Heavyweight
For the mixed martial arts division of the same name, see Heavyweight (MMA).Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in
boxing.
Because this division has no maximum weight limit, it has been historically vaguely defined. In the
19th century, for example, many
heavyweight champions weighed 170
pounds (77 kg) or less (although others weighed 200 pounds (91 kg) and more). In
1920, the minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds (79 kg), which today is the
light heavyweight division maximum. Today, for most boxing organizations, the minimum weight for a heavyweight is 201 pounds (91 kg). Thus, a fighter who weighs over 200 pounds (91 kg) may not fight as anything but a heavyweight.
It is impossible to say who the "first" heavyweight champion was, since the sport of boxing goes back as far as recorded history and there have always been large fighters. Even in the
bare-knuckle era, "champions" were plentiful. Some of the most notable of these included the
slave Tom Molineaux,
Jack Slack,
Jem Belcher,
Ben Caunt and
Jem Mace.
The first
heavyweight champion under the
Marquess of Queensberry rules was the immensely popular
John L. Sullivan, known as "The Boston Strong Boy." He weighed around 200 pounds (91 kg) when in shape and was a bare-knuckle champion. He was defeated by
Jim Corbett on
September 7,
1892 in 21 rounds. (Today title bouts are limited to 12 rounds, but not so in the early days.)
It should also be noted that in recent years, the heavywieght 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.
Some notable heavyweights have been:
*
John L. Sullivan, first heavyweight champion under modern rules
*
Jim Corbett*
Bob Fitzsimmons, first heavyweight champion from the UK.
*
James J. Jeffries, won undisputed title in his 12th fight
*
Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champ
*
Jack Dempsey*
Gene Tunney*
Max Schmeling only undisputed heavyweight champion to win the title by disqualification
*
Max Baer*
Joe Louis, who defended the title a record number 25 times
*
Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champ to retire undefeated
*
Floyd Patterson, the first heavyweight champ to regain the title, youngest undisputed champion and second youngest title claimant
*
Sonny Liston*
Muhammad Ali, held the heavyweight title three times
*
Joe Frazier*
George Foreman, who reclaimed the championship after a 10-year retirement to become the oldest heavyweight champion at 45
*
Larry Holmes defended title 20 times
*
Michael Spinks first light heavyweight champion to ever capture a heavyweight title
*
Mike Tyson youngest champion, unified title, defended 9 times
*
Evander Holyfield four time heavyweight champion (though some only count his first three titles)
*
Riddick Bowe*
Michael Moorer first southpaw heavyweight champion
*
Lennox Lewis, the first British champion in 100 years
*
Vitali Klitschko generally considered the last heavyweight champion though, arguably, John Ruiz held a better record as WBA champion and based on number of defences is a superior champion
Weight limit varied over the years. In 1984 super-heavyweight class was introduced as the unlimited category. Current super-heavyweight olympic class is 200.5+ lb (91+ kg) - equivalent to heavyweight division in professional boxing.
heavyweight
*
1904 Samuel Berger,
USA*
1908 A.L.Oldham,
Great Britain*
1920 Ronald Rawson, Great Britain
*
1924 Otto von Porat,
Norway*
1928 Arturo Rodriguez Jurado,
Argentina*
1932 Santiago Lovell, Argentina
*
1936 Herbert Runge,
Germany*
1948 Rafael Iglesias, Argentina
*
1952 H. Edward Sanders, USA
*
1956 Peter Rademacher, USA
*
1960 Franco De Piccolo,
Italy*
1964 Joe Frazier, USA
*
1968 George Foreman, USA
*
1972 Teofilo Stevenson,
Cuba*
1976 Teofilo Stevenson, Cuba
*
1980 Teofilo Stevenson, Cuba
*
1984 Henry Tillman, USA
*
1988 Ray Mercer, USA
*
1992 Felix Savon, Cuba
*
1996 Felix Savon, Cuba
*
2000 Felix Savon, Cuba
*
2004 Odlanier Solis Fonte, Cuba
super-heavyweight
*
1984 Tyrell Biggs, USA
*
1988 Lennox Lewis, Canada
*
1992 Roberto Balado, Cuba
*
1996 Wladimir Klitschko, Ukraine
*
2000 Audley Harrison, Great Britain
*
2004 Alexander Povetkin, Russia
*
Lineal heavyweight champions*
List of heavyweight boxing champions*
Boxing*
Boxing weight classes*
Reigning boxing champions
