Historical Boxing Champions

There is a long list of boxing champions since the inception of boxing. Here are some of the more prominent champions:

• Paddy Ryan - Ryan became was the World Champion after beating Joe Goss in 1880. This was considered the first "real" championship.
• John L. Sullivan - Also known as "The Boston Strongboy," he was the last bare-knuckled champion and the first gloved boxing champion, reigning from 1882 to 1892. He was also the first American athlete to earn over $1,000,000.
• John Corbett - He was famous for having defeated Sullivan. He was called the "Father of Modern Boxing," and a gentleman.
• Jack Johnson - He was nicknamed "The Galveston Giant" and was the first black world heavyweight champion. He faced racism and lived a controversial life in and out of the spotlight.
• Jack Dempsey - He was the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. He was at the time, and remains to this day, one of the most popular boxers of all time.
• Joe Louis - Louis is often credited with bringing the popularity of boxing back after it waned in the thirties. His nickname was the "Brown Bomber," and he had a reputation built on being an honest and upstanding athlete and man.
• Rocky Marciano - Marciano is known for having won every professional fight of his career.
• Muhammad Ali - Ali is one of the most famous boxers of all time. Born Cassius Clay Jr., he won the World Championships three times. He changed his name when he switched religions; he converted to the Nation of Islam, then Sunni Islam and finally Sufism. Besides his boxing, Ali is known for refusing to go to Vietnam for religious reasons. This cost him his title and license, but it didn't sway his decision.
• Joe Frazier - Known as "Smokin' Joe," he was famous for his fighting style, which was aggressive. He is also thought to have been partially blind during his career.
• George Foreman - These days Foreman is known for much more than his boxing. In addition to winning two World Championships, Foreman launched a popular business making and selling the "George Foreman Grill."
• Mike Tyson - Tyson is another boxer who is known or his life outside of boxing. He was the "undisputed heavyweight champion" until 1990 and went to jail for rape in 1992. He attempted to come back when he was released in 1995, but this was foiled when he bit his opponent's ear during a fight. He remains a controversial character.