
Jimmy Wilde (1916-1923)
Pancho Villa (1923; Died of blood poisoning, July 14, 1925)
Fidel La Barba (1927; Vacated title 8/23,1927 to enter college)
1927 to 1937: Title claimants include Pinky Silverberg, Johnny McCoy, “Corporal” Izzy Schwartz; Albert “Frenchy” Belanger; Newsboy Brown; Frankie Genaro; Johnny Hill; Emile “Spider” Pladner; Willie LaMorte; Midget Wolgast; Victor “Young” Perez; Jackie Brown; and Small Montana. Benny Lynch stopped Jackie Brown in 1935 for general recognition and, in 1937, outpointed Small Montana for universal recognition
Benny Lynch (1937-1938; Forfeited title 6/29/1938)
Peter Kane (1938-1939; Vacated title)
Jackie Paterson (1943-1948)
Rinty Monaghan (1948-1950; Retired 4/25/1950)
Terry Allen (1950)
Salvador “Dado” Marino (1950-1952)
Yoshio Shirai (1952-1954)
Pascual Perez (1954-1960)
Pone Kingpetch (1960-1962)
Masahiko “Fighting” Harada (1962-1963)
Pone Kingpetch (1963)
Hiroyuki Ebihara (1963-1964)
Pone Kingpetch (1964-1965)
Salvadore Burruni (1965-1966)
Walter McGowan (1966)
Chartchai Chionoi (1966-1969)
Efren Torres (1969-1970)
Chartchai Chionoi (1970)
Erbito Salavarria (1970-1973)
Venice Borkorsor (1973; Relinquished title)
Miguel Canto S. (1975 -1979)
Chan-Hee Park (1979-1980)
Shoji Oguma (1980-1981)
Antonio Avelar (1981-1982)
Prudencio Cardona (1982)
Freddy Castillo (1982)
Eleoncio Mercedes (1982-1983)
Charlie Magri (1983)
Frank Cedeno (1983-1984)
Koji Kobayashi (1984)
Gabriel Bernal (1984)
Sot Chitalada (1984-1988)
Yong Kang Kim (1988-1989)
Sot Chitalada (1989-1991)
Maungchai Kittikasem (1991-1992)
Yuri Arbachakov (1992-1997)
Chatchai Sasakul (1997-1998)
Manny Pacquiao (1998-1999)
Medgoen 3K-Battery (1999-2000)
Malcolm Tunacao (2000-2001)
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (2001-2008)
Daisuke Naito (2008-2009)
Koki Kameda (2009-2010)
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (2010-2012)
Sonny Boy Jaro (2012-Present)
Jimmy Barry (1894-1899, retires undefeated in career)
“Terrible” Terry McGovern (1899, relinquishes title)
Harry Harris (1901, never defends)
Harry Forbes (1901-1903)
Frankie Neil (1903-1904)
Joe Bowker (1904-1905, vacated title)
Jimmy Walsh (1905-1909)
“Fighting” Jimmy Reagan (1909)
Monte Attell (1909-1911 — lineage?)
Johnny Coulon (1911-1914)
Kid Williams (1914-1917)
Pete “Kid” Herman (1917-20)
Joe Lynch (1920-21)
Pete “Kid” Herman (1921)
Johnny Buff (1921-1922)
Joe Lynch (1922-1924)
Abe Goldstein (1924)
Eddie “Cannonball” Martin (1924-1925)
Charley Phil Rosenberg (1925-1927, Rosenberg unable to make weight, suspended)
Rosenberg failed to make weight in a title defense with Bushy Graham. Rosenberg won the non-title fight, but he and Graham were suspended for having a secret agreement between them. The title was then claimed by Teddy Baldock, Charles “Bud” Taylor (NBA 1927-1928, vacates), 1924 Gold-medal Winner Willie Smith and Bushy Graham. Smith outgrew the division in 1928; Graham gave up his claim in 1929. “Panama” Al Brown copped the vacant crown in 1929
“Panamá” Al Brown (1929-1935)
Baltasar Sangchili (1935-1936)
Tony Marino (1936)
Sixto Escobar (1936-1937)
Harry Jeffra (1937-1938)
Sixto Escobar (1938-1939, vacates title)
Lou Salica (1940-1942)
Manuel Ortiz (1942-1947)
Harold Dade (1947)
Manuel Ortiz (1947-1950)
Vic Toweel (1950-1952)
Jimmy Carruthers (1952-1954, retires undefeated)
Robert Cohen (1954-1956)
Mario D’agata (1956-1957)
Alphonse Halimi (1957-1959)
Jose Becerra (1959-1960, retires)
Eder Jofre (1961-1965)
Masahiko “Fighting” Harada (1965-1968)
Lionel Rose (1968-1969)
Ruben Olivares (1969-1970)
Jesus “Chucho” Castillo (1970-1971)
Ruben Olivares (1971-1972)
Rafael Herrera (1972)
Enrique Pinder (1972-1973)
Romeo Anaya (1973)
Arnold Taylor (1973-1974)
Soo-Hwan Hong (1974-1975)
Alfonso Zamora (1975-1977)
Jorge Luján (1977-1980)
Julian Solis (1980)
Jeff Chandler (1980-1984)
Richard Sandoval (1984-1986)
Jose “Gaby” Canizales (1986)
Bernardo Piñango (1986-1987, relinquishes title)
These 126 pound Featherweight Champions Punch Like Heavweights
Torpedo Billy Murphy (1890-1891)
Young Griffo (1891 moves up in weight)
George Dixon (1891-1897)
Solly Smith (1897-1898)
Dave Sullivan (1898)
George Dixon (1898-1900)
Terry McGovern (1900-1901)
Young Corbett II (1901-1902, vacates title)
Abe Attell (1903-1912)
Johnny Kilbane (1912-1923)
Eugene Criqui (1923)
Johnny Dundee (1923 through August 1924, gave up title)
Louis “Kid” Kaplan (1925, resigned title Jul 1926)
Tony Canzoneri (1928)
Andre Routis (1928-1929)
Bat Battalino (1929- Mar. 1932, relinquishes title)
1932-1937: Featherweight boxing title claimants include Tommy Paul, Kid Chocolate (resigned NBA boxing title 1934), Freddie Miller, Baby Arizmendi, Mike Belloise, and Petey Sarron
Henry Armstrong (1937-1938, vacates title)
Joey Archibald (1939-1940)
Harry Jeffra (1940-1941)
Joey Archibald (1941)
Albert “Chalky” Wright (1941-1942)
Willie Pep (1942-1948)
Joseph “Sandy” Saddler (1948-1949)
Willie Pep (1949-1950)
Joseph “Sandy” Saddler (1950-1957, retires 1/21/57)
Hogan “Kid” Bassey (1957-1959)
Davey Moore (1959-1963)
Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos (1963-1964)
Vicente Saldivar (1964 retires October 14, 1967)
Johnny Famechon (1969-1970)
Vicente Saldivar (1970)
Kuniaki Shibata (1970-1972)
Clemente Sanchez (1972)
Jose Legra (1972-1973)
Eder Jofre [1973-1974, fizzles out]
Alexis Arguello (1975-1977, moves up to Junior Lightweight)
Danny “Little Red” Lopez (1979-1980)
Salvador Sanchez (1980-1982, killed in car accident)
Eusebio Pedroza (1983-1986)
Barry McGuigan (1986)
Stevie Cruz (1986-1987)
Antonio Esparragoza (1987-1991)
Yong-Kyun Park (1991-1993)
Eloy Rojas (1993-1996)
Wilfredo Vazquez (1996-1998)
Naseem Hamed (1998 – 2001)
Marco Antonio Barerra (2001-2003)
Manny Pacquiao (2003-2005)
The Lightweight Division is Born at the End of the 19th Century
Jack McAuliffe (1886-1893; Retired undefeated)
George “Kid” Lavigne (1896-1899)
Frank Erne (1899-1902)
Joe Gans (1902-1904; Vacated title)
Jimmy Britt (1904-1905)
Battling Nelson (1905-1906)
Joe Gans (1906-1908)
Battling Nelson (1908-1910)
Ad Wolgast (1910-1912)
Willie Ritchie (1912-1914)
Freddie Welsh (1914-1917)
Benny Leonard (1917 to 1/15/1925; Retired)
Jimmy Goodrich (1925)
Rocky Kansas (1925-1926)
Sammy Mandell (1926-1930)
Al Singer (1930)
Tony Canzoneri (1930-1933)
Barney Ross (1933; Relinquished title)
Tony Canzoneri (1935-1936)
Lou Ambers (1936-1938)
Henry Armstrong (1938-1939)
Lou Ambers (1939-1940)
Lew Jenkins (1940-1941)
Sammy Angott (1941-1942; Vacated title November 13)
1942-1947: After Angott retired, the lightweight boxing title was claimed by Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, Angott , upon his return, and Juan Zurita. Williams kayoed Zurita in 1945 and Montgomery in 1947 to unify the lightweight boxing crown
Ike Williams (1947-1951)
Jimmy Carter (1951-1952)
Lauro Salas (1952)
Jimmy Carter (1952-1954)
Paddy De Marco (1954)
Jimmy Carter (1954-1955)
Wallace “Bud” Smith (1955-1956)
Joe Brown (1956-1962)
Carlos Ortiz (1962-1965)
Ismael Laguna (1965)
Carlos Ortiz (1965-1968)
Carlos Teo Cruz (1968-1969)
Mando Ramos (1969-1970)
Ismael Laguna (1970)
Ken Buchanan (1970-1972)
Roberto Duran (1972-1979; Vacated title)
Alexis Arguello (1981-1982)
Julio Cesar Chavez (1987-1989; Vacated title)
Pernell Whitaker (1992; Vacated title)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2002-2004; From first Castillo win)
Jose Luis Castillo (2004-2005; From Lazcano when they were clearly #1 and #2 in class)
Diego Corrales (2005-06)
Joel Casamayor (2006-08)
Juan Manuel Marquez (2008-12; Vacated title)
147 Pound Boxing Champions Combine Power and Speed
Paddy Duffy (1888-1890; died 7/10/1890, not 7/19/1890)
“Mysterious” Billy Smith (1892-1894)
Tommy Ryan (1894-1898; Vacated title)
“Mysterious” Billy Smith (1898-1900)
William “Matty” Matthews(1900)
Eddie Connolly (1900)
James “Rube” Ferns (1900)
William “Matty” Matthews (1900-1901)
James “Rube” Ferns (1901)
Joe Walcott (1901-1904)
Dixie Kid (1904; Outgrew division)
Billy “Honey” Mellody (1906-1907)
Mike “Twin” Sullivan (1907-1908; Vacated title)
1908-1914 — A mad scramble for the welterweight boxing title followed Sullivan’s reign. Among the claimants were Frank Mantell, Harry Lewis, Jimmy Gardner, Jimmy Clabby, Perry “Kid” Graves and future boxing champs Jack Britton and Ted “Kid” Lewis.
Waldemar Holberg (1914)
Tom McCormick (1914)
Matt Wells (1914-1915)
Mike Glover (1915)
Jack Britton (1915)
Ted “Kid” Lewis (1915-1916)
Jack Britton (1916-1917)
Ted “Kid’ Lewis (1917-1919)
Jack Britton (1919-1922)
Mickey Walker (1922-1926)
Pete Latzo (1926-1927)
Joe Dundee (1927-1929)
Jackie Fields (1929-1930)
“Young” Jack Thompson (1930)
Tommy Freeman (1930-1931)
“Young” Jack Thompson (1931)
Lou Brouillard (1931-1932)
Jackie Fields (1932-1933)
Young Corbett III (1933)
Jimmy McLarnin (1933-1934)
Barney Ross (1934)
Jimmy McLarnin (1934-1935)
Barney Ross (1935-1938)
Henry Armstrong (1938-1940)
Fritzie Zivic (1940-1941)
Freddie “Red” Cochrane (1941-1946)
Marty Servo (1946; Vacated title)
“Sugar” Ray Robinson (1946; Vacated crown 1950)
Kid Gavilan (1951-1954)
Johnny Saxton (1954-1955)
Tony DeMarco (1955)
Carmen Basilio (1955-1956)
Johnny Saxton (1956)
Carmen Basilio (1956-1957; Relinquished crown)
Virgil Akins (1958)
Don Jordan (1958-1960)
Benny “Kid” Paret (1960-1961)
Emile Griffith (1961)
Benny “Kid” Paret (1961-1962)
Emile Griffith (1962-1963)
Luis Manuel Rodriguez (1963)
Emile Griffith (1963-1966; Vacated title)
Curtis Cokes (1966-1969)
Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles (1969-1970)
Billy Backus (1970-1971)
Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles (1971-1975)
John H. Stracey(1975-1976)
Carlos Palomino (1976-1979)
Wilfred Benitez(1979)
“Sugar” Ray Leonard(1979-1980)
Roberto Duran (1980)
“Sugar” Ray Leonard (1980-1982; Vacated title )
Milton McCrory (1983-1985)
Donald Curry (1985-1986)
Lloyd Honeyghan (1986-1987)
Jorge Vaca (1987-1988)
Lloyd Honeyghan (1988-1989)
Marlon Starling (1989-1990)
Maurice Blocker (1990-1991)
Simon Brown (1991)
James “Buddy” McGirt (1991-1993)
Pernell Whitaker (1993-1997)
Oscar De La Hoya (1997-1999)
Felix Trinidad, Jr. (1999-2000; Vacated title)
“Sugar” Shane Mosley (2000-2002)
Vernon Forrest (2002-2003)
Ricardo Mayorga (2003)
Cory Spinks (2003-2005)
Zab Judah (2005-2006)
Carlos Baldomir (2006)
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (2006-2008; Retired from weight class)
“Sugar” Shane Mosley (2009-2010)
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (2010-Present)
The Middleweight Division – Historically Boxing’s Flagship
“Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey (1884-1891)
Bob Fitzsimmons (1891, Fitz vacated the title 1895)
Tommy Ryan (1898-1906, vacated title)
Stanley Ketchel (1907-1908)
Billy Papke (1908)
Stanley Ketchel (1908, Ketchel was shot and killed, October 15, 1910)
After Ketchel was murdered, the Middleweight Boxing title was “re-claimed” by Billy Papke. Papke lost to “Cyclone” Johnny Thompson, but the title was also claimed by Hugo Kelly, Frank Klaus, and Eddie McGoorty. Klaus beat Georges Carpentier and Papke to re-establish the lineage.
Frank Klaus (1913)
George Chip (1913-1914)
Al McCoy (1914-1917)
Mike O’Dowd (1917-1920)
Johnny Wilson (1920-1923)
Harry Greb (1923-1926)
Tiger Flowers (1926)
Mickey Walker (1926-1931, vacated title to campaign as heavyweight)
1931-1941: Middleweight Boxing Title claimants during this era included William “Gorilla” Jones, Marcel Thil, Ben Jeby, Lou Brouillard, Vince Dundee, Teddy Yarosz, Eddie “Babe” Risko, Freddie Steele, Fred Apostoli, Al Hostak, “Solly” Krieger, “Ceferino” Garcia, Ken Overlin, Tony Zale and Billy Soose!
Tony Zale (1941-1947)
Rocky Graziano (1947-1948)
Tony Zale (1948)
Marcel Cerdan (1948-1949)
Jake LaMotta (1949-1951)
“Sugar” Ray Robinson (1951)
Randy Turpin (1951)
“Sugar” Ray Robinson (1951-1952)
Carl “Bobo” Olson (1952-1955)
“Sugar” Ray Robinson (1955-1957)
Gene Fullmer (1957)
“Sugar” Ray Robinson (1957)
Carmen Basilio (1957-1958)
“Sugar” Ray Robinson (1958-1960)
Paul Pender (1960-1961)
Terry Downes (1961-1962)
Paul Pender (1962-1963, retired)
Dick Tiger (1963)
Joey Giardello (1963-1965)
Dick Tiger (1965-1966)
Emile Griffith (1966-1967)
Nino Benvenuti (1967)
Emile Griffith (1967)
Nino Benvenuti (1968-1970)
Carlos Monzon (1970-1977, retired)
Rodrigo Valdez (1977-1978)
Hugo Corro (1978-1979)
Vito Antuofermo (1979-1980)
Alan Minter (1980)
Marvin Hagler (1980-1987)
“Sugar” Ray Leonard (1987, vacated title)
Michael Nunn (1989-1991)
James Toney (1991-1993, vacated title)
Bernard Hopkins (2001- 2005)
Jermain Taylor (2005-2007)
Kelly Pavlik (2007-2010)
Sergio Martinez (2010-Present)
The Light Heavyweight Division Debuts in 1903
Jack Root (1903)
George Gardner (1903)
Bob Fitzsimmons (1903-1905)
Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (1905; Never defended)
O’Brien never defended the title and it became stagnant. Several claimed this boxing title, including Bob Fitzsimmons and NY “commission” champion, Bob Moha. Jack Dillon became the “man” with his wins over Hugo Kelly, Levinsky , and Moha.
Jack Dillon (1914-1916)
Battling Levinsky (1916-1920)
Georges Carpentier (1920-1922)
Battling Siki (1922-1923)
Mike McTigue (1923-1925)
Paul Berlenbach (1925-1926)
Jack Delaney (1926-1927; Never defended)
Tommy Loughran (1927; Vacated title 1929)
The New York Commission named Jimmy Slattery as Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion following his victory over Lou Scozza in Feb. 1930. Maxie Rosenbloom beat Slattery and was generally recognized as champ by all but the NBA, who named George Nichols in March 1932. Nichols lost to Lou Scozza, and Rosenbloom defeated Scozza in July 1932 for the undisputed title.
Maxie Rosenbloom (1932-1934)
Bob Olin (1934-1935)
John Henry Lewis (1935-Jun 1939; Retired)
Tiger Jack Fox won the NYS version, then lost to Melio Bettina. The NBA then agreed with the NYS Commission that they would recognize the winner of Bettina and Billy Conn as undisputed champion. Conn won.
Billy Conn (1939; Vacated title May 1941)
Gus Lesnevich (1941-1948)
Freddie Mills (1948-1950)
Joey Maxim (1950-1952)
Archie Moore (1952-1962)
Moore is stripped by various boxing organizations and ultimately gives up the title. Harold Johnson beat Doug Jones for the undisputed title.
- Harold Johnson (1962-1963)
- Willie Pastrano (1963-1965)
Jose Torres (1965-1966)
Dick Tiger (1966-1968)
Bob Foster (1968; Retired September 16 1974)
Claimants following Foster’s retirement included John Conteh, Victor Galindez, Miguel Angel Cuello, Mate Parlov, Marvin Johnson, Mike Rossman, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and Dwight Braxton, who then changed his name to Dwight Qawi (1981-1983). Michael Spinks defeated Eddie Mustafa in July 1981 for the WBA boxing title, Braxton defeated Matthew Saad, for the WBC title in December 1981. Qawi lost a 15-round decision to Spinks in Mar. 1983 for the undisputed title
Michael Spinks (1983-September 1985; Vacated title)
Virgil Hill (1996 – 1997)
Dariusz Michalczewski (1997-2003)
Julio Cesar Gonzalez (2003-2004)
Zsolt Erdei (2004-2009; Vacated title)
Jean Pascal (2010-2011)
Bernard Hopkins (2011-2012)
Chad Dawson (2012-Present)
“Kings of the Boxing Ring”
Champion Nickname Reign
John L. Sullivan The Boston Strong Boy 1885-1892
James J. Corbett Gentleman Jim 1892-1897
Bob Fitzsimmons Ruby Robert 1897-1899
James J. Jeffries The Boilermaker 1899-1905, retired
Marvin Hart The Fightin’ Kentuckian 1905-1906
Tommy Burns The Little Giant of Hanover 1906-1908
Jack Johnson Lil’ Arthur 1908-1915
Jess Willard The Pottawatomie Giant 1915-1919
Jack Dempsey The Manassa Mauler 1919-1926
Gene Tunney The Fighting Marine 1926-1928, retired
Max Schmeling The Black Uhlan of the Rhine 1930-1932
Jack Sharkey The Boston Gob 1932-1933
Primo Carnera The Ambling Alp 1933-1934
Max Baer The “Livermore Larruper” 1934-1935
James J. Braddock The Cinderella Man 1935-1937
Joe Louis The Brown Bomber 1937-1949, retired
Ezzard Charles The Cincinnatti Cobra 1949-1951
“Jersey” Joe Walcott Jersey Joe 1951-1952
Rocky Marciano The Brockton Blockbuster 1952-1956, retired
Floyd Patterson The Rabbit 1956-1959
Ingemar Johansson Ingo 1959-1960
Floyd Patterson The Rabbit 1960-1962
Charles “Sonny” Liston The Black Bear 1962-1964
Cassius Clay The Louisville Lip 1964-1970, retires
Joe Frazier Smokin Joe 1970-1973
George Foreman Big George 1973-1974
Muhammad Ali The Greatest 1974-1978
Leon Spinks Neon Leon 1978
Muhammad Ali The Greatest 1978-1979, retires 6/79
Larry Holmes The Easton Assasin 1980-1985
Michael Spinks The Spinks Jinx 1985-1988
Mike Tyson Iron Mike 1988-1990
James “Buster” Douglas Buster 1990
Evander Holyfield The Real Deal 1990-1992
Riddick Bowe Big Daddy 1992-1993
Evander Holyfield The Real Deal 1993-1994
Michael Moorer Double M 1994
George Foreman Big George 1994-1997
Shannon Briggs The Cannon 1997-1998
Lennox Lewis The Lion 1998-2001
Hasim Rahman The Rock 2001
Lennox Lewis The Lion 2001-2004, retired
Wladimir Klitschko Dr. Steelhammer (2009-Present); from his win over Chagaev