charr Reinstated by legal appeal | WBA (Regular) | August 31, 2023 | December 7, 2024 | 816 | − | [100] | ||
| 106 | Daniel Dubois interim champion promoted | IBF | June 26, 2024 | July 19, 2025 | 388 | def.Anthony Joshua onSeptember 21, 2024 | – | [98] | |
| – | Kubrat Pulev | WBA (Regular) | December 7, 2024 | present | 353 | − | [101] | ||
| 107 | Fabio Wardley interim champion promoted | WBO | November 17, 2025 | present | 8 | − | [102] |
As of October 19, 2025.
Keys:
| Pos. | Name | Combined reign | Days as champion | Number of reigns | Title recognition | Cumulative title wins | Opponents beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wladimir Klitschko | 12 years, 0 months, 0 days | 4 382 | 2 | WBA, IBF, WBO | 25 | 23 |
| 2. | Joe Louis | 11 years, 8 months, 8 days | 4 270 | 1 | NYSAC, NBA | 27 | 22 |
| 3. | Muhammad Ali | 9 years, 5 months, 5 days | 3 443 | 3 | NYSAC, WBA, WBC | 22 | 21 |
| 4. | Lennox Lewis | 8 years, 5 months, 13 days | 3 086 | 3 | WBA, WBC, IBF | 15 | 15 |
| 5. | Vitali Klitschko | 7 years, 5 months, 28 days | 2 735 | 3 | WBC, WBO | 15 | 15 |
| 6. | Larry Holmes | 7 years, 3 months, 12 days | 2 661 | 1 | WBC, IBF | 20 | 20 |
| 7. | Jack Dempsey | 7 years, 2 months, 19 days | 2 638 | 1 | NYSAC, NBA | 6 | 6 |
| 8. | John L. Sullivan | 7 years, 0 months, 10 days | 2 566 | 1 | Universal | 5 | 5 |
| 9. | Jack Johnson | 6 years, 3 months, 11 days | 2 292 | 1 | Universal | 6 | 6 |
| 10. | Evander Holyfield | 6 years, 1 month, 1 day | 2 223 | 4 | WBA, WBC, IBF | 11 | 10 |
| 11. | James J. Jeffries | 5 years, 11 months, 4 days | 2 156 | 1 | Universal | 8 | 6 |
| 12. | Tyson Fury | 5 years, 1 month, 12 days | 1 866 | 2 | WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO | 5 | 4 |
| 13. | Deontay Wilder | 5 years, 1 month, 5 days | 1 859 | 1 | WBC | 10 | 8 |
| 14. | Anthony Joshua | 4 years, 11 months, 17 days | 1 806 | 2 | WBA, IBF, WBO | 9 | 9 |
| 15. | Joe Frazier | 4 years, 10 months, 18 days | 1 785 | 1 | NYSAC, WBA, WBC | 10 | 10 |
| 16. | Floyd Patterson | 4 years, 10 months, 0 days | 1 765 | 2 | NYSAC, NBA | 8 | 7 |
| 17. | James J. Corbett | 4 years, 6 months, 10 days | 1 652 | 1 | Universal | 2 | 2 |
| 18. | Jess Willard | 4 years, 2 months, 29 days | 1 551 | 1 | Universal | 2 | 2 |
| 19. | Oleksandr Usyk | 4 years and 2 months | 1,522 | 1 | WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO | 5 | 3 |
| 20. | Chris Byrd | 3 years, 10 months, 22 days | 1 421 | 2 | IBF, WBO | 5 | 5 |
The list includesThe Ring belt. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
As of October 19, 2025.
Keys:
| Pos. | Name | Title Reign | Title recognition | Successful Defenses | Opponents beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Joe Louis | 11 years, 8 months, 8 days | Universal | 26 | 21 |
| 2. | Wladimir Klitschko | 9 years, 7 months and 6 days | IBF (+WBA, WBO,The Ring) | 18 | 17 |
| 3. | Larry Holmes | 7 years, 3 months, 12 days | WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring) | 19 | 19 |
| 4. | Jack Dempsey | 7 years, 2 months, 19 days | Universal | 5 | 5 |
| 5. | John L. Sullivan | 7 years, 0 months, 9 days | Universal | 5 | 5 |
| 6. | Jack Johnson | 6 years, 3 months, 10 days | Universal | 6 | 6 |
| 7. | Muhammad Ali | 5 years, 11 months, 9 days | The Ring, (+WBA, WBC stripped) | 9 | 9 |
| 8. | James J. Jeffries | 5 years, 11 months, 4 days | Universal | 7 | 6 |
| 9. | Vitali Klitschko | 5 years, 2 months, 4 days | WBC | 9 | 9 |
| 10. | Deontay Wilder | 5 years, 1 month, 5 days | WBC | 10 | 8 |
| 11. | Joe Frazier | 4 years, 10 months, 18 days | NYSAC (+WBA, WBC) | 9 | 9 |
| 12. | James J. Corbett | 4 years, 6 months, 10 days | Universal | 1 | 1 |
| 13. | Jess Willard | 4 years, 2 months, 29 days | Universal | 1 | 1 |
| 14. | Tyson Fury | 4 years, 2 months, 26 days | WBC (+The Ring) | 3 | 3 |
| 15. | Lennox Lewis | 4 years, 2 months, 15 days | WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped,The Ring) | 9 | 8 |
| 16. | Oleksandr Usyk | 4 years and 2 months | WBA (+WBC, IBF stripped, WBO,The Ring) | 4 | 3 |
| 17. | Rocky Marciano | 3 years, 11 months, 29 days | Universal | 6 | 5 |
| 18. | Chris Byrd | 3 years, 4 months, 8 days | IBF | 4 | 4 |
| 19. | Mike Tyson | 3 years, 2 months, 20 days | WBC (+WBA, IBF,The Ring) | 9 | 9 |
| 20. | Anthony Joshua | 3 years, 1 month and 23 days | IBF (+WBA, WBO) | 6 | 6 |
John L Sullivan record: Aug 29 1885, Dominick McCaffrey, Cincinnati, W 6, Won-VacM of Q World-H
James J. Corbett gained lasting fame when he knocked out the hugely popular John L. Sullivan to take the heavyweight title in 1892. The first heavyweight to win a championship under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules [...] James J Corbett record: Mar 17 1897, Bob Fitzsimmons, Carson City, NV, KO'd 14, Lost-World-H
Bob Fitzsimmons record: Mar 17 1897, Champion James J. Corbett, Carson City, NV, KO 14, Won-World-H
James J. Jeffries record: Jul 25 1902, Champion Bob Fitzsimmons, Coney Island, NY, KO 11, Won-World-H [...] Jeffries defended his title four more times with four knockout victories before retiring. Included among his victims were Fitzsimmons, Corbett, and Ruhlin. After six years of retirement, at age 35, Jeffries returned to the ring in an attempt to wrest the championship from Jack Johnson
Jul 3 1905, Marvin Hart, Reno, NV, KO'd 12, For-Vac World-H [...] When Jim Jeffries retired, a few years later, he selected Root and Hart to meet for the heavyweight title he was vacating. The fight was held in Reno on July 3, 1905. Root weighed 170 pounds, and Hart tipped the scales at 190. Root was considered the favorite and fought well early on. He had a big lead through seven rounds and floored Hart at the end of the seventh. However, Hart was saved by the bell. In the ninth and tenth, momentum began to go in Hart's direction. In the twelfth, Hart unleashed a hard right to the left of Root's heart. Root collapsed in a heap and was counted out by Jeffries, the referee.
In 1905, when he knocked out Dave Barry in San Francisco, promoter Tom McCarey proposed matching him with heavyweight champ Marvin Hart. [...] Tommy Burns record: Feb 23 1906, Champion Marvin Hart, Los Angeles, W 20, Won-World-H
Jack Johnson record: Dec 26 1908, Champion Tommy Burns, Sydney TKO 14, Won-World-H
Jess Willard record: Apr 5 1915, Champion Jack Johnson, Havana, Cuba, KO 26, Won-World-H
Jack Dempsey record: Jul 4, 1919, Champion Jess Willard, Toledo, OH, TKO 3, Won-World-H; Sep 23 1926, Gene Tunney, Philadelphia, L 10, Lost-World-H
Johnny Davis, Ret-World-H