Heavyweight

For other uses, see Heavyweight (disambiguation).

Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.

Boxing

Boxers who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation,[1] the World Boxing Association,[2] the World Boxing Council,[3] and the World Boxing Organization.[4]

For most boxing organizations, the maximum weight for a cruiserweight is 200 pounds. Thus, a fighter whose weight is over 200 lb (14 st 3 lb, 90 kg) may not fight as anything but a heavyweight.

Joe Louis holds the record for most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 25 defenses of the Universal title. This is also the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing history.

Historical development

Because this division had no weight limit, it has been historically vaguely defined. In the 19th century, for example, many heavyweight champions weighed 170 pounds (12 st 2 lb, 77 kg) or less (although others weighed 200 pounds).

The first heavyweight champion under the Marquess of Queensberry rules was John L. Sullivan, known as "The Boston Strong Boy". He weighed around 200 pounds when in shape and was a bare-knuckle champion. He was defeated by Jim Corbett on September 7, 1892, in 21 rounds.

In 1920, the minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds (12 st 7 lb, 79 kg), which today is the light heavyweight division maximum. Since 1980, for most boxing organizations, the maximum weight for a cruiserweight has been 200 pounds.

Since the 1960s, the heavyweight 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.

Professional champions

Current champions

Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
WBA (Super) November 28, 2015 United Kingdom Tyson Fury 25–0 (18 KO) 0
WBA March 5, 2016 Australia Lucas Browne 24–0 (21 KO) 0
WBC January 17, 2015 United States Deontay Wilder 36–0 (35 KO) 3
IBF April 9, 2016 United Kingdom Anthony Joshua 16–0 (16 KO) 0
WBO November 28, 2015 United Kingdom Tyson Fury 25–0 (18 KO) 0

Interim Champions

Current Male Champions

Sanctioning Body Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
WBA October 17, 2015 Cuba Luis Ortiz 25-0 (2) (22 KO)

Longest reigning heavyweight champions

Below is a list of longest reigning heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

NameTitle ReignTitle RecognitionSuccessful Defenses
1. United States Joe Louis 11 years, 8 months, 8 days Universal 25
2. Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko 9 years, 7 months and 6 days IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring)18
3. United States Larry Holmes 7 years, 3 months, 12 days WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring/Lineal) 20
4. United States Jack Dempsey 7 years, 2 months, 19 days Universal5
5. United States John L. Sullivan 7 years, 0 months, 9 days Universal5
6. United States Jack Johnson 6 years, 3 months, 10 days Universal8
7. United States James J. Jeffries 5 years, 11 months, 4 days Universal7
8. Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 5 years, 2 months, 4 days WBC9
9. United States Joe Frazier 4 years, 10 months, 18 days NYAC (+WBA, WBC)9
10. United States James J. Corbett 4 years, 6 months, 10 days Universal1
11. United States Jess Willard 4 years, 2 months, 29 days Universal1
12. United Kingdom Lennox Lewis 4 years, 2 months, 15 days WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring/Lineal)9
13. United States Rocky Marciano 3 years, 11 months, 29 days Universal6
14. United States Chris Byrd 3 years, 4 months, 8 days IBF4
15. United States Muhammad Ali 3 years, 3 months, 16 days The Ring/Lineal, (+WBA, WBC stripped)10
16. United States Mike Tyson 3 years, 2 months, 20 days WBC (+WBA, IBF, The Ring/Lineal)9
17. United States George Foreman 3 years, 0 months, 17 days Lineal (+WBA, IBF stripped)3
18. United States Evander Holyfield 3 years, 0 months, 4 days WBA (+IBF)4
19. Canada Tommy Burns 2 years, 10 months, 3 days Universal11
20. United States Michael Spinks 2 years, 9 months, 6 days The Ring/Lineal (+IBF stripped) 3

Unofficial Long Title reigns

The following title reigns are not recognized as official reigns due to: long periods of inactivity, legitimacy of title, false billing & promotion etc.

NameTitle ReignTitle RecognitionSuccessful Defenses
Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 9 years, 4 months, 24 days Full WBC-to-WBC Emeritus-to-Full WBC (+The Ring rel) 11
United States Muhammad Ali 7 years, 0 months, 11 days The Ring/Lineal 11
Denmark Brian Nielsen 3 years, 7 months, 20 days IBO 5

Most wins in heavyweight title bouts

NameTitle bout wins
1. United States Joe Louis 26
2. Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko 25
3. United States Muhammad Ali 22
4. United States Larry Holmes 21
5. United Kingdom Lennox Lewis 15
6. Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 15
7. United States Mike Tyson 12
8. Canada Tommy Burns11
9. United States Joe Frazier 10
10. United States Evander Holyfield 10

Most consecutive heavyweight title defenses

NameTitle defenses
1. United States Joe Louis 25
2. United States Larry Holmes 20
3. Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko 18
4. Canada Tommy Burns 11
5. United States Muhammad Ali 10
6. United States Joe Frazier 9
7. United States Mike Tyson 9
8. United Kingdom Lennox Lewis 9
9. Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 9
10. United States Jack Johnson 8
11. United States Ezzard Charles 8
     Active Title Reign
     Reign has ended

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts

Main article: Heavyweight (MMA)

The heavyweight division in MMA generally groups fighters between 205 and 265 lb (93 and 120 kg).

Analogous uses

The word "heavyweight" is sometimes used in other fields (e.g. politics) to denote a person who is especially powerful or influential. In this context, "big beast" has a similar meaning. Other boxing analogies include "punching above his [their] weight" to denote a person or entity (e.g. a country) whose influence is arguably greater than his/its basic attributes would suggest.

References

  1. "4. Weight Classes". IBO and also the sumo board of control. But Championship Rules & Regulations. International Boxing Organization. Retrieved 2007-08-11. Heavyweight Over 200 lbs.
  2. "11. Weight Category" (PDF). World Bpxing Association World Championships Regulations. World Boxing Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-08-11. Heavy More than 200 Lbs.
  3. "Ratings Heavyweight (over 200-90.719)". World Boxing Council. Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  4. "3. Weight Classes" (PDF). Regulations of World Championship Contests. World Boxing Organization. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-08-11. Heavyweight Over 200lbs or 90.91 kg.
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