The heavyweight division of professional boxing has always been and will always be the glamor division of the sport. The big money and the majority of the media attention get turned onto the big boys. For example, the following heavyweight champions are household names: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and ​Lennox Lewis. It seems all the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport are campaigning in lower weight categories.

Determining a Champion

There are four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. As such, there is the possibility to have at least four reigning champions. There can be more champions, such as the lineal champion or The Ring magazine champion as well. In some cases, some or all of the sanctioning bodies agree on the champion, crowning a champ as a “Super Champion,” “Unified Champion” or “Undisputed Champion.”

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association (WBA) is the oldest of the four major organizations that sanction world championship boxing bouts. The WBA awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. Founded in the United States in 1921 by thirteen state representatives as the National Boxing Association (NBA), in 1962, it changed its name in recognition of boxing’s growing popularity worldwide and began to gain other nations as members.

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico, on February 14, 1963, in order to establish an international regulating body. The WBC established many of today’s safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count, a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15 and additional weight divisions.

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA). It is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame to sanction world championship boxing bouts.

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1988. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is “dignity, democracy, honesty.”

Reigning Heavyweight World Champions

Let’s take a look at the current champions as of April 2017 in the heavyweight class of professional boxing. The heavyweight class is officially defined by a boxer weighing 200-plus pounds. 

Sanctioning Body Reigning Champion (Reign Start Date)

WBA Vacant- Tyson Fury of the United Kingdom vacated his title surrounding an investigation on anti-doping and substance abuse issues

WBC Deontay Wilder- USA (January 17, 2015)

IBF Anthony Joshua- United Kingdom (April 9, 2016)

WBO Joseph Parker- New Zealand (December 10, 2016)

The Ring and Lineal Champion

Tyson Luke Fury, a British professional boxer, has held the Ring Magazine and lineal heavyweight titles since 2015, after defeating the long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko. In the same fight, Fury also won the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, with the victory earning him Fighter of the Year and Upset of the Year awards by The Ring.

However, in October 2016, Fury vacated his official sanctioned titles in October 2016 pending investigation on anti-doping and other medical issues. The same month the British Boxing Board of Control suspended Fury’s boxing license.

Lennox Lewis: Professional Boxer

Boxing’s Lineal Heavyweight Champions

Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali

Sugar Ray Leonard Fight History

The Boxing Career of Mike Tyson

The Boxing Career of Manny Pacquiao

Biography of Chuck Liddell

WrestleMania Match Results

Biography and Profile of Matt Hamill

Boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed’s Record

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight-by-Fight Career Record

Oscar De La Hoya Career Record, Fight-by-Fight

Best Boxing Movies Of All Time

Muhammad Ali

Bernard Hopkins Fight-By-Fight Career Record

How to Become an Olympic Boxer

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When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

The heavyweight division of professional boxing has always been and will always be the glamor division of the sport. The big money and the majority of the media attention get turned onto the big boys. For example, the following heavyweight champions are household names: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and ​Lennox Lewis. It seems all the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport are campaigning in lower weight categories.

Determining a Champion

There are four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. As such, there is the possibility to have at least four reigning champions. There can be more champions, such as the lineal champion or The Ring magazine champion as well. In some cases, some or all of the sanctioning bodies agree on the champion, crowning a champ as a “Super Champion,” “Unified Champion” or “Undisputed Champion.”

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association (WBA) is the oldest of the four major organizations that sanction world championship boxing bouts. The WBA awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. Founded in the United States in 1921 by thirteen state representatives as the National Boxing Association (NBA), in 1962, it changed its name in recognition of boxing’s growing popularity worldwide and began to gain other nations as members.

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico, on February 14, 1963, in order to establish an international regulating body. The WBC established many of today’s safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count, a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15 and additional weight divisions.

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA). It is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame to sanction world championship boxing bouts.

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1988. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is “dignity, democracy, honesty.”

Reigning Heavyweight World Champions

Let’s take a look at the current champions as of April 2017 in the heavyweight class of professional boxing. The heavyweight class is officially defined by a boxer weighing 200-plus pounds. 

Sanctioning Body Reigning Champion (Reign Start Date)

WBA Vacant- Tyson Fury of the United Kingdom vacated his title surrounding an investigation on anti-doping and substance abuse issues

WBC Deontay Wilder- USA (January 17, 2015)

IBF Anthony Joshua- United Kingdom (April 9, 2016)

WBO Joseph Parker- New Zealand (December 10, 2016)

The Ring and Lineal Champion

Tyson Luke Fury, a British professional boxer, has held the Ring Magazine and lineal heavyweight titles since 2015, after defeating the long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko. In the same fight, Fury also won the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, with the victory earning him Fighter of the Year and Upset of the Year awards by The Ring.

However, in October 2016, Fury vacated his official sanctioned titles in October 2016 pending investigation on anti-doping and other medical issues. The same month the British Boxing Board of Control suspended Fury’s boxing license.

Lennox Lewis: Professional Boxer

Boxing’s Lineal Heavyweight Champions

Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali

Sugar Ray Leonard Fight History

The Boxing Career of Mike Tyson

The Boxing Career of Manny Pacquiao

Biography of Chuck Liddell

WrestleMania Match Results

Biography and Profile of Matt Hamill

Boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed’s Record

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight-by-Fight Career Record

Oscar De La Hoya Career Record, Fight-by-Fight

Best Boxing Movies Of All Time

Muhammad Ali

Bernard Hopkins Fight-By-Fight Career Record

How to Become an Olympic Boxer

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

The heavyweight division of professional boxing has always been and will always be the glamor division of the sport. The big money and the majority of the media attention get turned onto the big boys. For example, the following heavyweight champions are household names: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and ​Lennox Lewis. It seems all the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport are campaigning in lower weight categories.

Determining a Champion

There are four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. As such, there is the possibility to have at least four reigning champions. There can be more champions, such as the lineal champion or The Ring magazine champion as well. In some cases, some or all of the sanctioning bodies agree on the champion, crowning a champ as a “Super Champion,” “Unified Champion” or “Undisputed Champion.”

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association (WBA) is the oldest of the four major organizations that sanction world championship boxing bouts. The WBA awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. Founded in the United States in 1921 by thirteen state representatives as the National Boxing Association (NBA), in 1962, it changed its name in recognition of boxing’s growing popularity worldwide and began to gain other nations as members.

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico, on February 14, 1963, in order to establish an international regulating body. The WBC established many of today’s safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count, a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15 and additional weight divisions.

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA). It is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame to sanction world championship boxing bouts.

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1988. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is “dignity, democracy, honesty.”

Reigning Heavyweight World Champions

Let’s take a look at the current champions as of April 2017 in the heavyweight class of professional boxing. The heavyweight class is officially defined by a boxer weighing 200-plus pounds. 

Sanctioning Body Reigning Champion (Reign Start Date)

WBA Vacant- Tyson Fury of the United Kingdom vacated his title surrounding an investigation on anti-doping and substance abuse issues

WBC Deontay Wilder- USA (January 17, 2015)

IBF Anthony Joshua- United Kingdom (April 9, 2016)

WBO Joseph Parker- New Zealand (December 10, 2016)

The Ring and Lineal Champion

Tyson Luke Fury, a British professional boxer, has held the Ring Magazine and lineal heavyweight titles since 2015, after defeating the long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko. In the same fight, Fury also won the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, with the victory earning him Fighter of the Year and Upset of the Year awards by The Ring.

However, in October 2016, Fury vacated his official sanctioned titles in October 2016 pending investigation on anti-doping and other medical issues. The same month the British Boxing Board of Control suspended Fury’s boxing license.

The heavyweight division of professional boxing has always been and will always be the glamor division of the sport. The big money and the majority of the media attention get turned onto the big boys. For example, the following heavyweight champions are household names: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and ​Lennox Lewis. It seems all the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport are campaigning in lower weight categories.

Determining a Champion

There are four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing. As such, there is the possibility to have at least four reigning champions. There can be more champions, such as the lineal champion or The Ring magazine champion as well. In some cases, some or all of the sanctioning bodies agree on the champion, crowning a champ as a “Super Champion,” “Unified Champion” or “Undisputed Champion.”

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association (WBA) is the oldest of the four major organizations that sanction world championship boxing bouts. The WBA awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. Founded in the United States in 1921 by thirteen state representatives as the National Boxing Association (NBA), in 1962, it changed its name in recognition of boxing’s growing popularity worldwide and began to gain other nations as members.

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded in Mexico City, Mexico, on February 14, 1963, in order to establish an international regulating body. The WBC established many of today’s safety measures in boxing, such as the standing eight count, a limit of 12 rounds instead of 15 and additional weight divisions.

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) originated in September 1976 as the United States Boxing Association (USBA). It is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame to sanction world championship boxing bouts.

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1988. By 2012 when the Japan Boxing Commission officially recognized the governing body, it had gained similar status to the other three major sanctioning bodies. Its motto is “dignity, democracy, honesty.”

Reigning Heavyweight World Champions

Let’s take a look at the current champions as of April 2017 in the heavyweight class of professional boxing. The heavyweight class is officially defined by a boxer weighing 200-plus pounds. 

Sanctioning Body Reigning Champion (Reign Start Date)

WBA Vacant- Tyson Fury of the United Kingdom vacated his title surrounding an investigation on anti-doping and substance abuse issues

WBC Deontay Wilder- USA (January 17, 2015)

IBF Anthony Joshua- United Kingdom (April 9, 2016)

WBO Joseph Parker- New Zealand (December 10, 2016)

The Ring and Lineal Champion

Tyson Luke Fury, a British professional boxer, has held the Ring Magazine and lineal heavyweight titles since 2015, after defeating the long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko. In the same fight, Fury also won the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, with the victory earning him Fighter of the Year and Upset of the Year awards by The Ring.

However, in October 2016, Fury vacated his official sanctioned titles in October 2016 pending investigation on anti-doping and other medical issues. The same month the British Boxing Board of Control suspended Fury’s boxing license.

The Ring and Lineal Champion

Tyson Luke Fury, a British professional boxer, has held the Ring Magazine and lineal heavyweight titles since 2015, after defeating the long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko. In the same fight, Fury also won the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, with the victory earning him Fighter of the Year and Upset of the Year awards by The Ring.

However, in October 2016, Fury vacated his official sanctioned titles in October 2016 pending investigation on anti-doping and other medical issues. The same month the British Boxing Board of Control suspended Fury’s boxing license.

  • Lennox Lewis: Professional Boxer

  • Boxing’s Lineal Heavyweight Champions

  • Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali

  • Sugar Ray Leonard Fight History

  • The Boxing Career of Mike Tyson

  • The Boxing Career of Manny Pacquiao

  • Biography of Chuck Liddell

  • WrestleMania Match Results

  • Biography and Profile of Matt Hamill

  • Boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed’s Record

  • Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight-by-Fight Career Record

  • Oscar De La Hoya Career Record, Fight-by-Fight

  • Best Boxing Movies Of All Time

  • Muhammad Ali

  • Bernard Hopkins Fight-By-Fight Career Record

  • How to Become an Olympic Boxer

Lennox Lewis: Professional Boxer

Lennox Lewis: Professional Boxer

Boxing’s Lineal Heavyweight Champions

Boxing’s Lineal Heavyweight Champions

Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali

Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali

Sugar Ray Leonard Fight History

Sugar Ray Leonard Fight History

The Boxing Career of Mike Tyson

The Boxing Career of Mike Tyson

The Boxing Career of Manny Pacquiao

The Boxing Career of Manny Pacquiao

Biography of Chuck Liddell

Biography of Chuck Liddell

WrestleMania Match Results

WrestleMania Match Results

Biography and Profile of Matt Hamill

Biography and Profile of Matt Hamill

Boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed’s Record

Boxer ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed’s Record

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight-by-Fight Career Record

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight-by-Fight Career Record

Oscar De La Hoya Career Record, Fight-by-Fight

Oscar De La Hoya Career Record, Fight-by-Fight

Best Boxing Movies Of All Time

Best Boxing Movies Of All Time

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Bernard Hopkins Fight-By-Fight Career Record

Bernard Hopkins Fight-By-Fight Career Record

How to Become an Olympic Boxer

How to Become an Olympic Boxer

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Home

Home

Entertainment

Careers

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About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies