RING Heavyweight boxing rankings- September 1978

RING Heavyweight rankings archive for September 1978. This page is the RING-only list. View all RING rankings, or compare the Heavyweight boxing rankings across all organizations, or open the latest RING Heavyweight rankings.

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Rank	RINGSeptember 1978
	Muhammad AliNEW World Champion
1	Larry Holmes+1
2	Leon SpinksWas champ
3	Ken Norton
4	Ron Lyle
5	Jimmy Young
6	Kallie Knoetze+1
7	Alfredo Evangelista-1
8	Gerrie Coetzee
9	Ossie Ocasio
10	Domingo D'Elia

Source

RING

September 1978 archive

Box-Rank presents each published list in a consistent format. Browse this division and its archive, read the methodology, or see how Box-Rank differs from BoxRec.

Month-over-month changes since July 1978

There is a new Champion: Muhammad Ali(previously Leon Spinks)

Became champion: 15 September 1978

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

First shown in September 1978 rankingsView source

Biggest risers

Larry HolmesClimbed a place to #1
+1
Kallie KnoetzeFrom #7 to #6
+1

Biggest fallers

Alfredo EvangelistaFrom #6 to #7
-1

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

Oleksandr Usyk

20 August 2022Current

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 rankingsView source

Tyson Fury

22 February 2020July 2022

Became champion: 22 February 2020

Won the Ring heavyweight title on 22 February 2020 by defeating Deontay Wilder.

First shown in February 2020 rankingsView source

Tyson Fury

28 November 2015December 2017

Became champion: 28 November 2015

Won the Ring heavyweight title on 28 November 2015, ending Wladimir Klitschko's reign.

First shown in January 2016 rankingsView source

Wladimir Klitschko

20 June 2009November 2015

Became champion: 20 June 2009

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

First shown in June 2009 rankingsView source

Vitali Klitschko

24 April 20049 November 2005

564 days

Became champion: 24 April 2004

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

First shown in April 2004 rankingsView source

Lennox Lewis

2 December 20016 February 2004

796 days

Became champion: 2 December 2001

Awarded The Ring heavyweight title on 2 December 2001.

First shown in December 2001 rankingsView source

Mike Tyson

27 June 1988February 1989

Became champion: 27 June 1988

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

First shown in June 1988 rankingsView source

Michael Spinks

21 September 198527 June 1988

1,010 days

Became champion: 21 September 1985

Won the title by defeating Larry Holmes.

First shown in October 1985 rankingsView source

Larry Holmes

31 March 198021 September 1985

2,000 days

Became champion: 31 March 1980

Awarded The Ring heavyweight title on 31 March 1980.

First shown in March 1980 rankingsView source

Muhammad Ali

15 September 19783 July 1979

291 days

Became champion: 15 September 1978

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

First shown in September 1978 rankingsView source

Leon Spinks

15 February 1978July 1978

Became champion: 15 February 1978

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

First shown in February 1978 rankingsView source

Muhammad Ali

30 October 1974November 1977

Became champion: 30 October 1974

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

First shown in November 1974 rankingsView source

George Foreman

22 January 197330 October 1974

646 days

Became champion: 22 January 1973

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

First shown in February 1973 rankingsView source

Joe Frazier

13 March 1970November 1972

Became champion: 13 March 1970

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

First shown in March 1970 rankingsView source

Muhammad Ali

25 February 196413 March 1970

2,208 days

Became champion: 25 February 1964

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

First shown in March 1964 rankingsView source

Sonny Liston

25 September 1962January 1964

Became champion: 25 September 1962

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

First shown in September 1962 rankingsView source

Floyd Patterson

20 June 196025 September 1962

827 days

Became champion: 20 June 1960

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

First shown in June 1960 rankingsView source

Ingemar Johansson

26 June 195920 June 1960

360 days

Became champion: 26 June 1959

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

First shown in June 1959 rankingsView source

Floyd Patterson

30 November 195626 June 1959

938 days

Became champion: 30 November 1956

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

First shown in January 1957 rankingsView source

Rocky Marciano

23 September 195227 April 1956

1,312 days

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 rankingsView source

Jersey Joe Walcott

18 July 195123 September 1952

433 days

Became champion: 18 July 1951

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

First shown in July 1951 rankingsView source

Ezzard Charles

27 September 195018 July 1951

294 days

Became champion: 27 September 1950

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

First shown in September 1950 rankingsView source

Joe Louis

22 June 19371 March 1949

4,270 days

Became champion: 22 June 1937

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

First shown in July 1937 rankingsView source

Jim Braddock

13 June 193522 June 1937

740 days

Became champion: 13 June 1935

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

First shown in July 1935 rankingsView source

Max Baer

14 June 193413 June 1935

364 days

Became champion: 14 June 1934

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

First shown in June 1934 rankingsView source

Primo Carnera

29 June 193314 June 1934

350 days

Became champion: 29 June 1933

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

First shown in June 1933 rankingsView source

Jack Sharkey

21 June 193229 June 1933

373 days

Became champion: 21 June 1932

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

First shown in June 1932 rankingsView source

Max Schmeling

12 June 193021 June 1932

740 days

Became champion: 12 June 1930

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

First shown in June 1930 rankingsView source

Gene Tunney

23 September 1926July 1928

Became champion: 23 September 1926

Won the title by defeating Jack Dempsey.

First shown in September 1926 rankingsView source

Jack Dempsey

192223 September 1926

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 rankingsView source

RING Heavyweight Title History

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