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. It includes their most consecutive successful title defenses, career grand total title defenses (for multiple time champions) does not apply.

Longest title reign

NameTitle ReignTitle RecognitionSuccessful Consec. Defenses
1. United States Joe Louis 11 years, 8 months, 8 days World Heavyweight Championship 25
2. Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko 9 years, 7 months, 7 days IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring)18
3. United States Larry Holmes 7 years, 3 months, 12 days WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring/Lineal) 20
4. United States Jack Dempsey 7 years, 2 months, 19 days World Heavyweight Championship5
5. United States John L. Sullivan 7 years, 0 months, 9 days World Heavyweight Championship4
6. United States Jack Johnson 6 years, 3 months, 10 days World Heavyweight Championship8
7. United States James J. Jeffries 5 years, 11 months, 4 days World Heavyweight Championship7
8. Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 5 years, 2 months, 4 days WBC9
9. United States Joe Frazier 4 years, 10 months, 18 days NYAC (+WBA, WBC)9
10. United States James J. Corbett 4 years, 6 months, 10 days World Heavyweight Championship1
11. United States Jess Willard 4 years, 2 months, 29 days World Heavyweight Championship1
12. United Kingdom Lennox Lewis 4 years, 2 months, 15 days WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring/Lineal)9
13. United States Rocky Marciano 3 years, 11 months, 29 days World Heavyweight Championship6
14. United States Chris Byrd 3 years, 4 months, 8 days IBF4
15. United States Muhammad Ali 3 years, 3 months, 16 days The Ring/+ Lineal, (+ WBA, + WBC)10
16. United States Mike Tyson 3 years, 2 months, 20 days WBC (+WBA, IBF, The Ring/Lineal)9
17. United States George Foreman 3 years, 0 months, 17 days Lineal (+WBA, IBF stripped)3
18. United States Evander Holyfield 3 years, 0 months, 4 days WBA (+IBF)4
19. Canada Tommy Burns 2 years, 10 months, 3 days World Heavyweight Championship11
20. United States 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.

NameTitle ReignTitle RecognitionSuccessful Defenses
N/A Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 9 years, 4 months, 24 days Full WBC-to-WBC Emeritus-to-Full WBC (+The Ring rel) 11
N/A United States Muhammad Ali 7 years, 0 months, 11 days The Ring/+ Lineal (+ WBA , + WBC) 11
N/A United States James Toney 4 Years, 5 months, 14 days IBA/IBU 3
N/A Denmark Brian Nielsen 3 years, 7 months, 20 days IBO 5

Combined reigns

As of February 27, 2016. This list includes only major titles, and it doesn′t include lineal championships.

Keys:

NameDays as championNumber Of ReignsTitle Recognition Cumulative Title Defenses
1. Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko 4 383 2 IBF, WBA, WBO23
2. United States Joe Louis 4 270 1NYSAC, NBA 25
3. Ukraine Vitali Klitschko 2 735 3 WBO, WBC12
4. United States Larry Holmes 2 661 1 WBC, IBF20
5. United States Jack Dempsey 2 638 1 WHC, NYSAC, NBA5
6. United States John L. Sullivan 2 566 1 WHC4
7. United States Muhammad Ali 2 363 3 NYSAC, WBC, WBA19
8. United Kingdom Lennox Lewis 2 346 3 WBC, IBF, WBA14
9. United States Jack Johnson 2 291 1 WHC8
10. United States Evander Holyfield 2 235 4 WBA, WBC, IBF7
11. United States James J. Jeffries 2 156 1 WHC 7
12. United States Joe Frazier 1 788 1 NYSAC, WBA, WBC9
13. United States Floyd Patterson 1 761 2 WHC 6
14. United States James J. Corbett 1 650 1 WHC 1
15. United States Jess Willard 1 550 1 WHC 1
16. United States Rocky Marciano 1 459 1 WHC 6
17. United States John Ruiz 1 390 2 WBA 5
18. United States Chris Byrd 1 387 2 IBF, WBO 4
19. United States Mike Tyson 1 342 2 WBA, WBC, IBF 9
20. United States George Foreman 1 122 2 WBA, WBC, IBF 3

Key

     Active Title Reign
     Reign has ended

References

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