Our Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxing Champions of All Time

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time

Boxing is a great sport. It is fun to watch, comes with loads of action and it’s one of the sports you have to look out for on the sporting calendar. Throughout history, many boxing legends have cemented their names in the history books and continue to be the talk of the town even today. Boxing is also one of the sports that is bet on quite often and yet some of these boxers were sports underdogs at some point. Look at our list of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. 

1. Muhammad Ali

Ali was anything but ordinary. Both a boxer and an activist, Ali is probably the most famous boxer the world has ever known. Ali’s record speaks for itself, as he was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. What also makes this legend great is that he successfully defended this title 19 times. Ali’s life and times were one of great success and hardship as well, but he will forever be remembered as the best to ever do it.
Best win: KO8 George Foreman (1974)

2. Joe Louis

Born in America, Joe was a professional boxer from 1934 to 1951 and was the world heavyweight champion during this time until he temporarily retired in 1949. He made a record 25 heavyweight title defeats and only lost once during this time. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Joe is still referenced to this day and stays one of the most influential boxers ever.
Best win: KO1 Max Schmeling (1938)

3. Jack Johnson

The Galveston Giant’s career was a decorated one. He won 72 out of the 95 title fights during his career, those are some great odds. Jack was the first black heavyweight champion and proved controversial at some points. Jack fought professionally from 1897 to 1928 and during this time, due to his race, he was largely discriminated against, but this did not stop the Galveston Giant. While Jack may not have reached the same fame as his counterparts and differed completely in fighting style, we added him to this list due to his unique ability to outsmart his opponents.
Best win: KO15 James J Jeffries (1910)

4. Larry Holmes

Largely underrated by any standard, Larry Holmes was a formidable professional boxer who followed in the great shoes of Muhammed Ali. Nicknamed the Easton Assassin due to growing up in Easton Pennsylvania, Larry fought 75 fights where he only lost 6 and won 44 by a knockout! He also fought some of the greats like Ali and Mike Tyson.
Best win: W15 Ken Norton (1978)

5. George Foreman

We know George not only from boxing but from those famous George Foreman Grills. Nicknamed Big George, he had a long and illustrious career from 1967 right until 1997. Not only that, but Big George also found a life outside of boxing as an entrepreneur, minister, and author as well. Out of his 81 fights, he won 76 times, lost 5 times, and won 68 fights by knockout.
Best win: KO2 Joe Frazier (1973) 

6. Jack Dempsey

Born in Manassa, Colorado, USA, Jack boxed professionally from 1914 to 1927; he was the heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. Nicknamed the Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, Jack was the first boxer to set a million-dollar gate. Out of his 85 total fights, he only lost 6 of them.
Best win: KO3 Jess Willard (1919)

7. Rocky Marciano

We’ve heard his name so many times before as he is referenced in popular culture, but Rocky was a professional boxer from 1947 to 1955 and held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. Fun fact, Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight champion to have finished his career undefeated. The Brockton Blockbuster also holds the best heavyweight records of all time, 49-0.
Best win: KO1 Jersey Joe Walcott (1953)

8. Joe Frazier

Smokin Joe boxed professionally from 1965 to 1981. Out of his 32 professional fights, he won 27 of them by knockout and only lost 4. Joe was the first boxer to beat Ali and was known for his sheer strength, and if another boxer found themselves in front of his insane left hook it was game over!
Best win: W15 Muhammad Ali (1971)

9. Lennox Lewis

The only boxer from the United Kingdom on our list. Lennox boxed professionally from 1989 right until 2003. He was widely known to defeat every fighter he came up against and rematched both defeats he ever faced, even the draw against Evander Holyfield. Lennox won 32 out of his 44 total fights by knockout.
Best win: W12 Evander Holyfield (1999)

10. Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson is the wealthiest boxer on this list but also the most controversial, both in and outside of the ring. Mike Tyson boxed professionally from 1985 right until 2005. Iron Mike is probably the most famous boxer to have ever lived (second only to Ali). His popularity spilled over into cameos in films and in TV shows such as The Hangover part 1 and 2, Scary Movie 5, as well voiced himself in the animated, Mike Tyson Mysteries. What Iron Mike is probably most famous for is biting the ear of fellow boxer Evander Holyfield during a match in 1997. 

Best win: KO1 Michael Spinks (1988)