At boxing's beginning, the heavyweight division had no weight limit, and historically the weight class has gone with vague or no definition. During the 19th century many heavyweights were 170 pounds (12 st 2 lb, 77 kg) or less, though others weighed considerably more. John L. Sullivan was the first widely recognized champion under Marquess 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 the cruiserweight 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'd recognize champions. The World Boxing Council created a new division called bridgerweight for boxers weighing between 200 and 225 pounds. As of June 2022 no other major organization 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 his refusal to be inducted into the armed forces. On April 29, 1967, his recognition as champion by both the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council was withdrawn. Yet Ali remained the lineal champion and was recognized by The Ring magazine and most boxing purists until his 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.

Championship recognition

All heavyweight champions

Public Acclamation: 1884 to 1921

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.

The Ring Magazine: 1922 to present

The Ring magazine 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.[1]

Sanctioning Bodies: 1921 to present

The National 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 an epicenter of boxing would lead to its state boxing regulatory body, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) joining the NBA in recognizing world champions in each weight class. A third entity, the European 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 the World 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, the World Boxing Council (WBC). In time, each organization would have its own spin-off sanctioning organization break from its ranks: the United States Boxing Association, which disassociated with the WBA in the late 1970s and became the International Boxing Federation in 1983, and the World 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 the International Boxing Hall Of Fame as major sanctioning bodies.

Current status of prominent championship titles

OrganizationRecognitionChampionDate wonStatus of next defense
WBASuper championOleksandr Usyk (def. Anthony Joshua)September 25, 2021No present mandatory defense obligation
WBCWorld championTyson Fury (def. Deontay Wilder)February 22, 2020No present mandatory defense obligation
IBFWorld championOleksandr Usyk (def. Anthony Joshua)September 25, 2021No present mandatory defense obligation
WBOWorld championOleksandr Usyk def. Anthony Joshua)September 25, 2021No present mandatory defense obligation

List of champions

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		WorldAugust 29, 1885September 7, 1892 2,566 – 25,4[2]
2 James J. CorbettWorldSeptember 7, 1892March 17, 1897 1,652 def. Charley Mitchell on January 25, 1894
 5[3]
3 Bob FitzsimmonsWorldMarch 17, 1897June 9, 1899 814 –[4]
4 James J. JeffriesWorldJune 9, 1899May 15, 1905 2,166 def. Tom Sharkey on March 11, 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[5]
5 Marvin Hart
def. Jack Root		WorldJuly 3, 1905February 23, 1906 235 –1[6]
6 Tommy BurnsWorldFebruary 23, 1906December 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		[7]
7 Jack JohnsonWorldDecember 26, 1908April 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 on July 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[8]
8 Jess WillardWorldApril 5, 1915July 4, 1919 1,551 def. Frank Moran on March 25, 1916[9]
9 Jack DempseyWorldJuly 4, 1919July 2, 1921 729def. Billy Miske on September 6, 1920
def. Bill Brennan on December 14, 1920
def. Georges Carpentier on July 2, 1921		The Ring
awarded the title in 1922		[10]
NBAJuly 2, 1921July 24, 1922 387–[10]
NBA, and NYSACJuly 24, 1922September 23, 1926 1,522def. Tommy Gibbons on July 4, 1923
def. Luis Angel Firpo on September 14, 1923		[10]
10 Gene TunneyNBA, and NYSACSeptember 23, 1926July 31, 1928 677def. Jack Dempsey on September 22, 1927
def. Tom Heeney on July 26, 1928		The Ring2[11]
11 Max Schmeling
def. Jack Sharkey		NBA, and NYSACJune 12, 1930January 7, 1931 209–The Ring1,8[12]
NBA, and IBUJanuary 7, 1931June 21, 1932 531def. Young Stribling on July 3, 19311,10[12]
12 Jack SharkeyNBA, NYSAC, and IBUJune 21, 1932June 29, 1933 373–The Ring[13]
13 Primo CarneraNBA, NYSAC, and IBUJune 29, 1933June 14, 1934 350def. Paulino Uzcudun on October 22, 1933
def. Tommy Loughran on March 1, 1934		The Ring1,10[14]
14 Max BaerNBA, NYSAC, and IBUJune 14, 1934June 13, 1935 364–The Ring9[15]
15 James J. BraddockNBA, NYSAC, and IBUJune 13, 1935June 22, 1937 740–The Ring[16]
16 Joe LouisNBA, NYSAC, and IBUJune 22, 1937March 1, 1949 4,270def. Tommy Farr on August 30, 1937
def. Nathan Mann on February 23, 1938
def. Harry Thomas on April 4, 1938
def. Max Schmeling on June 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 on June 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 on June 19, 1946
def. Tami Mauriello on September 18, 1946
def. Jersey Joe Walcott on December 5, 1947
def. Jersey Joe Walcott on June 25, 1948
The Ring2[17][18]
17 Ezzard Charles
def. Jersey Joe Walcott		NBAJune 22, 1949September 27, 1950 462def. Gus Lesnevich on August 10, 1949
def. Pat Valentino on October 14, 1949
def. Freddie Beshore on August 15, 1950
def. Joe Louis on September 27, 1950
The Ring1,10[19]
NBA, and NYSACSeptember 27, 1950June 16, 1951 261def. 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[19]
NBA, NYSAC, and IBUJune 16, 1951July 18, 1951 33–[19]
18 Jersey Joe WalcottNBA, and NYSACJuly 18, 1951September 23, 1952 433def. Ezzard Charles on June 5, 1952The Ring[20]
19 Rocky MarcianoNBA, and NYSACSeptember 23, 1952April 27, 1956 1,312def. Jersey Joe Walcott on March 15, 1953
def. Roland LaStarza on September 24, 1953
def. Ezzard Charles on June 17, 1954
def. Ezzard Charles on September 17, 1954
def. Don Cockell on May 16, 1955
def. Archie Moore on September 21, 1955
The Ring2[21]
20 Floyd Patterson
def. Archie Moore		NBA, and NYSACNovember 30, 1956June 26, 1959 938def. 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 Ring1,11[22]
21 Ingemar JohanssonNBA, and NYSACJune 26, 1959June 20, 1960 360–The Ring[23]
22 Floyd Patterson (Second reign)NBA, and NYSACJune 20, 1960September 25, 1962 827def. Ingemar Johansson on March 13, 1961
def. Tom McNeeley on December 4, 1961		The Ring[22]
23 Sonny ListonNYSAC, and WBASeptember 25, 1962July 22, 1963 270def. Floyd Patterson on July 22, 1963
The Ring[24]
NYSAC, WBA, and WBCJuly 22, 1963February 25, 1964 248–[24]
24 Muhammad AliNYSAC, WBA, and WBCFebruary 25, 1964June 19, 1964 115–The Ring12[25]
NYSAC, and WBCJune 19, 1964February 6, 1967 962def. Sonny Liston on May 25, 1965
def. Floyd Patterson on November 22, 1965
def. George Chuvalo on March 29, 1966
def. Henry Cooper on May 21, 1966
def. Brian London on August 6, 1966
def. Karl Mildenberger on September 10, 1966
def. Cleveland Williams on November 14, 1966
def. Ernie Terrell on February 6, 1967
[25]
NYSAC, WBA, and WBCFebruary 6, 1967April 29, 1967 82def. Zora Folley on March 22, 196713[25]
25 Ernie Terrell
def. Eddie Machen		WBAMarch 5, 1965February 6, 1967 703def. George Chuvalo on November 1, 1965
def. Doug Jones on June 28, 1966
–1[26]
26 Joe Frazier
def. Buster Mathis		NYSACMarch 4, 1968February 16, 1970 714def. 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 on March 8, 1971		1[27]
WBA, and WBCFebruary 16, 1970January 22, 1973 1,071def. Bob Foster on November 18, 1970
def. Muhammad Ali on March 8, 1971
def. Terry Daniels on January 15, 1972
def. Ron Stander on May 25, 1972
15[27]
27 Jimmy Ellis
def. Jerry Quarry		WBAApril 27, 1968February 16, 1970 660def. Floyd Patterson on September 14, 1968–1,14[28]
28 George ForemanWBA, and WBCJanuary 22, 1973October 30, 1974 646def. José Roman on September 1, 1973
def. Ken Norton on March 26, 1974
The Ring1,10[29]
29 Muhammad Ali (Second reign)WBA, and WBCOctober 30, 1974February 15, 1978 1,204def. Chuck Wepner on March 24, 1975
def. Ron Lyle on May 16, 1975
def. Joe Bugner on June 30, 1975
def. Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975
def. Jean-Pierre Coopman on February 20, 1976
def. Jimmy Young on April 30, 1976
def. Richard Dunn on May 24, 1976
def. Ken Norton on September 28, 1976
def. Alfredo Evangelista on May 16, 1977
def. Earnie Shavers on September 29, 1977
The Ring[25]
30 Leon SpinksWBA, and WBCFebruary 15, 1978March 18, 1978 31–The Ring3[30]
WBAMarch 18, 1978September 15, 1978 181–[30]
31 Ken Norton
awarded the title		WBCMarch 18, 1978June 9, 1978 83––16[31]
32 Larry HolmesWBCJune 9, 1978December 11, 1983 2,011def. 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 on October 2, 1980
def. Trevor Berbick on April 11, 1981
def. Leon Spinks on June 12, 1981
def. Renaldo Snipes on November 6, 1981
def. Gerry Cooney on June 11, 1982
def. Randall "Tex" Cobb on November 26, 1982
def. Lucien Rodriguez on March 27, 1983
def. Tim Witherspoon on May 20, 1983
def. Scott Frank on September 10, 1983
The Ring
def. Muhammad Ali on October 2, 1980		2[32]
IBFDecember 11, 1983September 21, 1985 650def. James Smith on November 9, 1984
def. David Bey on March 15, 1985
def. Carl Williams on May 20, 1985
17[32]
33 Muhammad Ali (Third reign)WBASeptember 15, 1978October 18, 1979 398–The Ring2[25]
34 John Tate
def. Gerrie Coetzee		WBAOctober 20, 1979March 31, 1980 163––1[33]
35 Mike WeaverWBAMarch 31, 1980December 10, 1982 984def. Gerrie Coetzee on October 25, 1980
def. James Tillis on October 3, 1981
–[34]
36 Michael DokesWBADecember 10, 1982September 23, 1983 287draw vs. Mike Weaver on May 20, 1983
–[35]
37 Gerrie CoetzeeWBASeptember 23, 1983December 1, 1984 435––[36]
38 Tim Witherspoon
def. Greg Page		WBCMarch 9, 1984August 31, 1984 175––1[37]
39 Pinklon ThomasWBCAugust 31, 1984March 22, 1986 568def. Mike Weaver on June 15, 1985–[38]
40 Greg PageWBADecember 1, 1984April 29, 1985 149––[39]
41 Tony TubbsWBAApril 29, 1985January 17, 1986 263––[40]
42 Michael SpinksIBFSeptember 21, 1985February 26, 1987 523def. Larry Holmes on April 19, 1986
def. Steffen Tangstad on September 6, 1986
The Ring3[41]
43 Tim Witherspoon (Second reign)WBAJanuary 17, 1986December 12, 1986 329def. Frank Bruno on July 19, 1986
–[37]
44 Trevor BerbickWBCMarch 22, 1986November 22, 1986 245––[42]
45 Mike TysonWBCNovember 22, 1986March 7, 1987 105def. James Smith on March 7, 1987
The Ring
def. Michael Spinks on June 27, 1988		[43]
WBA, and WBCMarch 7, 1987August 1, 1987 147def. Pinklon Thomas on May 30, 1987
def. Tony Tucker on August 1, 1987
[43]
WBA, WBC, and IBFAugust 1, 1987February 11, 1990 925def. Tyrell Biggs on October 16, 1987
def. Larry Holmes on January 22, 1988
def. Tony Tubbs on March 21, 1988
def. Michael Spinks on June 27, 1988
def. Frank Bruno on February 25, 1989
def. Carl Williams on July 21, 1989
[43]
46 James "Bonecrusher" SmithWBADecember 12, 1986March 7, 1987 85––[44]
47 Tony Tucker
def. Buster Douglas		IBFMay 30, 1987August 1, 1987 64––1[45]
48 Francesco Damiani
def. Johnny du Plooy		WBOMay 6, 1989January 11, 1991 616def. Daniel Eduardo Neto on December 16, 1989
–1[46]
49 James "Buster" DouglasWBA, WBC, and IBFFebruary 11, 1990October 25, 1990 257––[47]
50 Evander HolyfieldWBA, WBC, and IBFOctober 25, 1990November 13, 1992 751def. George Foreman on April 19, 1991
def. Bert Cooper on November 23, 1991
def. Larry Holmes on June 19, 1992
–[48]
51 Ray MercerWBOJanuary 11, 1991December 24, 1991 348def. Tommy Morrison on October 18, 1991–3[49]
52 Michael Moorer
def. Bert Cooper		WBOMay 15, 1992February 3, 1993 265––1,2[50]
53 Riddick BoweWBA, WBC, and IBFNovember 13, 1992December 14, 1992 32––2[51]
WBA, and IBFDecember 14, 1992November 6, 1993 328def. Michael Dokes on February 6, 1993
def. Jesse Ferguson on May 22, 1993
–[51]
54 Lennox Lewis
awarded the title		WBCDecember 14, 1992September 24, 1994 650def. Tony Tucker on May 8, 1993
def. Frank Bruno on October 1, 1993
def. Phil Jackson on May 6, 1994
–18[52]
55 Tommy Morrison
def. George Foreman		WBOJune 7, 1993October 29, 1993 145def. Tim Tomashek on August 30, 1993–1[53]
56 Michael BenttWBOOctober 29, 1993March 19, 1994 142––[54]
57 Evander Holyfield (Second reign)WBA, and IBFNovember 6, 1993April 22, 1994 168––[48]
58 Herbie HideWBOMarch 19, 1994March 11, 1995 358––[55]
59 Michael Moorer (Second reign)WBA, and IBFApril 22, 1994November 5, 1994 198––[50]
60 Oliver McCallWBCSeptember 24, 1994September 2, 1995 344def. Larry Holmes on April 8, 1995–[56]
61 George Foreman (Second reign)WBA, and IBFNovember 5, 1994March 4, 1995 119––3[29]
IBFMarch 4, 1995June 29, 1995 117def. Axel Schulz on April 22, 1995−2[29]
62 Riddick Bowe (Second reign)WBOMarch 11, 1995May 1, 1996 418def. Jorge Luis Gonzalez on June 17, 1995–3[51]
63 Bruce Seldon
def. Tony Tucker		WBAApril 8, 1995September 7, 1996 519def. Joe Hipp on August 19, 1995–1[57]
64 Frank BrunoWBCSeptember 2, 1995March 16, 1996 197––[58]
65 Mike Tyson (Second reign)WBCMarch 16, 1996September 7, 1996 175––[43]
WBA, and WBCSeptember 7, 1996September 24, 1996 17––2[43]
WBASeptember 24, 1996November 9, 1996 46––[43]
66 Michael Moorer (Third reign)
def. Axel Schulz		IBFJune 22, 1996November 8, 1997 505def. Francois Botha on November 9, 1996
def. Vaughn Bean on March 29, 1997		–1,19[50]
67 Henry Akinwande
def. Jeremy Williams		WBOJune 29, 1996February 17, 1997 234def. Alexander Zolkin on November 9, 1996
def. Scott Welch on January 11, 1997
–1,2[59]
68 Evander Holyfield (Third reign)WBANovember 9, 1996November 8, 1997 365def. Mike Tyson on June 28, 1997
def. Michael Moorer on November 8, 1997
–[48]
WBA, and IBFNovember 8, 1997November 13, 1999 736def. Vaughn Bean on September 19, 1998
draw vs. Lennox Lewis on March 13, 1999		–[48]
69 Lennox Lewis (Second reign)
def. Oliver McCall		WBCFebruary 7, 1997November 13, 1999 1010def. Henry Akinwande on July 12, 1997
def. Andrzej Golota on October 4, 1997
def. Shannon Briggs on March 28, 1998
def. Željko Mavrović on September 26, 1998
draw vs. Evander Holyfield on March 13, 1999
def. Evander Holyfield on November 13, 1999
–1[52]
WBA, WBC, and IBFNovember 13, 1999April 29, 2000 899––3[52]
WBC, and IBFApril 29, 2000April 22, 2001 373def. Michael Grant on April 29, 2000
def. Francois Botha on July 15, 2000
def. David Tua on November 11, 2000
–[52]
70 Herbie Hide (Second reign)
def. Tony Tucker		WBOJune 28, 1997June 26, 1999 729def. Damon Reed on April 18, 1998
def. Wilhelm Fischer on September 26, 1998
–1[55]
71 Vitali KlitschkoWBOJune 26, 1999April 1, 2000 281def. Ed Mahone on October 9, 1999
def. Obed Sullivan on December 11, 1999
–[60]
72 Chris ByrdWBOApril 1, 2000October 14, 2000 197––[61]
73 Evander Holyfield (Fourth reign)
def. John Ruiz		WBAAugust 12, 2000March 3, 2001 204––1[48]
74 Wladimir KlitschkoWBOOctober 14, 2000March 8, 2003 876def. Derrick Jefferson on March 24, 2001
def. Charles Shufford on August 4, 2001
def. Francois Botha on March 16, 2002
def. Ray Mercer on June 29, 2002
def. Jameel McCline on December 7, 2002
–[62]
75 John RuizWBAMarch 3, 2001March 1, 2003 729draw vs. Evander Holyfield on December 15, 2001
def. Kirk Johnson on July 27, 2002
–[63]
76 Hasim RahmanWBC, and IBFApril 22, 2001November 17, 2001 210––[64]
77 Lennox Lewis (Third reign)WBC, and IBFNovember 17, 2001September 5, 2002 293def. Mike Tyson on June 8, 2002
The Ring
awarded the title in 2002		2[52]
WBCSeptember 5, 2002February 6, 2004 885def. Vitali Klitschko on June 21, 20032[52]
78 Chris Byrd (Second reign)
def. Evander Holyfield		IBFDecember 14, 2002April 22, 2006 1,591def. Fres Oquendo on September 20, 2003
draw vs. Andrzej Golota on April 17, 2004
def. Jameel McCline on November 13, 2004
def. DaVarryl Williamson on October 1, 2005
–1[61]
79 Roy Jones Jr.WBAMarch 1, 2003February 20, 2004 357––2[65]
80 Corrie SandersWBOMarch 8, 2003October 9, 2003 216––2[66]
81 John Ruiz (Second reign)
def. Hasim Rahman for interim title		WBAFebruary 20, 2004December 17, 2005 667def. Fres Oquendo on April 17, 2004
def. Andrzej Golota on November 13, 2004
–20[63]
82 Lamon Brewster
def. Wladimir Klitschko		WBOApril 10, 2004April 1, 2006 722def. Kali Meehan on September 4, 2004
def. Andrzej Golota on May 21, 2005
def. Luan Krasniqi on September 28, 2005
–1[67]
83 Vitali Klitschko (Second reign)
def. Corrie Sanders		WBCApril 24, 2004November 9, 2005 565def. Danny Williams on December 11, 2004The Ring 1,2[60]
84 Hasim Rahman (Second reign)
def. Monte Barrett for interim title		WBCNovember 9, 2005August 12, 2006 277draw vs. James Toney on March 18, 2006–21[64]
85 Nikolai ValuevWBADecember 17, 2005April 14, 2007 484def. Owen Beck on June 3, 2006
def. Monte Barrett on October 7, 2006
def. Jameel McCline on January 20, 2007
–1,10[68]
86 Siarhei LiakhovichWBOApril 1, 2006November 4, 2006 218––[69]
87 Wladimir Klitschko (Second reign)IBFApril 22, 2006February 23, 2008 673def. Calvin Brock on November 11, 2006
def. Ray Austin on March 10, 2007
def. Lamon Brewster on July 7, 2007
def. Sultan Ibragimov on February 23, 2008
The Ring
def. Ruslan Chagaev on June 20, 2009		[62]
IBF, and WBOFebruary 23, 2008July 2, 2011 1,226def. Tony Thompson on July 12, 2008
def. Hasim Rahman on December 13, 2008
def. Ruslan Chagaev on June 20, 2009
def. Eddie Chambers on March 20, 2010
def. Samuel Peter on September 11, 2010
def. David Haye on July 2, 2011
[62]
WBA (Super), IBF, and WBOJuly 2, 2011November 28, 2015 1,611def. 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 on October 5, 2013
def. Alex Leapai on April 26, 2014
def. Kubrat Pulev on November 15, 2014
def. Bryant Jennings on April 25, 2015
[62]
88 Oleg MaskaevWBCAugust 12, 2006December 9, 2006 120––[70][71]
December 9, 2006March 8, 2008 456def. Okello Peter on December 10, 2006
–
89 Shannon BriggsWBONovember 4, 2006June 2, 2007 211––[72]
90 Ruslan ChagaevWBAApril 14, 2007June 20, 2009 799def. Matt Skelton on January 19, 2008
def. Carl Davis Drumond on February 7, 2009
–22[73]
91 Sultan IbragimovWBOJune 2, 2007February 23, 2008 267def. Evander Holyfield on October 13, 2007
–[74]
92 Samuel PeterWBCMarch 8, 2008October 11, 2008 218––[75]
93 Nikolai Valuev (Second reign)
def. John Ruiz		WBAAugust 30, 2008November 7, 2009 435def. Evander Holyfield on December 20, 2008
–1,22[68]
94 Vitali Klitschko (Third reign)WBCOctober 11, 2008December 15, 2013 1,892def. 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 on October 16, 2010
def. Odlanier Solís on March 19, 2011
def. Tomasz Adamek on September 10, 2011
def. Derek Chisora on February 18, 2012
def. Manuel Charr on September 8, 2012
–2[60]
95 David HayeWBANovember 7, 2009July 2, 2011 603def. John Ruiz on April 3, 2010
def. Audley Harrison on November 13, 2010		–[76]
– Alexander Povetkin
def. Ruslan Chagaev		WBA (Regular)August 27, 2011October 5, 2013 771def. 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[77]
96 Bermane Stiverne
def. Chris Arreola		WBCMay 10, 2014January 17, 2015 253––1[78]
– Ruslan Chagaev
def. Fres Oquendo		WBA (Regular)July 6, 2014March 5, 2016 609def. Francesco Pianeta on July 11, 2015
–1[73]
97 Deontay WilderWBCJanuary 17, 2015February 22, 2020 1,863def. 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 on March 3, 2018
draw vs. Tyson Fury on December 1, 2018
def. Dominic Breazeale on May 18, 2019
def. Luis Ortiz on November 23, 2019		–[79]
98 Tyson FuryWBA (Super), IBF, and WBONovember 28, 2015December 8, 2015 11–The Ring3[80]
WBA (Super), and WBODecember 8, 2015October 12, 2016 310–2[80]
99 Charles Martin
def. Vyacheslav Glazkov		IBFJanuary 16, 2016April 9, 2016 85––1[81]
– Lucas BrowneWBA (Regular)March 5, 2016May 12, 2016 69––24[82]
100 Anthony JoshuaIBFApril 9, 2016April 29, 2017 386def. Dominic Breazeale on June 25, 2016
def. Eric Molina on December 10, 2016
def. Wladimir Klitschko on April 29, 2017
–[83]
WBA (Super), and IBFApril 29, 2017March 31, 2018 337def. Carlos Takam on October 28, 2017
def. Joseph Parker on March 31, 2018		–1[83]
WBA (Super), IBF, WBOMarch 31, 2018June 1, 2019 428def. Alexander Povetkin on September 22, 2018–[83]
– Ruslan Chagaev
awarded the title		WBA (Regular)May 12, 2016July 25, 2016 75––3[73]
101 Joseph Parker
def. Andy Ruiz Jr.		WBODecember 10, 2016March 31, 2018 477def. Răzvan Cojanu on May 6, 2017
def. Hughie Fury on September 23, 2017
–1[84]
– Manuel Charr
def. Alexander Ustinov		WBA (Regular)November 25, 2017January 29, 2021 1,162––1[85]
102 Andy Ruiz Jr.WBA (Super), IBF, WBOJune 1, 2019December 7, 2019 190––[86]
103 Anthony Joshua (Second reign)WBA (Super), IBF, WBODecember 7, 2019September 25, 2021 659def. Kubrat Pulev on December 12, 2020–[83]
104 Tyson Fury (Second reign)WBCFebruary 22, 2020present 1,421def. Deontay Wilder on October 9, 2021
def. Dillian Whyte on April 23, 2022
def. Derek Chisora on December 3, 2022		The Ring[80]
– Trevor Bryan
def. Bermane Stiverne		WBA (Regular)January 29, 2021June 11, 2022 498def. Jonathan Guidry on January 29, 2022
–1,26[87]
105 Oleksandr UsykWBA (Super), IBF, WBOSeptember 25, 2021present 840def. Anthony Joshua on August 20, 2022
def. Daniel Dubois on August 26, 2023		The Ring
def. Anthony Joshua on August 20, 2022		[88]
– Daniel DuboisWBA (Regular)June 11, 2022August 26, 2023 441def. Kevin Lerena on December 3, 2022
–
– Manuel CharrWBA (Regular)August 31, 2023present 134Reinstated by legal appeal−[89]

Footnotes

  1. Won vacant championship title.
  2. Voluntarily relinquished championship title.
  3. Championship recognition withdrawn by sanctioning organization upon his refusal to fight an opponent of the organization's designation.
  4. In 1882, Sullivan defeated Paddy Ryan to win the bare-knuckle championship of America. A lack of legitimate challengers elsewhere gradually resulted in Sullivan earning worldwide recognition. On August 29, 1885, he defeated Dominick McCaffrey in a bout described as "the Marquess of Queensberry glove contest for the championship of the world."
  5. Corbett announced his retirement from boxing in 1895, nominating Steve O'Donnell as his successor. As tradition demanded the title be won in the ring, O'Donnell was matched against Peter Maher on November 11, 1895, at Maspeth, New York. Maher won via first-round knockout, but the public generally didn't accept Maher and Maher himself expressed a desire to fight Corbett for the "real" title. In Maher's next bout, Bob Fitzsimmons defeated him via first-round knockout on February 21, 1896. Fitzsimmons in turn was defeated by Tom Sharkey of Dundalk on December 2, 1896, in a contest billed as for the heavyweight title. Corbett announced his return to the ring shortly thereafter, at which time the championship claims of Maher, Fitzsimmons, and Sharkey were for the most part dismissed. Sharkey's title claims lapsed when he was defeated by Jeffries in May 1898.
  6. Jeffries announced his retirement, relinquishing the title and promoting a match between Marvin Hart and Jack Root for the championship. Jeffries returned to the ring to challenge Jack Johnson.
  7. The British National Sporting Club withdrew its recognition of Johnson as champion when he refused to defend his title against the British champion William "Iron" Hague. The NSC matched Hague with Canadian Sam Langford for its title on May 24, 1909. Langford won via fourth-round knockout but never pursued a championship claim.
  8. Schmeling earned championship recognition by defeating Jack Sharkey by controversial disqualification. The New York State Athletic Commission withdrew its recognition of Schmeling when he refused to grant Sharkey an immediate rematch. The NYSAC did not recognize a champion until Sharkey defeated Schmeling in 1932.
  9. In late 1934, the International Boxing Union (IBU) ordered Baer to defend his title against European champion Pierre Charles of Belgium. When Baer refused, the IBU sanctioned a bout between Charles and American George Godfrey for their title on October 2, 1935. Godfrey won via fifteen-round decision but never pursued a championship claim. The IBU ultimately recognized Baer's successor James J. Braddock as champion.
  10. Two months after Louis' retirement announcement, the International Boxing Union sanctioned a bout between British champion Bruce Woodcock and American Lee Savold for its version of the title. The bout was not staged until June 1950, however, due to delays caused by injuries suffered by Woodcock in an automobile accident. Meanwhile, Ezzard Charles defeated Jersey Joe Walcott to win the vacant National Boxing Association championship title. Savold defeated Woodcock in four rounds to win the IBU title, while Charles gained New York State Athletic Commission recognition and wide public acclaim as champion upon defeating former champion Joe Louis in September 1950. On June 15, 1951, Joe Louis defeated Savold via sixth-round knockout, after which the IBU withdrew its recognition of Savold and proclaimed Ezzard Charles as champion.
  11. Following Marciano's retirement, Patterson was matched against Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson in a championship eliminator on June 8, 1956. Winning via controversial split decision, Patterson then faced light heavyweight titleholder Archie Moore for the vacant title. Upon defeating Moore, Patterson fought (and defeated) Jackson a second time on July 29, 1957.
  12. The World Boxing Association withdrew their championship recognition of Clay (by then known as Muhammad Ali) upon agreeing to an immediate rematch against former champion Sonny Liston, in violation of WBA rules. The newly founded World Boxing Council and other sanctioning groups continued to recognize Ali as champion.
  13. The World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, New York State Athletic Commission and others withdrew their championship recognition of Ali following his refusal to be inducted into the United States Army subsequent to his conscription.
  14. To fill its vacant championship title, the World Boxing Association organized a single-elimination tournament involving eight of their ranked contenders (Joe Frazier, who was ranked No. 2, declined to participate): Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, Leotis Martin, Karl Mildenberger, two-time former champion Floyd Patterson, Jerry Quarry, Thad Spencer, and former WBA champion Ernie Terrell. In first round matches, Ellis defeated Martin, Quarry defeated Patterson, Spencer defeated Terrell, and Bonavena defeated Mildenberger. In the semi-finals, Ellis defeated Bonavena while Quarry defeated Spencer; and Ellis defeated Quarry for the championship title. Frazier, meanwhile, was matched against Buster Mathis for a championship recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission together with the commissions of Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Similar "world" championship recognition was bestowed upon him by the Texas Athletic Commission following a victory over Dave Zyglewicz on April 22, 1969.
  15. Frazier defeated Ellis to unify the heavyweight championship, but did not gain World public acclaim as champion until defeating Muhammad Ali on March 8, 1971.
  16. In an unprecedented move, upon withdrawing its recognition of Leon Spinks as champion, the World Boxing Council immediately recognized Ken Norton as champion, based on an earlier victory over Jimmy Young. As a condition of being named champion, Norton was ordered to face the WBC's new mandatory challenger, Larry Holmes within 120 days.
  17. Holmes relinquished his World Boxing Council championship and accepted championship recognition bestowed by the newly organized International Boxing Federation.
  18. Following its 1978 precedent, upon withdrawing championship recognition from Riddick Bowe, the World Boxing Council immediately awarded championship recognition to Lennox Lewis, on the basis of his victory in an October 31, 1992 "championship eliminator" over Donovan Ruddock.
  19. Following its withdrawal of recognition from George Foreman, the International Boxing Federation sanctioned a December 9, 1995, match between Francois Botha and Axel Schulz for its championship. Botha won the bout by split decision, but the bout result and Botha's championship title were vacated after Botha's post-fight drug test revealed he had taken illegal anabolic steroids. A subsequent bout between Schulz and Michael Moorer was sanctioned for the IBF championship.
  20. Upon defeating John Ruiz, Roy Jones Jr. simultaneously held the World Boxing Association's heavyweight and light heavyweight titles. At his request, the WBA suspended its rule prohibiting simultaneous title holding. It later declared Jones its "Champion in Recess," and sanctioned a December 13, 2003, bout between Ruiz and Hasim Rahman for its "interim" championship. Ruiz won the bout. On February 20, 2004, Jones relinquished his heavyweight title to resume boxing as a light heavyweight, at which point Ruiz was elevated to full championship recognition. On April 30, 2005, Ruiz was defeated by James Toney in a championship defense, but post-fight drug testing determined Toney had taken Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. The bout's result was subsequently changed to a "no contest," whereupon the WBA reinstated Ruiz as champion.
  21. Following repeated injuries to champion Vitali Klitschko, the World Boxing Council sanctioned an August 13, 2005, bout between Hasim Rahman and Monte Barrett for its "interim" championship. Rahman won the bout, and when Klitschko relinquished his title three months later, the WBC elevated Rahman to full championship recognition.
  22. Following repeated injuries which prevented him from defending his title, the World Boxing Association designated Chagaev a "Champion in Recess," sanctioning an August 30, 2008, bout between former champions John Ruiz and Nikolai Valuev for its "interim" title; a bout won by Valuev. Upon his recovery however, Chagaev opted to face Wladimir Klitschko rather than Valuev, whereupon the WBA withdrew championship recognition.
  23. The World Boxing Association modified its championship structure, creating a new "Super Champion" status to be awarded to champions who hold multiple titles simultaneously. Now subordinated to this was the status of "World Champion," commonly referred to as the "Regular" champion. The organization then sanctioned a bout between Povetkin and former champion Ruslan Chagaev for this "regular" title. Povetkin's reign as the WBA's "regular champion" ended upon a loss to "Super Champion" Wladimir Klitschko, at which point the "regular" title was vacant.
  24. Browne defeated Ruslan Chagaev for the World Boxing Association's "regular" championship title, but Browne subsequently tested positive for Clenbuterol, a banned substance. Following confirmation of the positive result, the WBA withdrew its recognition of Browne's "regular" championship.
  25. On October 29, 1877, a fight between British fighters Tom Allen and Tompkin Gilbert at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, London was billed as for the World heavyweight title under Marquess of Queensberry Rules. Allen won in seven rounds.
  26. Bryan was due to fight Manuel Charr on January 29, 2021, for the WBA Regular championship, but Charr was unable to attain the right visa to come to the US, where the fight was to be held. Due to the long period of inactivity, Charr was stripped of the title and Bryan fought Bermane Stiverne for the now vacant title instead.

List of combined reigns

As of September 25, 2021.

Keys:

  Active title reign
  Reign has ended
WBO heavyweight title bouts before August 1997 are not included[90]
Pos. Name Combined reign Days as champion Number of reigns Title recognition Cumulative title wins Opponents beaten
1.Wladimir Klitschko12 years, 0 months, 0 days4 3822WBA, IBF, WBO2523
2.Joe Louis11 years, 8 months, 8 days4 2701NYSAC, NBA2722
3.Muhammad Ali9 years, 5 months, 5 days3 4433NYSAC, WBA, WBC2221
4.Lennox Lewis8 years, 5 months, 13 days3 0863WBA, WBC, IBF1515
5.Vitali Klitschko7 years, 5 months, 28 days2 7353WBC, WBO1515
6.Larry Holmes7 years, 3 months, 12 days2 6611WBC, IBF2020
7.Jack Dempsey7 years, 2 months, 19 days2 6381NYSAC, NBA66
8.John L. Sullivan7 years, 0 months, 10 days2 5661Universal55
9.Jack Johnson6 years, 3 months, 11 days2 2921Universal66
10.Evander Holyfield6 years, 1 month, 1 day2 2234WBA, WBC, IBF1110
11.James J. Jeffries5 years, 11 months, 4 days2 1561Universal86
12.Deontay Wilder5 years, 1 month, 5 days1 8591WBC108
13.Anthony Joshua4 years, 11 months, 17 days1 8062WBA, IBF, WBO99
14.Joe Frazier4 years, 10 months, 18 days1 7851NYSAC, WBA, WBC1010
15.Floyd Patterson4 years, 10 months, 0 days1 7652NYSAC, NBA87
16.James J. Corbett4 years, 6 months, 10 days1 6521Universal22
17.Jess Willard4 years, 2 months, 29 days1 5511Universal22
18.Chris Byrd3 years, 10 months, 22 days1 4212IBF, WBO55
19.Mike Tyson3 years, 10 months, 16 days1 4152WBA, WBC, IBF1211
20.John Ruiz3 years, 9 months, 21 days1 3902WBA44

List of individual reigns

The list includes The Ring belt. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Keys:

  Active Title Reign
  Reign has ended
The WBO heavyweight title bouts before August 1997 are not included
Pos. Name Title Reign Title recognition Successful Defenses Opponents beaten
1.Joe Louis11 years, 8 months, 8 daysUniversal2621
2.Wladimir Klitschko9 years, 7 months and 6 daysIBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring)1817
3.Larry Holmes7 years, 3 months, 12 daysWBC-to-IBF (+The Ring)1919
4.Jack Dempsey7 years, 2 months, 19 daysUniversal55
5.John L. Sullivan7 years, 0 months, 9 daysUniversal55
6.Jack Johnson6 years, 3 months, 10 daysUniversal66
7.Muhammad Ali5 years, 11 months, 9 daysThe Ring, (+WBA, WBC stripped)99
8.James J. Jeffries5 years, 11 months, 4 daysUniversal76
9.Vitali Klitschko5 years, 2 months, 4 daysWBC99
10.Deontay Wilder5 years, 1 month, 5 daysWBC108
11.Joe Frazier4 years, 10 months, 18 daysNYSAC (+WBA, WBC)99
12.James J. Corbett4 years, 6 months, 10 daysUniversal11
13.Jess Willard4 years, 2 months, 29 daysUniversal11
14.Lennox Lewis4 years, 2 months, 15 daysWBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring)98
15.Rocky Marciano3 years, 11 months, 29 daysUniversal65
16.Chris Byrd3 years, 4 months, 8 daysIBF44
17.Mike Tyson3 years, 2 months, 20 daysWBC (+WBA, IBF, The Ring)99
18.Anthony Joshua3 years, 1 month and 23 daysIBF (+WBA, WBO)66
19.George Foreman3 years, 0 months, 17 days(+WBA, IBF stripped)22
20.Evander Holyfield3 years, 0 months, 4 daysWBA (+IBF)44

By country

Map of countries, number of current and former world heavyweight boxing champions per country (as of October 2021). Note: interim titles and secondary belts are not included
Country Total Boxers by Name
United States 55 John L. Sullivan, James J. Corbett, James J. Jeffries, Marvin Hart, Jack Johnson, Jess Willard, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey, Max Baer, James J. Braddock, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Lee Savold, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier, Jimmy Ellis, George Foreman, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, John Tate, Mike Weaver, Michael Dokes, Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas, Greg Page, Tony Tubbs, Michael Spinks, Mike Tyson, James Smith, Tony Tucker, Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield, Ray Mercer, Michael Moorer, Riddick Bowe, Tommy Morrison, Michael Bentt*, Oliver McCall, Bruce Seldon, Chris Byrd, John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman, Roy Jones Jr., Lamon Brewster, Shannon Briggs, Deontay Wilder, Charles Martin, Andy Ruiz Jr.
United Kingdom 9 Bob Fitzsimmons, Lennox Lewis*, Michael Bentt*, Herbie Hide, Frank Bruno, Henry Akinwande, David Haye, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua
Canada 4 Lennox Lewis*, Tommy Burns, Trevor Berbick*, Bermane Stiverne
Russia 3 Nikolai Valuev, Oleg Maskaev, Sultan Ibragimov
Ukraine 3 Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk
Italy 2 Primo Carnera, Francesco Damiani
South Africa 2 Gerrie Coetzee, Corrie Sanders
Germany 1 Max Schmeling
Sweden 1 Ingemar Johansson
Belarus 1 Siarhei Liakhovich
Uzbekistan 1 Ruslan Chagaev
Nigeria 1 Samuel Peter
New Zealand 1 Joseph Parker*
Jamaica 1 Trevor Berbick*
Samoa 1 Joseph Parker*

See also

Further reading

  • Florio, John; Shapiro, Ouisie (2013). One Punch from the Promised Land: Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, and the Myth of the Heavyweight Title. Lyons Press. p. 279. ISBN 978-0-7627-8300-7.

References

  1. ↑ "The Ring updates championship policy". Ring TV. May 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Professional boxing record: John L. Sullivan". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Professional boxing record: James J. Corbett". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Bob Fitzsimmons". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Professional boxing record: James J. Jeffries". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Marvin Hart". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Tommy Burns". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jack Johnson". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jess Willard". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Jack Dempsey". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Gene Tunney". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Max Schmeling". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jack Sharkey". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Primo Carnera". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Max Baer". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jim Braddock". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Joe Louis". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Joe Louis, p. 575" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved May 26, 2019. Johnny Davis, Ret-World-H
  19. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Ezzard Charles". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jersey Joe Walcott". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Rocky Marciano". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  22. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Floyd Patterson". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Ingemar Johansson". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Sonny Liston". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Professional boxing record: Muhammad Ali". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Ernie Terrell". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  27. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Joe Frazier". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Jimmy Ellis". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  29. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: George Foreman". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  30. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Leon Spinks". Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Ken Norton". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  32. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Larry Holmes". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Professional boxing record: John Tate". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Mike Weaver". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Michael Dokes". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Gerrie Coetzee". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  37. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Tim Witherspoon". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Pinklon Thomas". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Greg Page". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  40. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Tony Tubbs". Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Michael Spinks". Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Trevor Berbick". Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Professional boxing record: Mike Tyson". Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Professional boxing record: James Smith". Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Tony Tucker". Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Francesco Damiani". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Professional boxing record: James Douglas". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 "Professional boxing record: Evander Holyfield". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Ray Mercer". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  50. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Michael Moorer". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  51. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Riddick Bowe". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  52. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Professional boxing record: Lennox Lewis". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  53. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Tommy Morrison". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Michael Bentt". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  55. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Herbie Hide". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  56. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Oliver McCall". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  57. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Bruce Seldon". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  58. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Frank Bruno". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  59. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Henry Akinwande". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  60. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Vitali Klitschko". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  61. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Chris Byrd". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  62. 1 2 3 4 "Professional boxing record: Wladimir Klitschko". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  63. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: John Ruiz". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  64. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Hasim Rahman". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  65. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Roy Jones Jr". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  66. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Corrie Sanders". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  67. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Lamon Brewster". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  68. 1 2 "Professional boxing record: Nikolai Valuev". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  69. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Siarhei Liakhovich". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  70. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Oleg Maskaev". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  71. ↑ "Президент России предоставил гражданство Олегу Маскаеву".
  72. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Shannon Briggs". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  73. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Ruslan Chagaev". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  74. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Sultan Ibragimov". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  75. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Samuel Peter". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  76. ↑ "Professional boxing record: David Haye". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  77. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Alexander Povetkin". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  78. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Bermane Stiverne". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  79. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Deontay Wilder". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  80. 1 2 3 "Professional boxing record: Tyson Fury". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  81. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Charles Martin". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  82. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Lucas Browne". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  83. 1 2 3 4 "Professional boxing record: Anthony Joshua". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  84. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Joseph Parker". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  85. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Manuel Charr". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  86. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Andy Ruiz Jr". Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  87. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Trevor Bryan". Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  88. ↑ "Professional boxing record: Oleksandr Usyk". Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  89. ↑ "Mahmoud Charr Reinstated As WBA 'Regular' Heavyweight Titlist, Ordered To Next Face Jarrell Miller". Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  90. ↑ Several IBHOF inductees’ professional boxing records printed in the organization's official record books indicate that IBHOF did not recognize WBO as a major organization until at least August 23, 1997:
    • IBHOF official record book, 1997 edition
      • Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion
    • IBHOF official record book, 1999 edition
      • Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion
    • IBHOF official record book, 2002 edition
      • Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion
    • IBHOF official record book, 2006 edition
      • Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion
      • Michael Carbajal's opponent Josue Camacho, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 15 July 1994, is not marked as World Champion
      • Michael Carbajal's opponent Jorge Arce, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 31 July 1999, is marked as World Champion
    • IBHOF official record book, 2011 edition
      • Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion
      • Michael Carbajal's opponent Josue Camacho, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 15 July 1994, is not marked as World Champion
      • Ricardo Lopez's opponent Alex Sanchez, who was defending the WBO minimumweight title against him on 23 August 1997, is marked as World Champion
      • Michael Carbajal's opponent Jorge Arce, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 31 July 1999, is marked as World Champion

Sources

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