Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Boxers who weigh 200 pounds and over (14 st 3 lb, 90 kg) are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation,[1] the World Boxing Association,[2] the World Boxing Council,[3] and the World Boxing Organization.[4]
For most boxing organizations, the maximum weight for a cruiserweight is 200 pounds. Thus, a fighter whose weight is over 200 lb (14 st 3 lb, 90 kg) may not fight as anything but a heavyweight.
Joe Louis holds the record for most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 25 defenses of the Universal title. This is also the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing history.
Historical development
Because this division had no weight limit, it has been historically vaguely defined. In the 19th century, for example, many heavyweight champions weighed 170 pounds (12 st 2 lb, 77 kg) or less (although others weighed 200 pounds).
The first heavyweight champion under the Marquess of Queensberry rules was John L. Sullivan, known as "The Boston Strong Boy". He weighed around 200 pounds when in shape and was a bare-knuckle champion. He was defeated by Jim Corbett on September 7, 1892, in 21 rounds.
In 1920, the minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds (12 st 7 lb, 79 kg), which today is the light heavyweight division maximum. Since 1980, for most boxing organizations, the maximum weight for a cruiserweight has been 200 pounds.
Since the 1960s, the heavyweight title has become fractured amongst various sanctioning organizations, and so what was once known as the single "Heavyweight Champion", is now referred to as the "Undisputed Champion" as the one fighter that has defeated all the other titlists.
Professional champions
Current champions
| Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA (Super) | April 29, 2017 |  |
22–0 (21 KO) | 3 |
| WBA (Regular) | vacant | |||
| WBC | January 17, 2015 |  |
40–0 (39 KO) | 7 |
| IBF | April 9, 2016 | |
22–0 (21 KO) | 6 |
| WBO | March 31, 2018 | |
22–0 (21 KO) | 1 |
| Lineal Champion | November 28, 2015 | |
27–0 (19 KO) | 2 |
Notable Current champions Outside the "BIG FOUR"
| Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBO | April 29, 2017 | |
22–0 (21 KO) | 3 |
Current interim champions
| Sanctioning Body | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBA | August 11, 2018 | |
20–0 (14 KO) | 0 |
Longest reigns
- The WBO heavyweight title bouts before June, 1999 are not included[6]
Longest combined heavyweight championship reigns
As of March 5, 2018. This list includes only major titles, and it does not include lineal championships after 1921.
Keys:
- Active title reign
- Reign has ended
| Name | Combined reign | Days as champion | Number of reigns | Title recognition | Cumulative title wins | Opponents beaten | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | 12 years, 0 months, 0 days | 4 382 | 2 | IBF, WBA, WBO | 25 | 23 |
| 2. | | 11 years, 8 months, 8 days | 4 270 | 1 | NYSAC, NBA | 26 | 21 |
| 3. | | 9 years, 5 months, 5 days | 3 443 | 3 | NYSAC, WBC, WBA | 22 | 21 |
| 4. | | 8 years, 5 months, 13 days | 3 086 | 3 | WBC, IBF, WBA | 15 | 15 |
| 5. | | 7 years, 5 months, 28 days | 2 735 | 3 | WBO, WBC | 15 | 15 |
| 6. | | 7 years, 3 months, 12 days | 2 661 | 1 | WBC, IBF | 20 | 20 |
| 7. | | 7 years, 2 months, 19 days | 2 638 | 1 | NYSAC, NBA | 6 | 6 |
| 8. | | 7 years, 0 months, 10 days | 2 566 | 1 | Universal | 5 | 5 |
| 9. | | 6 years, 3 months, 11 days | 2 292 | 1 | Universal | 7 | 7 |
| 10. | | 6 years, 1 month, 1 day | 2 223 | 4 | WBA, WBC, IBF | 11 | 10 |
| 11. | | 5 years, 11 months, 4 days | 2 156 | 1 | Universal | 8 | 6 |
| 12. | | 4 years, 10 months, 18 days | 1 785 | 1 | NYSAC, WBA, WBC | 10 | 10 |
| 13. | | 4 years, 10 months, 0 days | 1 765 | 2 | NYSAC, NBA | 8 | 7 |
| 14. | | 4 years, 6 months, 10 days | 1 652 | 1 | Universal | 2 | 2 |
| 15. | | 4 years, 2 months, 29 days | 1 551 | 1 | Universal | 2 | 2 |
| 16. | | 3 years, 10 months, 22 days | 1 421 | 2 | IBF, WBO | 5 | 5 |
| 17. | | 3 years, 10 months, 16 days | 1 415 | 2 | WBA, WBC, IBF | 12 | 11 |
| 18. | | 3 years, 9 months, 21 days | 1 390 | 2 | WBA | 4 | 4 |
| 19. | | 3 years, 7 months, 5 days | 1 312 | 1 | NYSAC, NBA | 7 | 5 |
| 20. | | 3 years, 2 months, 10 days | 1 137 | 1 | WBC | 8 | 7 |
Longest individual heavyweight championship reigns
Below is a list of longest reigning heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. The list includes both The Ring and lineal championships.
Keys:
- Active title reign
- Reign has ended
| Name | Title Reign | Title Recognition | Successful Defenses | Opponents beaten | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | | 11 years, 8 months, 8 days | Universal | 25 | 20 |
| 2. | | 9 years, 7 months and 6 days | IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring) | 18 | 17 |
| 3. | | 7 years, 3 months, 12 days | WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring/Lineal) | 19 | 19 |
| 4. | | 7 years, 2 months, 19 days | Universal | 5 | 5 |
| 5. | | 7 years, 0 months, 9 days | Universal | 5 | 5 |
| 6. | | 6 years, 3 months, 10 days | Universal | 8 | 8 |
| 7. | | 5 years, 11 months, 9 days | The Ring/Lineal, (+WBA, WBC stripped) | 9 | 9 |
| 8. | | 5 years, 11 months, 4 days | Universal | 7 | 6 |
| 9. | | 5 years, 2 months, 4 days | WBC | 9 | 9 |
| 10. | | 4 years, 10 months, 18 days | NYSAC (+WBA, WBC) | 9 | 9 |
| 11. | | 4 years, 6 months, 10 days | Universal | 1 | 1 |
| 12. | | 4 years, 2 months, 29 days | Universal | 1 | 1 |
| 13. | | 4 years, 2 months, 15 days | WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring/Lineal) | 9 | 8 |
| 14. | | 3 years, 11 months, 29 days | Universal | 6 | 5 |
| 15. | | 3 years, 9 months and 2 days | WBC | 7 | 7 |
| 16. | | 3 years, 4 months, 8 days | IBF | 4 | 4 |
| 17. | | 3 years, 2 months, 20 days | WBC (+WBA, IBF, The Ring/Lineal) | 9 | 9 |
| 18. | | 3 years, 0 months, 17 days | Lineal (+WBA, IBF stripped) | 2 | 2 |
| 19. | | 3 years, 0 months, 4 days | WBA (+IBF) | 4 | 4 |
| 20. |  | 2 years, 10 months, 3 days | Universal | 11 | 9 |
Kickboxing
- In kickboxing, a heavyweight fighter generally weighs between 88 kg (196 lb) and 100 kg (220 lb). The Fighters over 100 kg (220 lb) are considered super heavyweights.
- International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Heavyweight (Pro & Amateur) 215.1 – 235 lb. or 97.8 – 106.8 kg.
- In Glory promotion, a heavyweight division is over 95 kg (209 lb) and no upper weight limit.
Mixed martial arts
The heavyweight division in MMA generally groups fighters between 205 and 265 lb (93 and 120 kg).
Heavyweight is also the title of a documentary film that documented the fight camp of Fabricio Werdum when he became the UFC Heavyweight Champion. [7]
Professional wrestling
The term "world heavyweight" in modern wrestling generally refers to a champion wrestler who is seen as a prominent competitor, rather than an adherent to a particular weight class. The World Heavyweight Championship in wrestling is usually considered the main title in a given promotion. Prior to the wrestling industry publicly acknowledging the predetermined nature of the sport, a Heavyweight title was generally competed for by larger wrestlers while smaller wrestlers competed as (among other names and classifications) ""Junior Heavyweights" and "Light-Heavyweights".
Analogous uses
The word "heavyweight" is sometimes used in other fields (e.g. politics) to denote a person who is especially powerful or influential. In this context, "big beast" has a similar meaning. Other boxing analogies include "punching above his [their] weight" to denote a person or entity (e.g. a country) whose influence is arguably greater than his/its basic attributes would suggest.
References
- ↑ "4. Weight Classes". IBO and also the sumo board of control. But Championship Rules & Regulations. International Boxing Organization. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
Heavyweight Over 200 lbs.
- ↑ "11. Weight Category" (PDF). World Bpxing Association World Championships Regulations. World Boxing Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
Heavy More than 200 Lbs.
- ↑ "Ratings Heavyweight (over 200-90.719)". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
- ↑ "3. Weight Classes" (PDF). Regulations of World Championship Contests. World Boxing Organization. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
Heavyweight Over 200lbs or 90.91 kg.
- ↑ http://www.fightsports.tv/warren-fury-is-still-lineal-champion/
- ↑ James B. Roberts, Alexander G. Skutt: The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book, p. 331—332. The record of Michael Carbajal indicates his opponent Jorge Arce as WBO "World Champion" on July 31, 1999, meanwhile his previous opponent Josue Camacho (fought on July 15, 1994) didn't receive the same recognition.
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4380142/