How many Heavyweight Champions have there been since boxing began?

Question

This is a website in which they have a pretty good list but I'm wondering since there's so many belt's now is it accurate?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heavyweight_boxing_champions

Answer 1

This question depends on your definition of a champion.  If you count paper titles, then the Wikipedia list is accurate which shows more than 60 "champions."  If you're like me and you only recognize a champion as someone who holds the linear and true title, then there have been much less.  You used to be able to follow who the champ was easily, because there was one world title, but now there are multiple belts, which is why I don't really recognize someone as a true champion now unless they have the linear and true title which is represented currently by the Ring Magazine belt, everyone else is just a titleholder, not a true champion.

Answer 2

lets look at the history of the division since 09/07/1892...linear champions included sullivan, corbett, fitzsimmons, jeffries, hart, burns, johnson, willard, dempsey, tunney, schmeling, sharkey, carnera, baer, braddock, louis, charles, walcott, marciano, patterson, liston, ali, fraizer, foreman, leon spinks, holmes, michael spinks, tyson, douglas, holyfield, bowe, moorer, lewis, and rahman...title claimants included terrell, ellis, norton, tate, weaver, dokes, coetzee, witherspoon, thomas, page, tubbs, berbick, smith, tucker, mccall, seldon, bruno, botha, ruiz, byrd, jones, toney, vitali klitschko, valuev, wladimir klitschko, maskaev, chagaev, and peters.

Answer 3

The first person known as the Father of Boxing and the 1st British heavyweight king in 1719,is JAMES FIGG. He is responsible for popularizing the sport with sparring exhibitions and opening many amphitheatres.The rest is history-Take it from there.

Answer 4

That list is the best one that you'll find.  There are so many belts now that it's farcical.  For a long time the WBA, WBC and IBF belts were considered the "real" titles.  During the mid-to-late 90's, the WBO began garnering mild consideration as a valid championship.  

Today the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO are generally recognized as "real" titles.  But fighters often claim their fringe titles, such as  the IBO, as "real" belts.

And with the designation of "super champions," "interim champions," "champion emeritus'," and all the stripping of titles by sanctioning bodies, it's pretty much impossible to get a realistic count of heavyweight champions.  I'm sure "The Ring" magazine keeps track of the "linear" champs, so you might want to search for that.

Answer 5

no one really knows. because there are so many different boxing organizations, each with its own champ. plus many years ago there was no "heavyweight" division or other divisions. a 145 lb. boxer could fight a 225 lb. boxer if he was good enough. like jess willard when he fought jack johnson.