Heavyweight title history

Won the vacant title by stopping Moses Itauma in the ninth round in London

Promoted from Interim Champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the WBC heavyweight title, with the WBC recognising him as World Champion effective 27 June 2026

Won the title by stopping Fabio Wardley in the eleventh round

Won the title by knocking out Kubrat Pulev in the sixth round

Elevated from Interim Champion by the WBO following Oleksandr Usyk's relinquishment of the title

Won the IBF title by knocking out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium, and kept the WBA, WBC and WBO titles

Won the vacant interim title by knocking out Justis Huni in the tenth round at Portman Road in Ipswich

Won the vacant interim title by knocking out Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round in Riyadh

Won the WBA title by unanimous decision over Mahmoud Charr in Sofia

Recognized as IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the title, having previously held it on an interim basis

Won the vacant interim title by defeating Filip Hrgovic

Won the WBC heavyweight title by split decision over Tyson Fury at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Won the interim title by majority decision over Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh

Reinstated as WBA regular heavyweight champion after a court settlement, once Oleksandr Usyk had beaten Daniel Dubois

Won the interim title by stopping Joe Joyce in the sixth round

Won the vacant interim title by stopping Joseph Parker in the 11th round

Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title by defeating Anthony Joshua in their rematch in Jeddah, after Tyson Fury vacated the championship

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 11 June 2022, ending Trevor Bryan's reign

Won the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles on 25 September 2021, ending Anthony Joshua's reign. Won the WBO heavyweight title on 25 September 2021, ending Anthony Joshua's reign, and the October 2021 WBO rankings listed him as Super Champion.

Won the WBA heavyweight title by defeating Bermane Stiverne

Won the WBC heavyweight title by knocking out Deontay Wilder in the seventh round. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 February 2020 by defeating Deontay Wilder.

Won the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles on 7 December 2019, ending Andy Ruiz's reign.

Won the vacant interim title by defeating Oscar Rivas, with the WBC confirming that recognition after lifting a provisional suspension

Won the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles on 1 June 2019, ending Anthony Joshua's reign.

Was confirmed as already holding WBO Super Champion status in a report published on 2 August 2018, before his 22 September defense against Alexander Povetkin, this is the contemporary confirmation date

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 31 March 2018, ending Joseph Parker's reign

Won the vacant WBA heavyweight title by defeating Alexander Ustinov

Won the vacant WBA heavyweight title by defeating Wladimir Klitschko

Won the vacant WBO heavyweight title on 10 December 2016 by defeating Andy Ruiz

Reinstated as WBA heavyweight champion after Lucas Browne was stripped for failing a post-fight drug test

Won the IBF heavyweight title on 9 April 2016, ending Charles Martin's reign

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 5 March 2016, ending Ruslan Chagaev's reign

Won the vacant IBF heavyweight title on 16 January 2016 by defeating Vyacheslav Glazkov

Won the WBA, IBF, WBO and RING heavyweight titles on 28 November 2015, ending Wladimir Klitschko's reign.

Won the WBC heavyweight title by unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne

Won the vacant WBA heavyweight title by defeating Fres Oquendo

Won the vacant WBC heavyweight title by stopping Chris Arreola in the sixth round in Los Angeles

Won the vacant WBA regular heavyweight title by defeating Ruslan Chagaev

Won the WBA heavyweight title by defeating David Haye, and was recognized as Super Champion

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 7 November 2009, ending Nikolai Valuev's reign

Won the Ring heavyweight title on 20 June 2009 by defeating Ruslan Chagaev

Won the WBC heavyweight title by stopping Samuel Peter in the eighth round in Berlin

Won the vacant WBA heavyweight title by defeating John Ruiz

Awarded WBO heavyweight Super Champion status on 13 March 2008

Won the WBC heavyweight title by stopping Oleg Maskaev in the sixth round in Cancun

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 23 February 2008, ending Sultan Ibragimov's reign

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 2 June 2007, ending Shannon Briggs's reign

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 14 April 2007, ending Nikolai Valuev's reign

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 4 November 2006, ending Siarhei Liakhovich's reign

Won the title by defeating Hasim Rahman

Won the IBF heavyweight title on 22 April 2006, ending Chris Byrd's reign

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 1 April 2006, ending Lamon Brewster's reign

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 17 December 2005, ending John Ruiz's reign

Was voted WBC champion on 10 November 2005 after Vitali Klitschko retired the previous day, as the contemporary Associated Press follow-up explicitly reported

Won the vacant title by defeating Corrie Sanders. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 24 April 2004 by defeating Corrie Sanders.

Won the vacant WBO heavyweight title on 10 April 2004 by defeating Wladimir Klitschko

Elevated from interim champion after Roy Jones Jr vacated the WBA heavyweight title to stay at light heavyweight

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 8 March 2003, ending Wladimir Klitschko's reign

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 1 March 2003, ending John Ruiz's reign

Won the vacant title by defeating Evander Holyfield

Awarded The Ring heavyweight title on 2 December 2001

Won the title by defeating Hasim Rahman.

Won the title by defeating Lennox Lewis.

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 3 March 2001, ending Evander Holyfield's reign

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 14 October 2000, ending Chris Byrd's reign

Won the vacant WBA heavyweight title by defeating John Ruiz

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 1 April 2000, ending Vitali Klitschko's reign

Won the WBA heavyweight title on 13 November 1999, ending Evander Holyfield's reign. Won the title by defeating Evander Holyfield.

Won the WBO heavyweight title on 26 June 1999, ending Herbie Hide's reign

Won the title by defeating Michael Moorer

Won the vacant title by defeating Tony Tucker

Won the vacant title by defeating Oliver McCall

Won the title by defeating Mike Tyson

Won the title by defeating Bruce Seldon

Won the vacant title by defeating Jeremy Williams

Won the vacant title by defeating Axel Schulz

Won the title by defeating Frank Bruno

Won the title by defeating Oliver McCall

Won the vacant title by defeating Tony Tucker

Won the title by defeating Herbie Hide

Won the title by defeating Michael Moorer.

Won the title by defeating Lennox Lewis

Won the title by defeating Evander Holyfield.

Won the title by defeating Michael Bentt

Won the title by defeating Riddick Bowe.

Won the title by defeating Tommy Morrison

Won the vacant title by defeating George Foreman

Was promoted from WBC No. 1 contender to WBC Heavyweight Champion after Riddick Bowe vacated the title

Won the title by defeating Evander Holyfield.

Won the vacant title by defeating Bert Cooper

Won the title by defeating Francesco Damiani

Won the title by defeating Buster Douglas.

Won the title by defeating Mike Tyson.

Won the title by defeating Johnny du Plooy

Won the Ring heavyweight title on 27 June 1988, ending Michael Spinks's reign

Won the title by defeating Tony Tucker

Won the vacant title by defeating Buster Douglas

Won the title by defeating James Smith

Won the title by defeating Tim Witherspoon

Won the title by defeating Trevor Berbick

Won the title by defeating Pinklon Thomas

Won the title by defeating Tony Tubbs

Won the title by defeating Larry Holmes.

Won the title by defeating Greg Page

Won the title by defeating Gerrie Coetzee

Won the title by defeating Tim Witherspoon

Won the vacant title by defeating Greg Page

Accepted recognition as the inaugural IBF heavyweight champion after relinquishing the WBC title

Won the title by defeating Michael Dokes

Won the title by defeating Mike Weaver

Awarded The Ring heavyweight title on 31 March 1980

Won the title by defeating John Tate

Won the vacant title by defeating Gerrie Coetzee

Won the title by defeating Leon Spinks. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 15 September 1978, ending Leon Spinks's reign.

Won the title by defeating Ken Norton

Was promoted from WBC No. 1 contender to WBC Heavyweight Champion

Won the title by defeating Muhammad Ali. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 15 February 1978, ending Muhammad Ali's reign.

Won the title by defeating George Foreman. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 30 October 1974, ending George Foreman's reign.

Won the title by defeating Joe Frazier. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 January 1973, ending Joe Frazier's reign.

Recognized as The Ring heavyweight champion on 13 March 1970 after Muhammad Ali retired

Won the title by defeating Jimmy Ellis. Won the vacant title by defeating Jimmy Ellis.

Won the vacant title by defeating Jerry Quarry

Won the title by defeating Ernie Terrell

Won the vacant title by defeating Eddie Machen

Won the title by defeating Sonny Liston. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 25 February 1964, ending Sonny Liston's reign.

Won the title by defeating Floyd Patterson

Won the title by defeating Floyd Patterson. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 25 September 1962, ending Floyd Patterson's reign.

Won the title by defeating Ingemar Johansson. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 20 June 1960, ending Ingemar Johansson's reign.

Won the title by defeating Floyd Patterson. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 26 June 1959, ending Floyd Patterson's reign.

Won the vacant title by defeating Archie Moore. Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title on 30 November 1956 by defeating Archie Moore.

Won the title by defeating Jersey Joe Walcott. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 23 September 1952, ending Jersey Joe Walcott's reign.

Won the title by defeating Ezzard Charles. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 18 July 1951, ending Ezzard Charles's reign.

Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title on 27 September 1950 by defeating Joe Louis

Won the vacant title by defeating Jersey Joe Walcott

Won the title by defeating James J. Braddock. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 June 1937, ending Jim Braddock's reign.

Won the title by defeating Max Baer. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 13 June 1935, ending Max Baer's reign.

Won the title by defeating Primo Carnera. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 14 June 1934, ending Primo Carnera's reign.

Won the title by defeating Jack Sharkey. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 29 June 1933, ending Jack Sharkey's reign.

Won the title by defeating Max Schmeling. Won the Ring heavyweight title on 21 June 1932, ending Max Schmeling's reign.

Won the vacant title by defeating Jack Sharkey. Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title on 12 June 1930 by defeating Jack Sharkey.

Won the title by defeating Jack Dempsey.

The source gives only the year of this inaugural Ring recognition. An exact award day is not established; 1 January was a placeholder and is not treated as an event date.

Received NBA heavyweight championship recognition through its first sanctioned title fight, knocking out Georges Carpentier in the fourth round, he had already held the world championship since 1919