Heavyweight
Joe Louis
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing.
As this division has no maximum weight limit, it has been historically vaguely defined. In the 19th century, for example, many heavyweight champions weighed 170 pounds (77 kg) or less (although others weighed 200 (91 kg) and more). In 1920, the minimum weight for a heavyweight was set at 175 pounds (79 kg), which today is the light heavyweight division minimum. Today, for most boxing organizations, the weight limit is 190 pounds (86 kg). Note that this does not prevent a boxer under 190 pounds (86 kg)fighting as a heavyweight, if he so wished, merely that a fighter who weighs over 190 pounds (86 kg) may not fight as anything but a heavyweight.
It is impossible to say who the "first" heavyweight champion was, as the sport of boxing goes back as far as recorded history and there have always been large fighters. Even in the bare-knuckle era, "champions" were plentiful. Some of the most notable of these included the slave Tom Molineaux, Jack Slack, Jem Belcher, Ben Caunt and Jem Mace.
The first heavyweight champion under the Marquess of Queensberry rules was the immensely popular John L. Sullivan, known as "The Boston Strong Boy." He weighed around 200 pounds (91 kg) when in shape and was a bare-knuckle champion. He was defeated by Jim Corbett on September 7, 1892 in 21 rounds. (Today title bouts are limited to 12 rounds, but not so in the early days.)
Some notable heavyweights have been:
- John L. Sullivan
- Jim Corbett
- Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champ
- Jack Dempsey
- Joe Louis, who defended the title a record number of times
- Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champ to retire undefeated
- Floyd Patterson, the first heavyweight champ to regain the title
- Sonny Liston
- Muhammad Ali, often called "The Greatest"
- George Foreman, who reclaimed the championship to become the oldest heavyweight champion at 45
- Larry Holmes
- Evander Holyfield
- Mike Tyson
- Lennox Lewis