Most Opponents Beaten for World Heavyweight Title

Listing of World Heavyweight Champions by number of opponents beaten for the title in the Heavyweight division under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules. The maximum weight for this division is unlimited (200+ lbs, 90.9+ kg, 14 stone 4 lbs+).

While in earlier days boxers could have fought each other for the title many times, as time progressed, rematches have slowly become less and less frequent. Throughout the entire boxing history, however, reasons for rematches were usually these:

• The first fight ended in an upset. The rematch is secured to answer the question whether the first fight indeed meant that the underdog was a better boxer, or was it just a matter of several things lining up together that day (the fighter underestimating his opponent, simply not having his day, a clash of styles and skills that favored the underdog to scratch the victory the first time etc.) Examples:
  • Hasim Rahman vs. Lennox Lewis II
  • Antonio Tarver vs. Roy Jones Jr. III
  • Ingemar Johansson vs. Floyd Patterson II
  • Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II
  • Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II
  • Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II
  • Ellyas Pical vs. Cesar Polanco II
  • Simon Brown vs. Terry Norris II
  • Thongchai Utaida vs. Eric Chavez II
  • Gianfranco Rosi vs. Darrin Van Horn II
  • Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua II
  • Kelly Pavlik vs. Jermain Taylor II
  • Michael Spinks vs. Larry Holmes II

• The result of the first fight is publicly regarded as inconclusive. The result left enough questions in public eye to dispute the winner's superiority as a fighter. That includes razor-thin and questionable decisions, controversial stoppages, Hail Mary victories etc. The fighter won but did not fully convince the public he was indeed the better man. Therefore a rematch is secured to answer unanswered questions. Examples:
  • Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor II
  • Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana II
  • Joe Louis vs. Arturo Godoy II
  • Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott II
  • Roy Jones Jr. vs. Antonio Tarver II
  • Carl Froch vs. George Groves II
  • Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Graciano Rocchigiani II
  • Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev II
  • Tony Lopez vs. John John Molina II
  • Tony Harrison vs. Jermell Charlo II
  • Soon Chun Kwon vs. Jong Kwan Chung II and III
  • Marco Huck vs. Ola Afolabi II and III
  • Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III and IV

• No one else is there to fight. This was more of an occurence in early days when the number of actual fighters per division was very limited, so the top guys were left fighting each other over and over again. Examples:
  • Abe Attell
  • Henry Armstrong

Other than that, rematches are usually regarded by the public as unnecessary (see Boxing247.com: Is Fury Vs. Wilder The Most Needless Trilogy In Heavyweight Championship History?).

Rematches could result in the champion earning one more title fight win fighting the same opponent again. Had the result left no questions about the champion being better or the division had other capable challengers, the champion would've moved on with just one more win instead of two.

RELATED LINKS:

• World Heavyweight Championship Records and Statistics
• Most Wins in World Heavyweight Title Fights
• Most Opponents Beaten During One World Heavyweight Title Reign
• Most Consecutive World Heavyweight Title Defenses
• Longest Combined World Heavyweight Title Reigns
• Longest Individual World Heavyweight Title Reigns
• Fastest Stoppages in World Heavyweight Title Fights
• Most World Heavyweight Title Bout Wins & Beaten Opponents By Stoppage
• Highest Knockout-To-Win & Knockout-To-Beat-Opponent Percentage in World Heavyweight Title Fights
• Oldest World Heavyweight Champions
• Youngest World Heavyweight Champions
• Fastest World Heavyweight Title Wins
• Most Opponents Beaten for World Heavyweight Title by Country
• Most Wins in World Heavyweight Title Fights by Country
• Most Opponents World Heavyweight Title Was Successfully Defended Against During One Reign by Country
• Most Consecutive World Heavyweight Title Defenses by Country

All Championship Reigns

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after July 2, 1921.

As of May 24, 2026.

Pos.	Name	Reign Began-Ended	Recognition	Beaten Opponents
1.	Wladimir Klitschko	1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 2003 2. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015	1. WBO 2. WBA, IBF, WBO	23
2.	Joe Louis	June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949	NYSAC, NBA	22
3.	Muhammad Ali	1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 1969 2. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978 3. September 15, 1978 — July 3, 1979	1. WBA, WBC 2. WBA, WBC 3. WBA	21
4.	Larry Holmes	June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985	WBC, IBF	20
5.	Lennox Lewis	1. December 14, 1992 — September 24, 1994 2. February 7, 1997 — April 22, 2001 3. November 17, 2001 — February 6, 2004	1. WBC 2. WBA, WBC, IBF 3. WBC, IBF	15
5.	Vitali Klitschko	1. June 26, 1999 — April 1, 2000 2. April 24, 2004 — November 9, 2005 3. October 11, 2008 — December 15, 2013	1. WBO 2. WBC 3. WBC	15
7.	Mike Tyson	1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 1990 2. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996	1. WBA, WBC, IBF 2. WBA, WBC	11
7.	Tommy Burns	February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908	lineal	11
9.	Joe Frazier	March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973	NYSAC, WBA, WBC	10
10.	Evander Holyfield	1. October 25, 1990 — November 13, 1992 2. November 6, 1993 — April 22, 1994 3. November 9, 1996 — November 13, 1999 4. August 12, 2000 — March 3, 2001	1. WBA, WBC, IBF 2. WBA, IBF 3. WBA, IBF 4. WBA	9
10.	Anthony Joshua	1. April 9, 2016 — June 1, 2019 2. December 7, 2019 — September 25, 2021	WBA, IBF, WBO	9
12.	Ezzard Charles	September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951	NBA, NYSAC	8
12.	Deontay Wilder	January 17, 2015 — February 22, 2020	WBC	8
14.	Floyd Patterson	1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 1959 2. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962	NYSAC, NBA	7
15.	Jack Johnson	December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915	lineal	6
15.	Jack Dempsey	July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926	lineal-to-NBA and NYSAC	6
15.	James J. Jeffries	June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905	lineal	6

All Championship Reigns of Undisputed Champions/Lineal Champions/The Ring Champions

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after July 2, 1921, although it only includes heavyweight champions that captured

• Undisputed Championship (02.07.1921–present)
• Lineal Championship (1885–02.07.1921)
• The Ring Championship.

As of May 24, 2026.

Pos.	Name	Reign Began-Ended	Recognition	Beaten Opponents
1.	Wladimir Klitschko	1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 2003 2. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015	1. WBO 2. WBA, IBF, WBO	23
2.	Joe Louis	June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949	NYSAC, NBA	22
3.	Muhammad Ali	1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 1969 2. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978 3. September 15, 1978 — July 3, 1979	1. WBA, WBC 2. WBA, WBC 3. WBA	21
4.	Larry Holmes	June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985	WBC, IBF	20
5.	Lennox Lewis	1. December 14, 1992 — September 24, 1994 2. February 7, 1997 — April 22, 2001 3. November 17, 2001 — February 6, 2004	1. WBC 2. WBA, WBC, IBF 3. WBC, IBF	15
5.	Vitali Klitschko	1. June 26, 1999 — April 1, 2000 2. April 24, 2004 — November 9, 2005 3. October 11, 2008 — December 15, 2013	1. WBO 2. WBC 3. WBC	15
7.	Mike Tyson	1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 1990 2. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996	1. WBA, WBC, WBA 2. WBA, WBC	11
7.	Tommy Burns	February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908	lineal	11
9.	Joe Frazier	March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973	NYSAC, WBA, WBC	10
10.	Evander Holyfield	1. October 25, 1990 — November 13, 1992 2. November 6, 1993 — April 22, 1994 3. November 9, 1996 — November 13, 1999 4. August 12, 2000 — March 3, 2001	1. WBA, WBC, IBF 2. WBA, IBF 3. WBA, IBF 4. WBA	9
11.	Ezzard Charles	September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951	NBA, NYSAC	8
12.	Floyd Patterson	1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 1959 2. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962	NYSAC, NBA	7
12.	Jack Johnson	December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915	lineal	7
14.	James J. Jeffries	June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905	lineal	6
14.	Jack Dempsey	July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926	lineal-to-NBA and NYSAC	6

Championship Reigns of Undisputed/Lineal/The Ring Champions with Undisputed/Lineal/The Ring/Unified Championships, Victories Over Champions

The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921, although it only includes heavyweight champions that captured

• Undisputed Championship (02.07.1921–present)
• Lineal Championship (1885–02.07.1921)
• The Ring Championship.

The list only includes title reigns during which the champion became:

• Undisputed Champion (02.07.1921–present)
• Lineal Champion (1885–02.07.1921)
• The Ring Champion
• Unified Champion: held two of the four major championship belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) simultaneously
• Uncrowned Unified Champion: defeated a fighter that would become world heavyweight champion while the winner's reign was still active
  • The Ring used this reasoning in its June 1980 issue to recognize the WBC titlist Larry Holmes as its heavyweight champion without actually having to fight the newly crowned WBA champion Mike Weaver, whom Holmes had already defended his WBC title against on June 22, 1979, for the vacant title. Quote: "With this issue Ring hereby recognizes Larry Holmes' claim as the Heavyweight Champion of the World. Not because he is the WBC claimant, but because he won his title in the ring with his victory last June 22nd over the WBA title claimant, Mike Weaver. That's where titles are won and lost - in The Ring!"

As of May 24, 2026.

Pos.	Name	Reign Began-Ended	Recognition	Lineal Claim	Beaten Champions	Beaten Opponents
1.	Wladimir Klitschko	1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 2003 2. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015	1. WBO 2. unified	2. The Ring	1. Chris Byrd (IBF)	23
2.	Joe Louis	June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949	undisputed	The Ring		22
3.	Muhammad Ali	1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 1969 2. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978 3. September 15, 1978 — July 3, 1979	1. undisputed 2. undisputed 3. WBA	The Ring		21
4.	Larry Holmes	June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985	WBC-to-IBF	The Ring	Mike Weaver (WBA), Tim Witherspoon (WBC)	20
5.	Lennox Lewis	1. February 7, 1997 — April 22, 2001 2. November 17, 2001 — February 6, 2004	1. undisputed 2. unified	2. The Ring	1. Evander Holyfield (WBA)	12
6.	Mike Tyson	1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 1990 2. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996	1. undisputed 2. unified	1. The Ring		11
6.	Tommy Burns	February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908	lineal	lineal		11
8.	Joe Frazier	March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973	undisputed	The Ring		10
9.	Evander Holyfield	1. October 25, 1990 — November 13, 1992 2. November 6, 1993 — April 22, 1994 3. November 9, 1996 — November 13, 1999	1. undisputed 2. unified 3. unified			8
9.	Ezzard Charles	September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951	undisputed	The Ring		8
11.	Floyd Patterson	1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 1959 2. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962	undisputed	The Ring		7
12.	Jack Johnson	December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915	lineal	lineal		6
12.	James J. Jeffries	June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905	lineal	lineal		6
12.	Jack Dempsey	July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926	undisputed	The Ring		6
15.	Rocky Marciano	September 23, 1952 — April 27, 1956	undisputed	The Ring		5
15.	George Foreman	1. January 22, 1973 — October 30, 1974 2. November 4, 1994 — June 29, 1995	1. undisputed 2. unified	1. The Ring		5
17.	Tyson Fury	1. November 28, 2015 — October 12, 2016 2. February 22, 2020 — May 18, 2024	1. unified 2. WBC	1. The Ring 2. The Ring		4
17.	Oleksandr Usyk	September 25, 2021 — Present	undisputed	The Ring	Daniel Dubois (IBF)	4
19.	Primo Carnera	June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934	undisputed	The Ring		3
19.	Riddick Bowe	November 13, 1992 — November 6, 1993	undisputed			3
21.	James J. Corbett	September 7, 1892 – March 17, 1897	lineal	lineal		2
21.	Jess Willard	April 5, 1915 — July 4, 1919	lineal	lineal		2
21.	Max Schmeling	June 12, 1930 – January 7, 1931	undisputed	The Ring		2
21.	Vitali Klitschko	April 24, 2004 — November 9, 2005	WBC	The Ring		2
21.	Gene Tunney	September 23, 1926 – July 31, 1928	undisputed	The Ring		2
21.	Michael Spinks	September 21, 1985 — February 19, 1987	IBF	The Ring		2
27.	John L. Sullivan	August 29, 1885 — September 7, 1892	lineal	lineal		1
27.	Bob Fitzsimmons	March 17, 1897 — June 9, 1899	lineal	lineal		1
27.	Marvin Hart	July 3, 1905 — February 23, 1906	lineal	lineal		1
27.	Max Baer	June 14, 1934 — June 13, 1935	undisputed	The Ring		1
27.	James J. Braddock	June 13, 1935 — June 22, 1937	undisputed	The Ring		1
27.	Jersey Joe Walcott	July 18, 1951 — September 23, 1952	undisputed	The Ring		1
27.	Ingemar Johansson	June 26, 1959 — June 20, 1960	undisputed	The Ring		1
27.	Sonny Liston	September 25, 1962 — February 25, 1964	undisputed	The Ring		1
27.	Leon Spinks	February 15, 1978 — September 15, 1978	undisputed	The Ring		1
27.	James (Buster) Douglas	February 11, 1990 — October 25, 1990	undisputed			1