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.
Johnny Reagan
1887-06-01
Nyack, NY?
Defeats Jack Files "in a dancing pavillion 30 miles up the Hudson river" (The Boston Globe, 87-06-02).
Harry McCoy
1891-06-30
Wever, IA?
Defeats Gypsy Gleason for American Title on Twin Island, "nine miles" (The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL, 91-07-02) or "ten miles" (St. Louis Globe-Democract) south of Burlington, IA; still champion as of 92-05-30.
Billy Smith
1899-03-10
San Francisco, CA
Defeats George Lavigne to retain the world title and also wins American title.
Ted Lewis
1917-12<
Listed as the world and American champion (The Wichita Daily Eagle, Wichita, KS, 18-01-02).
Jack Britton
1919-03-17
Canton, OH, USA
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).
Hedgemon Lewis
1974-07-27<
Recognized as world champion by NYSAC since 72-06-16; recognized as the United States champion by The Ring (The Robesonian, 74-07-28, Lumberton, NC); billed as the United States champion for the match against WBC & WBA world champion José Nápoles on 74-08-03 (The Evening Press, Binghamton, NY, plus many other newspapers, 74-07-27).
