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.
Listed only to provide a historical information from the segregation era in the United States of America. This website has no intention of racial discrimination whatsoever.
Charles C. Smith
1876
Claims the title after offering to take on all comers.
Morris Grant
1878
Claims title in NY, USA.
Charles Hadley
1881-01-14
New York, NY, USA
George Godfrey (Canadian)
1883-02-22
Boston, MA, USA
Has claimed the title since 81-09 when John L. Sullivan, the (lineal) world champion, continues to refuse fighting Godfrey.
Peter Jackson
1888-08-08
San Francisco, CA, USA
Never defends the title.
Bob Armstrong
1896-12-21
New York, NY, USA
Defeats Charley Strong.
Frank Childs
1898-01-29
Chicago, IL, USA
George Byers
1898-09-14
Chicago, IL, USA
Frank Childs also claims the title after defeating Bob Armstrong on 99-03-04 in Cincinnatti, OH, USA.
Has claimed the title since 09 after Jack Johnson refuses to fight for the (lineal) world title.
Sam McVey [2]
1911-12-26
Sydney, NSW, AUS
Sam Langford [2]
1912-04-08
Sydney, NSW, AUS
Harry Wills
1914-05-01
New Orleans, LA, USA
Sam Langford [3]
1914-11-26
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Harry Wills [2]
1916-01-03
New Orleans, LA, USA
Sam Langford [4]
1916-02-11
New Orleans, LA, USA
Bill Tate
1917-01-25
Kansas City, MO, USA
Sam Langford [5]
1917-05-02
St. Louis, MO, USA
Harry Wills [3]
1918-04-14
Panama City, PAN
Continues to claim the title until losing to Jack Sharkey on 26-10-12.
George Godfrey (American)
1926-11-08
Buffalo, NY, USA
Defeats Larry Gaines.
Larry Gaines #
1928-08-15
Toronto, ON, CAN
Wins on foul (The Province, Vancouver, BC, CAN, 28-08-16) and never makes real claim to the title; Godfrey continues to claim the title when Gaines leaves for Europe.
George Godfrey (American) #
1928
Continues to claim the title when Gaines never claims the title and leaves for Europe.
