Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the competitor has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a competitor held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the competitor shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized.
* Bolded letters in the competitor's name, if any, indicate the surname/family name.
Marvin Hart
1905-07-03
Reno, NV
Defeats Jack Root for the world and American titles.
Tommy Burns
1906-02-23
Los Angeles, CA
Wins both titles.
Jack Johnson
1908-12-26
Sydney, NSW, AUS
Wins the world title; also recognized as American champion (The Times-Democrat, New Orleans, LA, USA, 10-01-10).
Jess Willard
1915-04-05
Havana, CUB
Wins the world title; also recognized as American champion (The Wichita Daily Eagle, Wichita, KS, 18-01-02).
Jack Dempsey
1919-07-04
Toledo, OH
Also recognized as the world and American champion by NBA in 21-01 upon its inception (The Decatur Herald, Decatur, IL, 21-02-07, plus several other papers).
Gene Tunney
1926-09-23
Philadelphia, PA
Vacant on 28-07-31 upon retirement.
Jack Sharkey
1929-09-26
Bronx, NY
Defeats Tommy Loughran; still recognized as the champion by NYSAC for the match against Primo Carnera on 31-10-12 (The Brooklyn Citizen, 31-09-20); wins the world title on 32-06-21 but still recognized as the United States champion by NBA as of 32-09-20 (Chattanooga Daily Times, 32-09-21).
