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List of world heavyweight boxing champions - Wikipedia

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 would 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 On April 29, 1967, his recognition as champion by both the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council was withdrawn.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 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.

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 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]

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 the 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.

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 [2] 2 James J. Corbett World September 7, 1892 March 17, 1897 1,652 def. Charley Mitchell on January 25, 1894
5 [3] 3 Bob Fitzsimmons World March 17, 1897 June 9, 1899 814 – [4] 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 [5] 5 Marvin Hart
def. Jack Root World July 3, 1905 February 23, 1906 235 – 1 [6] 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 [7] 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 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 Willard World April 5, 1915 July 4, 1919 1,551 def. Frank Moran on March 25, 1916 [9] 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 on July 2, 1921 The Ring
awarded the title in 1922 [10] NBA July 2, 1921 July 24, 1922 387 – [10] NBA, and NYSAC July 24, 1922 September 23, 1926 1,522 def. Tommy Gibbons on July 4, 1923
def. Luis Angel Firpo on September 14, 1923 [10] 10 Gene Tunney NBA, and NYSAC September 23, 1926 July 31, 1928 677 def. Jack Dempsey on September 22, 1927
def. Tom Heeney on July 26, 1928 The Ring 2 [11] 11 Max Schmeling
def. Jack Sharkey NBA, and NYSAC June 12, 1930 January 7, 1931 209 – The Ring 1,8 [12] NBA, and IBU January 7, 1931 June 21, 1932 531 def. Young Stribling on July 3, 1931 1,10 [12] 12 Jack Sharkey NBA, NYSAC, and IBU June 21, 1932 June 29, 1933 373 – The Ring [13] 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 [14] 14 Max Baer NBA, NYSAC, and IBU June 14, 1934 June 13, 1935 364 – The Ring 9 [15] 15 James J. Braddock NBA, NYSAC, and IBU June 13, 1935 June 22, 1937 740 – The Ring [16] 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 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 Ring 2 [17][18] 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 on September 27, 1950
The Ring 1,10 [19] 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 [19] NBA, NYSAC, and IBU June 16, 1951 July 18, 1951 33 – [19] 18 Jersey Joe Walcott NBA, and NYSAC July 18, 1951 September 23, 1952 433 def. Ezzard Charles on June 5, 1952 The Ring [20] 19 Rocky Marciano NBA, and NYSAC September 23, 1952 April 27, 1956 1,312 def. 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 Ring 2 [21] 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 [22] 21 Ingemar Johansson NBA, and NYSAC June 26, 1959 June 20, 1960 360 – The Ring [23] 22 Floyd Patterson (Second reign) NBA, and NYSAC June 20, 1960 September 25, 1962 827 def. Ingemar Johansson on March 13, 1961
def. Tom McNeeley on December 4, 1961 The Ring [22] 23 Sonny Liston NYSAC, and WBA September 25, 1962 July 22, 1963 270 def. Floyd Patterson on July 22, 1963
The Ring [24] NYSAC, WBA, and WBC July 22, 1963 February 25, 1964 248 – [24] 24 Muhammad Ali NYSAC, WBA, and WBC February 25, 1964 June 19, 1964 115 – The Ring 12 [25] NYSAC, and WBC June 19, 1964 February 6, 1967 962 def. 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 WBC February 6, 1967 April 29, 1967 82 def. Zora Folley on March 22, 1967 13 [25] 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 [26] 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 on March 8, 1971 1 [27] WBA, and WBC February 16, 1970 January 22, 1973 1,071 def. 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 WBA April 27, 1968 February 16, 1970 660 def. Floyd Patterson on September 14, 1968 – 1,14 [28] 28 George Foreman WBA, and WBC January 22, 1973 October 30, 1974 646 def. José Roman on September 1, 1973
def. Ken Norton on March 26, 1974
The Ring 1,10 [29] 29 Muhammad Ali (Second reign) WBA, and WBC October 30, 1974 February 15, 1978 1,204 def. 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 Spinks WBA, and WBC February 15, 1978 March 18, 1978 31 – The Ring 3 [30] WBA March 18, 1978 September 15, 1978 181 – [30] 31 Ken Norton
awarded the title WBC March 18, 1978 June 9, 1978 83 – – 16 [31] 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 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] 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 [32] 33 Muhammad Ali (Third reign) WBA September 15, 1978 October 18, 1979 398 – The Ring 2 [25] 34 John Tate
def. Gerrie Coetzee WBA October 20, 1979 March 31, 1980 163 – – 1 [33] 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
– [34] 36 Michael Dokes WBA December 10, 1982 September 23, 1983 287 draw vs. Mike Weaver on May 20, 1983
– [35] 37 Gerrie Coetzee WBA September 23, 1983 December 1, 1984 435 – – [36] 38 Tim Witherspoon
def. Greg Page WBC March 9, 1984 August 31, 1984 175 – – 1 [37] 39 Pinklon Thomas WBC August 31, 1984 March 22, 1986 568 def. Mike Weaver on June 15, 1985 – [38] 40 Greg Page WBA December 1, 1984 April 29, 1985 149 – – [39] 41 Tony Tubbs WBA April 29, 1985 January 17, 1986 263 – – [40] 42 Michael Spinks IBF September 21, 1985 February 26, 1987 523 def. Larry Holmes on April 19, 1986
def. Steffen Tangstad on September 6, 1986
The Ring 3 [41] 43 Tim Witherspoon (Second reign) WBA January 17, 1986 December 12, 1986 329 def. Frank Bruno on July 19, 1986
– [37] 44 Trevor Berbick WBC March 22, 1986 November 22, 1986 245 – – [42] 45 Mike Tyson WBC November 22, 1986 March 7, 1987 105 def. James Smith on March 7, 1987
The Ring
def. Michael Spinks on June 27, 1988 [43] WBA, and WBC March 7, 1987 August 1, 1987 147 def. Pinklon Thomas on May 30, 1987
def. Tony Tucker on August 1, 1987
[43] WBA, WBC, and IBF August 1, 1987 February 11, 1990 925 def. 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" Smith WBA December 12, 1986 March 7, 1987 85 – – [44] 47 Tony Tucker
def. Buster Douglas IBF May 30, 1987 August 1, 1987 64 – – 1 [45] 48 Francesco Damiani
def. Johnny du Plooy WBO May 6, 1989 January 11, 1991 616 def. Daniel Eduardo Neto on December 16, 1989
– 1 [46] 49 James "Buster" Douglas WBA, WBC, and IBF February 11, 1990 October 25, 1990 257 – – [47] 50 Evander Holyfield WBA, WBC, and IBF October 25, 1990 November 13, 1992 751 def. George Foreman on April 19, 1991
def. Bert Cooper on November 23, 1991
def. Larry Holmes on June 19, 1992
– [48] 51 Ray Mercer WBO January 11, 1991 December 24, 1991 348 def. Tommy Morrison on October 18, 1991 – 3 [49] 52 Michael Moorer
def. Bert Cooper WBO May 15, 1992 February 3, 1993 265 – – 1,2 [50] 53 Riddick Bowe WBA, WBC, and IBF November 13, 1992 December 14, 1992 32 – – 2 [51] WBA, and IBF December 14, 1992 November 6, 1993 328 def. Michael Dokes on February 6, 1993
def. Jesse Ferguson on May 22, 1993
– [51] 54 Lennox Lewis
awarded the title WBC December 14, 1992 September 24, 1994 650 def. 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 WBO June 7, 1993 October 29, 1993 145 def. Tim Tomashek on August 30, 1993 – 1 [53] 56 Michael Bentt WBO October 29, 1993 March 19, 1994 142 – – [54] 57 Evander Holyfield (Second reign) WBA, and IBF November 6, 1993 April 22, 1994 168 – – [48] 58 Herbie Hide WBO March 19, 1994 March 11, 1995 358 – – [55] 59 Michael Moorer (Second reign) WBA, and IBF April 22, 1994 November 5, 1994 198 – – [50] 60 Oliver McCall WBC September 24, 1994 September 2, 1995 344 def. Larry Holmes on April 8, 1995 – [56] 61 George Foreman (Second reign) WBA, and IBF November 5, 1994 March 4, 1995 119 – – 3 [29] IBF March 4, 1995 June 29, 1995 117 def. Axel Schulz on April 22, 1995 − 2 [29] 62 Riddick Bowe (Second reign) WBO March 11, 1995 May 1, 1996 418 def. Jorge Luis Gonzalez on June 17, 1995 – 3 [51] 63 Bruce Seldon
def. Tony Tucker WBA April 8, 1995 September 7, 1996 519 def. Joe Hipp on August 19, 1995 – 1 [57] 64 Frank Bruno WBC September 2, 1995 March 16, 1996 197 – – [58] 65 Mike Tyson (Second reign) WBC March 16, 1996 September 7, 1996 175 – – [43] WBA, and WBC September 7, 1996 September 24, 1996 17 – – 2 [43] WBA September 24, 1996 November 9, 1996 46 – – [43] 66 Michael Moorer (Third reign)
def. Axel Schulz IBF June 22, 1996 November 8, 1997 505 def. Francois Botha on November 9, 1996
def. Vaughn Bean on March 29, 1997 – 1,19 [50] 67 Henry Akinwande
def. Jeremy Williams WBO June 29, 1996 February 17, 1997 234 def. Alexander Zolkin on November 9, 1996
def. Scott Welch on January 11, 1997
– 1,2 [59] 68 Evander Holyfield (Third reign) WBA November 9, 1996 November 8, 1997 365 def. Mike Tyson on June 28, 1997
def. Michael Moorer on November 8, 1997
– [48] WBA, and IBF November 8, 1997 November 13, 1999 736 def. Vaughn Bean on September 19, 1998
draw vs. Lennox Lewis on March 13, 1999 – [48] 69 Lennox Lewis (Second reign)
def. Oliver McCall WBC February 7, 1997 November 13, 1999 1010 def. 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 IBF November 13, 1999 April 29, 2000 168 – – 3 [52] WBC, and IBF April 29, 2000 April 22, 2001 358 def. 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 WBO June 28, 1997 June 26, 1999 729 def. Damon Reed on April 18, 1998
def. Wilhelm Fischer on September 26, 1998
– 1 [55] 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
– [60] 72 Chris Byrd WBO April 1, 2000 October 14, 2000 197 – – [61] 73 Evander Holyfield (Fourth reign)
def. John Ruiz WBA August 12, 2000 March 3, 2001 204 – – 1 [48] 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 on June 29, 2002
def. Jameel McCline on December 7, 2002
– [62] 75 John Ruiz WBA March 3, 2001 March 1, 2003 729 draw vs. Evander Holyfield on December 15, 2001
def. Kirk Johnson on July 27, 2002
– [63] 76 Hasim Rahman WBC, and IBF April 22, 2001 November 17, 2001 210 – – [64] 77 Lennox Lewis (Third reign) WBC, and IBF November 17, 2001 September 5, 2002 293 def. Mike Tyson on June 8, 2002
The Ring
awarded the title in 2002 2 [52] WBC September 5, 2002 February 6, 2004 519 def. Vitali Klitschko on June 21, 2003 2 [52] 78 Chris Byrd (Second reign)
def. Evander Holyfield IBF December 14, 2002 April 22, 2006 1,591 def. 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. WBA March 1, 2003 February 20, 2004 357 – – 2 [65] 80 Corrie Sanders WBO March 8, 2003 October 9, 2003 216 – – 2 [66] 81 John Ruiz (Second reign)
def. Hasim Rahman for interim title WBA February 20, 2004 December 17, 2005 667 def. Fres Oquendo on April 17, 2004
def. Andrzej Golota on November 13, 2004
– 20 [63] 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 [67] 83 Vitali Klitschko (Second reign)
def. Corrie Sanders WBC April 24, 2004 November 9, 2005 565 def. Danny Williams on December 11, 2004 The Ring 1,2 [60] 84 Hasim Rahman (Second reign)
def. Monte Barrett for interim title WBC November 9, 2005 August 12, 2006 277 draw vs. James Toney on March 18, 2006 – 21 [64] 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 [68] 86 Siarhei Liakhovich WBO April 1, 2006 November 4, 2006 218 – – [69] 87 Wladimir Klitschko (Second reign) IBF April 22, 2006 February 23, 2008 673 def. 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 WBO February 23, 2008 July 2, 2011 1,226 def. 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 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 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 Maskaev WBC August 12, 2006 December 9, 2006 120 – – [70][71] 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 – – [72] 90 Ruslan Chagaev WBA April 14, 2007 July 3, 2008 799 def. Matt Skelton on January 19, 2008 – 22 [73] 91 Sultan Ibragimov WBO June 2, 2007 February 23, 2008 267 def. Evander Holyfield on October 13, 2007
– [74] 92 Samuel Peter WBC March 8, 2008 October 11, 2008 218 – – [75] 93 Nikolai Valuev (Second reign)
def. John Ruiz WBA August 30, 2008 November 7, 2009 435 def. Evander Holyfield on December 20, 2008
– 1,22 [68] 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 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. Mahmoud Charr on September 8, 2012
– 2 [60] 95 David Haye WBA November 7, 2009 July 2, 2011 603 def. John Ruiz on April 3, 2010
def. Audley Harrison on November 13, 2010 – [76] – 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 [77] 96 Bermane Stiverne
def. Chris Arreola WBC May 10, 2014 January 17, 2015 253 – – 1 [78] – Ruslan Chagaev
def. Fres Oquendo WBA (Regular) July 6, 2014 March 5, 2016 609 def. Francesco Pianeta on July 11, 2015
– 1 [73] 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 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 Fury WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO November 28, 2015 December 8, 2015 11 – The Ring 3 [80] WBA (Super), and WBO December 8, 2015 October 12, 2016 310 – 2 [80] 99 Charles Martin
def. Vyacheslav Glazkov IBF January 16, 2016 April 9, 2016 85 – – 1 [81] – Lucas Browne WBA (Regular) March 5, 2016 May 12, 2016 69 – – 24 [82] 100 Anthony Joshua IBF April 9, 2016 April 29, 2017 386 def. Dominic Breazeale on June 25, 2016
def. Eric Molina on December 10, 2016
def. Wladimir Klitschko on April 29, 2017
– [83] WBA (Super), and IBF April 29, 2017 March 31, 2018 337 def. Carlos Takam on October 28, 2017
def. Joseph Parker on March 31, 2018 – 1 [83] WBA (Super), IBF, WBO March 31, 2018 June 1, 2019 428 def. Alexander Povetkin on September 22, 2018 – [83] – Ruslan Chagaev
awarded the title WBA (Regular) May 12, 2016 July 25, 2016 75 – – 3 [73] 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 on September 23, 2017
– 1 [84] – Mahmoud Charr
def. Alexander Ustinov WBA (Regular) November 25, 2017 January 29, 2021 1,162 – – 1 [85] 102 Andy Ruiz Jr. WBA (Super), IBF, WBO June 1, 2019 December 7, 2019 190 – – [86] 103 Anthony Joshua (Second reign) WBA (Super), IBF, WBO December 7, 2019 September 25, 2021 659 def. Kubrat Pulev on December 12, 2020 – [83] 104 Tyson Fury (Second reign) WBC February 22, 2020 May 18, 2024 1,548 def. 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, 2021 June 11, 2022 498 def. Jonathan Guidry on January 29, 2022
– 1,26 [87] 105 Oleksandr Usyk WBA (Super), IBF, WBO September 25, 2021 May 18, 2024 967 def. Anthony Joshua on August 20, 2022
def. Daniel Dubois on August 26, 2023
def. Tyson Fury on May 18, 2024 The Ring
def. Anthony Joshua on August 20, 2022 [88][89] WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO May 18, 2024 June 25, 2024 38 WBA (Super), WBC, WBO June 25, 2024 present 244 def. Tyson Fury on December 21, 2024 – Daniel Dubois WBA (Regular) June 11, 2022 August 26, 2023 441 def. Kevin Lerena on December 3, 2022
– – Mahmoud Charr
Reinstated by legal appeal WBA (Regular) August 31, 2023 December 7, 2024 542 − [90] 106 Daniel Dubois
interim champion promoted IBF June 26, 2024 present 243 def. Anthony Joshua on September 21, 2024 – [89] – Kubrat Pulev WBA (Regular) December 7, 2024 present 79 −

As of May 26, 2024.

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

As of May 26, 2024.

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 10 Bob Fitzsimmons, Lennox Lewis*, Michael Bentt*, Herbie Hide, Frank Bruno, Henry Akinwande, David Haye, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois 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* Mexico 1 Andy Ruiz Jr.*