Boxing Divisions
Division - Winners - Current Champions (by division)
Heavy weight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class in boxing. Due to this division has no maximum weight limit, it has been historically vaguely defined. In the 19th century, many heavyweight champions weighed 170 pounds (77 kg) or less. In 1920, the minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds, which today is the light heavyweight division maximum. In today’s boxing, the minimum weight for a heavyweight is 201 pounds (91 kg).
It is almost impossible to determine who was the first heavy weight champion, as the sport of boxing goes back as far as early ancient history. Some of the most notable boxers included Tom Molineaux, Jack Slack, Jem Belcher, Ben Caunt and Jem Mace.
The first heavyweight champion under the Marquess of Queensberry rules was the immensely popular 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.
Some notable heavyweights have been:
- John L. Sullivan
- Jim Corbett
- Jack Johnson
- Jack Dempsey
- Gene Tunney
- Max Schmeling
- Primo Carnera
- Max Baer
- Joe Louis
- Rocky Marciano
- Floyd Patterson
- Sonny Liston
- Muhammad Ali
- Joe Frazier
- George Foreman
- Larry Holmes
- Michael
- Mike Tyson
- Evander Holyfield
- Riddick Bowe
- Michael Moorer
- Lennox Lewis
- Vitali Klitschko.
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