Longest reigning heavyweight champions
Encyclopedia
Below is a list of longest reigning heavyweight champions in boxing, this is measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
Green = Active champion
| Name | Title Reign | Recognition | Successful Title Defenses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Joe LouisJoe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time... |
11 years, 8 months, 8 days | Universal | 25 |
| 2. | Larry Holmes Larry Holmes Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin.... |
7 years, 3 months, 12 days | The Ring/Lineal (+WBC, IBF) | 20 |
| 3. | Jack Dempsey Jack Dempsey William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first... |
7 years, 2 months, 19 days | Universal | 5 |
| 4. | John L. Sullivan John L. Sullivan John Lawrence Sullivan , also known as the Boston Strong Boy, was recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing from February 7, 1881 to 1892, and is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules... |
7 years, 0 months 9 days | Universal | 5 |
| 5. | Jack Johnson Jack Johnson (boxer) John Arthur Johnson , nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” was an American boxer. At the height of the Jim Crow era, Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion... |
6 years, 3 months, 10 days | Universal | 8 |
| 6. | James J. Jeffries James J. Jeffries James Jackson Jeffries was a world heavyweight boxing champion.His greatest assets were his enormous strength and stamina. Using a technique taught to him by his trainer, former welterweight and middleweight champion Tommy Ryan, Jeffries fought out of a crouch with his left arm extended forward... |
5 years, 11 months, 4 days | Universal | 7 |
| 7. |  Wladimir KlitschkoWladimir Klitschko Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion... |
22 April 2006–present | IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring) | 10 |
| 8. | Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist... |
5 years, 0 months 14 days | The Ring/Lineal, WBA (+WBC stripped) | 10 |
| 9. | Joe Frazier Joe Frazier Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981.... |
4 years, 10 months, 18 days | NYAC (+WBA, WBC) | 9 |
| 10. | James J. Corbett James J. Corbett James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was an Irish-American heavyweight boxing champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco... |
4 years, 6 months, 10 days | Universal | 1 |
| 11. | Jess Willard Jess Willard Jess Willard was a world heavyweight boxing champion. He won the heavyweight title from Jack Johnson in April 1915 and lost it to Jack Dempsey in July 1919.... |
4 years, 2 months, 29 days | Universal | 1 |
| 12. |  Lennox LewisLennox Lewis Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship... |
4 years, 2 months, 15 days | WBC (+IBF, WBA, The Ring/Lineal) | 9 |
| 13. | Rocky Marciano Rocky Marciano Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times... |
4 years, 2 months, 7 days | Universal | 6 |
| 14. | Chris Byrd Chris Byrd Chris Cornelius Byrd is a retired and former professional boxer. He is the former WBO and IBF heavyweight champion. His nickname is "Rapid Fire".- Early life :... |
3 years, 4 months, 8 days | IBF | 4 |
| 15. | Mike Tyson Mike Tyson Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old... |
3 years, 2 months, 20 days | WBC (+WBA, IBF, The Ring/Lineal) | 9 |
| 16. | Vitali Klitschko Vitali Klitschko Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Klychko is a Ukrainian professional heavyweight boxer and the current WBC heavyweight champion. He is a leader of the political party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform and a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Congress of the Council of Europe. He previously... |
Oct 11 2008–present | WBC | 7 |
| 17. | Evander Holyfield Evander Holyfield Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"... |
3 years, 0 months, 4 days | WBA (IBF, The Ring/Lineal) | 4 |
| 18. |  Tommy BurnsTommy Burns (boxer) Tommy Burns , born Noah Brusso, is the only Canadian born world heavyweight champion boxer. The first to travel the globe in defending his title, Tommy made 11 title defenses despite often being the underdog due to his size. Burns famously challenged all comers as Heavyweight Champion, leading to... |
2 years, 10 months, 3 days | Universal | 11 |
| 19. | Mike Weaver |
2 years, 8 months, 10 days | WBA | 2 |
| 20. | Floyd Patterson Floyd Patterson Floyd Patterson was an American heavyweight boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion. At 21, Patterson became the youngest man to win the world heavyweight title. He was also the first heavyweight boxer to regain the title. He had a record of 55 wins 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by... |
2 years, 6 months, 27 days | Universal | 4 |
Green = Active champion