World Boxing Information charts the longest-reigning heavyweight champions in historical past because the inception of the highest division crown.
In 1885, the glamor weight class loved its first lineal heavyweight titleholder, John L. Sullivan. Boxing’s first celebrity held the place for seven years.
Over 140 years later, solely 4 boxers have surpassed that feat.
WBN lists all of them beneath within the high ten.
10. Deontay Wilder [5 years, 1 month and 5 days]
Wilder held the WBC heavyweight championship from January 2015 to February 2020. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ made ten profitable defenses throughout his reign till working into Tyson Fury on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment days earlier than the world shut down.
9. Vitali Klitschko [5 years, 2 months and 4 days]
Throughout Klitschko’s second spell as champion, the Ukrainian made probably the most vital impression. Having retired in 2004 after capturing the WBC heavyweight title from Corries Sanders, Klitschko returned to reclaim the inexperienced and gold in 2008 in opposition to Samuel Peter.
Alongside his brother Wladimir, the brothers stored the division on lock till Vitali walked away after beating Mahmoud Charr in 2012.
The elder Klitschko sibling solely misplaced twice in an distinctive 47-fight profession.
8. James J. Jeffries [5 years, 11 months and 4 days]
‘Huge Jeff or Jim’ or ‘The Nice White Hope,’ as he was recognized, Jeffries gained the lineal crown in 1899 in opposition to Bob Fitzsimmons. He made an astonishing 22 defenses in his nearly six years on the summit of the game, recording the fastest-ever knockout in a world heavyweight championship struggle.
He beat a massively out-weighed Jack Finnegan in 45 or 55 seconds, relying on which report you consider from 1900. Jeffries’ reign solely ended when he retired in 1904 at an undefeated 18-0-2.
Jeffries got here out of retirement six years later to problem Jack Johnson, however he was defeated in spherical fifteen of a scheduled 45. This was his solely loss.
7. Muhammad Ali [5 years, 11 months and 9 days]
Beating Jeffries by a matter of days, Ali wants no introduction and would have reigned far longer if he’d not run into Joe Frazier. The Struggle of the Century halted Ali’s exceptional first period as world ruler after he ‘shook up the world’ in opposition to Sonny Liston in 1964.
6. Jack Johnson [6 years, 3 months and 10 days]
Jack Johnson is without doubt one of the most memorable lineal world heavyweight champions, as the primary of African origin. The boxer from Galveston, Texas, held the segregated crown from 1903 till he ultimately fought for the total title in 1908.
Johnson beat Tommy Burns on factors and made six defenses till dropping to Jess Willard in 1915.
5. John L Sullivan [7 years and 9 days]
Sullivan spent the primary three years of his reign as bareknuckle boxing champion unrecognized because of his unwillingness to face any black fighters. Ultimately, Sullivan gained recognition of the lineal championship in 1885 and held onto it till 1892, when dropping to James J. Corbett in New Orleans.
His victory over Dominick McCaffrey was earmarked as the start of a run that included solely three defenses over seven years. By the point Sullivan confronted Corbett, he’d been out of the ring for 5 years.
Sullivan had stored his lineage as the person to beat as a result of he was undefeated in 37 bouts earlier than the Corbett struggle.
4. Jack Dempsey [7 years, 2 months, and 19 days]
Dempsey was light-heavyweight champion in 1916 earlier than shifting as much as heavyweight and claiming the belt in 1919. ‘Manassa Mauler’ made 5 defenses earlier than dropping to Gene Tunney in 1926.
3. Larry Holmes [7 years, 3 months, and 12 days]
Holmes gained the WBC crown from Ken Norton in 1978 and chased an growing older Muhammad Ali for the lineal title. He lastly caught up with ‘The Best’ in 1980 and beat him to a pulp over ten rounds. He made a number of defenses of the WBC belt till relinquishing it in 1983.
A wrangle over Holmes dealing with Greg Web page led to the IBF agreeing handy over its world heavyweight title to Holmes. Holmes defended it twice till dropping to Michael Spinks in 1985. He additionally misplaced a rematch 5 months later.
Total, Holmes made 18 title defenses of the WBC and IBF straps.
2. Wladimir Klitschko [9 years, 7 months, and 6 days]
The youthful Klitschko, Wladimir, holds the file for the longest reign in heavyweight boxing that includes bodily belts. Claiming the IBF crown from Chris Byrd in 2006, Klitschko appeared to be unbeatable till Tyson Fury got here alongside in 2015.
In a sluggish period for the division, Klitschko nonetheless dominated with an iron fist, beating Alexander Povetkin, Kubrat Pulev, and David Haye.
1. Joe Louis [11 years, 8 months, and 8 days]
Louis was acknowledged as lineal heavyweight champion in 1937 by the New York State Athletic Fee and a 12 months later worldwide. He made 25 consecutive defenses, together with ten wins over world champions over nearly a dozen years.
In a latest Worldboxingnews.com countdown, Louis was named the second-best boxer behind the good Sugar Ray Robinson within the sport’s historical past.
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