Heavyweight

Boxers who weigh over 200 pounds (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) 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]

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 (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) or less (although others weighed 200 pounds).

In 1920, the light heavyweight division was formed, with a maximum weight of 175 pounds (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb). Any fighter weighing more than 175 pounds was a heavyweight. The cruiserweight division (first for boxers in the 175-190 pound range) was established in 1979 and recognized by the various boxing organizations in the 1980s with a maximum weight of either 190 pounds (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) or 195 pounds (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb). Later these organizations increased the cruiserweight limit to 200 pounds.

Since 1975, the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States and the Soviet Sports Committee established a new concept in international boxing, called "Heavy Duals," an all-heavyweight team contest between the United States and the Soviet Union.[5]

As of 2020, Wladimir Klitschko holds record of most boxers beaten for the world heavyweight title, with 23.[6][7][8] Klitschko holds the record for the longest cumulative heavyweight title reign of all time, with 4,382 days as world heavyweight champion.[6][7] Joe Louis has won the most world heavyweight title bouts, with 27.[7] Louis holds the record for most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 26 defenses of the world title.[nb 1] This is also the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing history.[9] Michael Moorer, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev have held various versions of the title belts on three occasions. Four boxers have regained the heavyweight title in an immediate rematch: Floyd Patterson in 1960, Muhammad Ali in 1978, Lennox Lewis in 2001, and Anthony Joshua in 2019. Mike Tyson holds the record for being the youngest heavyweight to ever have achieve championship status, becoming champion at the age of 20. Tyson also became the first heavyweight to own all three major belts – WBA, WBC, and IBF as well as The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles at the same time.

As of June 27, 2020.[10]

Keys:

 C  Current The Ring world champion

Rank	Name	Record (W–L–D)	Title(s)
C	Tyson Fury	30–0–1 (21 KO)	WBC
1	Anthony Joshua	23–1 (21 KO)	IBF, WBA, WBO
2	Dillian Whyte	27–1 (18 KO)
3	Deontay Wilder	42–1–1 (41 KO)
4	Luis Ortiz	31–2 (26 KO)
5	Andy Ruiz Jr.	33–2 (22 KO)
6	Alexander Povetkin	35–2–1 (24 KO)
7	Joseph Parker	27–2 (21 KO)
8	Michael Hunter	18–1–1 (12 KO)
9	Oscar Rivas	26–1 (18 KO)
10	Kubrat Pulev	28–1 (14 KO)

Keys:

     Active title reign

     Reign has ended

Note 1: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Note 2: WBO heavyweight title bouts before August 1997 are not included[11]

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

As of 22 February 2020.

Pos.	Name	Combined reign	Days as champion	Number of reigns	Title recognition
1.	Wladimir Klitschko	12 years, 0 months, 0 days	4 382	2	WBA, IBF, WBO
2.	Joe Louis	11 years, 8 months, 8 days	4 270	1	NYSAC, NBA
3.	Muhammad Ali	9 years, 5 months, 5 days	3 443	3	NYSAC, WBA, WBC
4.	Lennox Lewis	8 years, 5 months, 13 days	3 086	3	WBA, WBC, IBF
5.	Vitali Klitschko	7 years, 5 months, 28 days	2 735	3	WBC, WBO
6.	Larry Holmes	7 years, 3 months, 12 days	2 661	1	WBC, IBF
7.	Jack Dempsey	7 years, 2 months, 19 days	2 638	1	NYSAC, NBA
8.	John L. Sullivan	7 years, 0 months, 10 days	2 566	1	lineal
9.	Jack Johnson	6 years, 3 months, 11 days	2 292	1	lineal
10.	Evander Holyfield	6 years, 1 month, 1 day	2 223	4	WBA, WBC, IBF
11.	James J. Jeffries	5 years, 11 months, 4 days	2 156	1	lineal
12.	Deontay Wilder	5 years, 1 months, 5 days	1 859	1	WBC
13.	Joe Frazier	4 years, 10 months, 18 days	1 785	1	NYSAC, WBA, WBC
14.	Floyd Patterson	4 years, 10 months, 0 days	1 765	2	NYSAC, NBA
15.	James J. Corbett	4 years, 6 months, 10 days	1 652	1	lineal

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. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Note: The names in italics are champions that did not win The Ring championship (1922–1989, 2002–)/lineal championship (1885–1921)/undisputed championship (1922–) during the reign

Pos.	Name	Title Reign	Title recognition
1.	Joe Louis	11 years, 8 months, 8 days	lineal
2.	Wladimir Klitschko	9 years, 7 months and 6 days	IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring)
3.	Larry Holmes	7 years, 3 months, 12 days	WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring/Lineal)
4.	Jack Dempsey	7 years, 2 months, 19 days	lineal
5.	John L. Sullivan	7 years, 0 months, 9 days	lineal
6.	Jack Johnson	6 years, 3 months, 10 days	lineal
7.	Muhammad Ali	5 years, 11 months, 9 days	The Ring/Lineal, (+WBA, WBC stripped)
8.	James J. Jeffries	5 years, 11 months, 4 days	lineal
9.	Vitali Klitschko	5 years, 2 months, 4 days	WBC
10.	Deontay Wilder	5 years, 1 month 5 days	WBC
11.	Joe Frazier	4 years, 10 months, 18 days	NYSAC (+WBA, WBC)
12.	James J. Corbett	4 years, 6 months, 10 days	lineal
13.	Jess Willard	4 years, 2 months, 29 days	lineal
14.	Lennox Lewis	4 years, 2 months, 15 days	WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring/Lineal)
15.	Rocky Marciano	3 years, 11 months, 29 days	lineal

The lower limit for heavyweight was established in 1948 at 81 kg (178.6 lb). A weight class named "super heavyweight" was established in 1984, and with it a maximum 91 kg (200.6 lb) for the heavyweight division.