Heavyweight

Heavyweight is a weight class division in combat sports.

Boxing

Boxers who weigh over 200 pounds (91kg) (14 st 5 lb/91 kg) are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation,^[1] the World Boxing Association,^[2] the World Boxing Council,^[3] and the World Boxing Organization.^[4]

For most boxing organizations, the maximum weight for a cruiserweight is 200 pounds. Thus, a fighter whose weight is over 200 lb may not fight as anything but a heavyweight.

Joe Louis holds the record for most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 25 defenses of the Universal title. This is also the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing history.

Historical development

Because this division has no weight limit, it has been historically vaguely defined. In the 19th century, for example, many heavyweight champions weighed 170 pounds (12 st 2 lb, 77 kg) or less (although others weighed 200 pounds).

The first heavyweight champion under the Marquess of Queensberry rules was John L. Sullivan, known as "The Boston Strong Boy". He weighed around 200 pounds when in shape and was a bare-knuckle champion. He was defeated by Jim Corbett on September 7, 1892, in 21 rounds.

In 1920, the minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds (12 st 7 lb, 79 kg), which today is the light heavyweight division maximum. Since 1980, for most boxing organizations, the maximum weight for a cruiserweight has been 200 pounds.

Since the 1960s, the heavyweight title has become fractured amongst various sanctioning organizations, and so what was once known as the single "Heavyweight Champion", is now referred to as the "Undisputed Champion" as the one fighter that has defeated all the other titlists.

Professional champions

Current champions

Sanctioning Body	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
WBA (Super)	July 2, 2011	Wladimir Klitschko	64-3 (53 KO)	8
WBA	July 6, 2014	Ruslan Chagaev	33-2-1 (20 KO)	0
WBC	January 17, 2015	Deontay Wilder	33-0 (32 KO)	0
IBF	April 22, 2006	Wladimir Klitschko	64-3 (53 KO)	18
WBO	February 23, 2008	Wladimir Klitschko	64-3 (53 KO)	14

Longest reigning heavyweight champions

Below is a list of longest reigning heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

	Name	Title Reign	Title Recognition	Successful Defenses
1.	Joe Louis	11 years, 8 months, 8 days	Universal	25
2.	Wladimir Klitschko	9 years and 4 days	IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring)	18
3.	Larry Holmes	7 years, 3 months, 12 days	WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring/Lineal)	20
4.	Jack Dempsey	7 years, 2 months, 19 days	Universal	5
5.	John L. Sullivan	7 years, 0 months, 9 days	Universal	5
6.	Jack Johnson	6 years, 3 months, 10 days	Universal	8
7.	James J. Jeffries	5 years, 11 months, 4 days	Universal	7
8.	Vitali Klitschko	5 years, 2 months, 4 days	WBC	9
9.	Joe Frazier	4 years, 10 months, 18 days	NYAC (+WBA, WBC)	9
10.	James J. Corbett	4 years, 6 months, 10 days	Universal	1
11.	Jess Willard	4 years, 2 months, 29 days	Universal	1
12.	Lennox Lewis	4 years, 2 months, 15 days	WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring/Lineal)	9
13.	Rocky Marciano	3 years, 11 months, 29 days	Universal	6
14.	Chris Byrd	3 years, 4 months, 8 days	IBF	4
15.	Muhammad Ali	3 years, 3 months, 16 days	The Ring/Lineal, (+WBA, WBC stripped)	10
16.	Mike Tyson	3 years, 2 months, 20 days	WBC (+WBA, IBF, The Ring/Lineal)	9
17.	George Foreman	3 years, 0 months, 17 days	Lineal (+WBA, IBF stripped)	3
18.	Evander Holyfield	3 years, 0 months, 4 days	WBA (+IBF)	4
19.	Tommy Burns	2 years, 10 months, 3 days	Universal	11
20.	Michael Spinks	2 years, 9 months, 6 days	The Ring/Lineal (+IBF stripped)	3

Unofficial Long Title reigns

The following title reigns are not recognized as official reigns due to: long periods of inactivity, legitimacy of title, false billing & promotion etc.

Name	Title Reign	Title Recognition	Successful Defenses
Vitali Klitschko	9 years, 4 months, 24 days	Full WBC-to-WBC Emeritus-to-Full WBC (+The Ring rel)	11
Muhammad Ali	7 years, 0 months, 11 days	The Ring/Lineal	11
Brian Nielsen	3 years, 7 months, 20 days	IBO	5

Most wins in heavyweight title bouts

	Name	Title bout wins
1.	Joe Louis	26
2.	Wladimir Klitschko	25
3.	Muhammad Ali	22
4.	Larry Holmes	21
5.	Lennox Lewis	15
6.	Vitali Klitschko	15
7.	Mike Tyson	12
8.	Tommy Burns	11
9.	Joe Frazier	10
10.	Evander Holyfield	10

Most consecutive heavyweight title defenses

	Name	Title defenses
1.	Joe Louis	25
2.	Larry Holmes	20
3.	Wladimir Klitschko	18
4.	Tommy Burns	11
5.	Muhammad Ali	10
6.	Joe Frazier	9
7.	Mike Tyson	9
8.	Lennox Lewis	9
9.	Vitali Klitschko	9
10.	Jack Johnson	8
11.	Ezzard Charles	8

     Active Title Reign

     Reign has ended

Kickboxing

• In kickboxing, a heavyweight fighter generally weighs between 88 kg (196 lb) and 100 kg (220 lb). The Fighters over 100 kg (220 lb) are considered super heavyweights.
• International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Heavyweight (Pro & Amateur) 215.1 – 235 lb. or 97.8 – 106.8 kg.
• In Glory promotion, a heavyweight division is over 95 kg (209 lb) and no upper weight limit.

Mixed martial arts

The heavyweight division in MMA generally groups fighters between 205 and 265 lb (93 and 120 kg).

Analogous uses

The word "heavyweight" is sometimes used in other fields (e.g. politics) to denote a person who is especially powerful or influential. In this context, "big beast" has a similar meaning. Other boxing analogies include "punching above his [their] weight" to denote a person or entity (e.g. a country) whose influence is arguably greater than his/its basic attributes would suggest.

References