Most Wins in World Heavyweight Title Fights

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Listing of World Heavyweight Champions by number of title fight wins 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+).

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All Championship Reigns

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

As of May 24, 2026.

Pos. Name Reign Began-Ended Recognition Title Fight Wins
1. Joe Louis June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949 NYSAC, NBA 27
2. Wladimir Klitschko 1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 2003
2. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015		 1. WBO
2. WBA, IBF, WBO		 25
3. Muhammad Ali 1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 1969
2. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978
3. September 15, 1978 — October 18, 1979		 1. WBA, WBC
2. WBA, WBC
3. WBA		 22
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. Tommy Burns February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908 lineal 13
8. Mike Tyson 1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 1990
2. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996		 1. WBA, WBC, WBA
2. WBA, WBC		 12
9. Joe Frazier March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973 NYSAC, WBA, WBC 10
9. Deontay Wilder January 17, 2015 — February 22, 2020 WBC 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
4. August 12, 2000 — March 3, 2001		 1. WBA, WBC, IBF
2. WBA, IBF
3. WBA, IBF
4. WBA		 10
12. Ezzard Charles September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951 NBA, NYSAC 9
12. Anthony Joshua 1. April 9, 2016 – June 1, 2019
2. December 7, 2019 – present		 WBA, IBF, WBO 9
14. Floyd Patterson 1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 1959
2. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962		 NYSAC, NBA 8
14. James J. Jeffries June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905 lineal 8

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

As of May 24, 2026.

Pos. Name Reign Began-Ended Recognition Title Fight Wins
1. Joe Louis June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949 NYSAC, NBA 27
2. Wladimir Klitschko 1. October 14, 2000 — March 8, 2003
2. April 22, 2006 — November 28, 2015		 1. WBO
2. WBA, IBF, WBO		 25
3. Muhammad Ali 1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 1969
2. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978
3. September 15, 1978 — October 18, 1979		 1. WBA, WBC
2. WBA, WBC
3. WBA		 22
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. Tommy Burns February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908 lineal 13
8. Mike Tyson 1. November 22, 1986 — February 11, 1990
2. March 16, 1996 — November 9, 1996		 1. WBA, WBC, IBF
2. WBC, WBA		 12
9. Joe Frazier March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973 NYSAC, WBA, WBC 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
4. August 12, 2000 — March 3, 2001		 1. WBA, WBC, IBF
2. WBA, IBF
3. WBA, IBF
4. WBA		 10
11. Ezzard Charles September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951 NBA, NYSAC 9
12. Floyd Patterson 1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 1959
2. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962		 NYSAC, NBA 8
12. James J. Jeffries June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905 lineal 8
14. Rocky Marciano September 23, 1952 — April 27, 1956 NYSAC, NBA 7
14. Oleksandr Usyk September 25, 2021 — Present WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 7

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 Title Fight Wins
1. Joe Louis June 22, 1937 — March 1, 1949 undisputed The Ring 27
2. 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)

 25
3. Muhammad Ali 1. February 25, 1964 – March 11, 1969
2. October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978
3. September 15, 1978 — October 18, 1979		 1. undisputed
2. undisputed
3. WBA		 1. The Ring
2. The Ring
3. The Ring		 22
4. Larry Holmes June 9, 1978 — September 21, 1985 WBC-to-IBF The Ring Mike Weaver (WBA),
Tim Witherspoon (WBC)		 20
5. Tommy Burns February 23, 1906 — December 26, 1908 lineal lineal 13
6. 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

 12
8. Joe Frazier March 4, 1968 — January 22, 1973 unified 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		 9
9. Ezzard Charles September 27, 1950 — July 18, 1951 undisputed The Ring 9
11. Floyd Patterson 1. November 30, 1956 — June 26, 1959
2. June 20, 1960 — September 25, 1962		 undisputed The Ring 8
11. James J. Jeffries June 9, 1899 — May 13, 1905 lineal lineal 8
13. Rocky Marciano September 23, 1952 — April 27, 1956 undisputed The Ring 7
13. Oleksandr Usyk September 25, 2021 — Present undisputed The Ring Daniel Dubois (IBF) 7
15. Jack Dempsey July 4, 1919 — September 23, 1926 undisputed The Ring 6
15. Jack Johnson December 26, 1908 — April 5, 1915 lineal lineal 6
17. 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		 5
19. Primo Carnera June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934 undisputed The Ring 3
19. Riddick Bowe November 13, 1992 — November 6, 1993 undisputed 3
19. Gene Tunney September 23, 1926 – July 31, 1928 undisputed The Ring 3
19. Michael Spinks September 21, 1985 — February 19, 1987 IBF The Ring 3
23. James J. Corbett September 7, 1892 – March 17, 1897 lineal lineal 2
23. Jess Willard April 5, 1915 — July 4, 1919 lineal lineal 2
23. Max Schmeling June 12, 1930 – January 7, 1931 undisputed The Ring 2
23. Vitali Klitschko April 24, 2004 — November 9, 2005 WBC The Ring 2
23. Jersey Joe Walcott July 18, 1951 — September 23, 1952 undisputed The Ring 2
23. Sonny Liston September 25, 1962 — February 25, 1964 undisputed The Ring 2
29. John L. Sullivan August 29, 1885 — September 7, 1892 lineal lineal 1
29. Bob Fitzsimmons March 17, 1897 — June 9, 1899 lineal lineal 1
29. Marvin Hart July 3, 1905 — February 23, 1906 lineal lineal 1
29. Max Baer June 14, 1934 — June 13, 1935 undisputed The Ring 1
29. James J. Braddock June 13, 1935 — June 22, 1937 undisputed The Ring 1
29. Ingemar Johansson June 26, 1959 — June 20, 1960 undisputed The Ring 1
29. Leon Spinks February 15, 1978 — September 15, 1978 undisputed The Ring 1
29. James (Buster) Douglas February 11, 1990 — October 25, 1990 undisputed 1
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