What is the list of all past heavyweight champions?
Heavyweight ChampionsChampions John L. Sullivan 1885-92James J. Corbett 1892-97Bob Fitzsimmons 1897-99James J. Jeffries 1899-1905Jeffries Retired as Undefeated titlistMarvin Hart 1905-06Tommy Burns 1906-08Jack Johnson 1908-15Jess Willard 1915-19Jack Dempsey 1919-26Gene Tunney 1926-28Tunney Retired as the Undefeated titlistMax Schmeling 1930-32Jack Sharkey 1932-33Primo Carnera 1933-34Max Baer 1934-35James J. Braddock 1935-37Joe Louis 1937-49Louis retired as the undefeated titlistEzzard Charles 1949-51Jersey Joe Walcott 1951-52Rocky Marciano 1952-56Marciano retired as the Undefeated titlistFloyd Patterson 1956-59Ingemar Johansson 1959-60Floyd Patterson 1960-62Sonny Liston 1962-64Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) 1964-67Ernie Terrell (WBA) 1965-67Controvery: Ali Stripted of title and later agrees to RetireJoe Frazier 1968-70Jimmy Ellis 1968-70Joe Frazier 1970-73George Foreman 1973-74Muhammad Ali 1974-78Leon Spinks 1978Muhammad Ali Regains title (WBA)Ken Norton (WBC) 1978Larry Holmes (WBC) 1978-80Muhammad Ali 1978-79John Tate (WBA) 1979-80Mike Weaver (WBA) 1980-82Larry Holmes 1980-85Michael Dokes (WBA) 1982-83Gerrie Coetzee (WBA) 1983-84Tim Witherspoon (WBC) 1984Pinklon Thomas (WBC) 1984-86Greg Page (WBA) 1984-85Michael Spinks 1985-87Tim Witherspoon (WBA) 1986Trevor Berbick (WBC) 1986Mike Tyson (WBC) 1986-87James (Bonecrusher) Smith (WBA) 1986-87Tony Tucker (IBF) 1987Mike Tyson (WBC, WBA, IBF) 1987-90Buster Douglas (WBC, WBA, IBF) 1990Evander Holyfield (WBC, WBA, IBF) 1990-92Riddick Bowe (WBA, IBF) 1992-93Lennox Lewis (WBC) 1992-94Evander Holyfield (WBA, IBF) 1993-94Michael Moorer (WBA, IBF) 1994Oliver McCall (WBC) 1994-95George Foreman (WBA, IBF) 1994-95Bruce Seldon (WBA) 1995-96George Foreman 1995-96Frans Botha (IBF) 1995-96Frank Bruno (WBC) 1995-96Mike Tyson (WBC) 1996Mike Tyson (WBA) 1996Michael Moorer (IBF) 1996-1997Evander Holyfield (WBA, IBF) 1996-2000Lennox Lewis (WBC) 1997-2000Lennox Lewis (WBA, WBC, IBF) 2000Evander Holyfield (WBA) 2000-01Lennox Lewis (WBC, IBF) 2000-01John Ruiz (WBA) 2001-03Hasim Rahman (WBC, IBF) 2001Lennox Lewis (IBF) 2001-02Lennox Lewis (WBC) 2001-04Roy Jones Jr. (WBA) 2003Chris Byrd (IBF) 2003-Vitali Klitschko (WBC) 2004-John Ruiz (WBA) 2003-More than a century of Heavyweight Lineage(1892 to 2004) by: Mikhail KaztrovJohn L. Sullivan was recognized as boxing's first modern world heavyweight champion (1882 to 1892).1892 James J Corbett beat John L Sullivan1895 Pete Maher beats Steve O'Donnell - awarded by Jim Corbett upon his retirement****1896 Bob Fitzsimmons beat Peter Maher1897 Bob Fitzsimmons beat James J Corbett (real World championship)1899 James Jeffries beat Bob Fitzsimmons1905 James Jeffries refused to give Johnson a chance at the title despite the fact that Jack Johnson was at the time the preeminent challenger.Jeffries adhered to a colorline that then existed in professional boxing regarding the heavyweight championship. Jeffries unwilling to give Johnson a chance for the title, decided instead to retire undefeated in May of 1905###.He served as a referee for the next few years, including the bout in which Marvin Hart defeated Jack Root to stake a claim at Jeffries' vacated title.###This information on Jeffries may not be accurate1905 Marvin Hart beat Jack Root to win the World Heavyweight Title.1906 Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart1908 Jack Johnson beats Tommy Burns; bout halted by the police, per prior agreement; decision awarded by the referee ***Police pre-determination here needs better reference material, please.Hart & Burns winning the title were disputed by some because of its legitamicay and succession of title but nevertheless considered as Heavyweight Champions of the world.1910 Jack Johnson beat James Jeffries after a 5 year hiatus/ this bout has nothing what-so-ever to do with Championship Changeing hands1915 Jess Willard beats Jack Johnson1919 Jack Dempsey beats Jess Willard1927 Gene Tunney beats Jack Dempsey1928 Gene Tunney beats Tom Heeney; Tunney announced his retirement from boxing a few days later.1929 Title vacant1930 Max Schmeling beat Jack Sharkey for the vacant World Heavyweight Title.1932 Jack Sharkey beat Max Schmeling1933 Primo Carnera beat Jack Sharkey1934 Max Baer beat Primo Carnera1935 James Braddock beat Max Baer for the NYSAC and NBA World Heavyweight Titles1937 Joe Louis beat Jim Braddock; After a record 25 successful title defenses, Louis Retired as the Undisputed, Undefeated titlist.1950 Ezzard Charles beat Jersey Joe Walcott to fill vacant title (The Comebacking Joe Louis would lose to Charles in one of Charles Title defenses)1951 Jersey Joe Walcott beat Ezzard Charles1951 Ezzard Charles beat Jersey Joe Walcott (false entry)1952 Rocky Marciano beat Jersey Joe Walcott1955 Rocky Marciano beat Archie Moore in Marciano's final Match1955 Rocky Marciano retired from boxing and holds the distinction of being the only Heavyweight Champion of the World to retire undefeated.Lineage broken (What's this, "Lineage broken" suppossed to mean?)1956 Floyd Patterson beat Archie Moore for the vacant World Heavyweight Title.1959 Ingemar Johannesen beat Floyd Patterson1961 Floyd Patterson beat Ingemar Johannesen1962 Sonny Liston beat Floyd Patterson1964 Cassius Clay(Muhammad Ali) beats Sonny Liston1967 Muhammad Ali beat Zora Folley in defense. Due to legal troubles, Muhammad Ali would not fight for the next three years.He officially retired in 1970 to allow the winner of the upcoming Joe Frazier-Jimmy Ellis unification bout to be considered the undisputed champion1968 Jimmy Ellis won the vacant WBA title from Jerry Quarry1970 Joe Frazier beat Jimmy Ellis for the Undisputed titles1971 Joe Frazier beats Muhammad Ali (Title Defense with much Hup-La)1973 George Foreman beats Joe Frazier1974 Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman for the Undisputed Heavyweight titles.1978 Leon Spinks beat Ali1978 Ali beat Leon Spinks, now only for the WBA Title(Ali Retired)John Tate won in box off for WBA Title;Ken Norton won in box off for the WBC Title;Larry Holmes took the WBC Title from Ken NortonHolmes relinquished the WBC Title;The newly established IBF gave recognition to Larry Holmes, already a popular Champion; History yet needs developement here on the split-up of the hvywt. Championship.1985 Michael Spinks beat Holmes1988 Mike Tyson beat Trevor Berbick for his first Championship, Uniting with Tony Tucker And James (Bonecrusher) Smith and finally uniting with Michael Spinks.Tucker had won Championship that was Vacant in box-off with James Douglas;Smith had won title in shocking fashion with Ko 1 over Tim Witherspoon;1990 James Douglas beat Tyson1990 Evander Holyfield beat Douglas1992 Riddick Bowe beat Holyfield1993 Evander Holyfield beat Bowe1994 Michael Moorer beat Holyfield1994 George Foreman beat Moorer1997 Shannon Briggs beat Foreman**1998 Lennox Lewis beat Briggs*2001 Hasim Rahman beat Lewis2001 Lennox Lewis beat Rahman2003 Lennox Lewis (final match came against Vitali Klitschko), retired.***Oliver McCall is just one of the missing links in this Historical display. And, WBO History needs to be developed 1st champion was Francesco Damiani of Italy. Ray Mercer; Tommy Morrison; Michael Bentt, Herbie Hide, Riddick Bowe, Henry Akinwande, Vitali And his brother Wladimir Klitschko, Corrie Sanders, Serguei Lyakhovich, Shannon Briggs and Sultan Ibragimov are names to be included along that line. Granted, the WBO was at first considered a Weak-link; Holmes also was a WBO Champ* please double check/ bout with Ray Mercer was advertised as so but possible Admin problems took the sanctioning from that. There also is some hidden history joins around WWII that are worth while investigations. I mean, just because a Champion doesn't make Noice when he is not recognized properly is that reason to disallow an Official claim?Lennox Lewis was the last Heavyweight undisputed Champion of the world. Lineage broken.2004:WBA Champion - Roy Jones Jr. - John RuizWBC Champion - Vitali KlistchkoIBF Champion - Chris ByrdWBO Champion - Wladimir Klitschko2005:WBA Champion - John Ruiz(*James Toney)WBC Champion - Vitali KlitschkoIBF Champion - Chris ByrdWBO Champion - Lamon Brewster2006:WBA Champion - Nicolay ValuevWBC Champion - Hasim RahmanIBF Champion - Chris ByrdWBO Champion - Serguei Lyakhovich2007:WBA Champion - Ruslan ChagaevWBC Champion - Oleg MaskaevIBF Champion - Vladamir KlitschkoWBO Champion - Shanon Briggs-Sultan IbragimovThe three Heavywt. title holders (2010) Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko and England's David Haye - Only the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF Need Be recognized.I take the following from the 2010 RING Magazine Almanac. Please Note the Codes I have used as these will beter define entries. Codes are listed after the body of work.Aug. 29,1885 John L. Sullivan W6 Dominick McCaffrey, Cincinnati (Wins Vacant World Title) ##Sept. 7, 1892 James J. Corbett KO 21 John L. Sullivan, at New Orleans #3March 17, 1897 Bob Fitzsimmons KO 14 James J. Corbett, Carson City, NV. #3June 9, 1899 James J. Jeffries KO 11 Bob Fitzsimmons, Brooklyn, NY #3 -retirement-July 3, 1905 Marvin Hart KO 12 Jack Root, Reno, NV (Wins Vacant World Title) #3Feb. 23, 1906 Tommy Burns W 20 Marvin Hart, Los Angeles #3Dec. 26, 1908 Jack Johnson KO 14 Tommy Burns, Sydney, Australia #3April 5, 1915 Jess Willard KO 26 Jack Johnson, Havana #3July 4, 1919 Jack Dempsey KO 4 Jess Willard, Toledo, OH #3Sept. 23, 1926 Gene Tunney W 10 Jack Dempsey, Philadelphia, Pa. #3 -retirement-June 12, 1930 Max Schmelling W. disq. 4 Jack Sharkey, at Bronx, NY (Wins Vacant World Title) #3June 21, 1932 Jack Sharkey W 15 Max Schmelling, Long Is. City, NY #3June 29, 1933 Primo Carnera KO 6 Jack Sharkey, Long Is. City, NY #3June 14, 1934 Max Baer KO 11 Primo Carnera, Long Is. City, NY #3June 13, 1935 James J Bradock W 15 Max Baer, Long Is. City, NY #3June 22, 1937 Joe Louis KO 8 James J. Bradock, Chicago #3 -retirement-Louis sets and still holds today record for number of Hvywt. title defenses (25)June 22, 1949 Ezzard Charles W 15 Jersey Joe Walcott, Chicago (Wins Vacant World Title) #3July 18, 1951 Jersey Joe Walcott KO 7 Ezzard Charles, Pittsburgh #3Sept. 23, 1952 Rocky Marciano KO 13 Jersey Joe Walcott, Philadelphia, Pa. #3 -retirement-Nov. 30, 1956 Floyd Patterson KO 5 Archie Moore, Chicago (Wins Vacant World Title) #3June 26, 1959 Ingemar Johansson KO 3 Floyd Patterson, at Bronx #3June 20, 1960 Floyd Patterson KO 5 Ingemar Johansson, New York, NY(-first to regain World Hvywt. Championship-) #3Sept. 25, 1962 Charles (Sonny) Liston KO 1 Floyd Patterson, Chicago #3Feb. 25, 1964 Cassius Clay KO 7 Charles (Sonny) Liston, Miami Beach, Fl.(Clay soon after changes religion to Islam, and changes name to -Muhammad Ali-)#3March 5, 1965 Ernie Terrell W15 Eddie Machen, Chicago (Wins Vacant WBA Title)Feb. 6, 1967 Muhammad Ali W 15 Ernie Terrell -one sidedly- Houston (Unifies Championship) #3March 4, 1968 Joe Frazier KO 11 Buster Mathis, New York, NY (Wins Vacant New York World Title; this is a reverse of earlier. amateur. US Olympic trials Competitions) #3April 27, 1968 Jimmy Ellis W 15 "Irish" Jerry Quarry, Oakland, Ca. (end of fame 8 man tournament; Wins Vacant WBA World title) #3Feb. 16, 1970 Joe Frazier "Smokes"/ KO 5 Jimmy Ellis, New York, NY (Unifies World title) #3Jan. 22, 1973 George Foreman KO 2 Joe Frazier, Kingston, Jamaica #3Oct. 30, 1974 Muhammad Ali - Hugh Underdog- KO 8 Foreman, Kinshasa, Zaire #3Feb. 15, 1978 Leon Spinks (One fight past having -Drawn- against Scott LeDoux) W 15 Muhammad Ali, Las Vegas #3Record of date is March 29, 1978 based-on Ken's Split decision win against Jimmy Young on Nov. 5, 1977 and then Leon Spinks insistence to grant the great Ali rematch rather than face No.1 Mandated contender, Norton. (WBC Championship) #5June 9, 1978 Larry Holmes W 15 Ken Norton, Las Vegas (Wins WBC Title) -Bout Recognized as one of the "Greater" Hvywt. Championship battles - of-all-time- #3Sept. 15, 1978 Muhammad Ali W 15 Leon Spinks, New Orleans (Regains WBA Title and -some will say- has the "Popular" backing) #3Oct. 20, 1979 John Tate W 15 Gerrie Coetzee, at Pretoria, S.A. (Wins Vacant WBA Title, tournament)March 31, 1980 Mike Weaver KO 15 John Tate, Knoxville, TN (behind on points, Weaver wins by "clean" KO with less than one min. left in Contest; Wins WBA Title) #3Dec. 10, 1982 Michael Dokes KO 1 Mike Weaver, Las Vegas (Wins WBA Title; bout is a controversial stopage and the two soon rematch, resulting is a 'Draw' verdict w/ Dokes retain Championship) #3Sept. 23, 1983 Gerrie Coetzee KO 10 Michael Dokes, Richfield, OH (Wins WBA Title) #3March 9, 1984 Tim Witherspoon W12 Greg Page, Las Vegas (Wins Vacant WBC Title which Larry Holmes had relinquished)Date Need: Larry Holmes "bestowed" World Champ by the start up group of the International Boxing FederationAugust 31, 1984 Pinklon Thomas W 12 Tim Witherspoon, Las Vegas (Wins WBC Title) #3Dec. 1, 1984 Greg Page KO 8 Gerrie Coetzee, Sun City, S.A. (Wins WBA Title), #3April 29, 1985 Tony Tubbs W 15 Greg Page, Buffalo, NY (Wins WBA Title/ reversal of a multi-fight series from amateurs) #3Sept. 21, 1985 Michael Spinks W 15 Larry Holmes, Las Vegas (Wins IBF Title; first light-hvywt. Champ in history to -advance-) #3Jan. 17, 1986 Tim Witherspoon W 15 Tony Tubbs, Atlanta (Wins WBA Title) #3(just -note- Jan 17 the date of this fight, Muhammad Ali has his 44th b'date)March 22, 1986 Trevor Berbick W 12 Pinklon Thomas, Las Vegas (Wins WBC Title; Berbick, -late- of this Entry had previously tryed for championship going 15 r. with champ Holmes & had exceptional ring endurance/ success with his other substantial Competitions) #3Nov. 22, 1986 Mike Tyson (becomes Youngest Hvywt. Champ in History) KO 2 Trevor Berbick, Las Vagas (Wins WBC Title) #3Dec. 12, 1986 James (Bonecrusher)Smith KO 1 Tim Witherspoon, New York, NY This is a reverse of a previous meeting where Witherspoon had Outpointed "Bonecrusher". Witherspoon blames personal out-of-the-ring 'problems' on interference with his concentration; Title Changes Possession -WBA World Championship- #3March 7, 1987 Mike Tyson W 12 James (Bonecrusher) Smith, Las Vegas (Wins WBA Title; Bout Critisized as a 'very-boreing-affair') #3March 30, 1987 Tony Tucker KO 10 James (Buster) Douglas, Las Vegas (Wins Vacant IBF Title; Douglas, -in losing- "Serves Notice") #3Aug. 1, 1987 Mike Tyson W 12 Tony Tucker, Las Vegas (in a Very, Very Close fight, Tyson 'Nips' it Winning IBF Title and Unifying World Titles) #3Feb. 11, 1990 James (Buster) Douglas -Greatest Upset in Heavyweight Boxing history til then and Since- KO 10 Mike Tyson, Tokyo (Wins Unified World title) #3--& I moved to Beltsville, MD just outside of Washington, DC and sought work at a White-out Mfg. Co with "hope" to have the perfect record of my friend, Mike Tyson, restored (True Story) --Fight was bit Odd, and controversal----Oct. 25, 1990 Evander Holyfield KO 3 James (Buster) Douglas, Las Vegas (Unmotivated and in reverse Psychologically, Douglas lays down like a Lamb and to this very hour, Regrets the date he went up against the Warrior, Holyfield, w/o fire and w/o motivation. Who knows why, but...This Guy Douglas, and whom-we-all-know, Riddick Boxing People refere to time and again as the "Nicest Persons" in all of Sport) #3Nov. 13, 1992 Riddick Bowe W 12 Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas (Wins World Title) #3Nov. 6, 1993 Evander Holyfield W 12 Riddick Bowe, Las Vegas (Bowe, expected to win the rematch more easy than 1st match is interupted by the bizar, "Fan Man" Episode; Holyfield shows his Greatness to Win this fight; WBA/IBF Titles Regained) #3April 22, 1994 Michael Moorer W 12 Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas (Wins WBA/IBF Titles)#3Sept. 24, 1994 Oliver McCall KO 2 Lennox Lewis, London (Wins WBC Title in Upset) #3Nov. 5, 1994 George Foreman KO 10 Michael Moorer, Las Vegas George, already having tryed against Holyfield and done 'Splendid' though he -lost- Wasn't Expected to Win and Came thru in World Shocking result/ not as big a shock as his loss to Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire years-ago, however (Wins WBA and IBF) #3April 8, 1995 Bruce Seldon KO 7 Tony Tucker, Las Vegas (Wins Vacant WBA) #3Sept. 2, 1995 Frank Bruno W 12 Oliver McCall, London (Wins WBC) #3Dec. 9, 1995 Frans Botha W 12 Axel Schulz, Stuttgart, Germany (Wins Vacant IBF Title; Please -research- was this decison Nolled??****)March 16, 1996 Mike Tyson KO 3 Frank Bruno, Las Vegas (WBC Title Regained) #3--Bruno expected to be -much stronger- than show--June 22, 1996 Michael Moorer W 12 Axel Schulz, Dortmund, Germany (Regained Vacant IBF Title;Schulz, though never quite a World champion is one of the best in Hvywt. division during this time frame and will be remembered in Hvywt. boxing History for a long-time-to-come) #3Sept. 7, 1996 Mike Tyson KO 1 Bruce Seldon, Las Vegas (Regains WBA Title %check please admin. this should be a Unification) #3Nov. 9, 1996 Evander Holyfield KO 11 Mike Tyson, Las Vegas (Regains WBA Title) #3Feb. 7, 1997 Lennox Lewis KO 5 Oliver McCall, Las Vegas (Regains Vacant WBC Title)#3Nov. 8, 1997 Evander Holyfield KO 8 Michael Moorer, Las Vegas (Regains IBF Title)#3To be Continued #3 = "No Controvery" as far as Historical record and its Standing;## "Check this deeper" because, I believe there is more to it. #5 Ring Magazine does not even show this info in their Record/ which, in My Book is just another sign of the Editors Incompetence with boxing history & Theory and More Juice for my Organization The United WBCAFO-I (We Sanctify between 1st and 2nd Eschelons; "Ring" has only an Insane approach! these guys are "pro' with the Publishing Industry I give 'em that much but when it comes to the boxing, while, "Yes" they are "busy bees" these people soe Confusion more than they -fix-). I'll be back after i -repair- a little bit to finish this.
