List of WBC world champions
Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:59:14 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of WBC world champions, showing every world champion certificated by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The WBC is one of the four major governing bodies in professional boxing, and certifies world champions in 18 different weight classes. In 1963, the year of its foundation, the WBC inaugurated titles in all divisions with the exception of light flyweight, super flyweight, super bantamweight, super middleweight, cruiserweight and bridgerweight, which were inaugurated in the subsequent decades. The most recent title inaugurated by the WBC is in the bridgerweight division in 2021. Boxers who won the title but were stripped due to the title bout being overturned to a no contest are not listed.
Tables
| Current champion | |
| Most consecutive title defenses |
· Heavyweight
Muhammad Ali
1964
1964–1969
Muhammad Ali
No. → 1
2
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Muhammad Ali
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
25 Feb 1964 – 6 Mar 1969
Defenses → 0
9
Joe Frazier
(def. Jimmy Ellis)
1970
1970–1973
Joe Frazier
(def. Jimmy Ellis)
No. → 1
3
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Joe Frazier
(def. Jimmy Ellis)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
16 Feb 1970 – 22 Jan 1973
Defenses → 0
4
George Foreman
1973
1973–1974
George Foreman
No. → 1
4
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
George Foreman
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
22 Jan 1973 – 30 Oct 1974
Defenses → 0
2
Muhammad Ali (2)
1974
1974–1978
Muhammad Ali (2)
No. → 1
5
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Muhammad Ali (2)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
30 Oct 1974 – 15 Feb 1978
Defenses → 0
10
Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks
No. → 1
6
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Leon Spinks
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
15 Feb – 18 Mar 1978
Defenses → 0
0
Ken Norton
(no. 1 contender promoted)
Ken Norton
(no. 1 contender promoted)
No. → 1
7
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Ken Norton
(no. 1 contender promoted)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
18 Mar – 9 Jun 1978
Defenses → 0
0
Larry Holmes
1978
1978–1983
Larry Holmes
No. → 1
8
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Larry Holmes
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
9 Jun 1978 – 11 Dec 1983
Defenses → 0
16
Tim Witherspoon
(def. Greg Page)
Tim Witherspoon
(def. Greg Page)
No. → 1
9
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Tim Witherspoon
(def. Greg Page)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
9 Mar – 31 Aug 1984
Defenses → 0
0
Pinklon Thomas
1984
1984–1986
Pinklon Thomas
No. → 1
10
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Pinklon Thomas
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
31 Aug 1984 – 22 Mar 1986
Defenses → 0
1
Trevor Berbick
Trevor Berbick
No. → 1
11
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Trevor Berbick
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
22 Mar – 22 Nov 1986
Defenses → 0
0
Mike Tyson
1986
1986–1990
Mike Tyson
No. → 1
12
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Mike Tyson
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
22 Nov 1986 – 11 Feb 1990
Defenses → 0
9
Buster Douglas
Buster Douglas
No. → 1
13
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Buster Douglas
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
11 Feb – 25 Oct 1990
Defenses → 0
0
Evander Holyfield
1990
1990–1992
Evander Holyfield
No. → 1
14
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Evander Holyfield
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
25 Oct 1990 – 13 Nov 1992
Defenses → 0
2
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
No. → 1
15
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Riddick Bowe
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
13 Nov – 14 Dec 1992
Defenses → 0
0
Lennox Lewis
(no. 1 contender promoted)
1992
1992–1994
Lennox Lewis
(no. 1 contender promoted)
No. → 1
16
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Lennox Lewis
(no. 1 contender promoted)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
14 Dec 1992 – 24 Sep 1994
Defenses → 0
3
Oliver McCall
1994
1994–1995
Oliver McCall
No. → 1
17
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Oliver McCall
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
24 Sep 1994 – 2 Sep 1995
Defenses → 0
1
Frank Bruno
1995
1995–1996
Frank Bruno
No. → 1
18
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Frank Bruno
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
2 Sep 1995 – 16 Mar 1996
Defenses → 0
0
Mike Tyson (2)
Mike Tyson (2)
No. → 1
19
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Mike Tyson (2)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
16 Mar – 24 Sep 1996
Defenses → 0
0
Lennox Lewis (2)
(def. Oliver McCall)
1997
1997–2001
Lennox Lewis (2)
(def. Oliver McCall)
No. → 1
20
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Lennox Lewis (2)
(def. Oliver McCall)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
7 Feb 1997 – 22 Apr 2001
Defenses → 0
9
Hasim Rahman
Hasim Rahman
No. → 1
21
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Hasim Rahman
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
22 Apr – 17 Nov 2001
Defenses → 0
0
Lennox Lewis (3)
2001
2001–2004
Lennox Lewis (3)
No. → 1
22
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Lennox Lewis (3)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
17 Nov 2001 – 6 Feb 2004
Defenses → 0
2
Vitali Klitschko
(def. Corrie Sanders)
2004
2004–2005
Vitali Klitschko
(def. Corrie Sanders)
No. → 1
23
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Vitali Klitschko
(def. Corrie Sanders)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
24 Apr 2004 – 9 Nov 2005
Defenses → 0
1
Hasim Rahman (2)
(interim champion promoted)
2005
2005–2006
Hasim Rahman (2)
(interim champion promoted)
No. → 1
24
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Hasim Rahman (2)
(interim champion promoted)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
9 Nov 2005 – 12 Aug 2006
Defenses → 0
1
Oleg Maskaev
2006
2006–2008
Oleg Maskaev
No. → 1
25
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Oleg Maskaev
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
12 Aug 2006 – 8 Mar 2008
Defenses → 0
1
Samuel Peter
Samuel Peter
No. → 1
26
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Samuel Peter
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
8 Mar – 11 Oct 2008
Defenses → 0
0
Vitali Klitschko (2)
2008
2008–2013
Vitali Klitschko (2)
No. → 1
27
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Vitali Klitschko (2)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
11 Oct 2008 – 16 Dec 2013
Defenses → 0
9
Bermane Stiverne
(def. Chris Arreola)
2014
2014–2015
Bermane Stiverne
(def. Chris Arreola)
No. → 1
28
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Bermane Stiverne
(def. Chris Arreola)
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
10 May 2014 – 17 Jan 2015
Defenses → 0
0
Deontay Wilder
2015
2015–2020
Deontay Wilder
No. → 1
29
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Deontay Wilder
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
17 Jan 2015 – 22 Feb 2020
Defenses → 0
10
Tyson Fury
2020
2020–2024
Tyson Fury
No. → 1
30
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Tyson Fury
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
22 Feb 2020 – 18 May 2024
Defenses → 0
3
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk
No. → 1
31
Name → Sonny Liston
(def. Floyd Patterson)
Oleksandr Usyk
Reign → 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964
18 May 2024 – present
Defenses → 0
3
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Sonny Liston (def. Floyd Patterson) | 22 Jul 1963 – 25 Feb 1964 | 0 |
| 2 | Muhammad Ali | 25 Feb 1964 – 6 Mar 1969 | 9 |
| Ali was stripped of the title due to being suspended for refusing to be inducted in the U . Army. | |||
| 3 | Joe Frazier (def. Jimmy Ellis) | 16 Feb 1970 – 22 Jan 1973 | 4 |
| 4 | George Foreman | 22 Jan 1973 – 30 Oct 1974 | 2 |
| 5 | Muhammad Ali (2) | 30 Oct 1974 – 15 Feb 1978 | 10 |
| 6 | Leon Spinks | 15 Feb – 18 Mar 1978 | 0 |
| Spinks was stripped of the title for pursuing a rematch against Muhammad Ali instead of a bout against mandatory challenger Ken Norton. | |||
| 7 | Ken Norton (no. 1 contender promoted) | 18 Mar – 9 Jun 1978 | 0 |
| 8 | Larry Holmes | 9 Jun 1978 – 11 Dec 1983 | 16 |
| Holmes vacated the title after a dispute with his promoter Don King over the proposed purse for a fight against mandatory challenger Greg Page. | |||
| 9 | Tim Witherspoon (def. Greg Page) | 9 Mar – 31 Aug 1984 | 0 |
| 10 | Pinklon Thomas | 31 Aug 1984 – 22 Mar 1986 | 1 |
| 11 | Trevor Berbick | 22 Mar – 22 Nov 1986 | 0 |
| 12 | Mike Tyson | 22 Nov 1986 – 11 Feb 1990 | 9 |
| 13 | Buster Douglas | 11 Feb – 25 Oct 1990 | 0 |
| 14 | Evander Holyfield | 25 Oct 1990 – 13 Nov 1992 | 2 |
| 15 | Riddick Bowe | 13 Nov – 14 Dec 1992 | 0 |
| Bowe vacated the title instead of fighting mandatory challenger Lennox Lewis, then dumped his WBC belt in a trash bin during a news conference in London. | |||
| 16 | Lennox Lewis (no. 1 contender promoted) | 14 Dec 1992 – 24 Sep 1994 | 3 |
| 17 | Oliver McCall | 24 Sep 1994 – 2 Sep 1995 | 1 |
| 18 | Frank Bruno | 2 Sep 1995 – 16 Mar 1996 | 0 |
| 19 | Mike Tyson (2) | 16 Mar – 24 Sep 1996 | 0 |
| Tyson vacated the title to pursue a bout against Evander Holyfield instead of mandatory challenger Lennox Lewis. | |||
| 20 | Lennox Lewis (2) (def. Oliver McCall) | 7 Feb 1997 – 22 Apr 2001 | 9 |
| 21 | Hasim Rahman | 22 Apr – 17 Nov 2001 | 0 |
| 22 | Lennox Lewis (3) | 17 Nov 2001 – 6 Feb 2004 | 2 |
| Lewis retired as champion and chose not to rematch Vitali Klitschko ahead of a WBC-mandated 1 March deadline to accept the bout. | |||
| 23 | Vitali Klitschko (def. Corrie Sanders) | 24 Apr 2004 – 9 Nov 2005 | 1 |
| Klitschko announced his retirement after withdrawing from a bout against Hasim Rahman due to injuries. | |||
| 24 | Hasim Rahman (2) (interim champion promoted) | 9 Nov 2005 – 12 Aug 2006 | 1 |
| 25 | Oleg Maskaev | 12 Aug 2006 – 8 Mar 2008 | 1 |
| 26 | Samuel Peter | 8 Mar – 11 Oct 2008 | 0 |
| 27 | Vitali Klitschko (2) | 11 Oct 2008 – 16 Dec 2013 | 9 |
| Klitschko vacated the title to focus on his career in politics in Ukraine. | |||
| 28 | Bermane Stiverne (def. Chris Arreola) | 10 May 2014 – 17 Jan 2015 | 0 |
| 29 | Deontay Wilder | 17 Jan 2015 – 22 Feb 2020 | 10 |
| 30 | Tyson Fury | 22 Feb 2020 – 18 May 2024 | 3 |
| 31 | Oleksandr Usyk | 18 May 2024 – present | 3 |
· Bridgerweight
Óscar Rivas
(def. Ryan Rozicki)
2021
2021–2023
Óscar Rivas
(def. Ryan Rozicki)
No.
1
Name
Óscar Rivas
(def. Ryan Rozicki)
Reign
22 Oct 2021 – 6 Jan 2023
Defenses
0
Łukasz Różański
(def. Alen Babić)
2023
2023–2024
Łukasz Różański
(def. Alen Babić)
No.
2
Name
Łukasz Różański
(def. Alen Babić)
Reign
22 Apr 2023 – 24 May 2024
Defenses
0
Lawrence Okolie
Lawrence Okolie
No.
3
Name
Lawrence Okolie
Reign
24 May – 8 Oct 2024
Defenses
0
Kevin Lerena
(interim champion promoted)
Kevin Lerena
(interim champion promoted)
No.
4
Name
Kevin Lerena
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
8 Oct 2024 – present
Defenses
1
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Óscar Rivas (def. Ryan Rozicki) | 22 Oct 2021 – 6 Jan 2023 | 0 |
| Rivas is declared champion in recess after suffering an injury. | |||
| 2 | Łukasz Różański (def. Alen Babić) | 22 Apr 2023 – 24 May 2024 | 0 |
| 3 | Lawrence Okolie | 24 May – 8 Oct 2024 | 0 |
| Okolie vacated the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 4 | Kevin Lerena (interim champion promoted) | 8 Oct 2024 – present | 1 |
· Cruiserweight
Marvin Camel
(def. Mate Parlov)
Marvin Camel
(def. Mate Parlov)
No.
1
Name
Marvin Camel
(def. Mate Parlov)
Reign
31 Mar – 25 Nov 1980
Defenses
0
Carlos de León
1980
1980–1982
Carlos de León
No.
2
Name
Carlos de León
Reign
25 Nov 1980 – 27 Jun 1982
Defenses
1
S. T. Gordon
1982
1982–1983
S. T. Gordon
No.
3
Name
S. T. Gordon
Reign
27 Jun 1982 – 17 Jul 1983
Defenses
1
Carlos de León (2)
1983
1983–1985
Carlos de León (2)
No.
4
Name
Carlos de León (2)
Reign
17 Jul 1983 – 6 Jun 1985
Defenses
3
Alfonso Ratliff
Alfonso Ratliff
No.
5
Name
Alfonso Ratliff
Reign
6 Jun – 21 Sep 1985
Defenses
0
Bernard Benton
1985
1985–1986
Bernard Benton
No.
6
Name
Bernard Benton
Reign
21 Sep 1985 – 22 Mar 1986
Defenses
0
Carlos de León (3)
1986
1986–1988
Carlos de León (3)
No.
7
Name
Carlos de León (3)
Reign
22 Mar 1986 – 9 Apr 1988
Defenses
3
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
No.
8
Name
Evander Holyfield
Reign
9 Apr – Dec 1988
Defenses
0
Carlos de León (4)
(def. Sammy Reeson)
1989
1989–1990
Carlos de León (4)
(def. Sammy Reeson)
No.
9
Name
Carlos de León (4)
(def. Sammy Reeson)
Reign
17 May 1989 – 27 Jul 1990
Defenses
1
Massimiliano Duran
1990
1990–1991
Massimiliano Duran
No.
10
Name
Massimiliano Duran
Reign
27 Jul 1990 – 20 Jul 1991
Defenses
1
Anaclet Wamba
1991
1991–1996
Anaclet Wamba
No.
11
Name
Anaclet Wamba
Reign
20 Jul 1991 – 19 April 1996
Defenses
7
Marcelo Domínguez
(interim champion promoted)
1996
1996–1998
Marcelo Domínguez
(interim champion promoted)
No.
12
Name
Marcelo Domínguez
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
25 May 1996 – 21 Feb 1998
Defenses
3
Juan Carlos Gómez
1998
1998–2002
Juan Carlos Gómez
No.
13
Name
Juan Carlos Gómez
Reign
21 Feb 1998 – 19 Feb 2002
Defenses
10
Wayne Braithwaite
(def. Vincenzo Cantatore)
2002
2002–2005
Wayne Braithwaite
(def. Vincenzo Cantatore)
No.
14
Name
Wayne Braithwaite
(def. Vincenzo Cantatore)
Reign
11 Oct 2002 – 2 Apr 2005
Defenses
3
Jean-Marc Mormeck
2005
2005–2006
Jean-Marc Mormeck
No.
15
Name
Jean-Marc Mormeck
Reign
2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006
Defenses
0
O'Neil Bell
2006
2006–2007
O'Neil Bell
No.
16
Name
O'Neil Bell
Reign
7 Jan 2006 – 17 Mar 2007
Defenses
0
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
No.
17
Name
Jean-Marc Mormeck (2)
Reign
17 Mar – 10 Nov 2007
Defenses
0
David Haye
2007
2007–2008
David Haye
No.
18
Name
David Haye
Reign
10 Nov 2007 – 12 May 2008
Defenses
1
Giacobbe Fragomeni
(def. Rudolf Kraj)
2008
2008–2009
Giacobbe Fragomeni
(def. Rudolf Kraj)
No.
19
Name
Giacobbe Fragomeni
(def. Rudolf Kraj)
Reign
24 Oct 2008 – 21 Nov 2009
Defenses
1
Zsolt Erdei
2009
2009–2010
Zsolt Erdei
No.
20
Name
Zsolt Erdei
Reign
21 Nov 2009 – 22 Jan 2010
Defenses
0
Krzysztof Włodarczyk
(def. Giacobbe Fragomeni)
2010
2010–2014
Krzysztof Włodarczyk
(def. Giacobbe Fragomeni)
No.
21
Name
Krzysztof Włodarczyk
(def. Giacobbe Fragomeni)
Reign
15 May 2010 – 27 Sep 2014
Defenses
6
Grigory Drozd
2014
2014–2016
Grigory Drozd
No.
22
Name
Grigory Drozd
Reign
27 Sep 2014 – 16 Mar 2016
Defenses
1
Tony Bellew
(def. Ilunga Makabu)
2016
2016–2017
Tony Bellew
(def. Ilunga Makabu)
No.
23
Name
Tony Bellew
(def. Ilunga Makabu)
Reign
29 May 2016 – 28 Mar 2017
Defenses
1
Mairis Briedis
(def. Marco Huck)
2017
2017–2018
Mairis Briedis
(def. Marco Huck)
No.
24
Name
Mairis Briedis
(def. Marco Huck)
Reign
1 Apr 2017 – 27 Jan 2018
Defenses
1
Oleksandr Usyk
2018
2018–2019
Oleksandr Usyk
No.
25
Name
Oleksandr Usyk
Reign
27 Jan 2018 – 4 Jun 2019
Defenses
2
Ilunga Makabu
(def. Michał Cieślak)
2020
2020–2023
Ilunga Makabu
(def. Michał Cieślak)
No.
26
Name
Ilunga Makabu
(def. Michał Cieślak)
Reign
31 Jan 2020 – 26 Feb 2023
Defenses
2
Badou Jack
Badou Jack
No.
27
Name
Badou Jack
Reign
26 Feb – 16 Sep 2023
Defenses
0
Noel Mikaelian
(def. Ilunga Makabu)
2023
2023–2024
Noel Mikaelian
(def. Ilunga Makabu)
No.
28
Name
Noel Mikaelian
(def. Ilunga Makabu)
Reign
4 Nov 2023 – 11 Dec 2024
Defenses
0
Badou Jack (2)
(reinstated)
2024
2024–2025
Badou Jack (2)
(reinstated)
No.
29
Name
Badou Jack (2)
(reinstated)
Reign
11 Dec 2024 – 13 Dec 2025
Defenses
1
Noel Mikaelian (2)
Noel Mikaelian (2)
No.
30
Name
Noel Mikaelian (2)
Reign
13 Dec 2025 – present
Defenses
0
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Marvin Camel (def. Mate Parlov) | 31 Mar – 25 Nov 1980 | 0 |
| 2 | Carlos de León | 25 Nov 1980 – 27 Jun 1982 | 1 |
| 3 | S. T. Gordon | 27 Jun 1982 – 17 Jul 1983 | 1 |
| 4 | Carlos de León (2) | 17 Jul 1983 – 6 Jun 1985 | 3 |
| 5 | Alfonso Ratliff | 6 Jun – 21 Sep 1985 | 0 |
| 6 | Bernard Benton | 21 Sep 1985 – 22 Mar 1986 | 0 |
| 7 | Carlos de León (3) | 22 Mar 1986 – 9 Apr 1988 | 3 |
| 8 | Evander Holyfield | 9 Apr – Dec 1988 | 0 |
| Holyfield vacated to move up to heavyweight full time. | |||
| 9 | Carlos de León (4) (def. Sammy Reeson) | 17 May 1989 – 27 Jul 1990 | 1 |
| 10 | Massimiliano Duran | 27 Jul 1990 – 20 Jul 1991 | 1 |
| 11 | Anaclet Wamba | 20 Jul 1991 – 19 April 1996 | 7 |
| Wamba is stripped of the title for being overweight before his fight against Marcelo Domínguez. | |||
| 12 | Marcelo Domínguez (interim champion promoted) | 25 May 1996 – 21 Feb 1998 | 3 |
| 13 | Juan Carlos Gómez | 21 Feb 1998 – 19 Feb 2002 | 10 |
| Gómez vacated the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 14 | Wayne Braithwaite (def. Vincenzo Cantatore) | 11 Oct 2002 – 2 Apr 2005 | 3 |
| 15 | Jean-Marc Mormeck | 2 Apr 2005 – 7 Jan 2006 | 0 |
| 16 | O'Neil Bell | 7 Jan 2006 – 17 Mar 2007 | 0 |
| 17 | Jean-Marc Mormeck (2) | 17 Mar – 10 Nov 2007 | 0 |
| 18 | David Haye | 10 Nov 2007 – 12 May 2008 | 1 |
| Haye vacated the title to move up to heavyweight. | |||
| 19 | Giacobbe Fragomeni (def. Rudolf Kraj) | 24 Oct 2008 – 21 Nov 2009 | 1 |
| 20 | Zsolt Erdei | 21 Nov 2009 – 22 Jan 2010 | 0 |
| Erdei vacates the title to move back down to light heavyweight. | |||
| 21 | Krzysztof Włodarczyk (def. Giacobbe Fragomeni) | 15 May 2010 – 27 Sep 2014 | 6 |
| 22 | Grigory Drozd | 27 Sep 2014 – 16 Mar 2016 | 1 |
| Drozd is declared champion in recess due to injury. | |||
| 23 | Tony Bellew (def. Ilunga Makabu) | 29 May 2016 – 28 Mar 2017 | 1 |
| Bellew was stripped of the title and named Emeritus champion after moving up to heavyweight. | |||
| 24 | Mairis Briedis (def. Marco Huck) | 1 Apr 2017 – 27 Jan 2018 | 1 |
| 25 | Oleksandr Usyk | 27 Jan 2018 – 4 Jun 2019 | 2 |
| Usyk was stripped of the title and named champion in recess after moving up to heavyweight. | |||
| 26 | Ilunga Makabu (def. Michał Cieślak) | 31 Jan 2020 – 26 Feb 2023 | 2 |
| 27 | Badou Jack | 26 Feb – 16 Sep 2023 | 0 |
| Jack is declared champion in recess after opting to challenge the WBC bridgerweight title. | |||
| 28 | Noel Mikaelian (def. Ilunga Makabu) | 4 Nov 2023 – 11 Dec 2024 | 0 |
| Mikaelian is declared champion in recess due to inactivity. | |||
| 29 | Badou Jack (2) (reinstated) | 11 Dec 2024 – 13 Dec 2025 | 1 |
| 30 | Noel Mikaelian (2) | 13 Dec 2025 – present | 0 |
· Light heavyweight
Harold Johnson
(awarded the inaugural title)
Harold Johnson
(awarded the inaugural title)
No.
1
Name
Harold Johnson
(awarded the inaugural title)
Reign
14 Feb – 1 Jun 1963
Defenses
0
Willie Pastrano
1963
1963–1965
Willie Pastrano
No.
2
Name
Willie Pastrano
Reign
1 Jun 1963 – 30 Mar 1965
Defenses
2
José Torres
1965
1965–1966
José Torres
No.
3
Name
José Torres
Reign
30 Mar 1965 – 16 Dec 1966
Defenses
3
Dick Tiger
1966
1966–1968
Dick Tiger
No.
4
Name
Dick Tiger
Reign
16 Dec 1966 – 24 May 1968
Defenses
2
Bob Foster
1968
1968–1974
Bob Foster
No.
5
Name
Bob Foster
Reign
24 May 1968 – 9 Aug 1974
Defenses
14
John Conteh
(def. Jorge Ahumada)
1974
1974–1977
John Conteh
(def. Jorge Ahumada)
No.
6
Name
John Conteh
(def. Jorge Ahumada)
Reign
1 Oct 1974 – 18 May 1977
Defenses
3
Miguel Ángel Cuello
(def. Jesse Burnett)
1977
1977–1978
Miguel Ángel Cuello
(def. Jesse Burnett)
No.
7
Name
Miguel Ángel Cuello
(def. Jesse Burnett)
Reign
21 May 1977 – 8 Jan 1978
Defenses
0
Mate Parlov
Mate Parlov
No.
8
Name
Mate Parlov
Reign
8 Jan – 2 Dec 1978
Defenses
1
Marvin Johnson
1978
1978–1979
Marvin Johnson
No.
9
Name
Marvin Johnson
Reign
2 Dec 1978 – 22 Apr 1979
Defenses
0
Matthew Saad Muhammad
1979
1979–1981
Matthew Saad Muhammad
No.
10
Name
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Reign
22 Apr 1979 – 19 Dec 1981
Defenses
8
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
1981
1981–1983
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
No.
11
Name
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Reign
19 Dec 1981 – 18 Mar 1983
Defenses
3
Michael Spinks
1983
1983–1985
Michael Spinks
No.
12
Name
Michael Spinks
Reign
18 Mar 1983 – 9 Oct 1985
Defenses
4
J. B. Williamson
(def. Prince Mama Mohammed)
1985
1985–1986
J. B. Williamson
(def. Prince Mama Mohammed)
No.
13
Name
J. B. Williamson
(def. Prince Mama Mohammed)
Reign
10 Dec 1985 – 30 Apr 1986
Defenses
0
Dennis Andries
1986
1986–1987
Dennis Andries
No.
14
Name
Dennis Andries
Reign
30 Apr 1986 – 7 Mar 1987
Defenses
1
Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
No.
15
Name
Thomas Hearns
Reign
7 Mar – 6 Aug 1987
Defenses
0
Donny Lalonde
(def. Eddie Davis)
1987
1987–1988
Donny Lalonde
(def. Eddie Davis)
No.
16
Name
Donny Lalonde
(def. Eddie Davis)
Reign
27 Nov 1987 – 7 Nov 1988
Defenses
1
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
No.
17
Name
Sugar Ray Leonard
Reign
7 Nov – 15 Nov 1988
Defenses
0
Dennis Andries (2)
(def. Tony Willis)
Dennis Andries (2)
(def. Tony Willis)
No.
18
Name
Dennis Andries (2)
(def. Tony Willis)
Reign
21 Feb – 24 Jun 1989
Defenses
0
Jeff Harding
1989
1989–1990
Jeff Harding
No.
19
Name
Jeff Harding
Reign
24 Jun 1989 – 28 Jul 1990
Defenses
2
Dennis Andries (3)
1990
1990–1991
Dennis Andries (3)
No.
20
Name
Dennis Andries (3)
Reign
28 Jul 1990 – 11 Sep 1991
Defenses
2
Jeff Harding (2)
1991
1991–1994
Jeff Harding (2)
No.
21
Name
Jeff Harding (2)
Reign
11 Sep 1991 – 23 Jul 1994
Defenses
2
Mike McCallum
1994
1994–1995
Mike McCallum
No.
22
Name
Mike McCallum
Reign
23 Jul 1994 – 16 Jun 1995
Defenses
1
Fabrice Tiozzo
1995
1995–1997
Fabrice Tiozzo
No.
23
Name
Fabrice Tiozzo
Reign
16 Jun 1995 – 13 Jan 1997
Defenses
1
Roy Jones Jr.
(interim champion promoted)
Roy Jones Jr.
(interim champion promoted)
No.
24
Name
Roy Jones Jr.
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
13 Jan – 21 Mar 1997
Defenses
0
Montell Griffin
Montell Griffin
No.
25
Name
Montell Griffin
Reign
21 Mar – 7 Aug 1997
Defenses
0
Roy Jones Jr. (2)
Roy Jones Jr. (2)
No.
26
Name
Roy Jones Jr. (2)
Reign
7 Aug – 5 Nov 1997
Defenses
0
Graciano Rocchigiani
(def. Michael Nunn)
Graciano Rocchigiani
(def. Michael Nunn)
No.
27
Name
Graciano Rocchigiani
(def. Michael Nunn)
Reign
21 Mar – Jun 1998
Defenses
0
Roy Jones Jr. (3)
(reinstated)
1998
1998–2003
Roy Jones Jr. (3)
(reinstated)
No.
28
Name
Roy Jones Jr. (3)
(reinstated)
Reign
Jun 1998 – 4 Apr 2003
Defenses
11
Antonio Tarver
(def. Montell Griffin)
Antonio Tarver
(def. Montell Griffin)
No.
29
Name
Antonio Tarver
(def. Montell Griffin)
Reign
26 Apr – 8 Nov 2003
Defenses
0
Roy Jones Jr. (4)
2003
2003–2004
Roy Jones Jr. (4)
No.
30
Name
Roy Jones Jr. (4)
Reign
8 Nov 2003 – 15 May 2004
Defenses
0
Antonio Tarver (2)
Antonio Tarver (2)
No.
31
Name
Antonio Tarver (2)
Reign
15 May – 4 Nov 2004
Defenses
0
Tomasz Adamek
(def. Paul Briggs)
2005
2005–2007
Tomasz Adamek
(def. Paul Briggs)
No.
32
Name
Tomasz Adamek
(def. Paul Briggs)
Reign
21 May 2005 – 3 Feb 2007
Defenses
2
Chad Dawson
2007
2007–2008
Chad Dawson
No.
33
Name
Chad Dawson
Reign
3 Feb 2007 – 11 Jul 2008
Defenses
3
Adrian Diaconu
(interim champion promoted)
2008
2008–2009
Adrian Diaconu
(interim champion promoted)
No.
34
Name
Adrian Diaconu
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
11 Jul 2008 – 19 Jun 2009
Defenses
0
Jean Pascal
2009
2009–2011
Jean Pascal
No.
35
Name
Jean Pascal
Reign
19 Jun 2009 – 21 May 2011
Defenses
2
Bernard Hopkins
2011
2011–2012
Bernard Hopkins
No.
36
Name
Bernard Hopkins
Reign
21 May 2011 – 28 Apr 2012
Defenses
0
Chad Dawson (2)
2012
2012–2013
Chad Dawson (2)
No.
37
Name
Chad Dawson (2)
Reign
28 Apr 2012 – 8 Jun 2013
Defenses
0
Adonis Stevenson
2013
2013–2018
Adonis Stevenson
No.
38
Name
Adonis Stevenson
Reign
8 Jun 2013 – 1 Dec 2018
Defenses
9
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
2018
2018–2019
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
No.
39
Name
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Reign
1 Dec 2018 – 18 Oct 2019
Defenses
1
Artur Beterbiev
2019
2019–2025
Artur Beterbiev
No.
40
Name
Artur Beterbiev
Reign
18 Oct 2019 – 22 Feb 2025
Defenses
6
Dmitry Bivol
Dmitry Bivol
No.
41
Name
Dmitry Bivol
Reign
22 Feb – 7 Apr 2025
Defenses
0
David Benavidez
(interim champion promoted)
David Benavidez
(interim champion promoted)
No.
42
Name
David Benavidez
(interim champion promoted)
Reign
7 Apr 2025 – present
Defenses
1
| No. | Name | Reign | Defenses |
| 1 | Harold Johnson (awarded the inaugural title) | 14 Feb – 1 Jun 1963 | 0 |
| 2 | Willie Pastrano | 1 Jun 1963 – 30 Mar 1965 | 2 |
| 3 | José Torres | 30 Mar 1965 – 16 Dec 1966 | 3 |
| 4 | Dick Tiger | 16 Dec 1966 – 24 May 1968 | 2 |
| 5 | Bob Foster | 24 May 1968 – 9 Aug 1974 | 14 |
| Foster was stripped of the title after failing to make a defense against number one contender John Conteh. | |||
| 6 | John Conteh (def. Jorge Ahumada) | 1 Oct 1974 – 18 May 1977 | 3 |
| Conteh was stripped of the title after refusing to fight Jesse Burnett, alleging he was forced to sign the contract at gunpoint. | |||
| 7 | Miguel Ángel Cuello (def. Jesse Burnett) | 21 May 1977 – 8 Jan 1978 | 0 |
| 8 | Mate Parlov | 8 Jan – 2 Dec 1978 | 1 |
| 9 | Marvin Johnson | 2 Dec 1978 – 22 Apr 1979 | 0 |
| 10 | Matthew Saad Muhammad | 22 Apr 1979 – 19 Dec 1981 | 8 |
| 11 | Dwight Muhammad Qawi | 19 Dec 1981 – 18 Mar 1983 | 3 |
| 12 | Michael Spinks | 18 Mar 1983 – 9 Oct 1985 | 4 |
| Spinks, who had won the IBF heavyweight title the previous month against Larry Holmes, was stripped of the WBC light heavyweight title due to the WBC's policy against fighters holding world titles in multiple divisions at the same time. | |||
| 13 | J. B. Williamson (def. Prince Mama Mohammed) | 10 Dec 1985 – 30 Apr 1986 | 0 |
| 14 | Dennis Andries | 30 Apr 1986 – 7 Mar 1987 | 1 |
| 15 | Thomas Hearns | 7 Mar – 6 Aug 1987 | 0 |
| Hearns vacated the title to fight Juan Roldán for the vacant WBC middleweight title. | |||
| 16 | Donny Lalonde (def. Eddie Davis) | 27 Nov 1987 – 7 Nov 1988 | 1 |
| 17 | Sugar Ray Leonard | 7 Nov – 15 Nov 1988 | 0 |
| Leonard vacated the title because he was unsure whether he would continue his boxing career. | |||
| 18 | Dennis Andries (2) (def. Tony Willis) | 21 Feb – 24 Jun 1989 | 0 |
| 19 | Jeff Harding | 24 Jun 1989 – 28 Jul 1990 | 2 |
| 20 | Dennis Andries (3) | 28 Jul 1990 – 11 Sep 1991 | 2 |
| 21 | Jeff Harding (2) | 11 Sep 1991 – 23 Jul 1994 | 2 |
| 22 | Mike McCallum | 23 Jul 1994 – 16 Jun 1995 | 1 |
| 23 | Fabrice Tiozzo | 16 Jun 1995 – 13 Jan 1997 | 1 |
| Tiozzo is stripped of the title after failing to meet the defense deadline. | |||
| 24 | Roy Jones Jr. (interim champion promoted) | 13 Jan – 21 Mar 1997 | 0 |
| 25 | Montell Griffin | 21 Mar – 7 Aug 1997 | 0 |
| 26 | Roy Jones Jr. (2) | 7 Aug – 5 Nov 1997 | 0 |
| Jones vacated the title after his mandatory challenger Michael Nunn's promoter won a purse bid with the intent to stage it as a pay-per-view fight on Request TV, a rival platform to HBO, which Jones was contractually tied to. | |||
| 27 | Graciano Rocchigiani (def. Michael Nunn) | 21 Mar – Jun 1998 | 0 |
| Rocchigiani was demoted to interim champion upon Roy Jones Jr.'s request to be reinstated as champion. | |||
| 28 | Roy Jones Jr. (3) (reinstated) | Jun 1998 – 4 Apr 2003 | 11 |
| In June 1998, the WBC stripped Rocchigiani of the title and reinstated Jones Jr. without having to fight him. Rocchigiani then filed a lawsuit and won the case. The federal judge issued a decree to strip Jones Jr. and award Rocchigiani a total amount of $30,598,628 in damages. | |||
| 29 | Antonio Tarver (def. Montell Griffin) | 26 Apr – 8 Nov 2003 | 0 |
| 30 | Roy Jones Jr. (4) | 8 Nov 2003 – 15 May 2004 | 0 |
| 31 | Antonio Tarver (2) | 15 May – 4 Nov 2004 | 0 |
| Tarver vacates the title to fight Glen Johnson instead of his mandatory challenger Paul Briggs. | |||
| 32 | Tomasz Adamek (def. Paul Briggs) | 21 May 2005 – 3 Feb 2007 | 2 |
| 33 | Chad Dawson | 3 Feb 2007 – 11 Jul 2008 | 3 |
| Dawson vacated the title to pursue a bout against Antonio Tarver instead of interim champion Adrian Diaconu. | |||
| 34 | Adrian Diaconu (interim champion promoted) | 11 Jul 2008 – 19 Jun 2009 | 0 |
| 35 | Jean Pascal | 19 Jun 2009 – 21 May 2011 | 2 |
| 36 | Bernard Hopkins | 21 May 2011 – 28 Apr 2012 | 0 |
| 37 | Chad Dawson (2) | 28 Apr 2012 – 8 Jun 2013 | 0 |
| 38 | Adonis Stevenson | 8 Jun 2013 – 1 Dec 2018 | 9 |