User:Виктор Не Вацко/sandbox/World boxing championship records and statistics

World champions in professional boxing have been declared since the late 19th century, beginning with John L. Sullivan. Before any sanctioning body was established, many boxers proclaimed themselves as champions. Eventually, champions were recognized through public acclamation, successively establishing a lineage.

The 1920 Walker Law established the New York State Athletic Commission which recognized champions from its foundation. The National Boxing Association (NBA) was founded by other U.S. state bodies in 1921. Until the 1960s, both usually recognised the same lineal champion. However, disputes could arise if the champion retired or moved to a different weight class. Occasionally, the International Boxing Union (later the European Boxing Union) recognised a different champion. The disputes were usually short-lived as a lucrative fight would be organised between the rival champions.

The growing popularity of boxing outside of the USA led to creation of various boxing organizations, each strengthening their influence (most notably BBBofC) and having their own champion. This resulted in a growing number of boxers with claim to be world champion. In August 1962, the NBA officially became the World Boxing Association and moved their headquarters to Panama City, Panama. A year later NYSAC along with European Boxing Union and BBBofC supported creation of the World Boxing Council. In April 1983, members of United States Boxing Association along with Robert W. Lee (a former WBA vice-president) voted to expand the organisation and form the USBA-International. The organization later changed the name to International Boxing Federation. The inaugural IBF Heavyweight Champion was Larry Holmes, who relinquished the WBC title to accept IBF's recognition, thus helping the newly formed organization to establish its legitimacy. Another major sanctioning body, the World Boxing Organisation, was established in 1988 in San Juan, Puerto Rico by a group of local businessmen. At the beginnings, when most of the challengers for WBA, WBC and IBF titles were Americans, WBO had a wider variety of countries, mainly United Kingdom, represented in title bouts. As of 2018, WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA are all recognized as major boxing organizations by each other and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

1884–1910
Champions were recognized by public acclamation. A champion in that era was a fighter who had a notable win over another fighter and kept winning afterward. Retirements or disputed results could lead to a championship being split among several men for periods of time. With only minor exceptions, the heavyweight division remained free from dual title-holders until the 1960s. For an early example, see the 1896 World Heavyweight Championship.

Weight classes were specified in 1909 by the National Sporting Club of London.

Sanctioning organizations: 1910–present
Gradually, the role of recognizing champions in the division evolved into a more formal affair, with public acclamation being supplemented (or in some cases, contradicted) by recognition by one or more athletic commissions, sanctioning organizations, or a combination of them. The most notable examples with respect to the heavyweight division have included: There are also titles that aren't considered major but play a significant role in legitimizing the champion:
 * The International Boxing Union (IBU), which was formed in Paris in 1910. The organization would become the European Boxing Union in 1946, but would recognize "world" champions in various divisions until it subordinated itself in that area to the World Boxing Council.
 * The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). A governmental entity initially formed for the purpose of regulating boxing in the State of New York, thanks to New York's place as the epicenter of boxing from the 1930s through 1950s, the NYSAC expanded its reach to sanctioning championship bouts.  This practice continued until, like the IBU, the NYSAC became a member of the World Boxing Council (WBC).
 * The National Boxing Association (NBA) was organized in 1921. In 1962, the organization was renamed the World Boxing Association (WBA).
 * The World Boxing Council (WBC) was organized in 1963.
 * The International Boxing Federation (IBF), which was founded in 1983 by the members of the United States Boxing Association after the USBA withdrew from membership in the WBA.
 * The World Boxing Organization (WBO), which was founded in 1989 by disgruntled members of the World Boxing Council.
 * Lineal championship was considered as the only form of the world championship until 1921. In professional boxing, the lineal champion is informally called "the man who beat the man", implying that the only way to win the championship is either to beat the current champion or (when the title is vacated due to suspension, retirement etc.) to become the winner of a fight between No. 1 and No. 2 (occasionally No. 3) ranked contenders.
 * The Ring began awarding championship belts in 1922, stopped giving belts to world champions in the 1990s, then reintroduced their title in 2002, and ignored the current ongoing world championship lineage. Under the original version of the policy, you could win the title by either defeating the reigning champion or winning a box-off between the magazine's No. 1 and No. 2 (occasionally No. 3) ranked contenders. A fighter could not be stripped of the title unless he lost or retired. Since May 2012, under the new policy, The Ring title can be awarded when the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders face each other or when either of them faces No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 contender. In addition, the title can be taken away by losing the fight, moving to another weight class, not scheduling a fight for 18 months in the division, not scheduling a fight with a top 5 contender for two years in any weight class, or retiring.

Title fight wins & beaten opponents — The Ring/lineal champions
Though these lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921, they only include title fight wins in weight classes where the champion have also captured The Ring or lineal title.

Keys:
 * Active title reign
 * Reign has ended


 * Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten in title fights
As of July 29, 2024.

Most wins in title fights
As of July 29, 2024.

Title fight wins & beaten opponents — all champions
These lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921.

Keys:
 * Active title reign
 * Reign has ended


 * Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten in title fights
As of July 29, 2024.

Most wins in title fights
As of July 29, 2024.

Title streaks — The Ring/lineal champions
Though these lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921, they only include title streaks during which the champion captured The Ring or lineal title.

Keys:
 * Active title reign
 * Reign has ended


 * Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten consecutively in title defenses
As of July 29, 2024.

Most consecutive title defenses
As of July 29, 2024.

Title streaks — all champions
These lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship fights after 1921.

Keys:
 * Active title reign
 * Reign has ended


 * Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Most opponents beaten consecutively in title defenses
As of July 29, 2024.

Most consecutive title defenses
As of July 29, 2024.

Longest individual title reigns
Below is a list of longest reigning champions in boxing measured by the individual's longest reign. Career total time as champion (for multiple time champions) does not apply. Neither does moving up in a weight class.

Keys:
 * Active Title Reign
 * Reign has ended


 * Note: WBA (Regular) champions are not included

Title reigns of The Ring/lineal champions
Though these lists do not include The Ring and lineal championship reigns after 1921, they only include title reigns during which the champion captured The Ring or lineal title.

As of July 29, 2024.

Title reigns of all champions
As of July 29, 2024.