Most Heavyweight Champions Fought

[Mike DeLisa]

Most Heavyweight Champions Fought
Compiled by Mike DeLisa

-- 14 Mike Tyson

Tony Tubbs
Tony Tucker
Buster Douglas
Frank Bruno
Bruce Seldon
Evander Holyfield
Lennox Lewis
Larry Holmes
James Bonecrusher Smith
Mike Spinks
Pinklon Thomas
Trevor Berbeck
Brian Neilson
Frans Botha - held it for short time until drug test results


--12 Larry Holmes
Muhammad Ali
Trevor Berbick
Leon Spinks
Michael Spinks
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
Bonecrusher Smith
Mike Weaver
Oliver McCall
Ken Norton
Ray Mercer
Brian Neilson
Tim Witherspoon

--11 Jesse Ferguson
Hasim Rahman
Larry Holmes
Frank Bruno
Riddick Bowe
Tony Tubbs
Michael Dokes
Bruce Seldon
Oliver McCall
Bonecrusher Smith
Mike Tyson
Buster Douglas

--11 Jose Ribalta
Chris Byrd
Klitschko
Tony Tubbs
Larry Holmes
Michael Dokes
Frank Bruno
Bruce Seldon
Witherspoon
Spinks
Tyson
Bonecrusher

--9.5 Joe Louis
Max Baer
Primo Carnera
Jimmy Braddock
Jack Sharkey
Max Schmeling
Jersey Joe Walcott
Ezzard Charles
Rocky Marciano
Lee Savold
Jimmy Bivins (interim)

[BDeskins]

Brian Neilsen never held one of the accepted alphabet titles...I think he had the IBA title, or something like that, but the others all held either the WBA, WBC or IBF.

[BDeskins]

Ray Mercer also...he held the WBO title...before it was considered as fashionable as some think it is today. Surely an error on Mike's part listing those guys, unless he is counting all alphabet titles...that's just a huge task even trying to list all of the alphabet title holders...it's difficult enough to keep up with the IBF, WBA and WBC nowadays.

[ezzthetic]

Ray Mercer also...he held the WBO title...before it was considered as fashionable as some think it is today. Surely an error on Mike's part listing those guys, unless he is counting all alphabet titles...that's just a huge task even trying to list all of the alphabet title holders...it's difficult enough to keep up with the IBF, WBA and WBC nowadays.

"WBF? What's that? The World Butt F***ing championship?"
- Greg Haugen, learning he was fighting for the WBF title.

[Mike DeLisa]

Yeah, the point of this one was to show all alphabet titles -- in my opinion WBA is no better than WBF. I thought that was obvious by including Lee Savold, who held a vey dubious world title claim.

Of course, I still need to do a list of guys who fought LINEAL champs . . .

[BDeskins]

You're right, the WBA is no better than the WBF any more...they have all become a joke. I don't know why I still sometimes consider the WBA, WBC and IBF to be legit when I don't think most of they're title holders to be true champions...unless the fighter has unified the three. There was a website that had most heavyweight champions listed, including all the alphabet champions...I think Steve Dmitry.

[Gallicrow]

Here's a list I compiled of how the lineal champions did against each other. It's a little out of date as I can't bring myself to add people like Rahman. Also, it may well contain some errors as I did it mostly from memory.

Sullivan 1 (Corbett)
Corbett 3 (Sullivan Fitsimmons Jeffries )
Fitzsimmons 3 (Corbett Jeffries Johnson)
Jeffries 3 (Fitzsimmons Corbett Johnson)
Hart 2 (Burns Johnson)
Burns 2 (Hart Johnson)
Johnson 5 (Jeffries Hart Burns Fitzsimmons Willard)
Willard 2 (Johnson Dempsey)
Dempsey 3 (Willard Tunney Sharkey)
Tunney 1 (Dempsey )
Schmeling 3 (Sharkey Baer Louis )
Sharkey 3 (Schmeling Carnera Louis )
Carnera 3 (Sharkey Louis Baer)
Baer 4 (Schmeling Carnera Braddock Louis )
Braddock 2 (Baer Louis)
Louis 8 (Schmeling Sharkey Carnera Baer Braddock Walcott Charles Marciano)
Charles 3 (Louis Walcott Marciano)
Walcott 3 (Louis Charles Marciano)
Marciano 3 (Louis Charles Walcott)
Patterson 2 (Johansson Liston)
Johansson 1 (Patterson)
Liston 2 (Patterson Ali)
Ali 6 (Liston Patterson Frazier Foreman LSpinks Holmes)
Frazier 2 (Ali Foreman)
Foreman 4 (Frazier Ali Holyfield Moorer)
LSpinks 2 (Ali Holmes)
Holmes 6 (LSpinks Ali MSpinks Tyson Holyfield McCall)
MSpinks 2 (Holmes Tyson)
Tyson 4 (MSpinks Douglas Holmes Holyfield )
Douglas 3 (Tyson Holyfield McCall)
Holyfield 6 (Holmes Tyson Douglas Bowe Lewis Moorer )
Bowe 1 (Holyfield )
Moorer 2 (Holyfield Foreman)
Lewis 3 (Holyfield Tyson McCall)
McCall 3 (Lewis Holmes Douglas)

[mike]

i never knew alot of the fellows were champs on barrys list--probaly never cared to know. gallicrows list makes more sense,obvioulsy but barry took it from a technical and i suppoe, humorus angle.

[Todd]

"WBF? What's that? The World Butt F***ing championship?"
- Greg Haugen, learning he was fighting for the WBF title.

That made me laugh out loud.

[Capslock]

Philadelphia Jack O'Brien fought Bob Fitzsimmons,Tommy Burns and Jack Johnson

[Petey]

For lineal, don't forget Shannon Briggs. Sure, his decision over Foreman was bullshit, and just about all the alphabet boyz had stripped George by then, but George had neither retired nor lost in the ring until that point.

This also means that Lewis wasn't the lineal champ until he beat Briggs, and totally knocks McCall off the list as I see it.

Forget the Alphabet Soup orgs, there has only been one legit 3-time heavyweight champion of the world and his name is Muhammad Ali. Unless you really wanna count Ruiz and his 3-4 WB-Whatever "reigns"...sigh.

Sorry, I get a bit militant about the lineal Heavyweight Title, THE title. Sure hope we have a real champion again in my lifetime...

[Roberto Aqui]

For lineal, don't forget Shannon Briggs. Sure, his decision over Foreman was bullshit, and just about all the alphabet boyz had stripped George by then, but George had neither retired nor lost in the ring until that point.

This also means that Lewis wasn't the lineal champ until he beat Briggs, and totally knocks McCall off the list as I see it.

Forget the Alphabet Soup orgs, there has only been one legit 3-time heavyweight champion of the world and his name is Muhammad Ali. Unless you really wanna count Ruiz and his 3-4 WB-Whatever "reigns"...sigh.

Sorry, I get a bit militant about the lineal Heavyweight Title, THE title. Sure hope we have a real champion again in my lifetime...

The lineal titles you mention are BS. Bogus decisions don't make for lineal nobility. Ali won his 3rd title from a stripped Leon who failed to defend against the obvious best heavy, Ken Norton. If Ali announced his comeback tomorrow all you lineal boys would make him the champ again in yet another charade.

The people know who to support as champ overall.

[Petey]

"People's Champ"? Isn't that "The Rock"???

If we go back to review/reassess/re-award victories and title lineage based on bad descisions and actions, that opens up a whole new field. I'll immediately recognize Jack Dempsey as a two-time champ for his KO of Gene Tunney in their rematch in Chicago. And then there was Carl Williams win over Larry Holmes, which is further confused in light of Holme's win over Michael Spinks in their rematch.

Sorry Roberto, but even though that decision stank, and yeah, Norton was a more viable contender than Ali, I'll stick with the historical facts of "Who beat whom in the ring." on the occasions where these can be discerned. Figure the interesting one's in the heavyweight title lineage are the breaks following the retirementof a recognized lineal champ. While The Ring hurriedly recognized Vitaly Klits following Lewis's retirement, I figure it'll be awhile yet until we find someone with a clear claim to the title. Meanwhile, if Ali does comeback, he can fight Frazier in Tennesee for the vacant title, right?

Best regards,

Petey

[Elmer Ray]

Yeah, the point of this one was to show all alphabet titles -- in my opinion WBA is no better than WBF. I thought that was obvious by including Lee Savold, who held a vey dubious world title claim.

Of course, I still need to do a list of guys who fought LINEAL champs . . .

hell the BBC heavyweight title is just as good as any alpha belt today. hell at least lee savold beat a good heavyweight bruce woodock. hell WBO and IBO titles used to be a joke.

[greek1237]

Thinking about this, Marciano became champ before he fought Walcott lol.
Savold lost it to Louis, who of couse lost it to Marciano. That means the Marciano Walcott fight relly was the "First" unifycation title match up.

[MATTDONNELLON]

i once did a list for ibro, listing non-champions totals against champions(linear)
choynski(fitz, jeffries, corbett, johnson, hart) and loughran (tunney, sharkey, braddock, baer, carnera) were tops. choynski also boxed maher who has a linear claim, sharkey who has a weak claim and an exhibition with john l.

[brutu]

Yeah,IMOP The original"World Heavyweight Championship of the World title,
became extinct just after when Ali originally retired.
C'mon its been 30 years since someone on the schoolyard knew who you were talking about when you said HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
Who we got to thank for this,I dunt exactly know either but tthe projenitor was GREEED.

[brutu]

Someone gather up the current batch of posers put them on an island for a reality show for six months until there's only ONE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
It could become some sort of pay per view reality series.

[Petey]

Given our current crop of behemoths and their orgins, maybe Siberia would be a more appropriate setting?

[PeteLeo]

C'mon its been 30 years since someone on the schoolyard knew who you were talking about when you said HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

I think Tyson was ferocious enough to imprint himself on the public mind during that timespan. Even today, when Mike hasn't been a good (dedicated) fighter in like two decades, you can still hear snippits of dialogue in television and the movies in which a character says someone can hit "like Mike Tyson." The Spinks fight may have been his peak, and it may also have established his public image in something close to permanence. PeteLeo.

[walshb]

I was born in 1976 and I have to say, of all the sports stars that have been mega mega
popular during my time, Tyson was one of very few. Him, along with Carl Lewis, Maradona and Tiger Woods and Jordan have been the true global sports stars.

When Mike was champ, the whole world knew, and that includes the schoolyard

I would argue that Mike during his reign was the most known and famous sports athlete since Ali!

[Overhand_Right]

Holyfield was a 3 time champ, his win over Tyson followed by Moorer holds so much more weight than Lewis whacking Shannon frickin Briggs!

When Foreman retired surely the recognition shifted to Holyfield. When Holyfield first boxed LL he was very much considered The Man, and rightly so.

[hhascup]

These boxers fought the most Heavyweight title challengers.

Everett "Bigfoot" Martin

1. Bert Cooper
2. Johnny DuPlooy
3. George Foreman *
4. Francesco Damiani *
5. James Smith *
6. Michael Moorer *
7. Riddick Bowe *
8. Tim Witherspoon *
9. Tony Tucker *
10. Larry Holmes *
11. Herbie Hide *
12. Tony Tubbs *
13. Ed Mahone
14. Wladimir Klitschko *
15. Lamon Brewster *
16. Willi Fischer
17. Fres Oquendo
18. Joe Hipp
19. Obed Sullivan
20. Luan Krasniqi
21. Siarhei Liakhovich *
22. Albert Sosnowski
23. Ruslan Chagaev *
* Heavyweight Champion - Martin fought 14 different Heavyweight Champions

Marion Wilson

1. Vaughn Bean
2. Tyrell Biggs
3. Francois Botha
4. Shannon Briggs
5. Larry Donald
6. Andrew Golota
7. Derrick Jefferson
8. Kirk Johnson
9. Oleg Maskaev
10. Zeljko Mavrovic
11. Oliver McCall (2)
12. Ray Mercer
13. Greg Page
14. Samuel Peter
15. Hasim Rahman
16. Obed Sullivan
17. Tony Thompson
18. Carl Williams
19. Jeremy Williams