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.
English champion, defeats American champion Tom Allen; the match is billed as for the world title (The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, LA, 70-02-04; plus New York Herald, etc.) or American title (New Orleans Republican, 70-03-10; plus Mobile Daily Register, etc.) depending on the newspaper; Allen continues to claim the American title "by permission of Jem Mace," who claims the world title (The Pittsburgh Gazette, 70-05-18); vacant in 71-12.
John L. Sullivan
1887-08-08
Awarded a championship belt in Boston, MA, USA; defeats Dominick McCaffrey on 85-08-29 to be recognized as the first world champion under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules which mandate the use of gloves in boxing; defends the bare-knuckle title for the last time by defeating Jake Kilrain, reconigzed as world champion by National Police Gazette, on 89-07-08 in Richburg, MS, USA (see below).
Jake Kilrain
1887-12
Awarded by Richard K. Fox of the National Police Gazette after fighting Jem Smith to a draw on 1887-12-19 in Isle des Souverain, FRA; recognition withdrawn after losing to John L. Sullivan on 89-07-08 in Richburg, MS, USA (see above).
