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List of Heavyweight Champions

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LIST OF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPIONS


  • The last bare-knuckle world champion was John L. Sullivan (the Boston Strong Boy). The first World Heavyweight Championship Bout under the "Marquees of Queensberry Rules" was between Sullivan and James Corbett.


1892-1897: James Corbett (Gentleman Jim)

1897-1899: Bob Fitzsimmons (Ruby Robert)

1899-1905: James J. Jeffries (The Boilermaker)


  • Jeffries retired as Champion in 1905. A bout between top contenders Marvin Hart and Tony Root was done for the Title.


1905-1906: Marvin Hart (The Fighting Kentuckian)

1906-1908: Tommy Burns (The Little Giant of Hannover)

1908-1915: Jack Johnson (The Galveston Giant)

1915-1919: Jess Willard (The Pottawatomie Giant)

1919-1926: Jack Dempsey (The Manassa Mauler)

1926-1928: Gene Tunney (The Fighting Marine)


  • Tunney vacated the Title. There was an bout between top contenders Max Schmeling and Jack Sharkey. Schmeling won the Title by disqualification after a low blow from Sharkey.


1930-1932: Max Schmeling (Black Uhlan from the Rhine)

1932-1933: Jack Sharkey (The Boston Gob)

1933-1934: Primo Carnera (The Ambling Alp)

1934-1935: Max Baer (The Livermore Larruper)

1935-1937: James Braddock (The Cinderella Man)

1937-1949: Joe Louis (The Brown Bomber)


  • Joe Louis retired in 1949 after nearly 12 years with the Title. The vacant Title was given to Ezzard Charles after winning it in a bout against Jersey Joe Walcott.


1949-1951: Ezzard Charles (The Cincinnatti Cobra)

1951-1952: "Jersey" Joe Walcott

1952-1956: Rocky Marciano (The Brockton Blockbuster)


  • Marciano retired in 1956 after six Title defenses. There was an eliminator Title Bout between Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore. Patterson was the winner.


1956-1959: Floyd Patterson

1959-1960: Ingemar Johansson (Hammer of Thor)

1960-1962: Floyd Patterson


  • Patterson becomes the first person to regain the Title.


1962-1964: Sonny Liston (The Giant Bear)

1964-1967: Cassius Clay (The Louisville Lip)


  • Cassius Clay changed his name to "Muhammad Ali" after winning the Title.
  • Muhammad Ali was stripped off the Title in 1967 for a refusal of going to war. There was no universally recognized champion until 1970, when Joe Frazier won a bout against Jimmy Ellis.


1970-1973: Joe Frazier (Smokin´ Joe)

1973-1974: George Foreman (Big George)

1974-1978: Muhammad Ali (The Greatest)

1978-1978: Leon Spinks (Neon Leon)

1978-1979: Muhammad Ali (The Greatest)


  • First person to be Three-Times World Champion was Muhammad Ali. After winning the Title for a third time Ali retired.


1979-1985: Larry Holmes (The Easton Assassin)

1985-1988: Michael Spinks (Jinx)

1988-1990: Mike Tyson (Iron Mike)

1990-1990: James "Buster" Douglas

1990-1992: Evander Holyfield (The Real Deal)

1992-1993: Riddick Bowe (Big Daddy)

1993-1994: Evander Holyfield (The Real Deal)

1994-1994: Michael Moorer (Double M)

1994-1995: George Foreman (Big George)


  • In 1995, George Foreman was stripped from the Title for refusing to fight a rematch against the Top Contender Axel Schulz. Former Champion Michael Moorer fought Schulz for the Vacant Title in 1996 and won.


1996-1997: Michael Moorer (Double M)

1997-1999: Evander Holyfield (The Real Deal)

1999-2001: Lennox Lewis (The Lion)

2001-2001: Hasim Rahman (The Rock)

2001-2004: Lennox Lewis (The Lion)


  • Lewis retires and vacates the Title in 2004. There is an bout for the vacant Title between Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders. The bout is won by Klitschko.


2004-...: Vitali Klitschko (Ironfist)

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