From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
List of widely recognized Heavyweight boxing champions, as well as those recognized by the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation, and/or World Boxing Organization.
(UND) - indicates undisputed or widely recognized champion. (WBA) - indicates World Boxing Association recognition as champion. (WBC) - indicated World Boxing Council recognition as champion. (IBF) - indicates International Boxing Federation recognition as champion. (WBO) - indicates World Boxing Organization recognition as champion.
- 1895-1892 (UND) John L. Sullivan
- 1892-1897 (UND) James J. Corbett
- 1897-1899 (UND) Robert Fitzsimmons
- 1899-1905 (UND) James J. Jeffries (relinquished title)
- 1905-1906 (UND) Marvin Hart
- 1906-1908 (UND) Tommy Burns
- 1908-1915 (UND) Jack Johnson
- 1915-1919 (UND) Jess Willard
- 1919-1926 (UND) Jack Dempsey
- 1926-1928 (UND) Gene Tunney (retired, relinquishing title)
- 1928-1930 Vacant
- 1930-1932 (UND) Max Schmeling
- 1932-1933 (UND) Jack Sharkey
- 1933-1934 (UND) Primo Carnera
- 1934-1935 (UND) Max Baer
- 1935-1937 (UND) James J. Braddock
- 1937-1949 (UND) Joe Louis (relinquished title)
- 1949-1951 (UND) Ezzard Charles (NBA recognition only, 1949-1950)
- 1951-1952 (UND) Jersey Joe Walcott
- 1952-1956 (UND) Rocky Marciano (retired, relinquishing title)
- 1956-1959 (UND) Floyd Patterson
- 1959-1960 (UND) Ingemar Johansson
- 1960-1962 (UND) Floyd Patterson (2nd reign)
- 1962-1964 (UND) Charles 'Sonny' Liston
- 1964-1964 (UND) Cassius Clay (recognition withdrawn by WBA)
- 1964-1967 (WBC) Cassius Clay
- 1965-1967 (WBA) Ernie Terrell
- 1967-1967 (UND) Cassius Clay (recognition withdrawn)
- 1967-1968 Vacant
- 1968-1970 (WBC) Joe Frazier
- 1968-1970 (WBA) Jimmy Ellis
- 1970-1973 (UND) Joe Frazier
- 1973-1974 (UND) George Foreman
- 1974-1978 (UND) Cassius Clay (2nd reign)
- 1978-1978 (UND) Leon Spinks (recognition withdrawn by WBC)
- 1978-1978 (WBA) Leon Spinks
- 1978-1978 (WBC) Ken Norton
- 1978-1983 (WBC) Larry Holmes (relinquished title)
- 1978-1979 (WBA) Cassius Clay (3rd reign)
- 1979-1980 (WBA) John Tate
- 1980-1982 (WBA) Mike Weaver
- 1982-1983 (WBA) Michael Dokes
- 1983-1984 (WBA) Gerrie Coetzee
- 1983-1985 (IBF) Larry Holmes
- 1984-1984 (WBC) Tim Witherspoon
- 1984-1986 (WBC) Pinklon Thomas
- 1984-1985 (WBA) Greg Page
- 1985-1986 (WBA) Tony Tubbs
- 1985-1987 (IBF) Michael Spinks
- 1986-1986 (WBA) Tim Witherspoon (2nd reign)
- 1986-1986 (WBC) Trevor Berbick
- 1986-1987 (WBC) Mike Tyson
- 1986-1987 (WBA) James 'Bonecrusher' Smith
- 1987-1987 (WBA/WBC) Mike Tyson
- 1987-1987 (IBF) Tony Tucker
- 1987-1990 (UND) Mike Tyson
- 1989-1991 (WBO) Francesco Damiani
- 1990-1990 (UND) James Buster Douglas
- 1990-1992 (UND) Evander Holyfield
- 1991-1991 (WBO) Ray Mercer (relinquished title)
- 1991-1993 (WBO) Michael Moorer (relinquished title)
- 1992-1992 (UND) Riddick Bowe (relinquished WBC title)
- 1992-1993 (WBA/IBF) Riddick Bowe
- 1992-1994 (WBC) Lennox Lewis
- 1993-1993 (WBO) Tommy Morrison
- 1993-1994 (WBO) Michael Bentt
- 1993-1994 (WBA/IBF) Evander Holyfield (2nd reign)
- 1994-1995 (WBO) Herbie Hide
- 1994-1994 (WBA/IBF) Michael Moorer (2nd reign)
- 1994-1995 (WBC) Oliver McCall
- 1994-1995 (WBA/IBF) George Foreman (2nd reign; relinquished IBF title)
- 1995-1995 (IBF) George Foreman (relinquished WBA title)
- 1995-1996 (WBO) Riddick Bowe (2nd reign; recognition withdrawn)
- 1995-1996 (WBA) Bruce Seldon
- 1995-1996 (WBC) Frank Bruno
- 1995-1996 (IBF) Frans Botha (recognition withdrawn)
- 1996-1996 (WBC) Mike Tyson (2nd reign; later added WBA recognition by defeating Seldon. Relinquished WBC title after defeating Seldon)
- 1996-1997 (IBF) Michael Moorer (3rd reign)
- 1996-1997 (WBO) Henry Akinwande
- 1996-1997 (WBA) Evander Holyfield (3rd reign)
- 1997-1999 (WBC) Lennox Lewis (2nd reign)
- 1997-1999 (WBO) Herbie Hide (2nd reign)
- 1997-1999 (WBA/IBF) Evander Holyfield (Holyfield defeated Moorer)
- 1999-2000 (WBO) Vitali Klitschko
- 1999-2001 (UND) Lennox Lewis (defeated Holyfield for IBF, WBA and WBC titles; later relinquished WBA title)
- 2000-2000 (WBO) Chris Byrd
- 2000-2001 (WBA) Evander Holyfield (4th reign)
- 2000-2003 (WBO) Wladimir Klitschko
- 2001-2003 (WBA) John Ruiz
- 2001-2001 (WBC/IBF) Hasim Rahman
- 2001-2002 (WBC/IBF) Lennox Lewis (3rd reign; later relinquished IBF title)
- 2002-present (WBC) Lennox Lewis
- 2002-present (IBF) Chris Byrd (2nd reign)
- 2003-present (WBA) Roy Jones Jr
- 2003-2003 (WBO) Corrie Sanders (relinquished title)
