World heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics

Below is a list of world heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics.

Championship recognition

As per International Boxing Hall Of Fame:

1885–1921 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.

Currently, International Boxing Hall Of Fame recognizes these world heavyweight title lineages from this period:

Date started First champion Date ended Last champion 1 August 29, 1885 John L. Sullivan May 15, 1905 James J. Jeffries 2 July 3, 1905 Marvin Hart September 23, 1926 Jack Dempsey

Sanctioning organizations: 1921–present

Gradually, the role of recognizing champions in the division evolved into a more formal affair, with public acclamation being supplemented (or in some cases, contradicted) by recognition by one or more athletic commissions, sanctioning organizations, or a combination of them. The International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) recognizes these organizations as major in boxing: The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). A governmental entity initially formed for the purpose of regulating boxing in the State of New York, thanks to New York's place as the epicenter of boxing from the 1930s through 1950s, the NYSAC expanded its reach to sanctioning championship bouts. This practice continued until, like the IBU, the NYSAC became a member of the WBC. The National Boxing Association (NBA) was organized in 1921. In 1962, the organization was renamed the World Boxing Association (WBA). The WBC was organized in 1963. The IBF, which was founded in 1983 by the members of the United States Boxing Association after the USBA withdrew from membership in the WBA. The WBO, founded in 1988. The IBHOF started recognizing WBO as a major organization no later than August 23, 1997.

There are also titles that are not considered major, but play a significant role in legitimizing the heavyweight champion: The Ring began awarding championship belts in 1922, stopped giving belts to world champions in the 1990s, then reintroduced their title in 2002, and ignored the current ongoing world championship lineage. Under the original version of the policy, you could win the title by either defeating the reigning champion or winning a box-off between the magazine's No. 1 and No. 2 (occasionally No. 3) ranked contenders. A fighter could not be stripped of the title unless he lost or retired. Since May 2012, under the new policy, The Ring title can be awarded when the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders face each other or when either of them faces No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 contender. In addition, the title can be taken away by losing the fight, not scheduling a fight for 18 months, not scheduling a fight with a top 5 contender for two years, or retiring.

Most opponents beaten in title fights

Keys: Active title reign Reign has ended

Note: Secondary championships are not included.

All championship reigns

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after July 2, 1921.

Pos.NameReign began-endedRecognitionBeaten opponentsFights1. Wladimir Klitschko 1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 20032. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015 1. WBO2. WBA, IBF, WBO 23 2. Joe Louis June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949 NYSAC, NBA 22 3. Muhammad Ali 1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 19692. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 19783. September 15, 1978 — July 3, 1979 1. WBA, WBC2. WBA, WBC3. WBA 21 4. Larry Holmes June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985 WBC, IBF 20 5. Lennox Lewis 1. December 14, 1992 — September 24, 19942. February 7, 1997 — April 22, 20013. November 17, 2001 — February 6, 2004 1. WBC2. WBA, WBC, IBF3. WBC, IBF 15 5. Vitali Klitschko 1. June 26, 1999 — April 1, 20002. April 24, 2004 — November 9, 20053. October 11, 2008 — December 15, 2013 1. WBO2. WBC3. WBC 15 7. Mike Tyson 1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 19902. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996 1. WBA, WBC, IBF2. WBA, WBC 11 7. Tommy Burns February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908 lineal 11 9. Joe Frazier March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973 NYSAC, WBA, WBC10 10. Evander Holyfield 1. October 25, 1990 — November 13, 19922. November 6, 1993 — April 22, 19943. November 9, 1996 — November 13, 19994. August 12, 2000 — March 3, 2001 1. WBA, WBC, IBF2. WBA, IBF3. WBA, IBF4. WBA 9 10. Anthony Joshua 1. April 9, 2016 — June 1, 20192. December 7, 2019 — September 25, 2021 WBA, IBF, WBO 9 12. Ezzard Charles September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951 NBA, NYSAC 8 12. Deontay Wilder January 17, 2015 — February 22, 2020 WBC 8 14. Floyd Patterson 1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 19592. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962 NYSAC, NBA 7 15. Jack Johnson December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915 lineal 6 15. Jack Dempsey July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926 lineal-to-NBA and NYSAC 6 15. James J. Jeffries June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905 lineal 6

All championship reigns of undisputed champions/lineal champions/The Ring champions

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after July 2, 1921, although it only includes heavyweight champions that captured undisputed championship (July 2, 1921–present), lineal championship (August 29, 1885 – July 2, 1921) or The Ring championship.

Pos.NameReign began-endedRecognitionBeaten opponentsFights1. Wladimir Klitschko 1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 20032. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015 1. WBO2. WBA, IBF, WBO 23 2. Joe Louis June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949 NYSAC, NBA 22 3. Muhammad Ali 1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 19692. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 19783. September 15, 1978 — July 3, 1979 1. WBA, WBC2. WBA, WBC3. WBA 21 4. Larry Holmes June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985 WBC, IBF 20 5. Lennox Lewis 1. December 14, 1992 — September 24, 19942. February 7, 1997 — April 22, 20013. November 17, 2001 — February 6, 2004 1. WBC2. WBA, WBC, IBF3. WBC, IBF 15 5. Vitali Klitschko 1. June 26, 1999 — April 1, 20002. April 24, 2004 — November 9, 20053. October 11, 2008 — December 15, 2013 1. WBO2. WBC3. WBC 15 7. Mike Tyson 1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 19902. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996 1. WBA, WBC, IBF2. WBA, WBC 11 7. Tommy Burns February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908 lineal 11 9. Joe Frazier March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973 NYSAC, WBA, WBC10 10. Evander Holyfield 1. October 25, 1990 — November 13, 19922. November 6, 1993 — April 22, 19943. November 9, 1996 — November 13, 19994. August 12, 2000 — March 3, 2001 1. WBA, WBC, IBF2. WBA, IBF3. WBA, IBF4. WBA 9 11. Ezzard Charles September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951 NBA, NYSAC 8 12. Floyd Patterson 1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 19592. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962 NYSAC, NBA 7 12. Jack Johnson December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915 lineal 7 14. James J. Jeffries June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905 lineal 6 14. Jack Dempsey July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926 lineal-to-NBA and NYSAC 6

Championship reigns of undisputed/lineal/The Ring champions with undisputed/lineal/The Ring/unified championships, victories over champions

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after July 2, 1921, although it only includes heavyweight champions that captured undisputed championship (July 2, 1921–present), lineal championship (August 29, 1885 – July 2, 1921) or The Ring championship.

The list only includes title reigns during which the champion: has won undisputed championship (July 2, 1921–present), The Ring championship, lineal championship (August 29, 1885 – July 2, 1921) held at least two major world heavyweight titlesRules governing championship contests , International Boxing FederationRegulation of world championship contests, World Boxing OrganizationRules and regulations, World Boxing Association simultaneously defeated a fighter that would become world heavyweight champion while the winner's reign was still active

As of , .

Pos.NameReign began-endedRecognitionAdditional recognitionBeaten opponentsFights1. Wladimir Klitschko 1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 20032. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015 1. WBO2. unified 2. The Ring 1. Chris Byrd (IBF) 23 2. Joe Louis June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949 undisputed The Ring 22 3. Muhammad Ali 1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 19692. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 19783. September 15, 1978 — July 3, 1979 1. undisputed2. undisputed3. WBA The Ring 21 4. Larry Holmes June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985 WBC-to-IBF The Ring Mike Weaver (WBA),Tim Witherspoon (WBC) 20 5. Lennox Lewis 1. February 7, 1997 — April 22, 20012. November 17, 2001 — February 6, 2004 1. undisputed2. unified 2. The Ring 1. Evander Holyfield (WBA) 12 6. Mike Tyson 1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 19902. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996 1. undisputed2. unified 1. The Ring 11 6. Tommy Burns February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908 lineal lineal 11 8. Joe Frazier March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973 undisputed The Ring 10 9. Evander Holyfield 1. October 25, 1990 — November 13, 19922. November 6, 1993 — April 22, 19943. November 9, 1996 — November 13, 1999 1. undisputed2. unified3. unified 8 9. Ezzard Charles September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951 undisputed The Ring 8 11. Floyd Patterson 1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 19592. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962 undisputed The Ring 7 12. Jack Johnson December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915 lineal lineal 6 12. James J. Jeffries June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905 lineal lineal 6 12. Jack Dempsey July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926 undisputed The Ring 6 15. Rocky Marciano September 23, 1952 — April 27, 1956 undisputed The Ring 5 15. George Foreman 1. January 22, 1973 — October 30, 19742. November 4, 1994 — June 29, 1995 1. undisputed2. unified 1. The Ring 5 17. Tyson Fury 1. November 28, 2015 — October 12, 20162. February 22, 2020 — May 18, 2024 1. unified2. WBC 1. The Ring2. The Ring 4 17. Oleksandr Usyk September 25, 2021 – June 26, 2026 undisputed The Ring Daniel Dubois (IBF) 4 19. Primo Carnera June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934 undisputed The Ring 3 19. Riddick Bowe November 13, 1992 — November 6, 1993 undisputed 3 21. James J. Corbett September 7, 1892 – March 17, 1897 lineal lineal 2 21. Jess Willard April 5, 1915 — July 4, 1919 lineal lineal 2 21. Max Schmeling June 12, 1930 – January 7, 1931 undisputed The Ring 2 21. Vitali Klitschko April 24, 2004 — November 9, 2005 WBC The Ring 2 21. Gene Tunney September 23, 1926 – July 31, 1928 undisputed The Ring 2 21. Michael Spinks September 21, 1985 — February 19, 1987 IBF The Ring 2 27. John L. Sullivan August 29, 1885 — September 7, 1892 lineal lineal 1 27. Bob Fitzsimmons March 17, 1897 — June 9, 1899 lineal lineal 1 27. Marvin Hart July 3, 1905 — February 23, 1906 lineal lineal 1 27. Max Baer June 14, 1934 — June 13, 1935 undisputed The Ring 1 27. James J. Braddock June 13, 1935 — June 22, 1937 undisputed The Ring 1 27. Jersey Joe Walcott July 18, 1951 — September 23, 1952 undisputed The Ring 1 27. Ingemar Johansson June 26, 1959 — June 20, 1960 undisputed The Ring 1 27. Sonny Liston September 25, 1962 — February 25, 1964 undisputed The Ring 1 27. Leon Spinks February 15, 1978 — September 15, 1978 undisputed The Ring 1 27. Buster Douglas February 11, 1990 — October 25, 1990 undisputed 1

Most wins in title fights

Keys: Active title reign Reign has ended

All championship reigns

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after July 2, 1921. Note: Secondary championships are not included.