View source for Heavyweight

{{short description|Weight class in combat sports}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:Andrew_Golota_vs_Kevin_McBride.jpg|thumb|right|Heavyweight boxers [[Andrew Golota]] (on the left) vs. [[Kevin McBride]] at [[Madison Square Garden]]]]
'''Heavyweight'''  is a [[weight class]] in [[combat sport]]s and [[professional wrestling]].

==Boxing==
===Professional===
Male boxers who weigh over {{convert|200|lb|kg stlb|lk=in}} are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the [[International Boxing Federation]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iboboxing.com/ibo_championship_rules_and_regulations.html |work=IBO and also the sink board of control. But Championship Rules & Regulations |title=4. Weight Classes |quote=  Over 200 lbs. |publisher=[[International Boxing Organization]] |access-date=2007-08-11 |archive-date=2013-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010045417/http://www.iboboxing.com/ibo_championship_rules_and_regulations.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[World Boxing Organization]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbo-int.com/revised/WBORulesReg04APR07.pdf |publisher=[[World Boxing Organization]] |work=Regulations of World Championship Contests |title=3. Weight Classes |quote=Heavyweight Over 200lbs or 90.91 kg.|access-date=2007-08-11 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926061740/http://www.wbo-int.com/revised/WBORulesReg04APR07.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-26}}</ref> In 2020, the [[World Boxing Council]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ratings Heavyweight (over 200-90.719)|url=http://www.wbcboxing.com/WBCboxing/Portal/cfpages/contentmgr.cfm?docId=94&docTipo=4&orderby=docid&sortby=ASC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810070242/http://www.wbcboxing.com/WBCboxing/Portal/cfpages/contentmgr.cfm?docId=94&docTipo=4&orderby=docid&sortby=ASC <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=2007-08-10|access-date=2007-08-11|publisher=[[World Boxing Council]]}}</ref> increased their heavyweight classification to 224 pounds (102&nbsp;kg; 16 st)  to allow for their creation of the [[bridgerweight]] division. The [[World Boxing Association]] (WBA) did the same in 2023.<ref name="WBA 2023 ESPN">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/39020519/wba-joins-wbc-adding-18th-weight-class-super-cruiserweight |title=WBA joins WBC in adding 18th weight class with super cruiserweight |website=ESPN |date=2023-12-01}}</ref> Female boxers who weigh over {{convert|175|lb|kg stlb|lk=in}} 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 [[List of heavyweight boxing champions|heavyweight champions]] weighed {{convert|170|lb|kg stlb}} or less (although others weighed 200 pounds).

In 1920, the light heavyweight division was formed, with a maximum weight of {{convert|175|lb|kg stlb}}. 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 {{convert|190|lb|kg stlb}} or {{convert|195|lb|kg stlb}}. 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.<ref>'Heavy' Date, ''AAU News'', 1975, v. 45, p. 10.</ref>

As of 2025, [[Wladimir Klitschko]] holds records of beating the most boxers for the world heavyweight title, with 23, and the [[World heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics#Longest title reigns|longest cumulative heavyweight title reign]] of all time, with 4,382 days as world heavyweight champion.{{refn|group=nb|Attributed to multiple sources:<ref name=guinness-world-records-most-days-as-hw-ch>{{cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/496533-most-days-as-a-heavyweight-boxing-champion|title=Most days as a heavyweight boxing champion|work=[[Guinness World Records]]|access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=business-insider-sg>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/wladimir-klitschko-we-fight-were-killed-we-rebuild-we-celebrate-we-live-w985xgkbr |title=Wladimir Klitschko: We fight, we're killed, we rebuild, we celebrate, we live|publisher=[[The Times]]|access-date=28 June 2025 |archive-date=2 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802055026/https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/wladimir-klitschko-we-fight-were-killed-we-rebuild-we-celebrate-we-live-w985xgkbr}}</ref><ref name=boxing-records>{{cite web |url=https://sport.24tv.ua/volodimiru_klichku__44_naykrashhi_nokauti_boksera_n1303940 |title=Володимиру Кличку – 44: найкращі нокаути боксера|date=25 March 2020 |access-date=5 February 2021 |language=Ukrainian}}</ref><ref name=klitschko-rekord>{{cite web |url=https://sport.segodnya.ua/sport/boxing/ukraina-sdelala-svoy-vybor-nazvan-luchshiy-bokser-v-istorii-1580204.html|title=Украина сделала свой выбор! Назван лучший боксер в истории страны|access-date=28 April 2022|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=klitschko-rekord2>{{cite web |url=https://www.polsatsport.pl/wiadomosc/2022-04-25/wladimir-kliczko-wroci-na-ring-jesli-wojna-sie-skonczy/|title=Władimir Kliczko wróci na ring? "Jeśli wojna się skończy..."|date=25 April 2022 |publisher=[[Polsat Sport]]|access-date=30 April 2022 |language=pl}}</ref><ref name=klitschko-reuters>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boxing-heavyweight-fury-idUSKBN22W0OR |title=Fury 'mentally happy' to be in ring, eyes Klitschko-like reign |work=Reuters |date=20 May 2020|access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref>}} [[Joe Louis]] has won the most world heavyweight title bouts, with 27,<ref name=boxing-records/> and had the most consecutive title defenses, with 26.{{refn|group=nb|According to [[BoxRec]] and [[IBHOF]], Louis' fight against Johnny Davis in 1944, viewed by many as an exhibition fight, was for the NYSAC heavyweight title, which would lift Louis' title defenses to 26|exhibition according to some sources; other sources including IBHOF consider it a legitimate title fight, which would bring Louis' defenses to 26.}} This is also the record for most consecutive title defenses in boxing history.<ref>[https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/reign-longest-(boxing)/ Longest reigning boxing world champion]</ref>

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====
{{main|List of world heavyweight boxing champions}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Sanctioning Body
!Reign Began
!Champion
!Record
!Defenses  
|-
|[[World Boxing Association|WBA]]
|September 25, 2021
|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|24–0 (15 KO)
|align=center|5
|-
|[[World Boxing Council|WBC]]
|May 18, 2024
|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|24–0 (15 KO)
|align=center|2
|-
|[[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]
|July 19, 2025
|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|24–0 (15 KO)
|align=center|0
|-
|[[World Boxing Organization|WBO]]
|November 17, 2025
|[[Fabio Wardley]]
|20–0–1 (19 KO)
|align=center|0
|}

====Current world rankings====

=====''The Ring''=====

As of November 17, 2025.<ref name=ring-hw-ratings>{{Cite web|url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/ring-ranking|title=The Ring ratings: heavyweight|access-date=21 August 2025}}</ref>

Keys:
:{{Color box|gold|C|border=darkgray}} Current ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' world champion

{| class="wikitable"
!Rank
!Name
!Record (W–L–D)
!Title(s)
|-
|bgcolor=gold|C
|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|24–0 (15 KO)
|[[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]
|-
|1
|[[Tyson Fury]]
|34–2–1 (24 KO)
|
|-
|2
|[[Fabio Wardley]]
|20–0–1 (19 KO)
|[[World Boxing Organization|WBO]]
|-
|3
|[[Agit Kabayel]]
|26–0 (18 KO)
|
|-
|4
|[[Joseph Parker]]
|36–4 (24 KO)
|
|-
|5
|[[Daniel Dubois]]
|22–3 (21 KO)
|
|-
|6
|[[Filip Hrgović]]
|19–1 (14 KO)
|
|-
|7
|[[Zhilei Zhang]]
|27–3–1 (22 KO)
|
|-
|8
|[[Martin Bakole]]
|21–2–1 (16 KO)
|
|-
|9
|[[Moses Itauma]]
|13–0 (11 KO)
|
|-
|10
|[[Efe Ajagba|Efe Ajagaba]]
|20–1–1 (14 KO)
|
|}

=====BoxRec=====

As of 22 December 2024.<ref name=boxrec-hw-ratings>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/ratings?r%5Brole%5D=proboxer&r%5Bsex%5D=M&r%5Bdivision%5D=Heavyweight&r%5Bcountry%5D=&r%5Bstance%5D=&r%5Bstatus%5D=a&r_go=|title=BoxRec ratings: heavyweight, active|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Rank
!Name
!Record (W–L–D)
!Title(s)
|-
|1
|[[Oleksandr Usyk]]
|23–0–0 (14 KO)
|[[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Organisation|WBO]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]]
|-
|2
|[[Daniel Dubois (boxer)|Daniel Dubois]]
|22–2–0 (21 KO)
|[[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]
|-
|3
|[[Agit Kabayel]]
|25–0–0 (17 KO)
|
|-
|4
|[[Anthony Joshua]]
|28–4–0 (25 KO)
|
|-
|5
|[[Martin Bakole]]
|21–1–0 (16 KO)
|
|-
|6
|[[Tyson Fury]]
|34–2–1 (24 KO)
|
|-
|7
|[[Joseph Parker]]
|35–3–0 (23 KO)
|
|-
|8
|[[Lawrence Okolie]]
|21–1–0 (16 KO)
|
|-
|9
|[[Zhilei Zhang]]
|27–2–1 (22 KO)
|
|-
|10
|[[Michael Hunter (American boxer)|Michael Hunter]]
|23–1–2 (16 KO)
|
|-
|}

==== Longest-reigning world heavyweight champions ====
{{main|World heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics}}

Keys:
:{{Color box|#B2FFFF|border=darkgray}} Active title reign
:{{Color box|transparent|border=darkgray}} Reign has ended

:'''Note 1:''' WBA (Regular) champions are not included
:'''Note 2:''' WBO heavyweight title bouts before August 1997 are not included<ref name="wbotitlebouts">Several 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 (boxer)|Ricardo Lopez]]'s opponent [[Alex Sanchez (boxer)|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</ref>
:'''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''.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Pos.</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Name</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Combined reign</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Days as champion</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Number of reigns</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Title recognition</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Cumulative title wins</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Opponents beaten</span>
|-
| 1. || [[Wladimir Klitschko]]|| 12 years, 0 months, 0 days || align="center" |4 382 || align="center" |2 || WBA, IBF, WBO|| align="center" |25 ||align="center" |23 
|-
| 2. || [[Joe Louis]] || 11 years, 8 months, 8 days || align="center" |4 270 || align="center" |1|| NYSAC, NBA|| align="center" |27 ||align="center" |22
|-
| 3. || [[Muhammad Ali]] || 9 years, 5 months, 5 days || align="center" |3 443|| align="center" |3 || NYSAC, WBA, WBC|| align="center" |22 ||align="center" |21
|-
| 4. || [[Lennox Lewis]] || 8 years, 5 months, 13 days || align="center" |3 086 || align="center" |3|| WBA, WBC, IBF|| align="center" |15 ||align="center" |15
|-
| 5. || [[Vitali Klitschko]] || 7 years, 5 months, 28 days || align="center" |2 735 || align="center" |3|| WBC, WBO|| align="center" |15 ||align="center" |15
|-
| 6. || [[Larry Holmes]] || 7 years, 3 months, 12 days || align="center" |2 661 || align="center" |1|| WBC, IBF|| align="center" |20 ||align="center" |20
|-
| 7. || [[Jack Dempsey]] || 7 years, 2 months, 19 days || align="center" |2 638|| align="center" |1|| NYSAC, NBA|| align="center" |6 ||align="center" |6
|-
| 8. || [[John L. Sullivan]] || 7 years, 0 months, 10 days || align="center" |2 566|| align="center" |1 || Universal|| align="center" |5 ||align="center" |5
|-
| 9. || [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]] || 6 years, 3 months, 11 days || align="center" |2 292|| align="center" |1 || Universal|| align="center" |6 ||align="center" |6 
|-
| 10. || [[Evander Holyfield]] || 6 years, 1 month, 1 day || align="center" |2 223 || align="center" |4 || WBA, WBC, IBF|| align="center" |11 ||align="center" |10
|-
| 11. || [[James J. Jeffries]] || 5 years, 11 months, 4 days || align="center" |2 156 || align="center" |1 || Universal|| align="center" |8 ||align="center" |6
|-
| 12. || [[Tyson Fury]] || 5 years, 1 month, 12 days|| align="center" |1 866|| align="center" |2 || WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO || align="center" | 5 ||align="center" |4
|-
| 13. || [[Deontay Wilder]] || 5 years, 1 month, 5 days|| align="center" |1 859|| align="center" |1 || WBC || align="center" | 10 ||align="center" |8
|-
| 14. || [[Anthony Joshua]] || 4 years, 11 months, 17 days || align="center" |1 806 || align="center" |2  || WBA, IBF, WBO|| align="center" |9 || align="center" |9
|-
| 15. || [[Joe Frazier]] || 4 years, 10 months, 18 days || align="center" |1 785 || align="center" |1 || NYSAC, WBA, WBC|| align="center" |10 ||align="center" |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.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Pos.</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Name</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Title Reign</span>
! style="background: #D1EEEE; background: black;« width=»10%" |<span style="color:yellow">Title recognition</span>
|-
| 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 (boxer)|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. ||  [[Joe Frazier]] || 4 years, 10 months, 18 days || NYSAC (+WBA, WBC)
|-
| 12. || [[James J. Corbett]] || 4 years, 6 months, 10 days || Lineal
|-
| 13. || [[Jess Willard]] ||  4 years, 2 months, 29 days  || Lineal
|-
| 14. || [[Tyson Fury]] ||  4 years, 2 months, 26 days  || WBC (+''The Ring''/Lineal)
|-
| 15. || [[Lennox Lewis]] || 4 years, 2 months, 15 days || WBC (+IBF, WBA stripped, ''The Ring''/Lineal)
|- style="background:#b2ffff;"
| 16. || [[Oleksandr Usyk]] || data-sort-value="{{Age in days |month1=9 |day1=25 |year1=2021  }}" | {{Age in years, months, weeks and days |month1=9 |day1=26 |year1=2021}} || WBO, IBF (+WBA, WBC, ''The Ring'' /Lineal) <ref name="Usyk-record">{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/de/box-pro/659772|title=Professional boxing record: Oleksandr Usyk |access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Amateur===

The lower limit for heavyweight was established in 1948 at {{convert|81|kg| lb |1|abbr=on}}. A weight class named "super heavyweight" was established in 1984, and with it a maximum {{convert|91|kg| lb |1|abbr=on}} for the heavyweight division.

==Kickboxing==
* In [[kickboxing]], a heavyweight fighter generally weighs between {{cvt|88|and|100|kg|lb stlb}}. The fighters over {{cvt|100|kg|lb stlb}} are considered [[super heavyweight]]s.
* [[International Kickboxing Federation]] (IKF) Heavyweight (Pro & Amateur) {{cvt|215.1|-|235|lb|kg|disp=or}}.
* In [[Glory (kickboxing)|Glory]] promotion, a heavyweight division is over {{cvt|95|kg|lb}} and no upper weight limit.
* In [[ONE Championship]], the heavyweight division has an upper limit of {{convert|120.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

==Mixed martial arts==
{{main|Heavyweight (MMA)}}
The heavyweight division in [[mixed martial arts|MMA]] generally groups fighters between {{cvt|206|and|265|lb|kg}}.

Heavyweight is also the title of a documentary film that documented the fight camp of [[Fabrício Werdum]] when he became the UFC Heavyweight Champion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4380142/|title = Heavyweight| website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

==Wrestling==
{{main|Wrestling weight classes|Professional wrestling weight classes}}
The term "[[Professional wrestling championship|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) "[[NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship|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==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|1|group=nb}}

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030239/https://www.hugmansworldchampionshipboxing.com/heavy/ Barry Hugman's Boxing]}}

{{Boxing weight classes}}

[[Category:Boxing weight classes]]
[[Category:Kickboxing weight classes]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling weight classes]]
[[Category:Taekwondo weight classes]]
[[Category:Wrestling weight classes]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers|*]]
[[Category:Heavyweight kickboxers|*]]
[[Category:Heavyweight| ]]