Championship Fights

Heavyweight

1885-1892
John L. Sullivan

07-09-1892
James J. Corbett KO21 John L. Sullivan
25-01-1894
James J. Corbett KO3 Charlie Mitchell

31-10-1897
Bob Fitzsimmons KO14 James J. Corbett

09-06-1899
James J. Jeffries KO11 Bob Fitzsimmons
03-11-1899
James J. Jeffries PTS25 Tom Sharkey
06-04-1900
James J. Jeffries KO1 John Finnegan
11-05-1900
James J. Jeffries KO23 James J. Corbett
15-11-1901
James J. Jeffries TKO6 Gus Ruhlin
25-07-1902
James J. Jeffries KO8 Bob Fitzsimmons
14-08-1903
James J. Jeffries TKO10 James J. Corbett
26-08-1904
James J. Jeffries TKO2 Jack Munroe

Jeffries announced his retirement and vacated the heavyweight championship in May 1905, although he would make a comeback in 1910 to challenge Jack Johnson for the title. In July 1905, Jeffries refereed a contest between Marvin Hart and Jack Root and declared the winner as the new heavyweight champion.

03-07-1905
Marvin Hart KO12 Jack Root

23-02-1906
Tommy Burns W20 Marvin Hart
02-10-1906
Tommy Burns KO15 Fireman Jim Flynn
28-11-1906
Tommy Burns D20 Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
08-05-1907
Tommy Burns PTS20 Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
04-07-1907
Tommy Burns KO1 Bill Squires
02-12-1907
Tommy Burns KO10 Gunner Moir
10-02-1908
Tommy Burns KO4 Jack Palmer
17-03-1908
Tommy Burns KO1 Jem Roche
18-04-1908
Tommy Burns KO5 Jewey Smith
13-06-1908
Tommy Burns KO8 Bill Squires
24-08-1908
Tommy Burns KO13 Bill Squires
03-09-1908
Tommy Burns KO6 Bill Lang

26-12-1908
Jack Johnson TKO14 Tommy Burns
19-05-1909
Jack Johnson ND6 Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
09-09-1909
Jack Johnson PTS10 Al Kaufman
16-10-1909
Jack Johnson KO12 Stanley Ketchel
04-07-1910
Jack Johnson KO15 James J. Jeffries
04-07-1912
Jack Johnson DQ9 Fireman Jim Flynn
19-12-1913
Jack Johnson D10 Battling Jim Johnson
27-06-1914
Jack Johnson PTS20 Frank Moran

05-04-1915
Jess Willard KO26 Jack Johnson
25-03-1916
Jess Willard PTS10 Frank Moran

04-07-1919
Jack Dempsey TKO3 Jess Willard
06-09-1920
Jack Dempsey KO3 Billy Miske
14-12-1920
Jack Dempsey KO12 Bill Brennan
02-07-1921
Jack Dempsey KO4 Georges Carpentier
04-07-1923
Jack Dempsey PTS15 Tommy Gibbons
14-09-1923
Jack Dempsey KO2 Luis Firpo

23-09-1926
Gene Tunney PTS10 Jack Dempsey
22-09-1927
Gene Tunney PTS10 Jack Dempsey
26-07-1928
Gene Tunney TKO11 Tom Heeney

 

Tunney announced his retirement in August 1928. A “Box-off” between Jack Sharkey and Young Stribling, with the winner to fight Dempsey for the vacant title, was planned by promoter Tex Rickard until his sudden death in January 1929. Sharkey defeated Stribling and then stopped Light Heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran and British Empire champion Phil Scott while Max Schmeling defeated Johnny Risko and Paulino Uzcudun to emerge as the top two contenders and an arrangement was made for these two to fight for the vacant title.

12-06-1930
Max Schmeling DQ4 Jack Sharkey
03-07-1931
Max Schmeling TKO15 Young Stribling

21-06-1932
Jack Sharkey PTS15 Max Schmeling

29-06-1933
Primo Carnera KO6 Jack Sharkey
22-10-1933
Primo Carnera PTS15 Paulino Uzcuden
01-03-1934
Primo Carnera PTS15 Tommy Loughran

14-06-1934
Max Baer TKO11 Primo Carnera

13-06-1935
Jim Braddock PTS15 Max Baer

22-06-1937
Joe Louis KO8 Jim Braddock
30-08-1937
Joe Louis PTS15 Tommy Farr
23-02-1938
Joe Louis KO3 Nathan Mann
01-04-1938
Joe Louis KO5 Harry Thomas
22-06-1938
Joe Louis KO1 Max Schmeling
25-01-1939
Joe Louis KO1 John Henry Lewis
17-04-1939
Joe Louis KO1 Jack Roper
28-06-1939
Joe Louis TKO4 Tony Galento
20-09-1939
Joe Louis KO11 Bob Pastor
09-02-1940
Joe Louis PTS15 Arturo Godoy
29-03-1940
Joe Louis TKO2 Johnny Paycheck
20-06-1940
Joe Louis TKO8 Arturo Godoy
16-12-1940
Joe Louis TKO5 Al McCoy
31-01-1941
Joe Louis KO5 Red Burman
17-02-1941
Joe Louis KO2 Gus Dorazio
21-03-1941
Joe Louis TKO13 Abe Simon
08-04-1941
Joe Louis TKO9 Tony Musto
23-05-1941
Joe Louis DQ7 Buddy Baer
18-06-1941
Joe Louis KO13 Billy Conn
29-09-1941
Joe Louis TKO6 Lou Nova
09-01-1942
Joe Louis KO1 Buddy Baer
27-03-1942
Joe Louis TKO6 Abe Simon
29-06-1946
Joe Louis KO8 Billy Conn
18-09-1946
Joe Louis KO1 Tami Mauriello
05-12-1947
Joe Louis PTS15 Jersey Joe Walcott
25-06-1948
Joe Louis KO11 Jersey Joe Walcott

Louis announced his retirement in March 1949. Ezzard Charles was recognised as the heavyweight champion by the National Boxing Association after defeating Jersey Joe Walcott in June 1949. Britain recognised Lee Savold following his win over Bruce Woodcock in June 1950. Charles won the lineal championship after defeating Louis in June 1950, and was also recognised as champion by New York, although Britain recognised Savold until his loss to Louis in June 1951.

27-09-1950
Ezzard Charles PTS15 Joe Louis
05-12-1950
Ezzard Charles KO11 Nick Barone
12-01-1951
Ezzard Charles TKO10 Lee Oma
07-03-1951
Ezzard Charles PTS15 Jersey Joe Walcott
30-05-1951
Ezzard Charles PTS15 Joey Maxim

18-07-1951
Jersey Joe Walcott KO7 Ezzard Charles
05-06-1952
Jersey Joe Walcott PTS15 Ezzard Charles

23-09-1952
Rocky Marciano KO13 Jersey Joe Walcott
15-05-1953
Rocky Marciano KO1 Jersey Joe Walcott
24-09-1953
Rocky Marciano TKO11 Roland LaStarza
17-06-1954
Rocky Marciano PTS15 Ezzard Charles
17-09-1954
Rocky Marciano KO8 Ezzard Charles
16-05-1955
Rocky Marciano TKO9 Don Cockell
21-09-1955
Rocky Marciano KO9 Archie Moore

Marciano announced his retirement in April 1956. Floyd Patterson defeated top contenders Tommy Jackson and Archie Moore to gain universal recognition.

30-11-1956
Floyd Patterson KO5 Archie Moore
29-07-1957
Floyd Patterson TKO10 Tommy Jackson
22-08-1957
Floyd Patterson KO6 Pete Rademacher
18-08-1958
Floyd Patterson TKO12 Roy Harris
01-05-1959
Floyd Patterson KO11 Brian London

26-06-1959
Ingemar Johansson TKO3 Floyd Patterson

20-06-1960
Floyd Patterson KO5 Ingemar Johansson
13-03-1961
Floyd Patterson KO6 Ingemar Johansson
25-09-1962
Floyd Patterson KO4 Tom McNeeley

25-09-1962
Sonny Liston KO1 Floyd Patterson
22-07-1963
Sonny Liston KO1 Floyd Patterson

25-02-1964
Cassius Clay TKO6 Sonny Liston
25-05-1965
Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) KO1 Sonny Liston
22-11-1965
Muhammad Ali TKO12 Floyd Patterson
29-03-1966
Muhammad Ali PTS15 George Chuvalo
21-05-1966
Muhammad Ali TKO6 Henry Cooper
06-08-1966
Muhammad Ali KO3 Brian London
10-09-1966
Muhammad Ali TKO12 Karl Mildenberger
14-11-1966
Muhammad Ali TKO3 Cleveland Williams
06-02-1967
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Ernie Terrell
22-03-1967
Muhammad Ali KO7 Zora Folley

In June 1967 Ali was convicted of draft evasion. The WBA and NYSAC stripped him of his titles immediately, and later the WBC followed suit. The NYSAC recognised Joe Frazier as their champion after he defeated Buster Mathis, while Jimmy Ellis defeated Jerry Quarry in the final of an eight-man eliminator for the WBA title. Ali announced his retirement in 1970 so a fight between Frazier and Ellis, also for the WBC title, would see an undisputed champion crowned.

16-02-1970
Joe Frazier TKO4 Jimmy Ellis
18-11-1970
Joe Frazier KO2 Bob Foster
08-03-1971
Joe Frazier PTS15 Muhammad Ali
15-01-1972
Joe Frazier TKO4 Terry Daniels
25-05-1972
Joe Frazier TKO4 Ron Stander

22-01-1973
George Foreman TKO2 Joe Frazier
01-09-1973
George Foreman KO1 Jose Roman
26-03-1974
George Foreman TKO2 Ken Norton

30-10-1974
Muhammad Ali KO8 George Foreman
24-03-1975
Muhammad Ali TKO15 Chuck Wepner
16-05-1975
Muhammad Ali TKO11 Ron Lyle
30-06-1975
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Joe Bugner
01-10-1975
Muhammad Ali TKO14 Joe Frazier
20-02-1976
Muhammad Ali KO5 Jean-Pierre Coopman
30-04-1976
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Jimmy Young
24-05-1976
Muhammad Ali TKO5 Richard Dunn
28-09-1976
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Ken Norton
16-05-1977
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Alfredo Evangelista
29-09-1977
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Earnie Shavers

15-02-1978
Leon Spinks PTS15 Muhammad Ali

15-09-1978
Muhammad Ali PTS15 Leon Spinks

In June 1979 Ali announced his retirement. The WBC stripped Spinks of their title for his refusal to fight Ken Norton. Holmes defeated Norton for the WBC title, while John Tate won the WBA title in Octoner 1979. Holmes defeated Ali for the lineal championship in October 1980.

02-10-1980
Larry Holmes TKO10 Muhammad Ali
11-04-1981
Larry Holmes PTS15 Trevor Berbick
12-06-1981
Larry Holmes TKO3 Leon Spinks
06-11-1981
Larry Holmes TKO11 Renaldo Snipes
11-06-1982
Larry Holmes TKO13 Gerry Cooney
26-11-1982
Larry Holmes PTS15 Randall Cobb
27-03-1983
Larry Holmes PTS12 Lucien Rodriguez
20-05-1980
Larry Holmes PTS15 Tim Witherspoon
10-09-1983
Larry Holmes TKO5 Scott Frank
25-11-1983
Larry Holmes TKO1 Marvis Frazier
09-11-1984
Larry Holmes TKO12 James Smith
15-03-1985
Larry Holmes TKO10 David Bey
20-05-1985
Larry Holmes PTS15 Carl Williams

21-09-1985
Michael Spinks PTS15 Larry Holmes
19-04-1986
Michael Spinks PTS15 Larry Holmes
06-09-1986
Michael Spinks TKO4 Steffan Tangstad
15-06-1987
Michael Spinks TKO5 Gerry Cooney

27-06-1988
Mike Tyson KO1 Michael Spinks
25-02-1989
Mike Tyson TKO5 Frank Bruno
21-07-1989
Mike Tyson TKO1 Carl Williams

11-02-1990
James Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson

25-10-1990
Evander Holyfield KO3 James Douglas
19-04-1991
Evander Holyfield PTS12 George Foreman
23-11-1991
Evander Holyfield TKO7 Bert Cooper
19-06-1992
Evander Holygield PTS12 Larry Holmes

13-11-1992
Riddick Bowe PTS12 Evander Holyfield
26-02-1993
Riddick Bowe TKO1 Michael Dokes
22-05-1993
Riddick Bowe KO2 Jesse Ferguson

06-11-1993
Evander Holyfield PTS12 Riddick Bowe

22-04-1994
Michael Moorer PTS12 Evander Holyfield

05-11-1994
George Foreman KO10 Michael Moorer
22-04-1995
George Foreman PTS12 Axel Schulz
03-11-1996
George Foreman PTS12 Crawford Grimsley
26-04-1997
George Foreman PTS12 Lou Savarese

22-11-1997
Shannon Briggs PTS12 George Foreman

28-03-1998
Lennox Lewis TKO5 Shannon Briggs
26-09-1998
Lennox Lewis PTS12 Zelijko Mavrovic
13-03-1999
Lennox Lewis D12 Evander Holyfield
13-11-1999
Lennox Lewis PTS12 Evander Holyfield
29-04-2000
Lennox Lewis KO2 Michael Grant
15-07-2000
Lennox Lewis TKO2 Frans Botha
11-11-2000
Lennox Lewis PTS12 David Tua

22-04-2001
Hasim Rahman KO5 Lennox Lewis

17-11-2001
Lennox Lewis KO4 Hasim Rahman
08-06-2002
Lennox Lewis KO8 Mike Tyson
21-06-2003
Lennox Lewis TKO6 Vitali Klitschko

In February 2004, Lewis announced his retirement. The WBA and IBF had stripped Lewis of their belts prior to his retirement, naming John Ruiz and Chris Byrd as their champions, respectively. Vitali Klitschko won the vacant WBC title from Corrie Sanders, who had previously taken the WBO title from Wladimir Klitschko. Ruiz lost his title to Roy Jones jnr, who moved back to light heavyweight, while Byrd lost his title to Wladimir Klitschko. The Klitschko brothers would never fight each other, leaving the lineal championship vacant. Vitali retired due to injury in 2005, but returned in 2008, regaining the WBC title and holding it until 2012. John Ruiz regained the WBA title, losing it to Nicolay Valuev, who lost it to David Haye, who lost it to Wladimir Klitschko. After Vitali’s retirement in 2012, Wladimir defeated top contender Alexander Povetkin to re-establish the lineal championship.

05-10-2013
Wladimir Klitschko PTS12 Alexander Povetkin
26-04-2014
Wladimir Klitschko TKO5 Alex Leapai
15-11-2014
Wladimir Klitschko KO5 Kubrat Pulev
25-04-2015
Wladimir Klitschko PTS12 Bryant Jennings

28-11-2015
Tyson Fury PTS12 Wladimir Klitschko

Fury vacated his titles in October 2016 due to a pending anti-doping investigation and a mental health breakdown.