Misplaced Pages

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article's lead section may be too long. Please read the length guidelines and help move details into the article's body. (October 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

World champions in professional boxing have been declared since the late 19th century, beginning with John L. Sullivan. Before any sanctioning body was established, many boxers proclaimed themselves as champions. Eventually, champions were recognized through public acclamation, successively establishing a lineage.

The 1920 Walker Law established the New York State Athletic Commission which recognized champions from its foundation. The National Boxing Association (NBA) was founded by other U.S. state bodies in 1921. Until the 1960s, both usually recognised the same lineal champion. However, disputes could arise if the champion retired or moved to a different weight class. Occasionally, the International Boxing Union (later the European Boxing Union) recognised a different champion. The disputes were usually short-lived as a lucrative fight would be organised between the rival champions.

The growing popularity of boxing outside of the USA led to creation of various boxing organizations, each strengthening their influence (most notably BBBofC) and having their own champion. This resulted in a growing number of boxers with claim to be world champion. In August 1962, the NBA officially became the World Boxing Association and moved their headquarters to Panama City, Panama. A year later NYSAC along with European Boxing Union and BBBofC supported creation of the World Boxing Council. In April 1983, members of United States Boxing Association along with Robert W. Lee (a former WBA vice-president) voted to expand the organisation and form the USBA-International. The organization later changed the name to International Boxing Federation. The inaugural IBF Heavyweight Champion was Larry Holmes, who relinquished the WBC title to accept IBF's recognition, thus helping the newly formed organization to establish its legitimacy. Another major sanctioning body, the World Boxing Organisation, was established in 1988 in San Juan, Puerto Rico by a group of local businessmen. At the beginnings, when most of the challengers for WBA, WBC and IBF titles were Americans, WBO had a wider variety of countries, mainly United Kingdom, represented in title bouts. As of 2018, WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA are all recognized as major boxing organizations by each other and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Championship recognition

1884–1910

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. For an early example, see the 1896 World Heavyweight Championship.

Weight classes were specified in 1909 by the National Sporting Club of London.

Sanctioning organizations: 1910–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 most notable examples with respect to the heavyweight division have included:

• The International Boxing Union (IBU), which was formed in Paris in 1910. The organization would become the European Boxing Union in 1946, but would recognize "world" champions in various divisions until it subordinated itself in that area to the World Boxing Council.
• 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 World Boxing Council (WBC).
• The National Boxing Association (NBA) was organized in 1921. In 1962, the organization was renamed the World Boxing Association (WBA).
• The World Boxing Council (WBC) was organized in 1963.
• The International Boxing Federation (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 World Boxing Organization (WBO), which was founded in 1989 by disgruntled members of the World Boxing Council.

There are also titles that aren't considered major but play a significant role in legitimizing the champion:

• Lineal championship was considered as the only form of the world championship until 1921. In professional boxing, the lineal champion is informally called "the man who beat the man", implying that the only way to win the championship is either to beat the current champion or (when the title is vacated due to suspension, retirement etc.) to become the winner of a fight between No. 1 and No. 2 (occasionally No. 3) ranked contenders.
• 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, moving to another weight class, not scheduling a fight for 18 months in the division, not scheduling a fight with a top 5 contender for two years in any weight class, or retiring.

Title fight wins & beaten opponents — The Ring/lineal champions

Though these lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921, they only include title fight wins in weight classes where the champion have also captured The Ring or lineal title.

Keys:

  Active title reign

  Reign has ended

Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten in title fights

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Beaten opponents
1.	Wladimir Klitschko	23
1.	Bernard Hopkins	23
1.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	23
4.	Dariusz Michalczewski	22
4.	Ricardo López	22
4.	Joe Louis	22
7.	Muhammad Ali	21
7.	Joe Calzaghe	21
7.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	21
7.	Virgil Hill	21
7.	Julio César Chávez	21
12.	Larry Holmes	20
13.	George Dixon	19
14.	Eusebio Pedroza	18
14.	Wilfredo Gómez	18

Most wins in title fights

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Title bout wins
1.	Joe Louis	27
2.	Ricardo López	25
2.	Wladimir Klitschko	25
2.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	25
4.	Bernard Hopkins	24
4.	Dariusz Michalczewski	24
6.	Muhammad Ali	22
6.	Joe Calzaghe	22
6.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	22
6.	Virgil Hill	22
6.	Henry Armstrong	22
6.	Abe Attell	22
13.	Julio César Chávez	21
14.	Larry Holmes	20
14.	George Dixon	20

Title fight wins & beaten opponents — all champions

These lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921.

Keys:

  Active title reign

  Reign has ended

Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten in title fights

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Beaten opponents
1.	Julio César Chávez	31
2.	Omar Narváez	27
3.	Ricardo López	25
4.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	24
5.	Dariusz Michalczewski	23
5.	Wladimir Klitschko	23
5.	Bernard Hopkins	23
5.	Oscar De La Hoya	23
5.	Manny Pacquiao	23
9.	Roy Jones Jr.	22
9.	Joe Louis	22
11.	Muhammad Ali	21
11.	Joe Calzaghe	21
11.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	21
11.	Virgil Hill	21
15.	Sven Ottke	20
15.	Félix Trinidad	20
15.	Miguel Cotto	20

Most wins in title fights

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Title bout wins
1.	Julio César Chávez	31
2.	Omar Narváez	28
3.	Joe Louis	27
4.	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	26
5.	Ricardo López	25
5.	Dariusz Michalczewski	25
5.	Wladimir Klitschko	25
8.	Bernard Hopkins	24
8.	Oscar De La Hoya	24
10.	Roy Jones Jr.	22
10.	Muhammad Ali	22
10.	Joe Calzaghe	22
10.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	22
10.	Virgil Hill	22
10.	Sven Ottke	22
10.	Abe Attell	22
10.	Henry Armstrong	22
10.	Manny Pacquiao	21

Title streaks — The Ring/lineal champions

Though these lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921, they only include title streaks during which the champion captured The Ring or lineal title.

Keys:

  Active title reign

  Reign has ended

Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten consecutively in title defenses

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Beaten opponents
1.	Dariusz Michalczewski	21
1.	Ricardo López	21
1.	Joe Louis	21
4.	Joe Calzaghe	20
5.	Bernard Hopkins	19
5.	Larry Holmes	19
7.	Wladimir Klitschko	17
8.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	16
8.	Wilfredo Gómez	16
10.	Pascual Pérez	15
10.	Naseem Hamed	15
12.	Bob Foster	14
13.	Henry Armstrong	13
13.	Joe Gans	13
15.	Julio César Chávez	12
15.	Roberto Durán	12

Most consecutive title defenses

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Title defenses
1.	Joe Louis	26
2.	Dariusz Michalczewski	23
3.	Ricardo López	21
3.	Joe Calzaghe	21
4.	Gennady Golovkin	20
4.	Bernard Hopkins	20
5.	Larry Holmes	19
5.	Henry Armstrong	19
6.	Wladimir Klitschko	18
6.	Abe Attell	18
7.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	17
7.	Wilfredo Gómez	17
8.	Pascual Pérez	16
9.	Naseem Hamed	15
9.	Bob Foster	15

Title streaks — all champions

These lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921.

Keys:

  Active title reign

  Reign has ended

Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten consecutively in title defenses

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Beaten opponents
1.	Dariusz Michalczewski	21
1.	Ricardo López	21
1.	Joe Louis	21
4.	Joe Calzaghe	20
4.	Sven Ottke	20
6.	Bernard Hopkins	19
6.	Larry Holmes	19
8.	Eusebio Pedroza	18
10.	Khaosai Galaxy	17
10.	Wladimir Klitschko	17
10.	Chris John	17
10.	Artur Grigorian	17
13.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	16
13.	Wilfredo Gómez	16

Most consecutive title defenses

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Title defenses
1.	Joe Louis	26
2.	Dariusz Michalczewski	23
3.	Ricardo López	21
3.	Joe Calzaghe	21
3.	Sven Ottke	21
6.	Bernard Hopkins	20
7.	Larry Holmes	19
7.	Eusebio Pedroza	19
7.	Khaosai Galaxy	19
7.	Henry Armstrong	19
11.	Wladimir Klitschko	18
11.	Chris John	18
11.	Abe Attell	18
14.	Artur Grigorian	17
14.	Pongsaklek Wonjongkam	17
14.	Wilfredo Gómez	17
14.	Yuh Myung-woo	17

Longest individual title reigns

Below is a list of longest reigning champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply. Neither does moving up in a weight class.

Keys:

  Active Title Reign

  Reign has ended

Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Title reigns of The Ring/lineal champions

Though these lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship reigns after 1921, they only include title reigns during which the champion captured The Ring or lineal title.

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Weight class	Title Reign	Title Recognition
1.	Joe Louis	Heavyweight	11 years, 8 months, 8 days	NBA, NYSAC
2.	Johnny Kilbane	Featherweight	11 years, 3 months, 24 days	Lineal-to-NBA, NYSAC
3.	Joe Calzaghe	Super middleweight	10 years, 11 months, 22 days	WBO
4.	Bernard Hopkins	Middleweight	10 years, 2 months, 18 days	IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO
5.	Abe Attell	Featherweight	10 years	Lineal
6.	Wladimir Klitschko	Heavyweight	9 years, 7 months and 6 days	WBA, IBF, WBO
7.	Archie Moore	Light heavyweight	9 years, 4 months, 24 days	NYSAC, EBU
8.	Dariusz Michalczewski	Light heavyweight	9 years, 1 months, 8 days	IBF, WBA, WBO
9.	Ricardo López	Minimumweight	8 years, 11 months	WBA, WBC, WBO
10.	Tommy Ryan	Middleweight	8 years, 7 months, 4 days	Lineal
11.	Benny Leonard	Lightweight	7 years, 7 months, 17 days	Lineal-to-NBA, NYSAC
12.	Jimmy Wilde	Flyweight	7 years, 4 months, 4 days	Lineal
13.	Larry Holmes	Heavyweight	7 years, 3 months, 12 days	WBC-to-IBF
14.	Jack Dempsey	Heavyweight	7 years, 2 months, 19 days	Lineal-to-NBA, NYSAC
15.	Eusebio Pedroza	Featherweight	7 years, 1 month, 23 days	WBA
16.	John L. Sullivan	Heavyweight	7 years, 0 months, 9 days	Lineal
17.	Sandy Saddler	Featherweight	7 years	Lineal
18.	Tony Zale	Middleweight	6 years, 11 months, 24 days	NBA, NYSAC
19.	Roy Jones Jr.	Light heavyweight	6 years, 9 months, 8 days	WBA, WBC, IBF
20.	Carlos Monzon	Middleweight	6 years, 9 months, 9 days	WBA, WBC

Title reigns of all champions

As of December 31, 2024.

	Name	Weight class	Title Reign	Title Recognition
1.	Joe Louis	Heavyweight	11 years, 8 months, 8 days	NBA, NYSAC
2.	Johnny Kilbane	Featherweight	11 years, 3 months, 24 days	Lineal-to-NBA, NYSAC
3.	Joe Calzaghe	Super middleweight	10 years, 11 months, 22 days	WBO
4.	Bernard Hopkins	Middleweight	10 years, 2 months, 18 days	IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO
5.	Chris John	Featherweight	10 years, 1 month, 5 days	WBA
6.	Abe Attell	Featherweight	10 years	Lineal
7.	Wladimir Klitschko	Heavyweight	9 years, 7 months and 6 days	WBA, IBF, WBO
8.	Archie Moore	Light heavyweight	9 years, 4 months, 24 days	NYSAC, EBU
9.	Dariusz Michalczewski	Light heavyweight	9 years, 1 months, 8 days	IBF, WBA, WBO
10.	Ricardo López	Minimumweight	8 years, 11 months	WBA, WBC, WBO
11.	Tommy Ryan	Middleweight	8 years, 7 months, 4 days	Lineal
12.	Omar Andres Narvaez	Flyweight	7 years, 10 months	WBO
13.	Benny Leonard	Lightweight	7 years, 7 months, 17 days	Lineal-to-NBA, NYSAC
14.	Artur Grigorian	Lightweight	7 years, 6 months, 20 days	WBO
15.	Johnny Nelson	Cruiserweight	7 years, 5 months, 26 days	WBO
16.	Jimmy Wilde	Flyweight	7 years, 4 months, 4 days	Lineal
17.	Larry Holmes	Heavyweight	7 years, 3 months, 12 days	WBC-to-IBF
18.	Jack Dempsey	Heavyweight	7 years, 2 months, 19 days	Lineal-to-NBA, NYSAC
19.	Eusebio Pedroza	Featherweight	7 years, 1 month, 23 days	WBA
20.	John L. Sullivan	Heavyweight	7 years, 0 months, 9 days	Lineal

See also

• World heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics
• List of WBA world champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of WBO world champions
• List of The Ring world champions
• List of current female world boxing champions
• List of undefeated boxing world champions (retired only)
• List of undisputed boxing champions
• List of current boxing rankings

References

1. ^ Morrison, pp.14–15
2. Morrison, Ian (1990). The Guinness World Championship Boxing book. Guinness Publishing. pp. 126–137. ISBN 0-85112-900-5.
3. "History of IBF/USBA". International Boxing Federation. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
4. "IBF/USBA History". IBF. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
5. "The Ring updates championship policy". Ring TV. May 3, 2012.

External links

• BoxRec: Boxing's Official Record Keeper
• The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book, 2006
• The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book, 2011 (archive)