List of The Ring world champions
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:07:35 PM Wikipedia source
Boxing magazine The Ring has awarded world championships in professional boxing within each weight class from its foundation in 1922. The first Ring world title belt was awarded to heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, and the second was awarded to flyweight champion Pancho Villa. The magazine stopped giving belts to world champions in the 1990s, but reintroduced their titles in 2001. Boxers who won the title but were immediately stripped and the title bout being overturned to a no contest will not be listed. While there was no official featherweight champion between 1989 and 2002 (as The Ring awarded no titles in any division during that period), Naseem Hamed was retroactively awarded the Ring title in 2019 (the only former world champion in any division thus far to receive this honor) due to his dominance of the division and the multiple champions he beat.
Tables
| Current champion | |
| Most consecutive title defenses |
· Heavyweight
Jack Dempsey
(awarded inaugural title)
1922
1922–1926
Jack Dempsey
(awarded inaugural title)
No.
1
Name
Jack Dempsey
(awarded inaugural title)
Reign
1922 – 23 Sep 1926
Defenses
2
Gene Tunney
1926
1926–1928
Gene Tunney
No.
2
Name
Gene Tunney
Reign
23 Sep 1926 – 31 Jul 1928
Defenses
2
Max Schmeling
(def. Jack Sharkey)
1930
1930–1932
Max Schmeling
(def. Jack Sharkey)
No.
3
Name
Max Schmeling
(def. Jack Sharkey)
Reign
12 Jun 1930 – 21 Jun 1932
Defenses
1
Jack Sharkey
1932
1932–1933
Jack Sharkey
No.
4
Name
Jack Sharkey
Reign
21 Jun 1932 – 29 Jun 1933
Defenses
0
Primo Carnera
1933
1933–1934
Primo Carnera
No.
5
Name
Primo Carnera
Reign
29 Jun 1933 – 14 Jun 1934
Defenses
2
Max Baer
1934
1934–1935
Max Baer
No.
6
Name
Max Baer
Reign
14 Jun 1934 – 13 Jun 1935
Defenses
0
James J. Braddock
1935
1935–1937
James J. Braddock
No.
7
Name
James J. Braddock
Reign
13 Jun 1935 – 22 Jun 1937
Defenses
0
Joe Louis
1937
1937–1949
Joe Louis
No.
8
Name
Joe Louis
Reign
22 Jun 1937 – 1 Mar 1949
Defenses
26
Ezzard Charles
(def. Joe Louis)
1950
1950–1951
Ezzard Charles
(def. Joe Louis)
No.
9
Name
Ezzard Charles
(def. Joe Louis)
Reign
27 Sep 1950 – 18 Jul 1951
Defenses
4
Jersey Joe Walcott
1951
1951–1952
Jersey Joe Walcott
No.
10
Name
Jersey Joe Walcott
Reign
18 Jul 1951 – 23 Sep 1952
Defenses
1
Rocky Marciano
1952
1952–1956
Rocky Marciano
No.
11
Name
Rocky Marciano
Reign
23 Sept 1952 – 27 Apr 1956
Defenses
6
Floyd Patterson
(def. Archie Moore)
1956
1956–1959
Floyd Patterson
(def. Archie Moore)
No.
12
Name
Floyd Patterson
(def. Archie Moore)
Reign
30 Nov 1956 – 26 Jun 1959
Defenses
4
Ingemar Johansson
1959
1959–1960
Ingemar Johansson
No.
13
Name
Ingemar Johansson
Reign
26 Jun 1959 – 29 Jun 1960
Defenses
0
Floyd Patterson (2)
1960
1960–1962
Floyd Patterson (2)
No.
14
Name
Floyd Patterson (2)
Reign
29 Jun 1960 – 25 Sep 1962
Defenses
2
Sonny Liston
1962
1962–1964
Sonny Liston
No.
15
Name
Sonny Liston
Reign
25 Sep 1962 – 25 Feb 1964
Defenses
1
Muhammad Ali
1964
1964–1970
Muhammad Ali
No.
16
Name
Muhammad Ali
Reign
25 Feb 1964 – 13 Mar 1970
Defenses
9
Joe Frazier
(awarded title)
1970
1970–1973
Joe Frazier
(awarded title)
No.
17
Name
Joe Frazier
(awarded title)
Reign
May 1970 – 22 Jan 1973
Defenses
4
George Foreman
1973
1973–1974
George Foreman
No.
18
Name
George Foreman
Reign
22 Jan 1973 – 30 Oct 1974
Defenses
2
Muhammad Ali (2)
1974
1974–1978
Muhammad Ali (2)
No.
19
Name
Muhammad Ali (2)
Reign
30 Oct 1974 – 15 Feb 1978
Defenses
10
Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks
No.
20
Name
Leon Spinks
Reign
15 Feb – 15 Sep 1978
Defenses
0
Muhammad Ali (3)
1978
1978–1979
Muhammad Ali (3)
No.
21
Name
Muhammad Ali (3)
Reign
15 Sep 1978 – 3 Jul 1979
Defenses
0
Larry Holmes
(awarded The Ring title upon Mike Weaver's def. of John Tate, as Holmes had previously successfully defended title against Weaver)
1980
1980–1985
Larry Holmes
(awarded The Ring title upon Mike Weaver's def. of John Tate, as Holmes had previously successfully defended title against Weaver)
No.
22
Name
Larry Holmes
(awarded The Ring title upon Mike Weaver's def. of John Tate, as Holmes had previously successfully defended title against Weaver)
Reign
31 Mar 1980 – 21 Sep 1985
Defenses
14
Michael Spinks
1985
1985–1988
Michael Spinks
No.
23
Name
Michael Spinks
Reign
21 Sep 1985 – 27 Jun 1988
Defenses
3
Mike Tyson
1988
1988–1989
Mike Tyson
No.
24
Name
Mike Tyson
Reign
27 Jun 1988 – 31 Dec 1989
Defenses
2
Lennox Lewis
(awarded title)
2001
2001–2004
Lennox Lewis
(awarded title)
No.
25
Name
Lennox Lewis
(awarded title)
Reign
2 Dec 2001 – 6 Feb 2004
Defenses
2
Vitali Klitschko
(def. Corrie Sanders)
2004
2004–2005
Vitali Klitschko
(def. Corrie Sanders)
No.
26
Name
Vitali Klitschko
(def. Corrie Sanders)
Reign
24 Apr 2004 – 9 Nov 2005
Defenses
1
Wladimir Klitschko
(def. Ruslan Chagaev)
2009
2009–2015
Wladimir Klitschko
(def. Ruslan Chagaev)
No.
27
Name
Wladimir Klitschko
(def. Ruslan Chagaev)
Reign
20 Jun 2009 – 28 Nov 2015
Defenses
11
Tyson Fury
2015
2015–2018
Tyson Fury
No.
28
Name
Tyson Fury
Reign
28 Nov 2015 – 1 Feb 2018
Defenses
0
Tyson Fury (2)
(def. Deontay Wilder)
2020
2020–2022
Tyson Fury (2)
(def. Deontay Wilder)
No.
29
Name
Tyson Fury (2)
(def. Deontay Wilder)
Reign
22 Feb 2020 – 13 Aug 2022
Defenses
2
Oleksandr Usyk
(def. Anthony Joshua)
Oleksandr Usyk
(def. Anthony Joshua)
No.
30
Name
Oleksandr Usyk
(def. Anthony Joshua)
Reign
20 Aug 2022 – present
Defenses
4
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Jack Dempsey (awarded inaugural title) | 1922 – 23 Sep 1926 | 2 |
| 2 | Gene Tunney | 23 Sep 1926 – 31 Jul 1928 | 2 |
| Tunney retired. | |||
| 3 | Max Schmeling (def. Jack Sharkey) | 12 Jun 1930 – 21 Jun 1932 | 1 |
| 4 | Jack Sharkey | 21 Jun 1932 – 29 Jun 1933 | 0 |
| 5 | Primo Carnera | 29 Jun 1933 – 14 Jun 1934 | 2 |
| 6 | Max Baer | 14 Jun 1934 – 13 Jun 1935 | 0 |
| 7 | James J. Braddock | 13 Jun 1935 – 22 Jun 1937 | 0 |
| 8 | Joe Louis | 22 Jun 1937 – 1 Mar 1949 | 26 |
| Louis retired. | |||
| 9 | Ezzard Charles (def. Joe Louis) | 27 Sep 1950 – 18 Jul 1951 | 4 |
| 10 | Jersey Joe Walcott | 18 Jul 1951 – 23 Sep 1952 | 1 |
| 11 | Rocky Marciano | 23 Sept 1952 – 27 Apr 1956 | 6 |
| Marciano retired. | |||
| 12 | Floyd Patterson (def. Archie Moore) | 30 Nov 1956 – 26 Jun 1959 | 4 |
| 13 | Ingemar Johansson | 26 Jun 1959 – 29 Jun 1960 | 0 |
| 14 | Floyd Patterson (2) | 29 Jun 1960 – 25 Sep 1962 | 2 |
| 15 | Sonny Liston | 25 Sep 1962 – 25 Feb 1964 | 1 |
| 16 | Muhammad Ali | 25 Feb 1964 – 13 Mar 1970 | 9 |
| Ali was stripped of the title due to his refusal to be drafted to army service. Frazier was awarded the title in May. | |||
| 17 | Joe Frazier (awarded title) | May 1970 – 22 Jan 1973 | 4 |
| 18 | George Foreman | 22 Jan 1973 – 30 Oct 1974 | 2 |
| 19 | Muhammad Ali (2) | 30 Oct 1974 – 15 Feb 1978 | 10 |
| 20 | Leon Spinks | 15 Feb – 15 Sep 1978 | 0 |
| 21 | Muhammad Ali (3) | 15 Sep 1978 – 3 Jul 1979 | 0 |
| Ali retired. | |||
| 22 | Larry Holmes (awarded The Ring title upon Mike Weaver's def. of John Tate, as Holmes had previously successfully defended title against Weaver) | 31 Mar 1980 – 21 Sep 1985 | 14 |
| 23 | Michael Spinks | 21 Sep 1985 – 27 Jun 1988 | 3 |
| 24 | Mike Tyson | 27 Jun 1988 – 31 Dec 1989 | 2 |
| New ownership discontinued the championship policy during Tyson's reign. | |||
| 25 | Lennox Lewis (awarded title) | 2 Dec 2001 – 6 Feb 2004 | 2 |
| Lewis retired as champion and chose not to accept a rematch with Vitali Klitschko before a WBC-mandated 1 March deadline to accept the bout. | |||
| 26 | Vitali Klitschko (def. Corrie Sanders) | 24 Apr 2004 – 9 Nov 2005 | 1 |
| Vitali Klitschko retired after withdrawing from a bout against Hasim Rahman due to injuries. | |||
| 27 | Wladimir Klitschko (def. Ruslan Chagaev) | 20 Jun 2009 – 28 Nov 2015 | 11 |
| 28 | Tyson Fury | 28 Nov 2015 – 1 Feb 2018 | 0 |
| Fury was stripped of the title for failing to declare an opponent by 31 January 2018, the deadline set by The Ring. | |||
| 29 | Tyson Fury (2) (def. Deontay Wilder) | 22 Feb 2020 – 13 Aug 2022 | 2 |
| Fury vacates the title. | |||
| 30 | Oleksandr Usyk (def. Anthony Joshua) | 20 Aug 2022 – present | 4 |
· Cruiserweight
Carlos de León
(awarded inaugural title)
1984
1984–1985
Carlos de León
(awarded inaugural title)
No.
1
Name
Carlos de León
(awarded inaugural title)
Reign
3 Feb 1984 – 6 Jun 1985
Defenses
2
Alfonzo Ratliff
Alfonzo Ratliff
No.
2
Name
Alfonzo Ratliff
Reign
6 Jun – 21 Sep 1985
Defenses
0
Bernard Benton
1985
1985–1986
Bernard Benton
No.
3
Name
Bernard Benton
Reign
21 Sep 1985 – 22 Mar 1986
Defenses
0
Carlos de León (2)
1986
1986–1987
Carlos de León (2)
No.
4
Name
Carlos de León (2)
Reign
22 Mar 1986 – 30 Mar 1987
Defenses
2
Jean-Marc Mormeck
(def. Wayne Braithwaite)
2005
2005–2006
Jean-Marc Mormeck
(def. Wayne Braithwaite)
No.
5
Name
Jean-Marc Mormeck
(def. Wayne Braithwaite)
Reign
2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006
Defenses
0
O'Neil Bell
2006
2006–2007
O'Neil Bell
No.
6
Name
O'Neil Bell
Reign
7 Jan 2006 – 17 Mar 2007
Defenses
0
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
No.
7
Name
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
Reign
17 Mar – 10 Nov 2007
Defenses
0
David Haye
2007
2007–2008
David Haye
No.
8
Name
David Haye
Reign
10 Nov 2007 – 30 Jun 2008
Defenses
1
Tomasz Adamek
(def. Steve Cunningham)
2008
2008–2010
Tomasz Adamek
(def. Steve Cunningham)
No.
9
Name
Tomasz Adamek
(def. Steve Cunningham)
Reign
11 Dec 2008 – 10 Feb 2010
Defenses
2
Yoan Pablo Hernández
(def. Steve Cunningham)
2012
2012–2015
Yoan Pablo Hernández
(def. Steve Cunningham)
No.
10
Name
Yoan Pablo Hernández
(def. Steve Cunningham)
Reign
4 Feb 2012 – 23 Nov 2015
Defenses
3
Oleksandr Usyk
(def. Murat Gassiev)
2018
2018–2019
Oleksandr Usyk
(def. Murat Gassiev)
No.
11
Name
Oleksandr Usyk
(def. Murat Gassiev)
Reign
21 Jul 2018 – 16 Oct 2019
Defenses
1
Mairis Briedis
(def. Yuniel Dorticos)
2020
2020–2022
Mairis Briedis
(def. Yuniel Dorticos)
No.
12
Name
Mairis Briedis
(def. Yuniel Dorticos)
Reign
26 Sep 2020 – 2 Jul 2022
Defenses
1
Jai Opetaia
Jai Opetaia
No.
13
Name
Jai Opetaia
Reign
2 Jul 2022 – present
Defenses
8
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Carlos de León (awarded inaugural title) | 3 Feb 1984 – 6 Jun 1985 | 2 |
| 2 | Alfonzo Ratliff | 6 Jun – 21 Sep 1985 | 0 |
| 3 | Bernard Benton | 21 Sep 1985 – 22 Mar 1986 | 0 |
| 4 | Carlos de León (2) | 22 Mar 1986 – 30 Mar 1987 | 2 |
| Title is vacated because The Ring stopped recognizing the division. | |||
| 5 | Jean-Marc Mormeck (def. Wayne Braithwaite) | 2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006 | 0 |
| 6 | O'Neil Bell | 7 Jan 2006 – 17 Mar 2007 | 0 |
| 7 | Jean-Marc Mormeck (2) | 17 Mar – 10 Nov 2007 | 0 |
| 8 | David Haye | 10 Nov 2007 – 30 Jun 2008 | 1 |
| Haye expressed that he'll move up to heavyweight. The title is vacated on 30 June ratings. | |||
| 9 | Tomasz Adamek (def. Steve Cunningham) | 11 Dec 2008 – 10 Feb 2010 | 2 |
| Adamek vacated the title to stay at heavyweight. | |||
| 10 | Yoan Pablo Hernández (def. Steve Cunningham) | 4 Feb 2012 – 23 Nov 2015 | 3 |
| Hernández is stripped of the title due to inactivity. | |||
| 11 | Oleksandr Usyk (def. Murat Gassiev) | 21 Jul 2018 – 16 Oct 2019 | 1 |
| Usyk vacated the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 12 | Mairis Briedis (def. Yuniel Dorticos) | 26 Sep 2020 – 2 Jul 2022 | 1 |
| 13 | Jai Opetaia | 2 Jul 2022 – present | 8 |
· Light heavyweight
Mike McTigue
(awarded inaugural title)
1924
1924–1925
Mike McTigue
(awarded inaugural title)
No.
1
Name
Mike McTigue
(awarded inaugural title)
Reign
1924 – 23 May 1925
Defenses
0
Paul Berlenbach
1925
1925–1926
Paul Berlenbach
No.
2
Name
Paul Berlenbach
Reign
23 May 1925 – 16 Jul 1926
Defenses
3
Jack Delaney
Jack Delaney
No.
3
Name
Jack Delaney
Reign
16 Jul 1926 – Jun 1927
Defenses
1
Tommy Loughran
(def. Mike McTigue)
1927
1927–1929
Tommy Loughran
(def. Mike McTigue)
No.
4
Name
Tommy Loughran
(def. Mike McTigue)
Reign
7 Oct 1927 – 18 Jul 1929
Defenses
5
Maxie Rosenbloom
(def. Jimmy Slattery)
1930
1930–1934
Maxie Rosenbloom
(def. Jimmy Slattery)
No.
5
Name
Maxie Rosenbloom
(def. Jimmy Slattery)
Reign
25 Jun 1930 – 16 Nov 1934
Defenses
7
Bob Olin
1934
1934–1935
Bob Olin
No.
6
Name
Bob Olin
Reign
16 Nov 1934 – 31 Oct 1935
Defenses
0
John Henry Lewis
John Henry Lewis
No.
7
Name
John Henry Lewis
Reign
31 Oct 1935 – Jun 1939
Defenses
5
Billy Conn
(def. Melio Bettina)
Billy Conn
(def. Melio Bettina)
No.
8
Name
Billy Conn
(def. Melio Bettina)
Reign
13 Jul 1939 – Jun 1941
Defenses
3
Gus Lesnevich
(def. Tami Mauriello)
1941
1941–1948
Gus Lesnevich
(def. Tami Mauriello)
No.
9
Name
Gus Lesnevich
(def. Tami Mauriello)
Reign
26 Aug 1941 – 26 Jul 1948
Defenses
4
Freddie Mills
1948
1948–1950
Freddie Mills
No.
10
Name
Freddie Mills
Reign
26 Jul 1948 – 24 Jan 1950
Defenses
0
Joey Maxim
1950
1950–1952
Joey Maxim
No.
11
Name
Joey Maxim
Reign
24 Jan 1950 – 17 Dec 1952
Defenses
2
Archie Moore
1952
1952–1962
Archie Moore
No.
12
Name
Archie Moore
Reign
17 Dec 1952 – 12 May 1962
Defenses
9
Harold Johnson
(def. Doug Jones)
1962
1962–1963
Harold Johnson
(def. Doug Jones)
No.
13
Name
Harold Johnson
(def. Doug Jones)
Reign
12 May 1962 – 1 Jun 1963
Defenses
1
Willie Pastrano
1963
1963–1965
Willie Pastrano
No.
14
Name
Willie Pastrano
Reign
1 Jun 1963 – 30 Mar 1965
Defenses
2
José Torres
1965
1965–1966
José Torres
No.
15
Name
José Torres
Reign
30 Mar 1965 – 16 Dec 1966
Defenses
3
Dick Tiger
1966
1966–1968
Dick Tiger
No.
16
Name
Dick Tiger
Reign
16 Dec 1966 – 24 May 1968
Defenses
2
Bob Foster
1968
1968–1974
Bob Foster
No.
17
Name
Bob Foster
Reign
24 May 1968 – 16 Sep 1974
Defenses
14
Matthew Saad Muhammad
(awarded title)
1979
1979–1981
Matthew Saad Muhammad
(awarded title)
No.
18
Name
Matthew Saad Muhammad
(awarded title)
Reign
30 Nov 1979 – 19 Dec 1981
Defenses
7
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
1981
1981–1983
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
No.
19
Name
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Reign
19 Dec 1981 – 18 Mar 1983
Defenses
3
Michael Spinks
1983
1983–1985
Michael Spinks
No.
20
Name
Michael Spinks
Reign
18 Mar 1983 – 5 Nov 1985
Defenses
4
Roy Jones Jr.
(awarded title)
2001
2001–2004
Roy Jones Jr.
(awarded title)
No.
21
Name
Roy Jones Jr.
(awarded title)
Reign
2 Dec 2001 – 15 May 2004
Defenses
3
Antonio Tarver
Antonio Tarver
No.
22
Name
Antonio Tarver
Reign
15 May – 18 Dec 2004
Defenses
0
Glen Johnson
2004
2004–2005
Glen Johnson
No.
23
Name
Glen Johnson
Reign
18 Dec 2004 – 18 Jun 2005
Defenses
0
Antonio Tarver (2)
2005
2005–2006
Antonio Tarver (2)
No.
24
Name
Antonio Tarver (2)
Reign
18 Jun 2005 – 10 Jun 2006
Defenses
1
Bernard Hopkins
2006
2006–2008
Bernard Hopkins
No.
25
Name
Bernard Hopkins
Reign
10 Jun 2006 – 19 Apr 2008
Defenses
1
Joe Calzaghe
2008
2008–2009
Joe Calzaghe
No.
26
Name
Joe Calzaghe
Reign
19 Apr 2008 – 5 Feb 2009
Defenses
1
Jean Pascal
(def. Chad Dawson)
2010
2010–2011
Jean Pascal
(def. Chad Dawson)
No.
27
Name
Jean Pascal
(def. Chad Dawson)
Reign
14 Aug 2010 – 21 May 2011
Defenses
1
Bernard Hopkins (2)
2011
2011–2012
Bernard Hopkins (2)
No.
28
Name
Bernard Hopkins (2)
Reign
21 May 2011 – 28 Apr 2012
Defenses
0
Chad Dawson
2012
2012–2013
Chad Dawson
No.
29
Name
Chad Dawson
Reign
28 Apr 2012 – 8 Jun 2013
Defenses
0
Adonis Stevenson
2013
2013–2015
Adonis Stevenson
No.
30
Name
Adonis Stevenson
Reign
8 Jun 2013 – 23 Nov 2015
Defenses
6
Andre Ward
(def. Sergey Kovalev)
Andre Ward
(def. Sergey Kovalev)
No.
31
Name
Andre Ward
(def. Sergey Kovalev)
Reign
17 Jun – 21 Sep 2017
Defenses
0
Artur Beterbiev
(def. Dmitry Bivol)
2024
2024–2025
Artur Beterbiev
(def. Dmitry Bivol)
No.
32
Name
Artur Beterbiev
(def. Dmitry Bivol)
Reign
12 Oct 2024 – 22 Feb 2025
Defenses
0
Dmitry Bivol
Dmitry Bivol
No.
33
Name
Dmitry Bivol
Reign
22 Feb 2025 – present
Defenses
0
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Mike McTigue (awarded inaugural title) | 1924 – 23 May 1925 | 0 |
| 2 | Paul Berlenbach | 23 May 1925 – 16 Jul 1926 | 3 |
| 3 | Jack Delaney | 16 Jul 1926 – Jun 1927 | 1 |
| Delaney vacates the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 4 | Tommy Loughran (def. Mike McTigue) | 7 Oct 1927 – 18 Jul 1929 | 5 |
| Loughran vacates the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 5 | Maxie Rosenbloom (def. Jimmy Slattery) | 25 Jun 1930 – 16 Nov 1934 | 7 |
| 6 | Bob Olin | 16 Nov 1934 – 31 Oct 1935 | 0 |
| 7 | John Henry Lewis | 31 Oct 1935 – Jun 1939 | 5 |
| Lewis retires. | |||
| 8 | Billy Conn (def. Melio Bettina) | 13 Jul 1939 – Jun 1941 | 3 |
| Conn vacates the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 9 | Gus Lesnevich (def. Tami Mauriello) | 26 Aug 1941 – 26 Jul 1948 | 4 |
| 10 | Freddie Mills | 26 Jul 1948 – 24 Jan 1950 | 0 |
| 11 | Joey Maxim | 24 Jan 1950 – 17 Dec 1952 | 2 |
| 12 | Archie Moore | 17 Dec 1952 – 12 May 1962 | 9 |
| Moore vacates the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 13 | Harold Johnson (def. Doug Jones) | 12 May 1962 – 1 Jun 1963 | 1 |
| 14 | Willie Pastrano | 1 Jun 1963 – 30 Mar 1965 | 2 |
| 15 | José Torres | 30 Mar 1965 – 16 Dec 1966 | 3 |
| 16 | Dick Tiger | 16 Dec 1966 – 24 May 1968 | 2 |
| 17 | Bob Foster | 24 May 1968 – 16 Sep 1974 | 14 |
| Foster retires. | |||
| 18 | Matthew Saad Muhammad (awarded title) | 30 Nov 1979 – 19 Dec 1981 | 7 |
| 19 | Dwight Muhammad Qawi | 19 Dec 1981 – 18 Mar 1983 | 3 |
| 20 | Michael Spinks | 18 Mar 1983 – 5 Nov 1985 | 4 |
| Spinks vacates all of his titles to stay at heavyweight. | |||
| 21 | Roy Jones Jr. (awarded title) | 2 Dec 2001 – 15 May 2004 | 3 |
| 22 | Antonio Tarver | 15 May – 18 Dec 2004 | 0 |
| 23 | Glen Johnson | 18 Dec 2004 – 18 Jun 2005 | 0 |
| 24 | Antonio Tarver (2) | 18 Jun 2005 – 10 Jun 2006 | 1 |
| 25 | Bernard Hopkins | 10 Jun 2006 – 19 Apr 2008 | 1 |
| 26 | Joe Calzaghe | 19 Apr 2008 – 5 Feb 2009 | 1 |
| Calzaghe retires. | |||
| 27 | Jean Pascal (def. Chad Dawson) | 14 Aug 2010 – 21 May 2011 | 1 |
| 28 | Bernard Hopkins (2) | 21 May 2011 – 28 Apr 2012 | 0 |
| 29 | Chad Dawson | 28 Apr 2012 – 8 Jun 2013 | 0 |
| 30 | Adonis Stevenson | 8 Jun 2013 – 23 Nov 2015 | 6 |
| Stevenson is stripped of the title for failing to fight a top 5 contender within 2 years of his last fight against another top 5 contender. | |||
| 31 | Andre Ward (def. Sergey Kovalev) | 17 Jun – 21 Sep 2017 | 0 |
| Ward retires. | |||
| 32 | Artur Beterbiev (def. Dmitry Bivol) | 12 Oct 2024 – 22 Feb 2025 | 0 |
| 33 | Dmitry Bivol | 22 Feb 2025 – present | 0 |
· Super middleweight
Joe Calzaghe
(def. Jeff Lacy)
2006
2006–2008
Joe Calzaghe
(def. Jeff Lacy)
No.
1
Name
Joe Calzaghe
(def. Jeff Lacy)
Reign
4 Mar 2006 – 26 Sep 2008
Defenses
3
Andre Ward
(def. Carl Froch)
2011
2011–2015
Andre Ward
(def. Carl Froch)
No.
2
Name
Andre Ward
(def. Carl Froch)
Reign
17 Dec 2011 – 19 Feb 2015
Defenses
2
Callum Smith
(def. George Groves)
2018
2018–2020
Callum Smith
(def. George Groves)
No.
3
Name
Callum Smith
(def. George Groves)
Reign
28 Sep 2018 – 19 Dec 2020
Defenses
2
Canelo Álvarez
2020
2020–2025
Canelo Álvarez
No.
4
Name
Canelo Álvarez
Reign
19 Dec 2020 – 13 Sep 2025
Defenses
9
Terence Crawford
2025
2025–2026
Terence Crawford
No.
5
Name
Terence Crawford
Reign
13 Sep 2025 – 27 Jan 2026
Defenses
0
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Joe Calzaghe (def. Jeff Lacy) | 4 Mar 2006 – 26 Sep 2008 | 3 |
| Calzaghe vacates the title to stay at light heavyweight. | |||
| 2 | Andre Ward (def. Carl Froch) | 17 Dec 2011 – 19 Feb 2015 | 2 |
| Ward is stripped of the title for failing to schedule a fight with a top 5 contender from any weight class for two years per The Ring policy. | |||
| 3 | Callum Smith (def. George Groves) | 28 Sep 2018 – 19 Dec 2020 | 2 |
| 4 | Canelo Álvarez | 19 Dec 2020 – 13 Sep 2025 | 9 |
| 5 | Terence Crawford | 13 Sep 2025 – 27 Jan 2026 | 0 |
| Following his retirement, the title was vacated on the 27 January 2026 ratings. | |||
References
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