| Reign Began |
Reign Ended |
Champion |
Recognition |
| July 24, 1922 |
September 23, 1926 |
Jack Dempsey |
NYSAC & NBA |
| September 23, 1926 |
July 31, 1928 |
Gene Tunney |
NYSAC & NBA |
| June 12, 1930 |
January 7, 1931 |
Max Schmeling |
NYSAC & NBA |
| June 13, 1935 |
June 22, 1937 |
James J. Braddock |
NYSAC & NBA |
| June 22, 1937 |
March 1, 1949 |
Joe Louis |
NYSAC & NBA |
| September 27, 1950 |
July 18, 1951 |
Ezzard Charles |
NYSAC & NBA |
| July 18, 1951 |
September 23, 1952 |
Jersey Joe Walcott |
NYSAC & NBA |
| September 23, 1952 |
April 27, 1956 |
Rocky Marciano |
NYSAC & NBA |
| November 30, 1956 |
June 26, 1959 |
Floyd Patterson |
NYSAC & NBA |
| June 26, 1959 |
June 20, 1960 |
Ingemar Johansson |
NYSAC & NBA |
| June 20, 1960 |
September 25, 1962 |
Floyd Patterson |
NYSAC & NBA |
| September 25, 1962 |
February 25, 1964 |
Sonny Liston |
NYSAC & WBA |
| February 25, 1964 |
September 19, 1964 |
Muhammad Ali as Cassius Clay |
NYSAC, WBC & WBA |
- Ali was stripped of the WBA title in September 1964, after agreeing to an immediate rematch with Liston, which was against the body's rules at the time.
|
| February 6, 1967 |
April 28, 1967 |
Muhammad Ali |
NYSAC, WBC & WBA |
- Ali reunited the belts by beating WBA champion Ernie Terrell on February 6, 1967. He was stripped of the WBA belt on April 28, 1967 for refusing induction into the United States army, but retained recognition by the WBC until February 16, 1970.
|
| February 16, 1970 |
January 22, 1973 |
Joe Frazier |
NYSAC, WBC & WBA |
- On February 16, 1970, Frazier defeated Jimmy Ellis for Ellis' WBA belt and the vacant WBC belt. Frazier gained universal recognition by defeating Ali on March 8, 1971.
|
| January 22, 1973 |
October 30, 1974 |
George Foreman |
WBC & WBA |
| October 30, 1974 |
February 15, 1978 |
Muhammad Ali |
WBC & WBA |
| February 15, 1978 |
March 18, 1978 |
Leon Spinks |
WBC & WBA |
- Leon Spinks was stripped of the WBA belt for defending against Muhammad Ali instead of Ken Norton, who was their #1 contender.
|
| August 1, 1987 |
February 11, 1990 |
Mike Tyson |
WBC, WBA & IBF |
- Mike Tyson became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion by unifying his WBA and WBC, with Tony Tucker's IBF belt. The Ring Magazine later recognized him as champion on June 27, 1988.
|
| February 11, 1990 |
October 25, 1990 |
James "Buster" Douglas |
WBC, WBA & IBF |
| October 25, 1990 |
November 13, 1992 |
Evander Holyfield |
WBC, WBA & IBF |
| November 13, 1992 |
December 14, 1992 |
Riddick Bowe |
WBC, WBA & IBF |
- Bowe was stripped of his WBC championship for refusing to fight Lennox Lewis.
|
| November 13, 1999 |
April 29, 2000 |
Lennox Lewis |
WBC, WBA & IBF |
- Lennox Lewis became undisputed champion by defeating Evander Holyfield, successfully unifiying his WBC belt with Holyfield's WBA and IBF belts. With that victory, he was also awarded the vacant IBO title. Lewis was stripped of his WBA belt due to a contract dispute regarding a clause in the 2nd Holyfield contract which stipulated he must fight the WBA number 1 contender next. The number 1 contender at that time was Henry Akinwande but he was ill so John Ruiz was later moved up to number 1. The WBA gave Lewis permission under these circumstances to fight WBC ranked contender Michael Grant next as long as he agreed to fight Ruiz in the following bout. Lewis agreed but Ruiz's promoter challenged the WBA's decision in court.
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