History of the World Welterweight 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.



1888
Oct 30 - Paddy Duffy  KO 17  William McMillan (Fort Foote, USA)

1889
-

1890
Jul - The world championship becomes vacant when Duffy sadly dies from tuberculosis

1891
-

1892
Dec 14 - Mysterious Billy Smith  KO 14  Danny Needham (San Francisco, USA)

1893
Apr 17 - Mysterious Billy Smith  KO 2  Tom Williams (New York City, USA)

1894

Jul 26 - Tommy Ryan  PTS 20  Mysterious Billy Smith (Minneapolis, USA)

1895
May 27 - Tommy Ryan  NC 18  Mysterious Billy Smith (New York City, USA)

1896
-

1897
-

1898
* Although Ryan did not officially vacate the world championship it became
   universally accepted as being vacant (Prior to the bout between leading contenders Matty    
   Matthews and Mysterious Billy Smith he gave no indication that he planned to defend it
   again and focused on campaigning at middleweight)

Smith became the first boxer to regain the championship

Aug 25 - Mysterious Billy Smith  PTS 25  Matty Matthews (New York City, USA)

Oct 7 - Mysterious Billy Smith  PTS 25  Charles McKeever (New York City, USA)

Dec 6 - Mysterious Billy Smith  PTS 20  Joe Walcott (New York City, USA)

1899
Jun 30 - Mysterious Billy Smith  D 20  Charles McKeever (New York City, USA)

1900
Jan 15 - Rube Ferns  DIS 21  Mysterious Billy Smith (Buffalo, USA)

Oct 16 - Matty Matthews  PTS 15  Rube Ferns (Detroit, USA)

1901
May 24 - Rube Ferns  KO 10  Matty Matthews (Toronto, Canada)

Sep 23 - Rube Ferns  KO 9  Frank Erne (Fort Erie, Canada)

Dec 18 - Joe Walcott  KO 5  Rube Ferns (Fort Erie, Canada)

1902
Jun 23 - Joe Walcott  PTS 15  Tommy West (London, UK)

1903
Apr 2 - Joe Walcott  D 20  Billy Woods (Los Angeles, USA)

1904

Dixie Kid (left) and Walcott pose before the start of their first bout

Apr 29 - Dixie Kid  DIS 20  Joe Walcott (San Francisco, USA)

May 12 - Dixie Kid  D 20  Joe Walcott (San Francisco, USA)

* Although Dixie Kid did not officially vacate the world championship it became
   universally accepted as being vacant (it was indicated that he could no longer make the     
   welterweight limit and Walcott was then awarded universal recognition once again as he
   was deemed the best welterweight in the world and had only lost the championship to Dixie
   Kid by disqualification)
  
Sep 30 - Joe Walcott  D 20  Joe Gans (San Francisco, USA)

1905
-

1906
Oct 16 - Honey Mellody  PTS 15  Joe Walcott (Chelsea, USA)

1907
Apr 23 - Mike Sullivan  PTS 20  Honey Mellody (Los Angeles, USA)

1908
Nov - Sullivan vacates the world championship due to an eye injury which forces an extended
          layoff

1909
-

1910
-

1911
-

1912
-

1913
-

1914
-

1915

A portrait of Lewis who was the first champion from the UK

Aug 31 - Ted “Kid” Lewis  PTS 12  Jack Britton (Boston, USA)

Sep 28 - Ted “Kid” Lewis  PTS 12  Jack Britton (Boston, USA)

1916
Apr 24 - Jack Britton  PTS 20  Ted “Kid” Lewis (New Orleans, USA)

1917
Jun 25 - Ted “Kid” Lewis  PTS 20  Jack Britton (Dayton, USA)

1918
May 17 - Ted “Kid” Lewis  PTS 20  Johnny Tillman (Denver, USA)

1919
Mar 17 - Jack Britton  KO 9  Ted “Kid” Lewis (Canton, USA)

1920
May 31 - Jack Britton  PTS 15  Johnny Griffiths (Akron, USA)

1921
-

1922
Feb 17 - Jack Britton  D 15  Dave Shade (New York City, USA)

Jun 13 - Jack Britton  DIS 13  Benny Leonard (New York City, USA)

Walker (on the left) was an outstanding champion (he is seen here posing with Harry Greb before his challenge for Greb’s middleweight championship in 1925)

Nov 1 - Mickey Walker  PTS 15  Jack Britton (New York City, USA)

1923
-

1924
Jun 2 - Mickey Walker  PTS 10  Lew Tendler (Philadelphia, USA)

Oct 1 - Mickey Walker  KO 6  Bobby Barrett (Philadelphia, USA)

1925
Sep 21 - Mickey Walker  PTS 15  Dave Shade (New York City, USA)

1926
May 20 - Pete Latzo  PTS 10  Mickey Walker (Scranton, USA)

Jun 29 - Pete Latzo  KO 5  Willie Harmon (Newark, USA)

Jul 9 - Pete Latzo  DIS 4  George Levine (New York City, USA)

1927

A ticket for Latzo’s defence against Dundee

Jun 3 - Joe Dundee  PTS 15  Pete Latzo (New York City, USA)

1928
Jul 7 - Joe Dundee  KO 8  Hilario Martinez (Philadelphia, USA)

1929
Jul 25 - Jackie Fields  DIS 2  Joe Dundee (Detroit, USA)

1930
May 9 - Young Jack Thompson  PTS 15  Jackie Fields (Detroit, USA)

Sep 5 - Tommy Freeman  PTS 15  Young Jack Thompson (Cleveland, USA)

1931
Apr 14 - Young Jack Thompson  KO 12  Tommy Freeman (Cleveland, USA)

Brouillard reigned during an era when the championship changed hands regularly

Oct 23 - Lou Brouillard  PTS 15  Young Jack Thompson (Boston, USA)

1932
Jan 28 - Jackie Fields  PTS 10  Lou Brouillard (Chicago, USA)

1933
Feb 22 - Young Corbett III  PTS 10  Jackie Fields (San Francisco, USA)

McLarnin’s win over Young Corbett III was featured on the cover of “The Ring” magazine

May 29 - Jimmy McLarnin  KO 1  Young Corbett III (Los Angeles, USA)

1934
May 28 - Barney Ross  PTS 15  Jimmy McLarnin (New York City, USA)

Sep 17 - Jimmy McLarnin  PTS 15  Barney Ross (New York City, USA)

1935
May 28 - Barney Ross  PTS 15  Jimmy McLarnin (New York City, USA)

1936
Nov 27 - Barney Ross  PTS 15  Izzy Janazzo (New York City, USA)

1937
Sep 23 - Barney Ross  PTS 15  Ceferino Garcia (New York City, USA)

1938
May 31 - Henry Armstrong  PTS 15  Barney Ross (New York City, USA)

Nov 25 - Henry Armstrong  PTS 15  Ceferino Garcia (New York City, USA)

Dec 5 - Henry Armstrong  KO 3  Al Manfredo (Cleveland, USA)

1939
Jan 10 - Henry Armstrong  PTS 10  Baby Arizmendi (Los Angeles, USA)

Mar 4 - Henry Armstrong  KO 4  Bobby Pacho (Havana, Cuba)

Mar 16 - Henry Armstrong  KO 1  Lew Feldman (St Louis, USA)

Armstrong in training

Mar 31 - Henry Armstrong  KO 12  Davey Day (New York City, USA)

May 25 - Henry Armstrong  PTS 15  Ernie Roderick (London, UK)

Oct 9 - Henry Armstrong  KO 4  Al Manfredo (Des Moines, USA)

Oct 20 - Henry Armstrong  KO 3  Ritchie Fontaine (Seattle, USA)

Oct 24 - Henry Armstrong  PTS 10  Jimmy Garrison (Los Angeles, USA)

Oct 30 - Henry Armstrong  KO 4  Bobby Pacho (Denver, USA)

Dec 11 - Henry Armstrong  KO 7  Jimmy Garrison (Cleveland, USA)

1940
Jan 4 - Henry Armstrong  KO 5  Joe Ghnouly (St Louis, USA)

Jan 24 - Henry Armstrong  KO 9  Pedro Montanez (New York City, USA)

Apr 26 - Henry Armstrong  KO 7  Paul Junior (Boston, USA)

Armstrong holds the division record for most successful defences

May 24 - Henry Armstrong  KO 5  Ralph Zanelli (Boston, USA)

Jun 21 - Henry Armstrong  KO 3  Paul Junior (Portland, USA)

Jul 17 - Henry Armstrong  KO 6  Lew Jenkins (New York City, USA)

Sep 23 - Henry Armstrong  KO 4  Phil Furr (Washington DC, USA)

Oct 4 - Fritzie Zivic  PTS 15  Henry Armstrong (New York City, USA)

1941
Jan 17 - Fritzie Zivic  KO 12  Henry Armstrong (New York City, USA)

Jul 29 - Freddie Cochrane  PTS 15  Fritzie Zivic (Newark, USA)

1942
-

1943
-

1944
-

1945
-

1946
Feb 1 - Marty Servo  KO 4  Freddie Cochrane (New York City, USA)

Sep - Servo vacates the world championship and retires

Dec 20 - Sugar Ray Robinson  PTS 15  Tommy Bell (New York City, USA)

1947
Jun 24 - Sugar Ray Robinson  KO 9  Jimmy Doyle (Cleveland, USA)

Robinson became a legendary superstar

Dec 19 - Sugar Ray Robinson  KO 6  Chuck Taylor (Detroit, USA)

1948
Jun 28 - Sugar Ray Robinson  PTS 15  Bernard Docusen (Chicago, USA)

1949
Jul 11 - Sugar Ray Robinson  PTS 15  Kid Gavilan (Philadelphia, USA)

1950
Aug 9 - Sugar Ray Robinson  PTS 15  Charlie Fusari (Jersey City, USA)

1951
Feb - Robinson vacates the world championship to campaign at middleweight

May 18 - Kid Gavilan  PTS 15  Johnny Bratton (New York City, USA)

Aug 29 - Kid Gavilan  PTS 15  Billy Graham (New York City, USA)

1952
Feb 4 - Kid Gavilan  PTS 15  Bobby Dykes (Miami, USA)

The program for Gavilan’s defence against Turner

Jul 7 - Kid Gavilan  KO 11  Gil Turner (Philadelphia, USA)

Oct 5 - Kid Gavilan  PTS 15  Billy Graham (Havana, Cuba)

1953
Feb 11 - Kid Gavilan  KO 10  Chuck Davey (Chicago, USA)

Sep 18 - Kid Gavilan  PTS 15  Carmen Basilio (Syracuse, USA)

Gavilan was an excellent champion who defeated quality opposition

Nov 13 - Kid Gavilan  PTS 15  Johnny Bratton (Chicago, USA)

1954
Oct 20 - Johnny Saxton  PTS 15  Kid Gavilan (Philadelphia, USA)

1955
Apr 1 - Tony DeMarco  KO 14  Johnny Saxton (Boston, USA)

Jun 10 - Carmen Basilio  KO 12  Tony DeMarco (Syracuse, USA)

Nov 30 - Carmen Basilio  KO 12  Tony DeMarco (Boston, USA)

1956
Mar 14 - Johnny Saxton  PTS 15  Carmen Basilio (Chicago, USA)

Basilio (left) was a genuine tough guy (he is seen here in one of his middleweight bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson)

Sep 12 - Carmen Basilio  KO 9  Johnny Saxton (Syracuse, USA)

1957
Feb 22 - Carmen Basilio  KO 2  Johnny Saxton (Cleveland, USA)

Sep - Basilio vacates the world championship to campaign at middleweight

1958
Jun 5 - Virgil Akins  KO 4  Vince Martinez (St Louis, USA)

Dec 5 - Don Jordan  PTS 15  Virgil Akins (Los Angeles, USA)

1959
Apr 24 - Don Jordan  PTS 15  Virgil Akins (St Louis, USA)

Jul 10 - Don Jordan  PTS 15  Denny Moyer (Portland, USA)

1960
May 27 - Benny Paret  PTS 15  Don Jordan (Las Vegas, USA)

A newspaper cartoon featuring Paret

Dec 10 - Benny Paret  PTS 15  Federico Thompson (New York City, USA)

1961
Apr 1 - Emile Griffith  KO 13  Benny Paret (Miami, USA)

Jun 3 - Emile Griffith  KO 12  Gaspar Ortega (Los Angeles, USA)

Sep 30 - Benny Paret  PTS 15  Emile Griffith (New York City, USA)

1962
Mar 24 - Emile Griffith  KO 12  Benny Paret (New York City, USA)

Jul 13 - Emile Griffith  PTS 15  Ralph Dupas (Las Vegas, USA)

Dec 8 - Emile Griffith  KO 9  Jorge Fernandez (Las Vegas, USA)

1963
Mar 21 - Luis Rodriguez  PTS 15  Emile Griffith (Los Angeles, USA)

Griffith is the only three-time lineal welterweight champion

Jun 8 - Emile Griffith  PTS 15  Luis Rodriguez (New York City, USA)

1964
Jun 12 - Emile Griffith  PTS 15  Luis Rodriguez (Las Vegas, USA)

Sep 22 - Emile Griffith  PTS 15  Brian Curvis (London, UK)

1965
Mar 30 - Emile Griffith  PTS 15  Jose Stable (New York City, USA)

Dec 10 - Emile Griffith  PTS 15  Manuel Gonzalez (New York City, USA)

1966
Aug - Griffith vacates the world championship to campaign at middleweight

Nov 28 - Curtis Cokes  PTS 15  Jean Josselin (Dallas, USA)

1967
May 19 - Curtis Cokes  KO 10  Francois Pavilla (Dallas, USA)

Oct 2 - Curtis Cokes  KO 8  Charlie Shipes (Oakland, USA)

1968

Cokes became a trainer after he retired from boxing

Oct 21 - Curtis Cokes  PTS 15  Ramon LaCruz (New Orleans, USA)

1969
Apr 18 - Jose Napoles  KO 13  Curtis Cokes (Los Angeles, USA)

Jun 29 - Jose Napoles  KO 10  Curtis Cokes (Mexico City, Mexico)

Napoles became one of the greatest welterweights in history

Oct 12 - Jose Napoles  PTS 15  Emile Griffith (Inglewood, USA)

1970
Feb 14 - Jose Napoles  KO 15  Ernie Lopez (Inglewood, USA)

Dec 3 - Billy Backus  KO 4  Jose Napoles (Syracuse, USA)

1971
Jun 4 - Jose Napoles  KO 8  Billy Backus (Inglewood, USA)

Dec 14 - Jose Napoles  PTS 15  Hedgemon Lewis (Inglewood, USA)

1972
Mar 28 - Jose Napoles  KO 7  Ralph Charles (London, UK)

Jun 10 - Jose Napoles  KO 2  Adolph Pruitt (Monterrey, Mexico)

1973
Feb 28 - Jose Napoles  KO 7  Ernie Lopez (Inglewood, USA)

Jun 23 - Jose Napoles  PTS 15  Roger Menetrey (Grenoble, France)

Sep 22 - Jose Napoles  PTS 15  Clyde Gray (Toronto, Canada)

1974
Aug 3 - Jose Napoles  KO 9  Hedgemon Lewis (Mexico City, Mexico)

Dec 14 - Jose Napoles  KO 3  Horacio Saldano (Mexico City, Mexico)

1975
Mar 30 - Jose Napoles  TD 12  Armando Muniz (Acapulco, Mexico)

Jul 12 - Jose Napoles  PTS 15  Armando Muniz (Mexico City, Mexico)

Napoles was past his prime when he lost the championship to Stracey

Dec 6 - John Stracey  KO 6  Jose Napoles (Mexico City, Mexico)

1976
Mar 20 - John Stracey  KO 10  Hedgemon Lewis (London, UK)

Jun 22 - Carlos Palomino  KO 12  John Stracey (London, UK)

1977
Jan 21 - Carlos Palomino  KO 15  Armando Muniz (Los Angeles, USA)

Jun 14 - Carlos Palomino  KO 11  Dave Green (London, UK)

Sep 13 - Carlos Palomino  PTS 15  Everaldo Costa Azevedo (Los Angeles, USA)

Dec 10 - Carlos Palomino  KO 13  Jose Palacios (Los Angeles, USA)

1978
Feb 10 - Carlos Palomino  KO 7  Ryu Sorimachi (Las Vegas, USA)

Palomino was from Mexico and served in the US army before turning professional

Mar 18 - Carlos Palomino  KO 9  Mimoun Mohatar (Las Vegas, USA)

May 27 - Carlos Palomino  PTS 15  Armando Muniz (Los Angeles, USA)

1979
Jan 13 - Wilfred Benitez  PTS 15  Carlos Palomino (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Mar 25 - Wilfred Benitez  PTS 15  Harold Weston (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Nov 30 - Sugar Ray Leonard  KO 15  Wilfred Benitez (Las Vegas, USA)

1980
Mar 31 - Sugar Ray Leonard  KO 4  Dave Green (Landover, USA)

Jun 20 - Roberto Duran  PTS 15  Sugar Ray Leonard (Montreal, Canada)

Leonard engaged in a classic trilogy with Duran (this is the scene from their rubber match which was fought in Las Vegas at light-heavyweight in 1989)

Nov 25 - Sugar Ray Leonard  KO 8  Roberto Duran (New Orleans, USA)

1981
Mar 28 - Sugar Ray Leonard  KO 10  Larry Bonds (Syracuse, USA)

Sep 16 - Sugar Ray Leonard  KO 14  Thomas Hearns (Las Vegas, USA)

1982

Leonard became a media celebrity

Feb 15 - Sugar Ray Leonard  KO 3  Bruce Finch (Reno, USA)

Nov - Leonard vacates the world championship and retires

1983
-

1984
-

1985
Dec 6 - Donald Curry  KO 2  Milton McCrory (Las Vegas, USA)

1986
Mar 9 - Donald Curry  KO 2  Eduardo Rodriguez (Forth Worth, USA)

Honeyghan’s victory over Curry was maybe the most stunning ever by a British boxer

Sep 27 - Lloyd Honeyghan  KO 7  Donald Curry (Atlantic City, USA)

1987
Feb 22 - Lloyd Honeyghan  KO 2  Johnny Bumphus (London, UK)

Apr 18 - Lloyd Honeyghan  PTS 12  Maurice Blocker (London, UK)

Aug 30 - Lloyd Honeyghan  KO 1  Gene Hatcher (Marbella, Spain)

Oct 28 - Jorge Vaca  TD 8  Lloyd Honeyghan (London, UK)

1988
Mar 29 - Lloyd Honeyghan  KO 3  Jorge Vaca (London, UK)

Jul 29 - Lloyd Honeyghan  KO 5  Yung-Kil Chung (Atlantic City, USA)

1989
Feb 4 - Marlon Starling  KO 9  Lloyd Honeyghan (Las Vegas, USA)

Sep 15 - Marlon Starling  PTS 12  Yung-Kil Chung (Hartford, USA)

1990
Aug 19 - Maurice Blocker  PTS 12  Marlon Starling (Reno, USA)

1991
Mar 18 - Simon Brown  KO 10  Maurice Blocker (Las Vegas, USA)

Nov 29 - Buddy McGirt  PTS 12  Simon Brown (Las Vegas, USA)

1992

McGirt on the cover of a magazine

Jun 25 - Buddy McGirt  PTS 12  Patrizio Oliva (Licola, Italy)

1993
Jan 12 - Buddy McGirt  PTS 12  Genaro Leon (New York City, USA)

Mar 6 - Pernell Whitaker  PTS 12  Buddy McGirt (New York City, USA)

This magazine cover represented the consensus view that Whitaker clearly deserved the decision in his defence against Chavez

Sep 10 - Pernell Whitaker  D 12  Julio Cesar Chavez (San Antonio, USA)

1994
Apr 9 - Pernell Whitaker  PTS 12  Santos Cardona (Norfolk, USA)

Oct 1 - Pernell Whitaker  PTS 12  Buddy McGirt (Norfolk, USA)

1995
Aug 16 - Pernell Whitaker  PTS 12  Gary Jacobs (Atlantic City, USA)

Nov 18 - Pernell Whitaker  KO 6  Jake Rodriguez (Atlantic City, USA)

1996
Apr 12 - Pernell Whitaker  PTS 12  Wilfredo Rivera (Philipsburg, St Maarten)

Sep 20 - Pernell Whitaker  PTS 12  Wilfredo Rivera (Miami, USA)

1997
Jan 24 - Pernell Whitaker  KO 11  Diobelis Hurtado (Atlantic City, USA)

Whitaker-De La Hoya was a close battle between two masters of their craft

Apr 12 - Oscar De La Hoya  PTS 12  Pernell Whitaker (Las Vegas, USA)

Jun 14 - Oscar De La Hoya  KO 2  David Kamau (San Antonio, USA)

Sep 13 - Oscar De La Hoya  PTS 12  Hector Camacho (Las Vegas, USA)

Dec 6 - Oscar De La Hoya  KO 8  Wilfredo Rivera (Atlantic City, USA)

1998
Jun 13 - Oscar De La Hoya  KO 3  Patrick Charpentier (El Paso, USA)

Sep 18 - Oscar De La Hoya  KO 8  Julio Cesar Chavez (Las Vegas, USA)

1999

De La Hoya defeated a dangerous challenger in Quartey

Feb 13 - Oscar De La Hoya  PTS 12  Ike Quartey (Las Vegas, USA)

May 22 - Oscar De La Hoya  KO 11  Oba Carr (Las Vegas, USA)

Sep 18 - Felix Trinidad  PTS 12  Oscar De La Hoya (Las Vegas, USA)

2000
Mar - Trinidad vacates the world championship to campaign at middleweight

Jun 17 - Shane Mosley  PTS 12  Oscar De La Hoya (Los Angeles, USA)

Nov 4 - Shane Mosley  KO 6  Antonio Diaz (New York City, USA

2001
Mar 10 - Shane Mosley  KO 6  Shannan Taylor (Las Vegas, USA)

Jul 21 - Shane Mosley  KO 3  Adrian Stone (Las Vegas, USA)

2002
Jan 26 - Vernon Forrest  PTS 12  Shane Mosley (New York City, USA)

Jul 20 - Vernon Forrest  PTS 12  Shane Mosley (Indianapolis, USA)

2003

Forrest’s reign ended in shocking fashion

Jan 25 - Ricardo Mayorga  KO 3  Vernon Forrest (Temecula, USA)

Jul 12 - Ricardo Mayorga  PTS 12  Vernon Forrest (Las Vegas, USA)

Dec 13 - Cory Spinks  PTS 12  Ricardo Mayorga (Atlantic City, USA)

2004
Apr 10 - Cory Spinks  PTS 12  Zab Judah (Las Vegas, USA)

Sep 4 - Cory Spinks  PTS 12  Miguel Angel Gonzalez (Las Vegas, USA)

2005

Spinks’ rematch with Judah was held in his hometown

Feb 5 - Zab Judah  KO 9  Cory Spinks (St Louis, USA)

May 14 - Zab Judah  KO 3  Cosme Rivera (Las Vegas, USA)

2006
Jan 7 - Carlos Baldomir  PTS 12  Zab Judah (New York City, USA)

Jul 22 - Carlos Baldomir  KO 9  Arturo Gatti (Atlantic City, USA)

Nov 4 - Floyd Mayweather  PTS 12  Carlos Baldomir (Las Vegas, USA)

2007
Dec 8 - Floyd Mayweather  KO 10  Ricky Hatton (Las Vegas, USA)

2008
Jun - Mayweather vacates the world championship and retires

2009
Jan 24 - Shane Mosley  KO 9 Antonio Margarito (Los Angeles, USA)

2010
May 1 - Floyd Mayweather  PTS 12  Shane Mosley (Las Vegas)

2011
Sep 17 - Floyd Mayweather  KO 4  Victor Ortiz (Las Vegas)

2012

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