History of the World Middleweight Championship
During the history of the division's lineal championship, there have been occasions when the reigning champ has moved up in weight or
retired, thus ending that particular strand of the lineage. In such instances a new lineage must be established, which is basically filling a
vacancy. For background information on this, please click here.
1884
Jul 30 - Jack Dempsey KO 22 George Fulljames (New York City, USA)
1885
-
1886
Feb 3 - Jack Dempsey KO 27 Jack Fogarty (New York City, USA)
Mar 14 - Jack Dempsey KO 13 George LaBlanche (Larchmont, USA)
1887
Dempsey was the first world middleweight champion
Dec 13 - Jack Dempsey KO 45 Johnny Reagan (New York City, USA)
1888
-
1889
-
1890
Feb 18 - Jack Dempsey KO 28 Billy McCarthy (San Francisco, USA)
1891
Jan 14 - Bob Fitzsimmons KO 13 Jack Dempsey (New Orleans, USA)
1892
-
1893
-
1894
Sep 26 - Bob Fitzsimmons KO 2 Dan Creedon (New Orleans, USA)
1895
-
1896
* Although Fitzsimmons did not officially vacate the world championship it became
universally accepted as being vacant (Prior to the bout between leading contenders Kid
McCoy and Tommy Ryan he gave no indication that he planned to defend it again and
focused on campaigning at heavyweight)
Mar 2 - Kid McCoy KO 15 Tommy Ryan (New York City, USA)
1897
Dec 17 - Kid McCoy KO 15 Dan Creedon (New York City, USA)
Dec - McCoy vacates the world championship to campaign at heavyweight
1898
Feb 25 - Tommy Ryan KO 18 George Green (San Francisco, USA)
Jun 13 - Tommy Ryan KO 14 Tommy West (New York City, USA)
Dec 23 - Tommy Ryan KO 14 Dick O’Brien (Hartford, USA)
1899
Ryan was a talented but relatively low-key champion
Sep 18 - Tommy Ryan KO 10 Frank Craig (New York City, USA)
1900
-
1901
Mar 4 - Tommy Ryan KO 17 Tommy West (Louisville, USA)
1902
Jun 24 - Tommy Ryan KO 3 Johnny Gorman (London, UK)
Sep 15 - Tommy Ryan KO 6 Kid Carter (Fort Erie, Canada)
1903
-
1904
-
1905
-
1906
Dec - Ryan vacates the world championship and retires
1907
-
1908
Feb 22 - Stanley Ketchel KO 1 Mike Sullivan (Colma, USA)
May 9 - Stanley Ketchel KO 20 Jack Sullivan (Colma, USA)
Jun 4 - Stanley Ketchel PTS 10 Billy Papke (Milwaukee, USA)
Jul 31 - Stanley Ketchel KO 3 Hugo Kelly (San Francisco, USA)
Aug 18 - Stanley Ketchel KO 2 Joe Thomas (San Francisco, USA)
Sep 7 - Billy Papke KO 12 Stanley Ketchel (Vernon, USA)
Ketchel was awesome when he regained the championship from Papke
Nov 26 - Stanley Ketchel KO 11 Billy Papke (Colma, USA)
1909
Jun 15 - Stanley Ketchel KO 4 Tony Caponi (Schenectady, USA)
Jul 5 - Stanley Ketchel PTS 20 Billy Papke (Colma, USA)
1910
May 27 - Stanley Ketchel KO 2 Willie Lewis (New York City, USA)
Jun 10 - Stanley Ketchel KO 5 Jim Smith (New York City, USA)
Oct - The world championship becomes vacant with the tragic murder of Ketchel
1911
-
1912
-
1913
Klaus filled the vacancy
Mar 5 - Frank Klaus DIS 15 Billy Papke (Paris, France)
Oct 11 - George Chip KO 6 Frank Klaus (Pittsburgh, USA)
Chip’s reign was brief
Dec 23 - George Chip KO 5 Frank Klaus (Pittsburgh, USA)
1914
McCoy was regarded as a soft puncher but still managed to knock out Chip
Apr 7 - Al McCoy KO 1 George Chip (New York City, USA)
1915
-
1916
-
1917
Nov 14 - Mike O’Dowd KO 6 Al McCoy (New York City, USA)
1918
-
1919
O’Dowd was known as the “St Paul Cyclone”
Jul 17 - Mike O’Dowd KO 3 Al McCoy (St Paul, USA)
1920
May 6 - Johnny Wilson PTS 12 Mike O’Dowd (Boston, USA)
1921
Mar 17 - Johnny Wilson PTS 15 Mike O’Dowd (New York City, USA)
Jul 27 - Johnny Wilson DIS 7 Bryan Downey (Cleveland, USA)
1922
-
1923
Greb (left) in action against Wilson
Aug 31 - Harry Greb PTS 15 Johnny Wilson (New York City, USA)
Dec 3 - Harry Greb PTS 10 Bryan Downey (Pittsburgh, USA)
1924
Jan 18 - Harry Greb PTS 15 Johnny Wilson (New York City, USA)
Mar 24 - Harry Greb KO 12 Fay Kaiser (Baltimore, USA)
Jun 26 - Harry Greb PTS 15 Ted Moore (New York City, USA)
1925
Jul 2 - Harry Greb PTS 15 Mickey Walker (New York City, USA)
Greb proved to be one of the greatest middleweights ever
Nov 13 - Harry Greb PTS 15 Tony Marullo (New Orleans, USA)
1926
Feb 26 - Tiger Flowers PTS 15 Harry Greb (New York City, USA)
Aug 19 - Tiger Flowers PTS 15 Harry Greb (New York City, USA)
Dec 3 - Mickey Walker PTS 10 Tiger Flowers (Chicago, USA)
1927
Jun 30 - Mickey Walker KO 10 Tommy Milligan (London, UK)
1928
Jun 21 - Mickey Walker PTS 10 Ace Hudkins (Chicago, USA)
1929
Oct 29 - Mickey Walker PTS 10 Ace Hudkins (Los Angeles, USA)
1931
Jun - Walker vacates the world championship to campaign at light-heavyweight
1932
Jun 11 - Marcel Thil DIS 11 Gorilla Jones (Paris, France)
1930
-
Thil made ten successful defences but some were against mediocre challengers
Jul 4 - Marcel Thil PTS 15 Len Harvey (London, UK)
1933
Oct 2 - Marcel Thil PTS 15 Kid Tunero (Paris, France)
1934
Feb 26 - Marcel Thil PTS 15 Ignacio Ara (Paris, France)
May 3 - Marcel Thil PTS 15 Gustave Roth (Paris, France)
Oct 15 - Marcel Thil D 15 Carmelo Candel (Paris, France)
1935
May 4 - Marcel Thil KO 14 Vilda Jaks (Paris, France)
Jun 1 - Marcel Thil PTS 15 Ignacio Ara (Madrid, Spain)
Jun 28 - Marcel Thil PTS 15 Carmelo Candel (Paris, France)
1936
Jan 20 - Marcel Thil DIS 4 Lou Brouillard (Paris, France)
1937
Feb 15 - Marcel Thil DIS 6 Lou Brouillard (Paris, France)
Thil’s first defence in the USA resulted in a loss
Sep 23 - Fred Apostoli KO 10 Marcel Thil (New York City, USA)
1938
Apr 4 - Fred Apostoli PTS 15 Glen Lee (New York City, USA)
Nov 18 - Fred Apostoli KO 8 Young Corbett III (New York City, USA)
1939
Oct 2 - Ceferino Garcia KO 7 Fred Apostoli (New York City, USA)
Dec 23 - Ceferino Garcia KO 13 Glen Lee (Manila, Philippines)
1940
Mar 1 - Ceferino Garcia D 10 Henry Armstrong (Los Angeles, USA)
May 23 - Ken Overlin PTS 15 Ceferino Garcia (New York City, USA)
Nov 1 - Ken Overlin PTS 15 Steve Belloise (New York City, USA)
Overlin had a low profile as champion
Dec 13 - Ken Overlin PTS 15 Steve Belloise (New York City, USA)
1941
May 9 - Billy Soose PTS 15 Ken Overlin (New York City, USA)
Nov - Soose vacates the world championship to campaign at light-heavyweight
Nov 28 - Tony Zale PTS 15 Georgie Abrams (New York City, USA)
1942
-
1943
-
1944
-
1945
-
1946
Sep 27 - Tony Zale KO 6 Rocky Graziano (New York City, USA)
1947
Jul 16 - Rocky Graziano KO 6 Tony Zale (Chicago, USA)
1948
Jun 10 - Tony Zale KO 3 Rocky Graziano (Newark, USA)
Sep 21 - Marcel Cerdan KO 12 Tony Zale (Jersey City, USA)
1949
Jun 16 - Jake LaMotta KO 10 Marcel Cerdan (Detroit, USA)
1950
Jul 12 - Jake LaMotta PTS 15 Tiberio Mitri (New York City, USA)
LaMotta with his championship belt and his wife (Vickie)
Sep 13 - Jake LaMotta KO 15 Laurent Dauthuille (Detroit, USA)
1951
Feb 14 - Sugar Ray Robinson KO 13 Jake LaMotta (Chicago, USA)
Jul 10 - Randolph Turpin PTS 15 Sugar Ray Robinson (London, UK)
Sep 12 - Sugar Ray Robinson KO 10 Randolph Turpin (New York City, USA)
1952
Mar 13 - Sugar Ray Robinson PTS 15 Bobo Olson (San Francisco, USA)
The legendary Robinson on the cover of “Time” magazine
Apr 16 - Sugar Ray Robinson KO 3 Rocky Graziano (Chicago, USA)
Dec - Robinson vacates the world championship and retires
1953
Oct 21 - Bobo Olson PTS 15 Randolph Turpin (New York City, USA)
1954
Apr 2 - Bobo Olson PTS 15 Kid Gavilan (Chicago, USA)
Aug 20 - Bobo Olson PTS 15 Rocky Castellani (San Francisco, USA)
Dec 15 - Bobo Olson KO 11 Pierre Langlois (San Francisco, USA)
1955
Dec 9 - Sugar Ray Robinson KO 2 Bobo Olson (Chicago, USA)
1956
May 18 - Sugar Ray Robinson KO 4 Bobo Olson (Los Angeles, USA)
1957
Jan 2 - Gene Fullmer PTS 15 Sugar Ray Robinson (New York City, USA)
The charismatic Robinson with his pink Cadillac
May 1 - Sugar Ray Robinson KO 5 Gene Fullmer (Chicago, USA)
Sep 23 - Carmen Basilio PTS 15 Sugar Ray Robinson (New York City, USA)
1958
Mar 25 - Sugar Ray Robinson PTS 15 Carmen Basilio (Chicago, USA)
1959
-
1960
Jan 22 - Paul Pender PTS 15 Sugar Ray Robinson (Boston, USA)
Jun 10 - Paul Pender PTS 15 Sugar Ray Robinson (Boston, USA)
1961
Jan 14 - Paul Pender KO 7 Terry Downes (Boston, USA)
Apr 22 - Paul Pender PTS 15 Carmen Basilio (Boston, USA)
Jul 11 - Terry Downes KO 10 Paul Pender (London, UK)
1962
Apr 7 - Paul Pender PTS 15 Terry Downes (Boston, USA)
1963
May - Pender vacates the world championship and retires
Aug 10 - Dick Tiger KO 7 Gene Fullmer (Ibadan, Nigeria)
A poster for the first fight between Tiger and Giardello
Dec 7 - Joey Giardello PTS 15 Dick Tiger (Atlantic City, USA)
1964
Dec 14 - Joey Giardello PTS 15 Rubin Carter (Philadelphia, USA)
1965
Oct 21 - Dick Tiger PTS 15 Joey Giardello (New York City, USA)
1966
Apr 25 - Emile Griffith PTS 15 Dick Tiger (New York City, USA)
Jul 13 - Emile Griffith PTS 15 Joey Archer (New York City, USA)
1967
Jan 23 - Emile Griffith PTS 15 Joey Archer (New York City, USA)
Apr 17 - Nino Benvenuti PTS 15 Emile Griffith (New York City, USA)
Griffith in training
Sep 29 - Emile Griffith PTS 15 Nino Benvenuti (New York City, USA)
1968
Mar 4 - Nino Benvenuti PTS 15 Emile Griffith (New York City, USA)
Dec 14 - Nino Benvenuti PTS 15 Don Fullmer (San Remo, Italy)
1969
Oct 4 - Nino Benvenuti DIS 7 Fraser Scott (Naples, Italy)
Nov 22 - Nino Benvenuti KO 11 Luis Rodriguez (Rome, Italy)
1970
May 23 - Nino Benvenuti KO 8 Tom Bethea (Umag, Yugoslavia)
Nov 7 - Carlos Monzon KO 12 Nino Benvenuti (Rome, Italy)
1971
May 8 - Carlos Monzon KO 3 Nino Benvenuti (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
Sep 25 - Carlos Monzon KO 14 Emile Griffith (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
1972
Mar 4 - Carlos Monzon KO 5 Denny Moyer (Rome, Italy)
Jun 17 - Carlos Monzon KO 13 Jean-Claude Bouttier (Paris, France)
Aug 19 - Carlos Monzon KO 5 Tom Bogs (Copenhagen, Denmark)
A poster for Monzon’s defence against Briscoe
Nov 11 - Carlos Monzon PTS 15 Bennie Briscoe (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
1973
Jun 2 - Carlos Monzon PTS 15 Emile Griffith (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
Sep 29- Carlos Monzon PTS 15 Jean-Claude Bouttier (Paris, France)
1974
Feb 9 - Carlos Monzon KO 7 Jose Napoles (Paris, France)
Oct 5 - Carlos Monzon KO 7 Tony Mundine (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
1975
Jun 30 - Carlos Monzon KO 10 Tony Licata (New York City, USA)
Dec 13 - Carlos Monzon KO 5 Gratien Tonna (Paris, France)
1976
Monzon had a playboy image
Jun 26 - Carlos Monzon PTS 15 Rodrigo Valdez (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
1977
Jul 30 - Carlos Monzon PTS 15 Rodrigo Valdez (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
Aug - Monzon vacates the world championship and retires
Nov 5 - Rodrigo Valdez PTS 15 Bennie Briscoe (Campione d'Italia, Switzerland)
1978
Apr 22 - Hugo Corro PTS 15 Rodrigo Valdez (San Remo, Italy)
Aug 5 - Hugo Corro PTS 15 Ronnie Harris (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Nov 11 - Hugo Corro PTS 15 Rodrigo Valdez (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
1979
Jun 30 - Vito Antuofermo PTS 15 Hugo Corro (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
Most observers thought that Hagler was robbed in his draw with Antuofermo
Nov 30 - Vito Antuofermo D 15 Marvin Hagler (Las Vegas, USA)
1980
Mar 16 - Alan Minter PTS 15 Vito Antuofermo (Las Vegas, USA)
Jun 28 - Alan Minter KO 9 Vito Antuofermo (London, UK)
Sep 17 - Marvin Hagler KO 3 Alan Minter (London, UK)
1981
Jan 17 - Marvin Hagler KO 8 Fulgencio Obelmejias (Boston, USA)
Hagler in Las Vegas
Jun 13 - Marvin Hagler KO 5 Vito Antuofermo (Boston, USA)
Oct 3 - Marvin Hagler KO 11 Mustapha Hamsho (Rosemont, USA)
1982
Mar 7 - Marvin Hagler KO 1 Caveman Lee (Atlantic City, USA)
Oct 30 - Marvin Hagler KO 5 Fulgencio Obelmejias (San Remo, Italy)
1983
Feb 11 - Marvin Hagler KO 6 Tony Sibson (Worcester, USA)
May 27 - Marvin Hagler KO 4 Wilford Scypion (Providence, USA)
Hagler always faced tough opposition during his reign
Nov 10 - Marvin Hagler PTS 15 Roberto Duran (Las Vegas, USA)
1984
Mar 30 - Marvin Hagler KO 10 Juan Roldan (Las Vegas, USA)
Oct 19 - Marvin Hagler KO 3 Mustapha Hamsho (New York City, USA)
1985
Hagler’s showdown with Hearns was perhaps the most exciting fight ever
Apr 15 - Marvin Hagler KO 3 Thomas Hearns (Las Vegas, USA)
1986
Mar 10 - Marvin Hagler KO 11 John Mugabi (Las Vegas, USA)
1987
Apr 6 - Sugar Ray Leonard PTS 12 Marvin Hagler (Las Vegas, USA)
Jun - Leonard vacates the world championship and retires
1988
* Sumbu Kalambay gained universal recognition following his wins over Herol
Graham/Iran Barkley/Mike McCallum/Robbie Sims (in addition his win over Barkley
became more significant when Barkley subsequently beat leading contender Thomas
Hearns)
Kalambay in training
Nov 8 - Sumbu Kalambay KO 7 Doug DeWitt (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
1989
Mar 25 - Michael Nunn KO 1 Sumbu Kalambay (Las Vegas, USA)
Aug 14 - Michael Nunn PTS 12 Iran Barkley (Reno, USA)
1990
Apr 14 - Michael Nunn PTS 12 Marlon Starling (Las Vegas, USA)
Oct 18 - Michael Nunn KO 10 Donald Curry (Paris, France)
1991
May 10 - James Toney KO 11 Michael Nunn (Davenport, USA)
Jun 29 - James Toney PTS 12 Reggie Johnson (Las Vegas, USA)
Toney was willing to take on all-comers
Oct 12 - James Toney KO 4 Francesco Dell'Aquila (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
Dec 13 - James Toney D 12 Mike McCallum (Atlantic City, USA)
1992
Feb 8 - James Toney PTS 12 Dave Tiberi (Atlantic City, USA)
Apr 11 - James Toney PTS 12 Glenn Wolfe (Las Vegas, USA)
Aug 29 - James Toney PTS 12 Mike McCallum (Reno, USA)
1993
Feb - Toney vacates the world championship to campaign at light-heavyweight
1994
-
1995
-
1996
-
1997
-
1998
-
1999
-
2000
-
2001
Sep 29 - Bernard Hopkins KO 12 Felix Trinidad (New York City, USA)
2002
Feb 2 - Bernard Hopkins KO 10 Carl Daniels (Reading, USA)
2003
Mar 29 - Bernard Hopkins KO 8 Morrade Hakkar (Philadelphia, USA)
Dec 13 - Bernard Hopkins PTS 12 William Joppy (Atlantic City, USA)
2004
Jun 5 - Bernard Hopkins PTS 12 Robert Allen (Las Vegas, USA)
Sep 18 - Bernard Hopkins KO 9 Oscar De La Hoya (Las Vegas, USA)
2005
Eastman was a worthy challenger but no match for the outstanding Hopkins
Feb 19 - Bernard Hopkins PTS 12 Howard Eastman (Los Angeles, USA)
Jul 16 - Jermain Taylor PTS 12 Bernard Hopkins (Las Vegas, USA)
Dec 3 - Jermain Taylor PTS 12 Bernard Hopkins (Las Vegas, USA)
2006
Taylor-Wright was a big event
Jun 17 - Jermain Taylor D 12 Winky Wright (Memphis, USA)
Dec 9 - Jermain Taylor PTS 12 Kassim Ouma (Little Rock, USA)
2007
May 19 - Jermain Taylor PTS 12 Cory Spinks (Memphis, USA)
Sep 29 - Kelly Pavlik KO 7 Jermain Taylor (Atlantic City, USA)
2008
Jun 7 - Kelly Pavlik KO 3 Gary Lockett (Atlantic City, USA)
2009
Feb 21 - Kelly Pavlik KO 9 Marco Antonio Rubio (Youngstown, USA)
Dec 19 - Kelly Pavlik KO 5 Miguel Angel Espino (Youngstown, USA)
2010
Apr 17 - Sergio Martinez PTS 12 Kelly Pavlik (Atlantic City, USA)
Nov 20 - Sergio Martinez KO 2 Paul Williams (Atlantic City, USA)
2011
Mar 12 - Sergio Martinez KO 8 Sergei Dzinziruk (Mashantucket, USA)
Barker gained deserved praise for his game showing against Martinez
Oct 1 - Sergio Martinez KO 11 Darren Barker (Atlantic City, USA)
2012
Mar 17 - Sergio Martinez KO 11 Matthew Macklin (New York City, USA)
Sep 15 - Sergio Martinez PTS 12 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (Las Vegas, USA)
