Lineal Heavyweight Championship (1885 – 2021)

Starting with the original top division king John L. Sullivan up to the present day and current number one Tyson Fury. In 1885, Sullivan’s win over Dominick McCaffrey was largely recognized as the place the lineal championship began. ADVERTISEMENT Even though Sullivan didn’t defend his crown through a four-year period between 1888 and 1892, a defense against undefeated James J. Corbett is in the record books as the maiden official world title fight at the weight. Corbett became the first man to defeat Sullivan’s legend and began a reign lasting five years. Competing just twice in that period, Corbett then faced lower-weight ruler Bob Fitzsimmons and lost via KO. Defending just once in two and a half years, Fitzsimmons eventually lost his title to James J. Jeffries in 1899. Jeffries, the most active champion of his era, defended the strap eight times, including against ex-rulers Fitzsimmons and Corbett, until retiring unbeaten in 1904. Marvin Hart and Tommy Burns briefly took turns holding the mantle for the next three years until a certain Jack Johnson won the title in 1908. Johnson made nine defenses in seven years, including a knockout over Jeffries, who came out of retirement in 1910 for a one-off special event. In 1915, Jess Willard ended Johnson’s long spell at the helm in Havana, Cuba. Willard took the title back to the USA but made only one defense until running into the immortal Jack Dempsey. According to early newspaper reports, dropping him seven times in the first round, Willard was badly beaten, as Dempsey began an awesome spell as champion. Coming to the end of his career in 1926, Dempsey was dethroned by Gene Tunney in an epic match-up on points. The clash took place at the Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia, witnessed by over 120,000 people. Tunney and Dempsey would rematch a year later with the same result before the former fought Tom Heeney and bowed out of the sport himself in 1928. For the first time, the lineal championship lay dormant for a two-year spell until Max Schmeling took the vacant honor against Jack Sharkey in June 1930. Sharkey gained revenge two years later to begin a short reign himself before Primo Carnera, and Max Baer enjoyed brief spells at the top. In 1935, along came ‘The Cinderella Man’ Jack Braddock to embark on the unlikeliest period of influence. Despite 23 losses on his record, the then 30 year-old shocked Baer via decision. Two years passed without a fight before Joe Louis stepped to challenge the aging Braddock in 1937. Braddock dropped Louis early on but was eventually taken out in the eighth. The longest era of all-time was underway as Louis kept the crown for a full twelve years, ruling under an iron fist. Louis beat off 27 challenges to the throne before retiring with just one solitary loss on his record in 1949. Having been dropped in both victories over Jersey Joe Walcott before hanging up his gloves, Louis’ rival was put forward for the vacant championship later that year.