RING Heavyweight Title History Champions who have held each belt, most recent first. Exact dates are shown where verified; month-only dates reflect available records. Available history begins in January 1922, combining ranking archives and sourced title records.
Explore the heavyweight title-change timeline across all organizations
RING Heavyweight - World Champion
Became champion: 20 August 2022
Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title by defeating Anthony Joshua in their rematch in Jeddah, after Tyson Fury vacated the championship.
First shown in September 2022 rankings View source
Became champion: 22 February 2020
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 February 2020 by defeating Deontay Wilder.
First shown in February 2020 rankings View source
Became champion: 28 November 2015
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 28 November 2015, ending Wladimir Klitschko's reign.
First shown in January 2016 rankings View source
Became champion: 20 June 2009
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 20 June 2009 by defeating Ruslan Chagaev.
First shown in June 2009 rankings View source
Became champion: 24 April 2004
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 24 April 2004 by defeating Corrie Sanders.
First shown in April 2004 rankings View source
Became champion: 2 December 2001
Awarded The Ring heavyweight title on 2 December 2001.
First shown in December 2001 rankings View source
Became champion: 27 June 1988
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 27 June 1988, ending Michael Spinks's reign.
First shown in June 1988 rankings View source
Became champion: 21 September 1985
Won the title by defeating Larry Holmes.
First shown in October 1985 rankings View source
Became champion: 31 March 1980
Awarded The Ring heavyweight title on 31 March 1980.
First shown in March 1980 rankings View source
Became champion: 15 September 1978
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 15 September 1978, ending Leon Spinks's reign.
First shown in September 1978 rankings View source
Became champion: 15 February 1978
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 15 February 1978, ending Muhammad Ali's reign.
First shown in February 1978 rankings View source
Became champion: 30 October 1974
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 30 October 1974, ending George Foreman's reign.
First shown in November 1974 rankings View source
Became champion: 22 January 1973
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 January 1973, ending Joe Frazier's reign.
First shown in February 1973 rankings View source
Became champion: 13 March 1970
Recognized as The Ring heavyweight champion on 13 March 1970 after Muhammad Ali retired.
First shown in March 1970 rankings View source
Became champion: 25 February 1964
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 25 February 1964, ending Sonny Liston's reign.
First shown in March 1964 rankings View source
Became champion: 25 September 1962
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 25 September 1962, ending Floyd Patterson's reign.
First shown in September 1962 rankings View source
Became champion: 20 June 1960
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 20 June 1960, ending Ingemar Johansson's reign.
First shown in June 1960 rankings View source
Became champion: 26 June 1959
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 26 June 1959, ending Floyd Patterson's reign.
First shown in June 1959 rankings View source
Became champion: 30 November 1956
Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title on 30 November 1956 by defeating Archie Moore.
First shown in January 1957 rankings View source
Became champion: 23 September 1952
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 23 September 1952, ending Jersey Joe Walcott's reign.
First shown in September 1952 rankings View source
Became champion: 18 July 1951
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 18 July 1951, ending Ezzard Charles's reign.
First shown in July 1951 rankings View source
Became champion: 27 September 1950
Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title on 27 September 1950 by defeating Joe Louis.
First shown in September 1950 rankings View source
Became champion: 22 June 1937
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 June 1937, ending Jim Braddock's reign.
First shown in July 1937 rankings View source
Became champion: 13 June 1935
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 13 June 1935, ending Max Baer's reign.
First shown in July 1935 rankings View source
Became champion: 14 June 1934
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 14 June 1934, ending Primo Carnera's reign.
First shown in June 1934 rankings View source
Became champion: 29 June 1933
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 29 June 1933, ending Jack Sharkey's reign.
First shown in June 1933 rankings View source
Became champion: 21 June 1932
Won the Ring heavyweight title on 21 June 1932, ending Max Schmeling's reign.
First shown in June 1932 rankings View source
Became champion: 12 June 1930
Won the vacant Ring heavyweight title on 12 June 1930 by defeating Jack Sharkey.
First shown in June 1930 rankings View source
Became champion: 23 September 1926
Won the title by defeating Jack Dempsey.
First shown in September 1926 rankings View source
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.
First shown in January 1922 rankings View source 
Ingemar Johansson
Primo Carnera
Max Schmeling