List of world heavyweight boxing champions

Heavyweight World Boxing Champions since 1920

This is a chronological list of world heavyweight boxing champions since the introduction of the Marquess of Queensberry rules:

Championship recognition

1885-1910

Champions were recognized by public acclamation. A champion in that era was a fighter who had a notable win over another fighter and kept winning afterward. Retirements or disputed results could lead to a championship being split among several men for periods of time. With only minor exceptions, the heavyweight division remained free from dual title-holders until the 1960s.

1910-1961

Championship awarding organizations

• The International Boxing Union (IBU), formed in Paris in 1910. Changed name to European Boxing Union in 1946. It organised world title fights from 1913 to 1963 after which it was incorporated into the World Boxing Council (WBC).
• The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), formed in 1920. It organised world title bouts until the early 1970s when it became a member of World Boxing Council (WBC).
• The National Boxing Association (NBA) formed in the USA in 1921.
• Other bodies including the National Sporting Club in Great Britain and the California State Boxing Commission awarded world titles but this did not affect the heavyweight division.

1961-present

Championship awarding organizations

• The World Boxing Association (WBA), founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA); it changed its name in 1961 and allowed membership from outside the USA.
• The World Boxing Council (WBC), founded in 1963.
• The International Boxing Federation (IBF), founded in 1983.
• The World Boxing Organization (WBO), founded in 1988.

Reign Began...	Reign Ended	Champion	Recognition	Nationality
August 29, 1885	September 7, 1892	John L. Sullivan	Universal	American
Sullivan defeated Paddy Ryan in 1882 for the American bare knuckle championship. In the absence of any challengers from outside America he gradually became acknowledged as world bare knuckle champion. On August 29, 1885, he outpointed Dominic McCaffrey in Chester Park, Cincinnati, in a bout described as being "to decide the Marquess of Queensberry glove contest for the championship of the world"
September 7, 1892	March 17, 1897	James J. Corbett	Universal	American
James J. Corbett announced his retirement from boxing in 1895 and nominated his protege Steve O'Donnell as his successor. Tradition demanded that O'Donnell win the world title in the ring so he was matched against the erratic Irish boxer Peter Maher. The bout took place at the Empire Athletic club, Maspeth, New York on 11 November, 1895, Maher surprisingly defeated O'Donnell via first round knockout. The general public had little acceptance of the new champion and even Maher himself expressed a wish to fight Corbett for the "real" title. Maher defended his "world title" against the British-born Bob Fitzsimmons in Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico on February 21, 1896, and was himself the victim of a first round knockout. Fitzsimmons then fought another Irish fighter, Tom Sharkey of Dundalk on December 2, 1896, in San Francisco, the bout being billed for the heavyweight title. Sharkey was awarded victory by disqualification in round 8 by the referee, Wyatt Earp. Corbett announced his return to the ring late in 1896 and the claims of Maher, Fitzsimmons (until 1897) and Sharkey to be champion are usually ignored.
March 17, 1897	June 9, 1899	Bob Fitzsimmons	Universal	British
Fitzsimmons became an American citizen in 1898
June 9, 1899	May 13, 19051	James J. Jeffries	Universal	American
Jeffries was the first modern champion to relinquish the title, announcing his retirement and declaring that the winner of a match between Marvin Hart and Jack Root would be the next legitimate champion. Jeffries would return to the ring to face Jack Johnson.
July 3, 1905	February 23, 1906	Marvin Hart	Universal	American
February 23, 1906	December 26, 1908	Tommy Burns	Universal	Canadian
December 26, 1908	April 5, 1915	Jack Johnson	Universal	American
Jack Johnson's refusal to honor an agreement made by his manager to defend against the British champion led the National Sporting Club in London, the most powerful body in boxing outside the USA, to withdraw recognition of Johnson as champion. They matched Canadian Sam Langford and the British champion William "Iron" Hague for their version of the title. Langford beat Hague on a fourth round knockout in London on May 24, 1909. Langford returned home to America and never pressed his claim to the title.
April 5, 1915	July 4, 1919	Jess Willard	Universal	American
July 4, 1919	September 23, 1926	Jack Dempsey	Universal	American
September 23, 1926	July 31, 19282	Gene Tunney	Universal	American
Tunney announced his retirement from professional boxing on July 31, 1928, relinquishing the championship.
June 12, 1930	June 21, 1932	Max Schmeling	Universal	German
Schmeling defeated Jack Sharkey to earn universal recognition as champion.
June 21, 1932	June 29, 1933	Jack Sharkey	Universal	American
June 29, 1933	June 14, 1934	Primo Carnera	Universal	Italian
June 14, 1934	June 13, 1935	Max Baer	Universal	American
In late 1934 the International Boxing Union ordered world champion Max Baer to defend his title against the reigning European champion, Pierre Charles of Belgium. When Baer instead opted to fight James J. Braddock they withdrew recognition of him as champion. The IBU matched Charles with the American heavyweight George Godfrey for their version of the title with the fight taking place in Brussels, Belgium on 2 October, 1935. Godfrey won a fifteen round points decision but did not press any claim to the championship and was inactive for the next two years. The IBU then recognized Baer's successor, James J. Braddock, as champion.
June 13, 1935	June 22, 1937	James J. Braddock	Universal	American
June 22, 1937	March 1, 19492	Joe Louis	Universal	American
June 22, 1949	September 27, 1950	Ezzard Charles	NBA	American
Charles won the vacant National Boxing Association championship in June 1949, but was not universally recognized as champion until June 1951.
June 6, 1950	June 16, 1951	Lee Savold	EBU	American
On the retirement of Joe Louis in March 1949, the European Boxing Union announced that a fight in May 1949 between Lee Savold of the USA and British champion Bruce Woodcock would determine their version of the world heavyweight title. The NYSAC and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) also decided to recognize the winner of the fight as their champion but it was postponed for over a year due to injuries Woodcock had suffered in a car crash. The NYSAC decided instead to recognize the winner of the upcoming bout in September 1950 between Ezzard Charles and Joe Louis as their champion. Louis was returning to the ring after an absence of 27 months. When the fight for the EBU and BBBofC world heavyweight titles eventually took place in June 1950, Savold defeated Woodcock in four rounds.
September 27, 1950	June 16, 1951	Ezzard Charles	NBA & NYSAC	American
June 16, 1951	July 18, 1951	Ezzard Charles	Universal	American
Following his defeat to Joe Louis in a non-title fight in June 1951, Lee Savold was no longer recognized as the world heavyweight champion by the EBU and the BBBofC, who both immediately transferred their recognition to Ezzard Charles. Charles therefore became universally recognized as world heavyweight champion.
July 18, 1951	September 23, 1952	Jersey Joe Walcott	Universal	American
September 23, 1952	April 27, 19562	Rocky Marciano	Universal	American
Marciano announced his retirement from professional boxing, relinquishing the championship.
November 30, 1956	June 26, 1959	Floyd Patterson	Universal	American
June 26, 1959	June 20, 1960	Ingemar Johansson	Universal	Swedish
June 20, 1960	September 25, 1962	Floyd Patterson	Universal	American
September 25, 1962	February 25, 1964	Sonny Liston	Universal	American
February 25, 1964	June 19, 1964	Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)	Universal	American
The WBA and the NYSAC withdrew their recognition of Clay (now known as Muhammad Ali) as champion for agreeing to an immediate rematch against Liston, a violation of the organization's rules at the time. The WBC and other organizations continued to recognize him. (See Ali versus Liston.)
June 19, 1964	February 6, 1967	Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)	WBC	American
March 5, 1965	February 6, 1967	Ernie Terrell	WBA & NYSAC	American
February 6, 1967	April 29, 1967	Muhammad Ali	Universal	American
The WBA, the NYSAC and several other US state boxing commissions withdrew recognition of Ali as champion for his refusal to be inducted into the United States Army subsequent to being drafted in early 1967.
April 29, 1967	March, 1969	Muhammad Ali	WBC	American
The WBC eventually followed the lead of the WBA and the NYSAC and stripped Ali of their title in March 1969
March 4, 1968	February 16, 1970	Joe Frazier	NYSAC	American
April 28, 1968	February 16, 1970	Jimmy Ellis	WBA	American
February 16, 1970	January 22, 1973	Joe Frazier	Universal	American
Frazier and Ellis fought on February 16, 1970, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Frazier entered the ring as the holder of NYSAC version of the world title and Ellis held the WBA heavyweight title. The fight was also for the WBC title vacated by Muhammad Ali. Frazier defeated Ellis and was universally recognized as champion. He cemented his reputation upon defeating Muhammad Ali on March 8, 1971. (See Fight of the Century.)
January 22, 1973	October 30, 1974	George Foreman	Universal	American
October 30, 1974	February 15, 1978	Muhammad Ali	Universal	American
February 15, 1978	March 18, 19783	Leon Spinks	Universal	American
March 18, 1978	September 15, 1978	Leon Spinks	WBA	American
March 18, 1978	June 9, 1978	Ken Norton	WBC	American
Spinks was stripped of his world title by the WBC for refusing to defend his title against their #1 ranked contender, Ken Norton. Spinks instead agreed to fight a return bout against Ali for the WBA crown. The WBC awarded Norton the title and, since he lost to Larry Holmes in his next defense, he is sometimes omitted from a list of heavyweight champions because he never won a world title fight
June 9, 1978	December 11, 19831	Larry Holmes	WBC	American
Holmes relinquished his WBC title to assume the championship of the newly formed International Boxing Federation.
September 15, 1978	April 27, 19791	Muhammad Ali	WBA	American
Believing his career over, Ali relinquished his WBA title in exchange for a payment from promoter Don King, who was trying to stage a bout between then-WBC champ Larry Holmes and John Tate for the undisputed title. The bout never materialized, and Ali would return to the ring in 1980.
October 20, 1979	March 31, 1980	John Tate	WBA	American
March 31, 1980	December 10, 1982	Mike Weaver	WBA	American
December 10, 1982	September 23, 1983	Michael Dokes	WBA	American
September 23, 1983	December 1, 1984	Gerrie Coetzee	WBA	South African
December 11, 1983	September 21, 1985	Larry Holmes	IBF	American
March 9, 1984	August 31, 1984	Tim Witherspoon	WBC	American
August 31, 1984	March 22, 1986	Pinklon Thomas	WBC	American
December 1, 1984	April 29, 1985	Greg Page	WBA	American
April 29, 1985	January 17, 1986	Tony Tubbs	WBA	American
September 21, 1985	February 19, 19873	Michael Spinks	IBF	American
January 17, 1986	December 12, 1986	Tim Witherspoon	WBA	American
March 22, 1986	November 22, 1986	Trevor Berbick	WBC	Canadian
Jamaican born Berbick was a naturalized Canadian citizen and former Canadian heavyweight champion
November 22, 1986	March 7, 1987	Mike Tyson	WBC	American
December 12, 1986	March 7, 1987	James 'Bonecrusher' Smith	WBA	American
March 7, 1987	August 1, 1987	Mike Tyson	WBA, WBC	American
May 30, 1987	August 1, 1987	Tony Tucker	IBF	American
August 1, 1987	August 13, 1989	Mike Tyson	IBF, WBA & WBC	American
May 6, 1989	August 13, 1989	Francesco Damiani	WBO	Italian
Though Damiani defeated Johnny DuPlooy to become the WBO's first Heavyweight champion, Tyson's reign in the division during this period is virtually undisputed. Additionally, during this period Tyson also knocked out Michael Spinks who some regarded as the 'lineal champion.'
August 13, 1989	February 10, 1990	Mike Tyson	Universal	American
February 10, 1990	October 25, 1990	James "Buster" Douglas	IBF, WBA & WBC	American
October 25, 1990	November 13, 1992	Evander Holyfield	IBF, WBA & WBC	American
January 11, 1991	December 24, 19913	Ray Mercer	WBO	American
May 15, 1992	February 3, 19933	Michael Moorer	WBO	American
November 13, 1992	December 14, 19923	Riddick Bowe	IBF, WBA & WBC	American
Bowe was stripped of his WBC championship for refusing to fight Lennox Lewis.
December 14, 1992	November 6, 1993	Riddick Bowe	IBF & WBA	American
December 14, 1992	September 24, 1994	Lennox Lewis	WBC	British
Lewis defeated Razor Ruddock on October 31, 1992, in a WBC 'eliminator' fight. When Riddick Bowe's championship recognition was withdrawn by the organization, the WBC immediately awarded Lewis the title.
June 7, 1993	October 29, 1993	Tommy Morrison	WBO	American
October 29, 1993	March 19, 1994	Michael Bentt	WBO	American
November 6, 1993	April 22, 1994	Evander Holyfield	IBF & WBA	American
March 19, 1994	March 11, 1995	Herbie Hide	WBO	British
April 22, 1994	November 5, 1994	Michael Moorer	IBF & WBA	American
September 24, 1994	September 2, 1995	Oliver McCall	WBC	American
November 5, 1994	March 4, 19953	George Foreman	IBF & WBA	American
The World Boxing Association withdrew its recognition of Foreman, but Foreman retained IBF championship recognition until it too was withdrawn.
March 4, 1995	June 28, 19953	George Foreman	IBF	American
The IBF withdrew its recognition of Foreman when he declined a rematch with Axel Schulz of Germany. Schultz was matched with Francois Botha of South Africa for the vacant title. The bout took place on December 9, 1995 in Stuttgart and resulted in a split decision points victory for Botha. Botha however tested positive for illegal anabolic steroids in a post-fight drugs test and the result was changed to a no-contest. Although some record books continue to list Botha as a world champion, the IBF state that they do not regard that he was ever champion.
March 11, 1995	May 1, 19961	Riddick Bowe	WBO	American
April 8, 1995	September 7, 1996	Bruce Seldon	WBA	American
September 2, 1995	March 16, 1996	Frank Bruno	WBC	British
March 16, 1996	September 7, 1996	Mike Tyson	WBC	American
June 22, 1996	November 8, 1997	Michael Moorer	IBF	American
June 29, 1996	February 17, 19971	Henry Akinwande	WBO	British
Akinwande had been ranked the WBC's #2 contender when he won the WBO title. The WBC, which has feuded with the WBO since the latter's founding in 1988, dropped Akinwande from its rankings altogether. Akinwande subsequently relinquished his WBO title in exchange for the opportunity to meet Lennox Lewis in a bout for the WBC championship.
September 7, 1996	September 24, 19961	Mike Tyson	WBA & WBC	American
September 24, 1996	November 9, 1996	Mike Tyson	WBA	American
November 9, 1996	November 8, 1997	Evander Holyfield	WBA	American
February 7, 1997	November 13, 1999	Lennox Lewis	WBC	British
June 28, 1997	June 26, 1999	Herbie Hide	WBO	British
November 8, 1997	November 13, 1999	Evander Holyfield	IBF & WBA	American
June 26, 1999	April 1, 2000	Vitali Klitschko	WBO	Ukrainian
November 13, 1999	April 29, 20003	Lennox Lewis	IBF, WBA & WBC	British
In early 2000 the World Boxing Association and Lewis were sued by representatives of John Ruiz claiming that they had reneged on an agreement by which Ruiz would have fought Lewis for the WBA title. A New Jersey court ruled in favor of Ruiz, and ordered Lewis to either have his next bout against Ruiz or relinquish the title. Lewis elected instead to fight contender Michael Grant, relinquishing his WBA title on the day of the match.
April 1, 2000	October 14, 2000	Chris Byrd	WBO	American
April 29, 2000	April 22, 2001	Lennox Lewis	IBF & WBC	British
August 12, 2000	March 3, 2001	Evander Holyfield	WBA	American
October 14, 2000	March 8, 2003	Wladimir Klitschko	WBO	Ukrainian
March 3, 2001	March 1, 2003	John Ruiz	WBA	Puerto Rican
April 22, 2001	November 17, 2001	Hasim Rahman	IBF & WBC	American
November 17, 2001	September 5, 20021	Lennox Lewis	IBF & WBC	British
Lewis relinquished the IBF title upon receiving payment of $1 million (US) by promoter Don King, who wished to stage a bout between Chris Byrd and Evander Holyfield for the vacant title.
September 5, 2002	February 6, 20042	Lennox Lewis	WBC	British
December 14, 2002	April 22, 2006	Chris Byrd	IBF	American
March 1, 2003	February 20, 20041	Roy Jones Jr.	WBA	American
March 8, 2003	October 9, 20031	Corrie Sanders	WBO	South African
February 20, 2004	December 17, 2005	John Ruiz	WBA	Puerto Rican
Ruiz beat Hasim Rahman on December 13, 2003, to become the WBA's "interim" champion. He was awarded the championship following Roy Jones, Jr.'s announcement that he was relinquishing it to concentrate on lower weight divisions. Ruiz's title reign ended on April 30, 2005, following a loss to James Toney but ten days later, a drug test on Toney detected he had used products containing nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. Thus, Toney's victory was changed to a 'no contest' by New York state athletic commission, and as a result, the WBA declared Ruiz was keeping the title.
April 10, 2004	April 1, 2006	Lamon Brewster	WBO	American
April 24, 2004	November 9, 20052	Vitali Klitschko	WBC	Ukrainian
November 9, 2005	August 13, 2006	Hasim Rahman	WBC	American
Rahman defeated Monte Barrett on August 13, 2005, to become the WBC's "interim" champion. He was awarded the championship following Vitali Klitschko's announcement that he was retiring due to injury.
December 17, 2005	April 15, 2007	Nikolay Valuev	WBA	Russian
April 1, 2006	November 4, 2006	Sergei Liakhovich	WBO	Belarusian
April 22, 2006	February 23, 2008	Wladimir Klitschko	IBF	Ukrainian
August 13, 2006	March 8, 2008	Oleg Maskaev	WBC	Russian
Maskaev was born in Kazakhstan to Russian parents. He originally held Kazakh citizenship but was granted US citizenship in 2004. In December 2006 he was also granted Russian citizenship. On September 24, 2007, Samuel Peter was declared the WBC's "interim" champion. Peter ultimately defeated Maskaev on March 8, 2008.
November 4, 2006	June 2, 2007	Shannon Briggs	WBO	American
April 15, 2007	August 30, 20083	Ruslan Chagaev	WBA	Uzbekistani
June 2, 2007	February 23, 2008	Sultan Ibragimov	WBO	Russian
February 23, 2008	present	Wladimir Klitschko	IBF & WBO	Ukrainian
March 8, 2008	present	Samuel Peter	WBC	Nigerian
August 30, 2008	present	unknownj	WBA	britfag

Footnotes

¹ Relinquished championship title.

² Retired as champion, relinquishing title.

³ Championship recognition withdrawn by sanctioning organization due to champion's failure or refusal to defend title against the organization's #1 ranked contender.

Sources

• Steve Dimitry's Heavyweight Boxing History
• Arnold, Peter (1989). Encyclopedia of Boxing. London: WH Smith Books. ISBN 1-85435-200-8.

See also

• List of current world boxing champions