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(Heavyweight Lineal Champs: 1876-2010) Wladimir has NEVER been one!
Below is an accurate list of every true Lineal champion from 1876 to 2010. Special thanks to Hawkins for compiling this beautiful list.
1876/May 30th, 1880 John Goss
May 30th, 1880/Februrary 7,1882 Paddy Ryan - Won the title from John Goss in the 87th round when Goss was unable to continue.
Februrary 7, 1882/September 7th, 1892 John L. Sullivan - Won championship from Paddy Ryan. Ryan unable to continue following 9 knockdowns and is carried from the ring. Credited as being the last bare-knuckle champion. Sullivan is credited as being the first world's heavyweight champion.
September 7th, 1892/March 17th, 1897 James J. Corbett - Won championship in 21st round over John L. Sullivan via knockout.
March 17th, 1897/June 9th, 1899 Bob Fitzsimmons - Won the championship in the 14th round via knockout over James J. Corbett
June 9th, 1899/ May, 1905 James J. Jeffries - Won championship in the 11th round via knockout over Bob Fitzsimmons. Retires as champion.
May, 1905/July 3, 1905 - Title Vacant
July 3, 1905/February 3rd, 1906 Marvin Hart - Won vancant championship via 12th round knockout over Jack Root.
February 3rd, 1906/December 26th, 1908 Tommy Burns - Won championship via 20 rd decision over Marvin Hart.
December 26th, 1908/April 5th, 1915 Jack Johnson - Won championship via 14th round TKO over Tommy Burns. First African-American heavyweight champion.
April 5th, 1915/July 4th, 1919 Jess Willard - Won championship via 26th round knockout over Jack Johnson.
July 4th, 1919/September 23rd, 1926 Jack Depmsey - Won championship via 3rd round TKO over Jess Willard.
September 23rd, 1926/July 26th, 1928 Gene Tunney - Won championship via 10th round points decision over Jack Dempsey. Retires as champion.
July 26th, 1928/June 12th, 1930 - Title Vacant
June 12th, 1930/June 21st, 1932 Max Schmeling - Won vacant championship via 4th round DQ over Jack Sharkey
June 21st, 1932/June 29th, 1933 Jack Sharkey - Won championship via 15 round points decision over Max Schmeling.
June 29th, 1933/June 14th, 1934 Primo Carnera - Won championship via 6th round knockout over Jack Sharkey.
June 14th, 1934/June 13th, 1935 Max Baer - Won championship via 11th round knockout over Primo Carnera.
June 13th, 1935/June 22nd, 1937 James J. Braddock - Won championship via 15 round decision over Max Baer.
June 22nd 1937/March 1st, 1949 Joe Louis - Won championship via 8th round knockout over James J. Braddock. Retired as champion.
March 1st, 1949/September 27th, 1950 - Title Vacant
September 27th, 1950/July 18th, 1951 Ezzard Charles - Won vacant championship via 15 round decision over Joe Louis to be recognized as heavyweight champion of the world.
July 18th, 1951/September 23rd, 1952 Jersey Joe Walcott - Won championship via 7th round knockout over Ezzard Charles.
September 23rd, 1952/April 27th, 1956 Rocky Marciano - Won championship via 13th round knockout over Jersey Joe Walcott. Retired as champion. Only undefeated heavyweight champion.
April 27th, 1956/November 30th, 1956 - Title Vacant
November 30th, 1956/June 16th, 1959 Floyd Patterson - Won vacant championsip via 5th round knockout over Archie Moore.
June 16th, 1959/June 20th, 1960 Ingemar Johansson - Won championship via 3rd round TKO over Floyd Patterson.
June 20th, 1960/September 25th, 1962 Floyd Patterson - Won championship via 5th round knockout over Ingemar Johansson. Becomes first man to regain the championship after losing it.
September 25th, 1962/February 25th, 1964 Sonny Liston - Won championship via 1st round knockout over Floyd Patterson.
February 25th, 1964/April 28th, 1967 Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali - Won championship via 7th round TKO over Sonny Liston.
April 28th, 1967/March 8th, 1971 Title Vacant - On April 28th, 1967 Ali is stripped of championship for refusal to be inducted via draft into the US Army. Although officially stripped of the championship Ali is still widely considered by many the heavyweight champion because he neither retired nor was defeated for said title.
March, 8th 1971/January 22nd 1973 Joe Frazier - Won championship via 15 rd decision over Muhammad Ali.
January 22nd, 1973/October 30th, 1974 George Foreman - Won championship via 2nd round TKO over Joe Frazier.
October 30th, 1974/February 15th, 1978 Muhammad Ali - Won championship via 8th round knockout over George Foreman. Becomes only second man to regain the heavyweight championship.
February 15th, 1978/September 15th, 1978 Leon Spinks - Won championship via 15 round decision over Muhammad Ali.
September 15th, 1978/September 6th, 1979 Muhammad Ali - Won championship via 15 round decision over Leon Spinks. Becomes the first 3 time heavyweight champion.
September 6th, 1979/October 2nd, 1980 - Title Vacant
October 2nd, 1980/September 21st, 1985 Larry Holmes - Won championship via 10 rd TKO over Muhammad Ali
to be recognized as heavyweight champion of the world.
September 21st, 1985/June 27th, 1988 Michael Spinks - Won championship via decision over Larry Holmes.
June 27th, 1988/February 11th, 1990 Mike Tyson - Won championship via 1st rd KO over Michael Spinks.
February 11th, 1990/October 25th, 1990 James Douglas - Won championship via 10 rd KO over Mike Tyson.
October 25th, 1990/November 13th, 1992 Evander Holyfield - Won championship via 3 rd KO over James Douglas.
November 13, 1992/November 6th, 1993 Rid**** Bowe - Won championship via 12 rd decision over Evander Holyfield.
November 6th, 1993/April 22nd, 1994 Evander Holyfield - Won championship via 12 rd decision over Rid**** Bowe. Becomes third man to reclaim championship second time.
April 22nd, 1994/November 5th, 1994 Michael Moorer - Won championship via 12 rd decision over Evander Holyfield.
November 5th, 1994/November 22nd, 1997 George Foreman - Won championship via 10 rd KO over Michael Moorer.
November 22nd, 1997/March 28th, 1998 Shannon Briggs - Won championship via 12 rd decision over George Foreman.
March 28th, 1998/April 22nd, 2001 Lennox Lewis - Won championship via 5 rd TKO over Shannon Briggs.
April 22nd, 2001/November 17th, 2001 Hasim Rahman - Won championship via 5 rd KO over Lennox Lewis.
November 17th, 2001/February 6th, 2004 Lennox Lewis - Won championship via 4 rd KO over Hasim Rahman. Becomes only fourth man to reclaim championship a second time. Retires as champion.
February 6th, 2004/April 24th, 2004 - Title Vacant
April 24th, 2004/November 9th, 2005 Vitali Klitschko - Won vacant championship via 8 rd TKO over Corrie Sanders. Retired as champion.
November 9th, 2005/August 12th, 2006 Hasim Rahman - Won interim championship via 12 round decision over Monte Barrett. Became full champion when Vitali retired.
August 12th, 2006/March 3rd, 2008 Oleg Maskaev - Won championship via 12 rd TKO over Hasim Rahman.
March 3rd, 2008/October 11th, 2008 Sam Peter - Won championship via 6 rd TKO over Oleg Maskaev.
October 11th, 2008/Present Vitali Klitschko - Won championship via 8 rd RTD over Sam Peter.
1876/May 30th, 1880 John Goss
May 30th, 1880/Februrary 7,1882 Paddy Ryan - Won the title from John Goss in the 87th round when Goss was unable to continue.
Februrary 7, 1882/September 7th, 1892 John L. Sullivan - Won championship from Paddy Ryan. Ryan unable to continue following 9 knockdowns and is carried from the ring. Credited as being the last bare-knuckle champion. Sullivan is credited as being the first world's heavyweight champion.
September 7th, 1892/March 17th, 1897 James J. Corbett - Won championship in 21st round over John L. Sullivan via knockout.
March 17th, 1897/June 9th, 1899 Bob Fitzsimmons - Won the championship in the 14th round via knockout over James J. Corbett
June 9th, 1899/ May, 1905 James J. Jeffries - Won championship in the 11th round via knockout over Bob Fitzsimmons. Retires as champion.
May, 1905/July 3, 1905 - Title Vacant
July 3, 1905/February 3rd, 1906 Marvin Hart - Won vancant championship via 12th round knockout over Jack Root.
February 3rd, 1906/December 26th, 1908 Tommy Burns - Won championship via 20 rd decision over Marvin Hart.
December 26th, 1908/April 5th, 1915 Jack Johnson - Won championship via 14th round TKO over Tommy Burns. First African-American heavyweight champion.
April 5th, 1915/July 4th, 1919 Jess Willard - Won championship via 26th round knockout over Jack Johnson.
July 4th, 1919/September 23rd, 1926 Jack Depmsey - Won championship via 3rd round TKO over Jess Willard.
September 23rd, 1926/July 26th, 1928 Gene Tunney - Won championship via 10th round points decision over Jack Dempsey. Retires as champion.
July 26th, 1928/June 12th, 1930 - Title Vacant
June 12th, 1930/June 21st, 1932 Max Schmeling - Won vacant championship via 4th round DQ over Jack Sharkey
June 21st, 1932/June 29th, 1933 Jack Sharkey - Won championship via 15 round points decision over Max Schmeling.
June 29th, 1933/June 14th, 1934 Primo Carnera - Won championship via 6th round knockout over Jack Sharkey.
June 14th, 1934/June 13th, 1935 Max Baer - Won championship via 11th round knockout over Primo Carnera.
June 13th, 1935/June 22nd, 1937 James J. Braddock - Won championship via 15 round decision over Max Baer.
June 22nd 1937/March 1st, 1949 Joe Louis - Won championship via 8th round knockout over James J. Braddock. Retired as champion.
March 1st, 1949/September 27th, 1950 - Title Vacant
September 27th, 1950/July 18th, 1951 Ezzard Charles - Won vacant championship via 15 round decision over Joe Louis to be recognized as heavyweight champion of the world.
July 18th, 1951/September 23rd, 1952 Jersey Joe Walcott - Won championship via 7th round knockout over Ezzard Charles.
September 23rd, 1952/April 27th, 1956 Rocky Marciano - Won championship via 13th round knockout over Jersey Joe Walcott. Retired as champion. Only undefeated heavyweight champion.
April 27th, 1956/November 30th, 1956 - Title Vacant
November 30th, 1956/June 16th, 1959 Floyd Patterson - Won vacant championsip via 5th round knockout over Archie Moore.
June 16th, 1959/June 20th, 1960 Ingemar Johansson - Won championship via 3rd round TKO over Floyd Patterson.
June 20th, 1960/September 25th, 1962 Floyd Patterson - Won championship via 5th round knockout over Ingemar Johansson. Becomes first man to regain the championship after losing it.
September 25th, 1962/February 25th, 1964 Sonny Liston - Won championship via 1st round knockout over Floyd Patterson.
February 25th, 1964/April 28th, 1967 Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali - Won championship via 7th round TKO over Sonny Liston.
April 28th, 1967/March 8th, 1971 Title Vacant - On April 28th, 1967 Ali is stripped of championship for refusal to be inducted via draft into the US Army. Although officially stripped of the championship Ali is still widely considered by many the heavyweight champion because he neither retired nor was defeated for said title.
March, 8th 1971/January 22nd 1973 Joe Frazier - Won championship via 15 rd decision over Muhammad Ali.
January 22nd, 1973/October 30th, 1974 George Foreman - Won championship via 2nd round TKO over Joe Frazier.
October 30th, 1974/February 15th, 1978 Muhammad Ali - Won championship via 8th round knockout over George Foreman. Becomes only second man to regain the heavyweight championship.
February 15th, 1978/September 15th, 1978 Leon Spinks - Won championship via 15 round decision over Muhammad Ali.
September 15th, 1978/September 6th, 1979 Muhammad Ali - Won championship via 15 round decision over Leon Spinks. Becomes the first 3 time heavyweight champion.
September 6th, 1979/October 2nd, 1980 - Title Vacant
October 2nd, 1980/September 21st, 1985 Larry Holmes - Won championship via 10 rd TKO over Muhammad Ali
to be recognized as heavyweight champion of the world.
September 21st, 1985/June 27th, 1988 Michael Spinks - Won championship via decision over Larry Holmes.
June 27th, 1988/February 11th, 1990 Mike Tyson - Won championship via 1st rd KO over Michael Spinks.
February 11th, 1990/October 25th, 1990 James Douglas - Won championship via 10 rd KO over Mike Tyson.
October 25th, 1990/November 13th, 1992 Evander Holyfield - Won championship via 3 rd KO over James Douglas.
November 13, 1992/November 6th, 1993 Rid**** Bowe - Won championship via 12 rd decision over Evander Holyfield.
November 6th, 1993/April 22nd, 1994 Evander Holyfield - Won championship via 12 rd decision over Rid**** Bowe. Becomes third man to reclaim championship second time.
April 22nd, 1994/November 5th, 1994 Michael Moorer - Won championship via 12 rd decision over Evander Holyfield.
November 5th, 1994/November 22nd, 1997 George Foreman - Won championship via 10 rd KO over Michael Moorer.
November 22nd, 1997/March 28th, 1998 Shannon Briggs - Won championship via 12 rd decision over George Foreman.
March 28th, 1998/April 22nd, 2001 Lennox Lewis - Won championship via 5 rd TKO over Shannon Briggs.
April 22nd, 2001/November 17th, 2001 Hasim Rahman - Won championship via 5 rd KO over Lennox Lewis.
November 17th, 2001/February 6th, 2004 Lennox Lewis - Won championship via 4 rd KO over Hasim Rahman. Becomes only fourth man to reclaim championship a second time. Retires as champion.
February 6th, 2004/April 24th, 2004 - Title Vacant
April 24th, 2004/November 9th, 2005 Vitali Klitschko - Won vacant championship via 8 rd TKO over Corrie Sanders. Retired as champion.
November 9th, 2005/August 12th, 2006 Hasim Rahman - Won interim championship via 12 round decision over Monte Barrett. Became full champion when Vitali retired.
August 12th, 2006/March 3rd, 2008 Oleg Maskaev - Won championship via 12 rd TKO over Hasim Rahman.
March 3rd, 2008/October 11th, 2008 Sam Peter - Won championship via 6 rd TKO over Oleg Maskaev.
October 11th, 2008/Present Vitali Klitschko - Won championship via 8 rd RTD over Sam Peter.
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