The 20 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All-Time

BORN NAME: Cassius Clay, Jr.
PRO RECORD: 56-5 (37 KO)
NICKNAME: The Louisville Lip / The Greatest
HOMETOWN: Louisville, KY, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1964 - 1967, 1974 - 1978, 1978 - 1979
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 19

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 8 George Foreman (10/30/1974)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Only man to win the legitimate heavyweight championship three times.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Archie Moore (TKO), Doug Jones (W 10), Sonny Liston (TKO 6, KO 1), Floyd Patterson (TKO 12, TKO 7), George Chuvalo (W 15, W 12), Cleveland Williams (TKO 3), Ernie Terrell (W 15), Zora Folley (KO 7), Jerry Quarry (TKO 3, TKO 7), Oscar Bonavena (TKO 15), Joe Frazier (L 15, W 12, TKO 14), Jimmy Ellis (TKO 12), Buster Mathis (W 12), Bob Foster (KO 8), Joe Bugner (W 12, W 15), Ken Norton (L 12, W 12), George Foreman (KO 8), Ron Lyle (TKO 11), Jimmy Young (W 15), Alfredo Evangelista (W 15), Earnie Shavers (W 15), Leon Spinks (L 15, W 15), Larry Holmes (L-TKO 10), Trevor Berbick (L 10)

REAL NAME: Joseph Barrow
PRO RECORD: 66-3 (52 KO)
NICKNAME: The Brown Bomber
HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1937 - 1949
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 25

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 1 Max Schmeling (6/22/1938)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Made more successful title defenses than any other champion in any weight class.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Primo Carnera (TKO 6), Max Baer (KO 4), Max Schmeling (L-KO 12, KO 1), Jack Sharkey (KO 3), Bob Pastor (W 10, KO 11), Jim Braddock (KO 8), John Henry Lewis (KO 1), Abe Simon (TKO 13, TKO 6), Buddy Baer (DQ 7, KO 1), Billy Conn (KO 13, KO 8), Jersey Joe Walcott (W 15, KO 11), Ezzard Charles (L 15), Lee Savold (KO 6), Jimmy Bivins (W 10), Rocky Marciano (L-TKO 8)

PRO RECORD: 55-11-8 (35 KO), with 95 no-decisions
NICKNAME: The Galveston Giant
HOMETOWN: Galveston, TX, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1908 - 1915
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 8

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 15 James Jeffries (7/4/1910)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: First black heavyweight champion.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Joe Choynski (L-KO 3), George Gardner (W 20), Denver Ed Martin (W 20, KO 2), Sam McVey (W 20, W 20, KO 20), Marvin Hart (L 20), Joe Jeanette (ND 3, L-DQ 2, ND 6, ND 3, W 15, ND 6, ND 10), Sam Langford (W 15), Bill Lang (TKO 9), Bob Fitzsimmons (KO 2), Fireman Jim Flynn (KO 11, DQ 9), Tommy Burns (W 14), Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (ND 6), Stanley Ketchel (KO 12), James Jeffries (TKO 15), Jess Willard (L-KO 26)

REAL NAME: Rocco Marchegiano
PRO RECORD: 49-0 (43 KO)
NICKNAME: The Brockton Blockbuster
HOMETOWN: Brockton, MA, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1952 - 1956
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 6

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 13 Jersey Joe Walcott (9/23/1952)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Only heavyweight champion to permanently retire undefeated.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Roland LaStarza (W 10, TKO 11), Rex Layne (KO 6), Joe Louis (TKO 8), Lee Savold (TKO 6), Harry Matthews (KO 2), Jersey Joe Walcott (KO 13, KO 1), Ezzard Charles (W 15, KO 8), Archie Moore (KO 9)

PRO RECORD: 69-6 (44 KO)
NICKNAME: The Easton Assassin
HOMETOWN: Easton, PA, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1980 - 1985
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 12

DEFINING FIGHT: TKO 11 Muhammad Ali (10/2/1980)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Made second most consecutive title defenses in heavyweight championship history.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Earnie Shavers (W 12, TKO 11), Ken Norton (W 15), Alfredo Evangelista (KO 7), Mike Weaver (TKO 12, TKO 6), Muhammad Ali (TKO 10), Trevor Berbick (W 15), Leon Spinks (TKO 3), Gerry Cooney (TKO 13), Tim Witherspoon (W 12), James Smith (TKO 12, TKO 8), Carl Williams (W 15), Michael Spinks (L 15, L 15), Mike Tyson (L-TKO 4), Ray Mercer (W 12), Evander Holyfield (L 12), Oliver McCall (L 12)

REAL NAME: William Dempsey
PRO RECORD: 54-6-9 (44 KO)
NICKNAME: The Manassa Mauler
HOMETOWN: Manassa, CO, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1919 - 1926
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 5

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 2 Luis Angel Firpo (9/14/1923)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Scored 25 first round knockouts, one in only 14 seconds.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Carl Morris (W 4, DQ 6, KO 1), Fireman Jim Flynn (L-KO 1, KO 1), Carl Morris (W 4, DQ 6, KO 1), Bill Brennan (TKO 6, KO 12), Billy Miske (ND 10, ND 6, KO 3), Fred Fulton (KO 1), Battling Levinsky (KO 3), Jess Willard (TKO 3), Georges Carpentier (KO 4), Timmy Gibbons (W 15), Luis Angel Firpo (KO 2), Gene Tunney (L 10, L 10), Jack Sharkey (KO 7)

PRO RECORD: 76-5 (68 KO)
NICKNAME: Big George
HOMETOWN: Houston, TX, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1973 - 1974, 1994 - 1997
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 5

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 10 Michael Moorer (11/5/1994)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: At age 45, he became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Gregorio Peralta (W 10, TKO 10), George Chuvalo (TKO 3), Joe Frazier (TKO 2, TKO 5), Ken Norton (TKO 2), Muhammad Ali (L-KO 8), Ron Lyle (KO 5), Jimmy Young (L 12), Dwight Muhammad Qawi (TKO 7), Gerry Cooney (TKO 2), Evander Holyfield (L 12), Tommy Morrison (L 12), Michael Moorer (KO 10), Lou Savarese (W 12), Shannon Briggs (L 12)

PRO RECORD: 32-4-1 (27 KO)
NICKNAME: Smokin' Joe
HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, PA, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1970 - 1973
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 4

DEFINING FIGHT: W 15 Muhammad Ali (3/8/1971)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: First man to defeat Ali.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Oscar Bonavena (W 10, W 15), Eddie Machen (TKO 10), Doug Jones (KO 6), George Chuvalo (TKO 4), Buster Mathis (TKO 11), Jerry Quarry (TKO 7, TKO 5), Jimmy Ellis (TKO 4, TKO 9), Bob Foster (KO 2), Muhammad Ali (W 15, L 12, L-TKO 14), George Foreman (L-TKO 2, L-TKO 5), Joe Bugner (W 12)

PRO RECORD: 41-2 (32 KO)
NICKNAME: The Lion
HOMETOWN: London, England

TITLE REIGN: 1998 - 2001, 2001 - 2004
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 8

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 8 Mike Tyson (6/8/2002)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: One of only three heavyweight champions to permanently retire while still champion.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Mike Weaver (KO 6), Donovan Ruddock (TKO 2), Frank Bruno (TKO 7), Oliver McCall (L-TKO 2, TKO 5), Tommy Morrison (TKO 6), Ray Mercer (W 10), Andrew Golota (KO 1), Shannon Briggs (TKO 5), Evander Holyfield (D 12, W 12), Frans Botha (TKO 2), David Tua (W 12), Hasim Rahman (L-KO 5, KO 4), Mike Tyson (KO 8), Vitali Klitschko (TKO 6)

PRO RECORD: 44-10-2 (29 KO)
NICKNAME: The Real Deal
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, GA, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1990 - 1992, 1993 - 1994
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 3

DEFINING FIGHT: TKO 11 Mike Tyson (11/9/1996)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: One of only four men to ever regain the heavyweight championship.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS (at heavyweight):
Pinklon Thomas (TKO 7), Michael Dokes (TKO 10), James Douglas (KO 3), George Foreman (W 12), Larry Holmes (W 12), Riddick Bowe (L 12, W 12, L-TKO 8), Michael Moorer (L 12, TKO 8), Ray Mercer (W 10), Mike Tyson (TKO 11, DQ 3), Lennox Lewis (D 12, L 12), John Ruiz (W 12, L 12, D 12), Hasim Rahman (W 8), Chris Byrd (L 12), James Toney (L-TKO 9), Lou Savarese (W 10), Sultan Ibragimov (L 12), Nikolay Valuev (L 12), Frans Botha (TKO 8)

PRO RECORD: 50-6 (44 KO)
NICKNAME: Kid Dynamite / Iron Mike
HOMETOWN: Catskill, NY, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1988 - 1990
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 2

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 1 Michael Spinks (6/27/1988)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Youngest man to win a heavyweight title belt at just twenty years of age.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Alonzo Ratliff (TKO 2), Trevor Berbick (TKO 2), James Smith (W 12), Pinklon Thomas (TKO 6), Tony Tucker (W 12), Larry Holmes (L-TKO 4), Michael Spinks (KO 1), Frank Bruno (TKO 5, TKO 3), Carl Williams (TKO 1), James Douglas (L-KO 10), Donovan Ruddock (TKO 7, W 12), Bruce Seldon (TKO 1), Evander Holyfield (L-TKO 11, L-DQ 3), Frans Botha (KO 5), Andrew Golota (NC 3), Lennox Lewis (L-KO 8)

PRO RECORD: 64-4 (53 KO)
NICKNAME: Dr. Steelhammer
HOMETOWN: Kiev, Ukraine

TITLE REIGN: 2009 - 2015
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 11

DEFINING FIGHT: W 12 Samuel Peter (9/24/2005)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Made the more consecutive title defenses than any heavyweight champion in the previous 30 years.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Chris Byrd (W 12, TKO 7), Frans Botha (TKO 8), Ray Mercer (TKO 6), Corrie Sanders (L-TKO 2), Lamon Brewster (L-TKO 5, TKO 6), Samuel Peter (W 12, KO 10), Sultan Ibragimov (W 12), Hasim Rahman (TKO 7), Ruslan Chagaev (TKO 9), David Haye (W 12), Jean Marc Mormeck (KO 4), Alexander Povetkin (W 12), Tyson Fury (L 12)

PRO RECORD: 19-1-2 (16 KO)
NICKNAME: The Boilermaker
HOMETOWN: San Francisco, CA, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1899 - 1905
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 7

DEFINING FIGHT: L (TKO) 15 Jack Johnson (7/10/1910)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Would have an undefeated record if not for ill-advised comeback fight against Jack Johnson five years after retirement.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Gus Ruhlin (D 20, TKO 5), Joe Choynski (D 20), Peter Jackson (TKO 3), Tom Sharkey (W 20, W 25), Bob Fitzsimmons (KO 11, KO 8), James Corbett (KO 23, TKO 10), Jack Johnson (L-TKO 15)

REAL NAME: James Tunney
PRO RECORD: 65-1-1 (48 KO), with 85 no-decisions
NICKNAME: The Fighting Marine
HOMETOWN: Greenwich, CT, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1926 - 1928
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 2

DEFINING FIGHT: W 10 Jack Dempsey (9/22/1927)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: First heavyweight champion to permanently retire while still the champion. One of only three men to ever do so.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS (at heavyweight):
Tommy Gibbons (KO 12), Johnny Risko (ND 12), Jack Dempsey (W 10, W 10)

PRO RECORD: 95-25-1 (52 KO)
NICKNAME: The Cincinnati Cobra
HOMETOWN: Cincinnati, OH, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1949 - 1951
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 8

DEFINING FIGHT: W 15 Joe Louis (9/27/1950)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT (at heavyweight): First man to defeat Louis in 14 years.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS (at heavyweight):
Jimmy Bivins (W 10, W 10, W 10), Joey Maxim (W 15, W 15, W 12), Jersey Joe Walcott (W 15, W 15, L-KO 7, L 15), Gus Lesnevich (W 15), Joe Louis (W 15), Rex Layne (TKO 11, L 10, W 10), Harold Johnson (L 10), Rocky Marciano (L 15, L-KO 8), Tommy Jackson (L 10, L 10), Harry Matthews (L 10)

REAL NAME: Charles Liston
PRO RECORD: 50-4 (39 KO)
HOMETOWN: St. Louis, MO, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1962 - 1964
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 1

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 1 Floyd Patterson (9/25/1962)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Was a highly regarded contender for years before overly protected champion Patterson would give him a shot; then, when he got his shot, he won the title in devastating fashion.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Cleveland Williams (TKO 3, TKO 2), Roy Harris (TKO 1), Zora Folley (KO 3), Eddie Machen (W 12), Floyd Patterson (KO 1, KO 1), Muhammad Ali (L-TKO 6, L-KO 1)

PRO RECORD: 45-2 (41 KO)
NICKNAME: Dr. Ironfist
HOMETOWN: Kiev, Ukraine

TITLE REIGN: 2004 - 2005
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 1

DEFINING FIGHT: L (TKO) 6 Lennox Lewis (6/21/2003)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Was ahead on points against Lewis when the fight was stopped due to cuts.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS:
Herbie Hide (KO 2), Chris Byrd (L-TKO 9), Lennox Lewis (L-TKO 6), Corrie Sanders (TKO 8), Samuel Peter (TKO 8), Chris Arreola (TKO 10), Shannon Briggs (W 12), Tomasz Adamek (TKO 10)

PRO RECORD: 179-31-40 (129 KO) with 61 no-decisions
NICKNAME: The Boston Tar Baby
HOMETOWN: Boston, MA, USA

TITLE REIGN: never won
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 0

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 14 Harry Wills (11/26/1914)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Scored the second most knockouts (129) in boxing history.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS (at heavyweght):
Joe Jeanette (W 15, D 12, D 12, ND 6, W 15, W 12, ND 10, ND 10, W 20, ND 10, L 12, KO 7, ND 12), Jack Johnson (L 15), Fireman Jim Flynn (KO 1, ND 10, KO 8, W 10, KO 3, W 8), Bill Lang (DQ 6), Sam McVey (D 20, L 20, W 20, W 20, TKO 11, KO 13, D 20, L 12, D 20, ND 10, ND 10, ND 10, ND 12, D 20, ND 10), Harry Wills (ND 10, KO 14, ND 10, L 20, KO 19, ND 10, ND 8, ND 6, ND 10, ND 12, L-KO 6, L-TKO 8, ND 8, ND 10, L 15, L 15, L 10), Fred Fulton (L-TKO 7, L 4)

PRO RECORD: 55-8-1 (40 KO)
HOMETOWN: New York, NY, USA

TITLE REIGN: 1956 - 1959 / 1960 - 1962
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 6

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 5 Ingemar Johansson (6/20/1960)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: First two-time heavyweight champion.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS (at heavyweight):
Tommy Jackson (W 12, TKO 10), Archie Moore (KO 5), Roy Harris (TKO 12), Ingemar Johansson (L-TKO 3, KO 5, KO 6), Sonny Liston (L-KO 1, L-KO 1), Eddie Machen (W 12), George Chuvalo (W 12), Muhammad Ali (L-TKO 12, L-TKO 7), Jerry Quarry (D 10, L 12), Jimmy Ellis (L 15), Oscar Bonavena (W 10)

PRO RECORD: 66-8-4 (59 KO), with 101 No-decisions
NICKNAME: Ruby Robert
HOMETOWN: Timaru, New Zealand

CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN: 1897 - 1899
SUCCESSFUL TITLE DEFENSES: 0

DEFINING FIGHT: KO 14 James Corbett (3/17/1897)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Only true middleweight champ to ever
with the legitimate heavyweight championship.

NOTABLE OPPONENTS (at heavyweight):
Peter Maher (TKO 12, KO 1), Joe Choynski (TKO 5), Tom Sharkey (L-DQ 8, KO 2), James Corbett (KO 14), James Jeffries (L-KO 11, L-KO 8), Gus Ruhlin (KO 6), Jack Johnson (L-KO 2), Bill Lang (L-KO 12)

Riddick Bowe
James Corbett
Max Baer
Max Schmeling
Jersey Joe Walcott
Ken Norton
Joe Jeanette
Sam McVey
Peter Jackson