Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. In professional boxing, it is the maximum weight category, including all male boxers over 91 kg and female boxers over 81 kg.
Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Organization. In 2020, the World Boxing Council increased their heavyweight classification to 224 pounds (102 kg; 16 st) to allow for their creation of the bridgerweight division. The World Boxing Association (WBA) did the same in 2023. Female boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by all four of the boxing federations.
Historical development Because this division has no upper weight limit, it has historically been vaguely defined. In the 19th century, for example, many heavyweight champions weighed or less (although others weighed 200 pounds).
In 1920, the light heavyweight division was formed, with a maximum weight of . Any fighter weighing more than 175 pounds was a heavyweight. The cruiserweight division (first for boxers in the 175–190 pound range) was established in 1979 and recognized by the various boxing organizations in the 1980s with a maximum weight of either or . Later these organizations increased the cruiserweight limit to 200 pounds.
Since 1975, the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States and the Soviet Sports Committee established a new concept in international boxing, called "Heavy Duals," an all-heavyweight team contest between the United States and the Soviet Union.'Heavy' Date, AAU News, 1975, v. 45, p. 10.
As of 2025, Wladimir Klitschko holds records of beating the most boxers for the world heavyweight title, with 23, and the longest cumulative heavyweight title reign of all time, with 4,382 days as world heavyweight champion. Joe Louis has won the most world heavyweight title bouts, with 27, and had the most consecutive title defenses, with 26. This is also the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing history.Longest reigning boxing world champion
Four boxers have regained the heavyweight title in an immediate rematch: Floyd Patterson in 1960, Muhammad Ali in 1978, Lennox Lewis in 2001, and Anthony Joshua in 2019. George Foreman holds the record for being the oldest heavyweight to ever achieve championship status, becoming champion at the age of 45, while Mike Tyson possesses the record for youngest heavyweight champion at 20. Tyson also became the first heavyweight to own all three major belts – WBA, WBC, and IBF as well as The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles at the same time.
Current world champions
Sanctioning BodyReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses WBAJune 26, 2026Murat Gassiev34–2 (1) (27 KO)1WBCJune 27, 2026Agit Kabayel27–0 (19 KO)0IBFAug 29, 2026Filip Hrgović21–1 (16 KO)0WBOMay 9, 2026Daniel Dubois23–3 (22 KO)0
Current world rankings
The Ring
As of September 4, 2026.
Keys: Current The Ring world champion
RankNameRecord (W–L–D)Title(s)cOleksandr Usyk25–0 (16 KO)1Daniel Dubois23–3 (22 KO)WBO2Agit Kabayel27–0 (19 KO)WBC3Tyson Fury35–2–1 (24 KO)4Filip Hrgović21–1 (16 KO)IBF5Fabio Wardley20–1–1 (19 KO)6Frank Sánchez26–1 (19 KO)7Efe Ajagba21–1–1 (14 KO)8Moses Itauma14–1 (12 KO)9Murat Gassiev34–2 (1) (27 KO)WBA10Justis Huni13–1 (7 KO)
BoxRec
As of 27 June 2026.
RankNameRecord (W–L–D)Title(s)1Oleksandr Usyk25–0 (16 KO)The Ring2Daniel Dubois23–3 (22 KO)WBO3Agit Kabayel27–0 (19 KO)WBC4Tyson Fury35–2–1 (24 KO)5Murat Gassiev33–2 (1) (26 KO)WBA6Lawrence Okolie23–1 (17 KO)7Anthony Joshua29–4 (26 KO)8Fabio Wardley20–1–1 (19 KO)9Filip Hrgović21–1 (16 KO)10Richard Riakporhe20–1 (16 KO)
Longest-reigning world heavyweight champions
Keys: Active title reign Reign has ended
Note 1: WBA (Regular) champions are not included Note 2: WBO heavyweight title bouts before August 1997 are not includedSeveral IBHOF inductees’ professional boxing records printed in the organization's official record books indicate that IBHOF did not recognize WBO as a major organization until at least August 23, 1997: IBHOF official record book, 1997 edition Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion IBHOF official record book, 1999 edition Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion IBHOF official record book, 2002 edition Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion IBHOF official record book, 2006 edition Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion Michael Carbajal's opponent Josue Camacho, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 15 July 1994, is not marked as World Champion Michael Carbajal's opponent Jorge Arce, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 31 July 1999, is marked as World Champion IBHOF official record book, 2011 edition Sugar Ray Leonard's opponent Thomas Hearns, who was defending the WBO super middleweight title against him on 12 June 1989, is not marked as World Champion Michael Carbajal's opponent Josue Camacho, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 15 July 1994, is not marked as World Champion Ricardo Lopez's opponent Alex Sanchez, who was defending the WBO minimumweight title against him on 23 August 1997, is marked as World Champion Michael Carbajal's opponent Jorge Arce, who was defending the WBO junior flyweight title against him on 31 July 1999, is marked as World Champion Note 3: The names in italics are champions that did not win The Ring championship/lineal championship (August 29, 1885–July 2, 1921)/undisputed championship (July 2, 1921–present)
Combined reign The list does not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921.
As of 09 September 2025.
Pos.NameCombined reignDays as championNumber of reignsTitle recognitionCumulative title winsOpponents beaten 1. Wladimir Klitschko 12 years, 0 months, 0 days 4 382 2 WBA, IBF, WBO25 23 2. Joe Louis 11 years, 8 months, 8 days 4 270 1 NYSAC, NBA27 22 3. Muhammad Ali 9 years, 5 months, 5 days 3 4433 NYSAC, WBA, WBC22 21 4. Lennox Lewis 8 years, 5 months, 13 days 3 086 3 WBA, WBC, IBF15 15 5. Vitali Klitschko 7 years, 5 months, 28 days 2 735 3 WBC, WBO15 15 6. Larry Holmes 7 years, 3 months, 12 days 2 661 1 WBC, IBF20 20 7. Jack Dempsey 7 years, 2 months, 19 days 2 6381 NYSAC, NBA6 6 8. John L. Sullivan 7 years, 0 months, 10 days 2 5661 Universal5 5 9. Jack Johnson 6 years, 3 months, 11 days 2 2921 Universal6 6 10. Evander Holyfield 6 years, 1 month, 1 day 2 223 4 WBA, WBC, IBF11 10 11. James J. Jeffries 5 years, 11 months, 4 days 2 156 1 Universal8 6 12. Tyson Fury 5 years, 1 month, 12 days1 8662 WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO 5 4 13. Deontay Wilder 5 years, 1 month, 5 days1 8591 WBC 10 8 14. Anthony Joshua 4 years, 11 months, 17 days 1 806 2 WBA, IBF, WBO9 9 15. Joe Frazier 4 years, 10 months, 18 days 1 785 1 NYSAC, WBA, WBC10 10
Individual reign Below is a list of longest reigning heavyweight champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. The list includes both The Ring and lineal championships. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply.
As of 2 October 2025.
Pos.NameTitle ReignTitle recognition 1. Joe Louis 11 years, 8 months, 8 days Lineal 2. Wladimir Klitschko 9 years, 7 months and 6 days IBF (+WBA, WBO, The Ring/Lineal) 3. Larry Holmes 7 years, 3 months, 12 days WBC-to-IBF (+The Ring/Lineal) 4. Jack Dempsey 7 years, 2 months, 19 days Lineal 5. John L. Sullivan 7 years, 0 months, 9 days Lineal 6. Jack Johnson 6 years, 3 months, 10 days Lineal 7. Muhammad Ali 5 years, 11 months, 9 days The Ring/Lineal, (+WBA, WBC stripped) 8. James J. Jeffries 5 years, 11 months, 4 days Lineal 9. Vitali Klitschko 5 years, 2 months, 4 days WBC 10. Deontay Wilder 5 years, 1 month 5 days WBC 11. Oleksandr Usyk WBO, IBF (+WBA, WBC, The Ring /Lineal) 12. Joe Frazier 4 years, 10 months, 18 days NYSAC (+WBA, WBC) 13. James J. Corbett 4 years, 6 months, 10 days Lineal 14. Jess Willard 4 years, 2 months, 29 days Lineal 15. Tyson Fury 4 years, 2 months, 26 days WBC (+The Ring/Lineal) 16. Lennox Lewis 4 years, 2 months, 15 days WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, The Ring/Lineal)
Amateur
The lower limit for heavyweight was established in 1948 at . A weight class named "super heavyweight" was established in 1984, and with it a maximum for the heavyweight division.
Kickboxing In kickboxing, a heavyweight fighter generally weighs between . The fighters over are considered super heavyweights. International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) Heavyweight (Pro & Amateur) . In Glory promotion, a heavyweight division is over and no upper weight limit. In ONE Championship, the heavyweight division has an upper limit of .
Mixed martial arts
The heavyweight division in MMA generally groups fighters between .
Heavyweight is also the title of a documentary film that documented the fight camp of Fabrício Werdum when he became the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Wrestling
The term "world heavyweight" in modern wrestling generally refers to a champion wrestler who is seen as a prominent competitor, rather than an adherent to a particular weight class. The World Heavyweight Championship in wrestling is usually considered the main title in a given promotion. Prior to the wrestling industry publicly acknowledging the predetermined nature of the sport, a Heavyweight title was generally competed for by larger wrestlers while smaller wrestlers competed as (among other names and classifications) "Junior Heavyweights", "Cruiserweights" and "Light-Heavyweights". The lucha libre promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre notably still has weight division for its champions. While most other promotions do not.
Analogous uses The word "heavyweight" is sometimes used in other fields (e.g. politics) to denote a person who is especially powerful or influential. 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
External links