Many light heavyweight champions unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight crown until Michael Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight championship. Interestingly, Bob Fitzsimmons captured the light heavyweight championship after losing his heavyweight championship. Two all time great Heavyweight Champions Ezzard Charles and Floyd Patterson started out as light heavyweights, Charles defeating Archie Moore and Joey Maxim several times in non-title bouts before becoming heavyweight champion, and Patterson losing to Joey Maxim (though some thought Patterson should have won the fight) before becoming heavyweight champion himself.
The current Light heavyweight Champion is Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins won the belt from Antonio Tarver, in a completely one-sided fight on June 10, 2006 in what was supposed to be the last match of his career.
