Courtesy The Ring
Jack Dempsey
Courtesy The Ring
Joe Louis
Courtesy The Ring
Muhammad Ali

Heavyweight Championship Title Changes


8/29/1885

9/7/92
3/17/97
6/9/99
7/3/1905

2/23/06
12/26/08
4/5/15
7/4/19
9/23/26
6/12/30

6/21/32
6/29/33
6/14/34
6/13/35
6/22/37
6/22/49

7/18/51
9/23/52
11/30/56

6/26/59
6/20/60
9/25/62
2/25/64
3/5/1965

2/6/67

3/4/68

4/27/68

2/16/70

1/22/73
10/30/74
2/15/78
6/9/78

9/15/78

10/20/79

3/31/80

12/10/82

9/23/83

3/9/84

8/31/84

12/1/84

4/29/85

9/21/85

1/17/86

3/22/86

11/22/86

12/12/86

3/7/87

5/30/87

8/1/87

2/11/90

10/25/90
11/13/92
11/6/93

4/22/94

9/24.94

11/5/94

4/8/95

9/2/95

3/16/96

6/22/96

9/7/96

11/10/96

2/7/97

11/8/97

11/13/99

 John L. Sullivan W 6 Dominick McCaffrey, Cincinnati
(Wins Vacant World Title)
James J. Corbett KO 21 John L. Sullivan, New Orleans
Bob Fitzsimmons KO 14 James J. Corbett, Carson City, NV
James J. Jeffries KO 11 Bob Fitzsimmons, Brooklyn, NY
Marvin Hart KO 12 Jack Root, Reno
(Wins Vacant World Title)
Tommy Burns W 20 Marvin Hart, Los Angeles
Jack Johnson KO 14 Tommy Burns, Sydney
Jess Willard KO 26 Jack Johnson, Havana
Jack Dempsey KO 4 Jess Willard, Toledo, OH
Gene Tunney W 10 Jack Dempsey, Philadelphia
Max Schmeling W Disq. 4 Jack Sharkey, Bronx, NY
(Wins Vacant World Title)
Jack Sharkey W 15 Max Schmeling, Long Island City, NY
Primo Carnera KO 6 Jack Sharkey, Long Island City, NY
Max Baer KO 11 Primo Carnera, Long Island City, NY
James J. Braddock W 15 Max Baer, Long Island City, NY
Joe Louis KO 8 James J. Braddock, Chicago
Ezzard Charles W 15 Jersey Joe Walcott, Chicago
(Wins Vacant World Title)
Jersey Joe Walcott KO 7 Ezzard Charles, Pittsburgh
Rocky Marciano KO 13 Jersey Joe Walcott, Philadelphia
Floyd Patterson KO 5 Archie Moore, Chicago
(Wins Vacant World Title)
Ingemar Johansson KO 3 Floyd Patterson, Bronx NY
Floyd Patterson KO 5 Ingemar Johansson, New York City
Sonny Liston KO 1 Floyd Patterson, Chicago
Cassius Clay KO 7 Sonny Liston, Miami Beach
Ernie Terrell W 15 Eddie Machen, Chicago
(Wins Vacant WBA Title)
Muhammad Ali W 15 Ernie Terrell, Houston
(Unifies World Title)
Joe Frazier KO 11 Buster Mathis, New York City
(Wins Vacant New York World Title)
Jimmy Ellis W 15 Jerry Quarry, Oakland, CA
(Wins Vacant WBA Title)
Joe Frazier KO 5 Jimmy Ellis, New York City
(Unifies World Title)
George Foreman KO 2 Joe Frazier, Kingston, Jamaica
Muhammad Ali KO 8 George Foreman, Kinshasha, Zaire
Leon Spinks W 15 Muhammad Ali, Las Vegas
Larry Holmes W 15 Ken Norton, Las Vegas
(Wins WBC Title)
Muhammad Ali W 15 Leon Spinks, New Orleans
(Regains WBA Title)
John Tate W 15 Gerrie Coetzee, Pretoria, South Africa
(Wins Vacant WBA Title)
Mike Weaver KO 15 John Tate, Knoxville, TN
(Wins WBA Title)
Michael Dokes KO 1 Mike Weaver, Las Vegas
(Wins WBA Title)
Gerrie Coetzee KO 10 Michael Dokes, Richfield, OH
(Wins WBA Title)
Tim Witherspoon W 12 Greg Page, Las Vegas
(Wins Vacant WBC Title)
Pinklon Thomas W 12 Tim Witherspoon, Las Vegas
(Wins WBC Title)
Greg Page KO 8 Gerrie Coetzee, Sun City, South Africa
(Wins WBA Title)
Tony Tubbs W 15 Greg Page, Buffalo
(Wins WBA Title)
Michael Spinks W 15 Larry Holmes, Las Vegas
(Wins IBF Title)
Tim Witherspoon W 15 Tony Tubbs, Atlanta
(Wins WBA Title)
Trevor Berbick W 15 Pinklon Thomas, Las Vegas
(Wins WBC Title)
Mike Tyson KO 2 Trevor Berbick, Las Vegas
(Wins WBC Title)
James "Bonecrusher" Smith KO 1 Tim Witherspoon, New York City
(Wins WBA Title)
Mike Tyson W 12 James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Las Vegas
(Wins WBA Title)
Tony Tucker KO 10 Buster Douglas, Las Vegas
(Wins Vacant IBF Title)
Mike Tyson W 12 Tony Tucker, Las Vegas
(Wins IBF Title; Unifies World Title)
Buster Douglas KO 10 Mike Tyson, Tokyo
(Wins World Title)
Evander Holyfield KO 3 Buster Douglas, Las Vegas
Riddick Bowe W 12 Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas
Evander Holyfield W 12 Riddick Bower, Las Vegas
(Regains IBF, WBA Titles)
Michael Moorer W 12 Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas
(Wins IBF, WBA Titles)
Oliver McCall KO 2 Lennox Lewis, London
(Wins WBC Title)
George Foreman KO 10 Michael Moorer, Las Vegas
(Wins IBF Title; Regains WBA Title)
Bruce Seldon KO 7 Tony Tucker, Las Vegas
(Wins Vacant WBA Title)
Frank Bruno W 12 Oliver McCall, London
(Wins WBC Title)
Mike Tyson KO 3 Frank Bruno, Las Vegas
(Wins WBC Title)
Michael Moorer W 12 Axel Schulz, Dortmund, Germany
(Wins Vacant IBF Title)
Mike Tyson KO 1 Bruce Seldon, Las Vegas
(Wins WBA Title)
Evander Holyfield KO 11 Mike Tyson, Las Vegas
(Wins WBA Title)
Lennox Lewis KO 5 Oliver McCall, Las Vegas
(Wins Vacant WBC Title)
Evander Holyfield KO 8 Michael Moorer, Las Vegas
(Wins IBF Title, Retains WBA Title)
Lennox Lewis W 12 Evander Holyfield, Las Vegas
(Wins Undisputed Heavyweight Title)