List of WBA world champions
Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:53:10 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of WBA world champions, showing every world champion certified by the World Boxing Association (WBA). The list also includes champions certified by the National Boxing Association (NBA), the predecessor to the WBA. Boxers who won the title but were stripped due to the title bout being overturned to a no contest are not listed i . Evgeny Tishchenko won the inaugural bridgerweight title but was subsequently stripped after testing positive for banned substance. In December 2000, the WBA created an unprecedented situation of having a split championship in the same weight class by introducing a new title called Super world, commonly referred to simply as Super. The Super champion is the WBA's primary champion, while the World champion – commonly known as the Regular champion by boxing publications – is only considered the primary champion by the other three major sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, and WBO) if the Super title is vacant. A Unified champion is a boxer that holds the primary WBA title and one or two from another major sanctioning body (WBC, IBF, WBO) simultaneously. An Undisputed champion as defined by the WBA, only needs to hold three of the four major titles but in some cases they may change a Super champion into an Undisputed champion after a failed title defense (e . Anselmo Moreno losing to Juan Payano and Chris John losing to Simpiwe Vetyeka). This is not to be confused by professional boxing's own definition of an undisputed champion, in which a boxer must hold all four major titles. There are two tables per section. The primary champion lineage prioritizes the Super champions. If the Super title is vacant, then the Undisputed / Unified title is listed. If both are vacant, then the Regular title becomes the primary champion. The secondary champion lineage lists the Regular or Unified champions while the primary champion is occupied.
Every Super champion is the primary champion. A Regular champion is a primary champion only if Super, Undisputed and Unified is vacant. A Unified champion is a primary champion only if Super is vacant. Not every Regular or Unified champion gets promoted to Super if it is vacant. Not every Regular champion gets to fight for the vacant Super title. A Regular or Unified champion that is considered the primary champion is relegated to secondary champion if Super gets occupied. Starting from August 2021, any new champions in the primary champion lineage will not be marked as Regular, Unified, Undisputed or Super because of the WBA's title reduction plan.
Tables
| Current champion | |
| Most consecutive title defenses |
· Heavyweight › Primary champion lineage
Jack Dempsey
(awarded inaugural title)
1921
1921–1926
Jack Dempsey
(awarded inaugural title)
No.
1
Name
Jack Dempsey
(awarded inaugural title)
Reign
Jan 1921 – 23 Sep 1926
Defenses
3
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
1
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
25
Ezzard Charles
(def. Jersey Joe Walcott)
1949
1949–1951
Ezzard Charles
(def. Jersey Joe Walcott)
No.
9
Name
Ezzard Charles
(def. Jersey Joe Walcott)
Reign
22 Jun 1949 – 18 Jul 1951
Defenses
8
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 Sep 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
3
Ingemar Johansson
1959
1959–1960
Ingemar Johansson
No.
13
Name
Ingemar Johansson
Reign
26 Jun 1959 – 20 Jun 1960
Defenses
0
Floyd Patterson (2)
1960
1960–1962
Floyd Patterson (2)
No.
14
Name
Floyd Patterson (2)
Reign
20 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
Muhammad Ali
No.
16
Name
Muhammad Ali
Reign
25 Feb – 14 Sep 1964
Defenses
0
Ernie Terrell
(def. Eddie Machen)
1965
1965–1967
Ernie Terrell
(def. Eddie Machen)
No.
17
Name
Ernie Terrell
(def. Eddie Machen)
Reign
5 Mar 1965 – 6 Feb 1967
Defenses
2
Muhammad Ali (2)
Muhammad Ali (2)
No.
18
Name
Muhammad Ali (2)
Reign
6 Feb – 28 Apr 1967
Defenses
1
Jimmy Ellis
(def. Jerry Quarry)
1968
1968–1970
Jimmy Ellis
(def. Jerry Quarry)
No.
19
Name
Jimmy Ellis
(def. Jerry Quarry)
Reign
27 Apr 1968 – 16 Feb 1970
Defenses
1
Joe Frazier
1970
1970–1973
Joe Frazier
No.
20
Name
Joe Frazier
Reign
16 Feb 1970 – 22 Jan 1973
Defenses
4
George Foreman
1973
1973–1974
George Foreman
No.
21
Name
George Foreman
Reign
22 Jan 1973 – 30 Oct 1974
Defenses
2
Muhammad Ali (3)
1974
1974–1978
Muhammad Ali (3)
No.
22
Name
Muhammad Ali (3)
Reign
30 Oct 1974 – 15 Feb 1978
Defenses
10
Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks
No.
23
Name
Leon Spinks
Reign
15 Feb – 15 Sep 1978
Defenses
0
Muhammad Ali (4)
1978
1978–1979
Muhammad Ali (4)
No.
24
Name
Muhammad Ali (4)
Reign
15 Sep 1978 – 3 Jul 1979
Defenses
0
John Tate
(def. Gerrie Coetzee)
1979
1979–1980
John Tate
(def. Gerrie Coetzee)
No.
25
Name
John Tate
(def. Gerrie Coetzee)
Reign
20 Oct 1979 – 31 Mar 1980
Defenses
0
Mike Weaver
1980
1980–1982
Mike Weaver
No.
26
Name
Mike Weaver
Reign
31 Mar 1980 – 10 Dec 1982
Defenses
2
Michael Dokes
1982
1982–1983
Michael Dokes
No.
27
Name
Michael Dokes
Reign
10 Dec 1982 – 23 Sep 1983
Defenses
1
Gerrie Coetzee
1983
1983–1984
Gerrie Coetzee
No.
28
Name
Gerrie Coetzee
Reign
23 Sep 1983 – 1 Dec 1984
Defenses
0
Greg Page
1984
1984–1985
Greg Page
No.
29
Name
Greg Page
Reign
1 Dec 1984 – 29 Apr 1985
Defenses
0
Tony Tubbs
1985
1985–1986
Tony Tubbs
No.
30
Name
Tony Tubbs
Reign
29 Apr 1985 – 17 Jan 1986
Defenses
0
Tim Witherspoon
Tim Witherspoon
No.
31
Name
Tim Witherspoon
Reign
17 Jan – 12 Dec 1986
Defenses
1
James Smith
1986
1986–1987
James Smith
No.
32
Name
James Smith
Reign
12 Dec 1986 – 7 Mar 1987
Defenses
0
Mike Tyson
1987
1987–1990
Mike Tyson
No.
33
Name
Mike Tyson
Reign
7 Mar 1987 – 11 Feb 1990
Defenses
8
Buster Douglas
Buster Douglas
No.
34
Name
Buster Douglas
Reign
11 Feb – 25 Oct 1990
Defenses
0
Evander Holyfield
1990
1990–1992
Evander Holyfield
No.
35
Name
Evander Holyfield
Reign
25 Oct 1990 – 13 Nov 1992
Defenses
3
Riddick Bowe
1992
1992–1993
Riddick Bowe
No.
36
Name
Riddick Bowe
Reign
13 Nov 1992 – 6 Nov 1993
Defenses
2
Evander Holyfield (2)
1993
1993–1994
Evander Holyfield (2)
No.
37
Name
Evander Holyfield (2)
Reign
6 Nov 1993 – 22 Apr 1994
Defenses
0
Michael Moorer
Michael Moorer
No.
38
Name
Michael Moorer
Reign
22 Apr – 5 Nov 1994
Defenses
0
George Foreman (2)
1994
1994–1995
George Foreman (2)
No.
39
Name
George Foreman (2)
Reign
5 Nov 1994 – 4 Mar 1995
Defenses
0
Bruce Seldon
(def. Tony Tucker)
1995
1995–1996
Bruce Seldon
(def. Tony Tucker)
No.
40
Name
Bruce Seldon
(def. Tony Tucker)
Reign
8 Apr 1995 – 7 Sep 1996
Defenses
1
Mike Tyson (2)
Mike Tyson (2)
No.
41
Name
Mike Tyson (2)
Reign
7 Sep – 9 Nov 1996
Defenses
0
Evander Holyfield (3)
1996
1996–1999
Evander Holyfield (3)
No.
42
Name
Evander Holyfield (3)
Reign
9 Nov 1996 – 13 Nov 1999
Defenses
4
Lennox Lewis
1999
1999–2000
Lennox Lewis
No.
43
Name
Lennox Lewis
Reign
13 Nov 1999 – 12 Apr 2000
Defenses
0
Evander Holyfield (4)
(def. John Ruiz)
2000
2000–2001
Evander Holyfield (4)
(def. John Ruiz)
No.
44
Name
Evander Holyfield (4)
(def. John Ruiz)
Reign
12 Aug 2000 – 3 Mar 2001
Defenses
0
John Ruiz
2001
2001–2003
John Ruiz
No.
45
Name
John Ruiz
Reign
3 Mar 2001 – 1 Mar 2003
Defenses
2
Roy Jones Jr.
2003
2003–2004
Roy Jones Jr.
No.
46
Name
Roy Jones Jr.
Reign
1 Mar 2003 – 24 Feb 2004
Defenses
0
John Ruiz (2)
(interim champion promoted)
2004
2004–2005
John Ruiz (2)
(interim champion promoted)
No.
47
Name
John Ruiz (2)
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
24 Feb 2004 – 17 Dec 2005
Defenses
2
Nikolai Valuev
2005
2005–2007
Nikolai Valuev
No.
48
Name
Nikolai Valuev
Reign
17 Dec 2005 – 14 Apr 2007
Defenses
3
Ruslan Chagaev
2007
2007–2008
Ruslan Chagaev
No.
49
Name
Ruslan Chagaev
Reign
14 Apr 2007 – 3 Jul 2008
Defenses
2
Nikolai Valuev (2)
(def. John Ruiz)
2008
2008–2009
Nikolai Valuev (2)
(def. John Ruiz)
No.
50
Name
Nikolai Valuev (2)
(def. John Ruiz)
Reign
30 Aug 2008 – 7 Nov 2009
Defenses
1
David Haye
2009
2009–2011
David Haye
No.
51
Name
David Haye
Reign
7 Nov 2009 – 2 Jul 2011
Defenses
2
Wladimir Klitschko – Unified champion
(def. David Haye)
Wladimir Klitschko – Unified champion
(def. David Haye)
No.
52
Name
Wladimir Klitschko – Unified champion
(def. David Haye)
Reign
2 Jul – Aug 2011
Defenses
0
Aug 2011 – 28 Nov 2015
Aug 2011 – 28 Nov 2015
No.
Wladimir Klitschko – Super champion
(Unified champion promoted)
Name
Aug 2011 – 28 Nov 2015
Reign
8
Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury
No.
53
Name
Tyson Fury
Reign
28 Nov – 10 Dec 2015
Defenses
0
10 Dec 2015 – 12 Oct 2016
10 Dec 2015 – 12 Oct 2016
No.
Tyson Fury – Unified champion
Name
10 Dec 2015 – 12 Oct 2016
Reign
0
Anthony Joshua – Super champion
(def. Wladimir Klitschko)
2017
2017–2019
Anthony Joshua – Super champion
(def. Wladimir Klitschko)
No.
54
Name
Anthony Joshua – Super champion
(def. Wladimir Klitschko)
Reign
29 Apr 2017 – 1 Jun 2019
Defenses
3
Andy Ruiz Jr.
Andy Ruiz Jr.
No.
55
Name
Andy Ruiz Jr.
Reign
1 Jun – 7 Dec 2019
Defenses
0
Anthony Joshua (2)
2019
2019–2021
Anthony Joshua (2)
No.
56
Name
Anthony Joshua (2)
Reign
7 Dec 2019 – 25 Sep 2021
Defenses
1
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk
No.
57
Name
Oleksandr Usyk
Reign
25 Sep 2021 – present
Defenses
6
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Jack Dempsey (awarded inaugural title) | Jan 1921 – 23 Sep 1926 | 3 |
| 2 | Gene Tunney | 23 Sep 1926 – 31 Jul 1928 | 2 |
| Tunney retires. | |||
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 | 25 |
| Louis vacated the title and retired, but would come back a year later to fight Ezzard Charles. | |||
| 9 | Ezzard Charles (def. Jersey Joe Walcott) | 22 Jun 1949 – 18 Jul 1951 | 8 |
| 10 | Jersey Joe Walcott | 18 Jul 1951 – 23 Sep 1952 | 1 |
| 11 | Rocky Marciano | 23 Sep 1952 – 27 Apr 1956 | 6 |
| Marciano retires. | |||
| 12 | Floyd Patterson (def. Archie Moore) | 30 Nov 1956 – 26 Jun 1959 | 3 |
| 13 | Ingemar Johansson | 26 Jun 1959 – 20 Jun 1960 | 0 |
| 14 | Floyd Patterson (2) | 20 Jun 1960 – 25 Sep 1962 | 2 |
| The NBA changes its name to WBA on 23 August 1962, making Patterson the first WBA heavyweight champion and last NBA heavyweight champion. | |||
| 15 | Sonny Liston | 25 Sep 1962 – 25 Feb 1964 | 1 |
| 16 | Muhammad Ali | 25 Feb – 14 Sep 1964 | 0 |
| Ali was stripped of the title for signing to a rematch with Liston. | |||
| 17 | Ernie Terrell (def. Eddie Machen) | 5 Mar 1965 – 6 Feb 1967 | 2 |
| 18 | Muhammad Ali (2) | 6 Feb – 28 Apr 1967 | 1 |
| Ali was stripped of the title due to his refusal to be drafted to Army service. | |||
| 19 | Jimmy Ellis (def. Jerry Quarry) | 27 Apr 1968 – 16 Feb 1970 | 1 |
| 20 | Joe Frazier | 16 Feb 1970 – 22 Jan 1973 | 4 |
| 21 | George Foreman | 22 Jan 1973 – 30 Oct 1974 | 2 |
| 22 | Muhammad Ali (3) | 30 Oct 1974 – 15 Feb 1978 | 10 |
| 23 | Leon Spinks | 15 Feb – 15 Sep 1978 | 0 |
| 24 | Muhammad Ali (4) | 15 Sep 1978 – 3 Jul 1979 | 0 |
| Ali vacated the title and retired, but would come back a year later to fight Larry Holmes. | |||
| 25 | John Tate (def. Gerrie Coetzee) | 20 Oct 1979 – 31 Mar 1980 | 0 |
| 26 | Mike Weaver | 31 Mar 1980 – 10 Dec 1982 | 2 |
| 27 | Michael Dokes | 10 Dec 1982 – 23 Sep 1983 | 1 |
| 28 | Gerrie Coetzee | 23 Sep 1983 – 1 Dec 1984 | 0 |
| 29 | Greg Page | 1 Dec 1984 – 29 Apr 1985 | 0 |
| 30 | Tony Tubbs | 29 Apr 1985 – 17 Jan 1986 | 0 |
| 31 | Tim Witherspoon | 17 Jan – 12 Dec 1986 | 1 |
| 32 | James Smith | 12 Dec 1986 – 7 Mar 1987 | 0 |
| 33 | Mike Tyson | 7 Mar 1987 – 11 Feb 1990 | 8 |
| 34 | Buster Douglas | 11 Feb – 25 Oct 1990 | 0 |
| 35 | Evander Holyfield | 25 Oct 1990 – 13 Nov 1992 | 3 |
| 36 | Riddick Bowe | 13 Nov 1992 – 6 Nov 1993 | 2 |
| 37 | Evander Holyfield (2) | 6 Nov 1993 – 22 Apr 1994 | 0 |
| 38 | Michael Moorer | 22 Apr – 5 Nov 1994 | 0 |
| 39 | George Foreman (2) | 5 Nov 1994 – 4 Mar 1995 | 0 |
| Foreman was stripped after refusing to fight mandatory challenger Tony Tucker. | |||
| 40 | Bruce Seldon (def. Tony Tucker) | 8 Apr 1995 – 7 Sep 1996 | 1 |
| 41 | Mike Tyson (2) | 7 Sep – 9 Nov 1996 | 0 |
· Heavyweight › Secondary champion lineage
Alexander Povetkin
(def. Ruslan Chagaev)
2011
2011–2013
Alexander Povetkin
(def. Ruslan Chagaev)
No.
1
Name
Alexander Povetkin
(def. Ruslan Chagaev)
Reign
27 Aug 2011 – 5 Oct 2013
Defenses
4
Ruslan Chagaev
(def. Fres Oquendo)
2014
2014–2016
Ruslan Chagaev
(def. Fres Oquendo)
No.
2
Name
Ruslan Chagaev
(def. Fres Oquendo)
Reign
6 Jul 2014 – 5 Mar 2016
Defenses
1
Lucas Browne
Lucas Browne
No.
3
Name
Lucas Browne
Reign
5 Mar – 12 May 2016
Defenses
0
Ruslan Chagaev (2)
(reinstated)
Ruslan Chagaev (2)
(reinstated)
No.
4
Name
Ruslan Chagaev (2)
(reinstated)
Reign
12 May – 25 Jul 2016
Defenses
0
Mahmoud Charr
(def. Alexander Ustinov)
2017
2017–2021
Mahmoud Charr
(def. Alexander Ustinov)
No.
5
Name
Mahmoud Charr
(def. Alexander Ustinov)
Reign
25 Nov 2017 – 29 Jan 2021
Defenses
0
Trevor Bryan
(def. Bermane Stiverne)
2021
2021–2022
Trevor Bryan
(def. Bermane Stiverne)
No.
6
Name
Trevor Bryan
(def. Bermane Stiverne)
Reign
29 Jan 2021 – 11 Jun 2022
Defenses
1
Daniel Dubois
2022
2022–2023
Daniel Dubois
No.
7
Name
Daniel Dubois
Reign
11 Jun 2022 – 26 Aug 2023
Defenses
1
Mahmoud Charr (2)
(reinstated by court ruling)
2023
2023–2024
Mahmoud Charr (2)
(reinstated by court ruling)
No.
8
Name
Mahmoud Charr (2)
(reinstated by court ruling)
Reign
31 Aug 2023 – 7 Dec 2024
Defenses
0
Kubrat Pulev
2024
2024–2025
Kubrat Pulev
No.
9
Name
Kubrat Pulev
Reign
7 Dec 2024 – 12 Dec 2025
Defenses
0
Murat Gassiev
Murat Gassiev
No.
10
Name
Murat Gassiev
Reign
12 Dec 2025 – present
Defenses
0
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Alexander Povetkin (def. Ruslan Chagaev) | 27 Aug 2011 – 5 Oct 2013 | 4 |
| Povetkin lost against Super champion Wladimir Klitschko. | |||
| 2 | Ruslan Chagaev (def. Fres Oquendo) | 6 Jul 2014 – 5 Mar 2016 | 1 |
| 3 | Lucas Browne | 5 Mar – 12 May 2016 | 0 |
| Browne was stripped for failing the post fight drug test but the bout wasn’t overturned to a no contest. | |||
| 4 | Ruslan Chagaev (2) (reinstated) | 12 May – 25 Jul 2016 | 0 |
| Chagaev was stripped of the title for failing to pay the sanctioning fees. | |||
| 5 | Mahmoud Charr (def. Alexander Ustinov) | 25 Nov 2017 – 29 Jan 2021 | 0 |
| Charr declared champion in recess. | |||
| 6 | Trevor Bryan (def. Bermane Stiverne) | 29 Jan 2021 – 11 Jun 2022 | 1 |
| 7 | Daniel Dubois | 11 Jun 2022 – 26 Aug 2023 | 1 |
| Dubois lost against Super champion Oleksandr Usyk. | |||
| 8 | Mahmoud Charr (2) (reinstated by court ruling) | 31 Aug 2023 – 7 Dec 2024 | 0 |
| 9 | Kubrat Pulev | 7 Dec 2024 – 12 Dec 2025 | 0 |
| 10 | Murat Gassiev | 12 Dec 2025 – present | 0 |
· Bridgerweight
Muslim Gadzhimagomedov
(def. Zhaoxin Zhang)
Muslim Gadzhimagomedov
(def. Zhaoxin Zhang)
No.
1
Name
Muslim Gadzhimagomedov
(def. Zhaoxin Zhang)
Reign
12 Jul 2024 – present
Defenses
1
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (def. Zhaoxin Zhang) | 12 Jul 2024 – present | 1 |
· Cruiserweight › Primary champion lineage
Ossie Ocasio
(def. Robbie Williams)
1982
1982–1984
Ossie Ocasio
(def. Robbie Williams)
No.
1
Name
Ossie Ocasio
(def. Robbie Williams)
Reign
13 Feb 1982 – 1 Dec 1984
Defenses
3
Piet Crous
1984
1984–1985
Piet Crous
No.
2
Name
Piet Crous
Reign
1 Dec 1984 – 27 Jul 1985
Defenses
1
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
1985
1985–1986
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
No.
3
Name
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Reign
27 Jul 1985 – 12 Jul 1986
Defenses
1
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
No.
4
Name
Evander Holyfield
Reign
12 Jul 1986 – Dec 1988
Defenses
5
Taoufik Belbouli
(def. Michael Greer)
Taoufik Belbouli
(def. Michael Greer)
No.
5
Name
Taoufik Belbouli
(def. Michael Greer)
Reign
25 Mar – 11 Aug 1989
Defenses
0
Robert Daniels
(def. Dwight Muhammad Qawi)
1989
1989–1991
Robert Daniels
(def. Dwight Muhammad Qawi)
No.
6
Name
Robert Daniels
(def. Dwight Muhammad Qawi)
Reign
27 Nov 1989 – 8 Mar 1991
Defenses
2
Bobby Czyz
Bobby Czyz
No.
7
Name
Bobby Czyz
Reign
8 Mar 1991 – Oct 1993
Defenses
2
Orlin Norris
(def. Marcelo Figueroa)
1993
1993–1995
Orlin Norris
(def. Marcelo Figueroa)
No.
8
Name
Orlin Norris
(def. Marcelo Figueroa)
Reign
6 Nov 1993 – 22 Jul 1995
Defenses
4
Nate Miller
1995
1995–1997
Nate Miller
No.
9
Name
Nate Miller
Reign
22 Jul 1995 – 8 Nov 1997
Defenses
4
Fabrice Tiozzo
1997
1997–2000
Fabrice Tiozzo
No.
10
Name
Fabrice Tiozzo
Reign
8 Nov 1997 – 9 Dec 2000
Defenses
4
Virgil Hill
2000
2000–2002
Virgil Hill
No.
11
Name
Virgil Hill
Reign
9 Dec 2000 – 23 Feb 2002
Defenses
0
Jean-Marc Mormeck
2002
2002–2005
Jean-Marc Mormeck
No.
12
Name
Jean-Marc Mormeck
Reign
23 Feb 2002 – 2 Apr 2005
Defenses
3
2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006
2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006
No.
Jean-Marc Mormeck – Unified champion
(def. Wayne Braithwaite)
Name
2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006
Reign
0
(3)
O'Neil Bell
2006
2006–2007
O'Neil Bell
No.
13
Name
O'Neil Bell
Reign
7 Jan 2006 – 17 Mar 2007
Defenses
0
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
No.
14
Name
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
Reign
17 Mar – 10 Nov 2007
Defenses
0
David Haye
2007
2007–2008
David Haye
No.
15
Name
David Haye
Reign
10 Nov 2007 – 12 May 2008
Defenses
1
8 Mar – 14 May 2008
8 Mar – 14 May 2008
No.
David Haye – Undisputed champion
(def. Enzo Maccarinelli)
Name
8 Mar – 14 May 2008
Reign
0
(1)
14 May – 19 Jun 2008
14 May – 19 Jun 2008
No.
David Haye – Unified champion
Name
14 May – 19 Jun 2008
Reign
0
(1)
Firat Arslan – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
Firat Arslan – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
No.
16
Name
Firat Arslan – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
Reign
19 Jun – 27 Sep 2008
Defenses
0
Guillermo Jones
2008
2008–2012
Guillermo Jones
No.
17
Name
Guillermo Jones
Reign
27 Sep 2008 – 30 Oct 2012
Defenses
2
Denis Lebedev – Regular champion
(interim champion promoted)
2012
2012–2016
Denis Lebedev – Regular champion
(interim champion promoted)
No.
18
Name
Denis Lebedev – Regular champion
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
30 Oct 2012 – 21 May 2016
Defenses
4
21 May 2016 – 1 Feb 2018
21 May 2016 – 1 Feb 2018
No.
Denis Lebedev – Super champion
(def. Víctor Ramírez)
Name
21 May 2016 – 1 Feb 2018
Reign
1
(5)
Yuniel Dorticos – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
Yuniel Dorticos – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
No.
19
Name
Yuniel Dorticos – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
Reign
1 Feb – 3 Feb 2018
Defenses
0
Murat Gassiev – Unified champion
(def. Yuniel Dorticos)
Murat Gassiev – Unified champion
(def. Yuniel Dorticos)
No.
20
Name
Murat Gassiev – Unified champion
(def. Yuniel Dorticos)
Reign
3 Feb – 21 Jul 2018
Defenses
0
Oleksandr Usyk – Super champion
(def. Murat Gassiev)
2018
2018–2019
Oleksandr Usyk – Super champion
(def. Murat Gassiev)
No.
21
Name
Oleksandr Usyk – Super champion
(def. Murat Gassiev)
Reign
21 Jul 2018 – 27 Mar 2019
Defenses
1
Beibut Shumenov – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
Beibut Shumenov – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
No.
22
Name
Beibut Shumenov – Regular champion
(Primary champion vacant)
Reign
27 Mar – 31 May 2019
Defenses
0
Arsen Goulamirian – Regular champion
(interim champion promoted);
(Primary champion vacant)
Arsen Goulamirian – Regular champion
(interim champion promoted);
(Primary champion vacant)
No.
23
Name
Arsen Goulamirian – Regular champion
(interim champion promoted);
(Primary champion vacant)
Reign
31 May – 1 Sep 2019
Defenses
0
1 Sep 2019 – 30 Mar 2024
1 Sep 2019 – 30 Mar 2024
No.
Arsen Goulamirian – Super champion
(Regular champion promoted)
Name
1 Sep 2019 – 30 Mar 2024
Reign
3
Gilberto Ramirez
Gilberto Ramirez
No.
24
Name
Gilberto Ramirez
Reign
30 Mar – 6 Apr 2024
Defenses
0
6 Apr – 31 Oct 2024
6 Apr – 31 Oct 2024
No.
Gilberto Ramirez
Name
6 Apr – 31 Oct 2024
Reign
0
4 Nov 2024 – 2 May 2026
4 Nov 2024 – 2 May 2026
No.
Gilberto Ramirez – Super champion
Name
4 Nov 2024 – 2 May 2026
Reign
2
David Benavidez
David Benavidez
No.
25
Name
David Benavidez
Reign
2 May 2026 – present
Defenses
0
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Ossie Ocasio (def. Robbie Williams) | 13 Feb 1982 – 1 Dec 1984 | 3 |
| 2 | Piet Crous | 1 Dec 1984 – 27 Jul 1985 | 1 |
| 3 | Dwight Muhammad Qawi | 27 Jul 1985 – 12 Jul 1986 | 1 |
| 4 | Evander Holyfield | 12 Jul 1986 – Dec 1988 | 5 |
| Holyfield vacated the title to move up to heavyweight full time. | |||
| 5 | Taoufik Belbouli (def. Michael Greer) | 25 Mar – 11 Aug 1989 | 0 |
| Belbouli got injured and was expected to get stripped on 11 August. | |||
| 6 | Robert Daniels (def. Dwight Muhammad Qawi) | 27 Nov 1989 – 8 Mar 1991 | 2 |
| 7 | Bobby Czyz | 8 Mar 1991 – Oct 1993 | 2 |
| Czyz was involved in a car accident and he had to vacate the title for his inability to defend it. | |||
| 8 | Orlin Norris (def. Marcelo Figueroa) | 6 Nov 1993 – 22 Jul 1995 | 4 |
| 9 | Nate Miller | 22 Jul 1995 – 8 Nov 1997 | 4 |
| 10 | Fabrice Tiozzo | 8 Nov 1997 – 9 Dec 2000 | 4 |
| 11 | Virgil Hill | 9 Dec 2000 – 23 Feb 2002 | 0 |
| 12 | Jean-Marc Mormeck | 23 Feb 2002 – 2 Apr 2005 | 3 |
| Mormeck fought for the Unified title against WBC champion Wayne Braithwaite. | |||
| Jean-Marc Mormeck – Unified champion (def. Wayne Braithwaite) | 2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006 | 0 (3) | |
| 13 | O'Neil Bell | 7 Jan 2006 – 17 Mar 2007 | 0 |
| 14 | Jean-Marc Mormeck (2) | 17 Mar – 10 Nov 2007 | 0 |
| 15 | David Haye | 10 Nov 2007 – 12 May 2008 | 1 |
| Status changes to Undisputed champion after winning against WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli. | |||
| David Haye – Undisputed champion (def. Enzo Maccarinelli) | 8 Mar – 14 May 2008 | 0 (1) | |
| Status changes to Unified champion on WBA's April 2008 ratings posted on 14 May, just days after vacating his WBC title. | |||
| David Haye – Unified champion | 14 May – 19 Jun 2008 | 0 (1) | |
| Haye intends to move up to heavyweight. The title is vacated on WBA's May 2008 official ratings posted on 19 June. | |||
| 16 | Firat Arslan – Regular champion (Primary champion vacant) | 19 Jun – 27 Sep 2008 | 0 |
| 17 | Guillermo Jones | 27 Sep 2008 – 30 Oct 2012 | 2 |
| Jones was declared champion in recess. | |||
| 18 | Denis Lebedev – Regular champion (interim champion promoted) | 30 Oct 2012 – 21 May 2016 | 4 |
| Lebedev fought for Super title against IBF champion Víctor Ramírez. | |||
| Denis Lebedev – Super champion (def. Víctor Ramírez) | 21 May 2016 – 1 Feb 2018 | 1 (5) | |
| WBA changed Lebedev's status to champion in recess in order to allow Yuniel Dorticos to unify his title with IBF champion Murat Gassiev. Lebedev had lost a bout against Gassiev where only the IBF title was on the line. | |||
| 19 | Yuniel Dorticos – Regular champion (Primary champion vacant) | 1 Feb – 3 Feb 2018 | 0 |
| Dorticos fought for Unified title against IBF champion Murat Gassiev. | |||
| 20 | Murat Gassiev – Unified champion (def. Yuniel Dorticos) | 3 Feb – 21 Jul 2018 | 0 |
| Gassiev fought WBC and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk for the Super title. | |||
| 21 | Oleksandr Usyk – Super champion (def. Murat Gassiev) | 21 Jul 2018 – 27 Mar 2019 | 1 |
| Usyk vacated the title and moved up to heavyweight. | |||
| 22 | Beibut Shumenov – Regular champion (Primary champion vacant) | 27 Mar – 31 May 2019 | 0 |
| Shumenov stripped of title after failing to meet the terms of the purse bid between him and Arsen Goulamirian. | |||
| 23 | Arsen Goulamirian – Regular champion (interim champion promoted); (Primary champion vacant) | 31 May – 1 Sep 2019 | 0 |
| Goulamirian promoted to Super champion on WBA's August 2019 official ratings posted on 1 September. | |||
| Arsen Goulamirian – Super champion (Regular champion promoted) | 1 Sep 2019 – 30 Mar 2024 | 3 | |
| 24 | Gilberto Ramirez | 30 Mar – 6 Apr 2024 | 0 |
| Ramirez becomes World champion in WBA's March 2024 official ratings posted on 6 April. | |||
| Gilberto Ramirez | 6 Apr – 31 Oct 2024 | 0 | |
| Ramirez listed as Super champion in WBA's October 2024 official ratings posted on November 4. | |||
| Gilberto Ramirez – Super champion | 4 Nov 2024 – 2 May 2026 | 2 | |
| 25 | David Benavidez | 2 May 2026 – present | 0 |
References
- BoxingTalkhttps://web.archive.org/web/20240526132404/http://boxingtalk.com/WBA-issues-confounding-bridgerweight-ruling
- The Wetumpka Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/552005086/
- The Central New Jersey Home Newshttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/321473900/
- The Central New Jersey Home Newshttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/315469629/
- "World Boxing Association History". WBA. Retrieved 2 September 2018.http://www.wbaboxing.com/wba-history/world-boxing-association-history
- Honolulu Star-Bulletinhttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/731781687/
- Hartford Couranthttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/242611727/
- Miami Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/627813212/
- Associated Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/918575283/
- New York Timeshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/414149825/
- The News and Observerhttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/656872726/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-13-sp-19075-story.html
- ESPNhttps://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=1743451
- Boxingnews24https://www.boxingnews24.com/2008/07/ruslan-chagaev-given-until-june-2009-to-defend-wba-title-against-ruiz-vs-valuev-winner/
- "Official ratings as of July 2011"https://www.wbaboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/rankings/2011-july.pdf
- "Official ratings as of November 2015"https://www.wbaboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/rankings/2015-november.pdf
- Hennesy Sportshttp://www.hennessysports.com/news/tyson-fury-vacates-world-titles/
- ESPNhttps://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/lucas-browne-stripped-and-suspended-for-six-months
- ESPNhttps://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/17147189/ruslan-chagaev-stripped-heavyweight-title-wba-failure-pay-sanctioning-fees
- WBAhttps://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/charr-named-champion-in-recess