Open Boxing

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali held the NYSAC, WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight world titles between 1964 and 1979. Ali was the undisputed heavyweight world champion from 1964 to 1978. Ali first became a world champion aged 22 after winning the NYSAC, WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight world titles by beating Sonny Liston.

World title bouts
25
Record in world title bouts (won–lost)
22–3
World titles held
4
Longest world title reign (The Ring heavyweight, 1964–1970)
5 years, 11 months

World title reigns and bouts

Jan 1964 – Jan 1981

HeavyweightNYSAC
WBA
WBC
The Ring
1964age 211965age 221966age 231967age 241968age 251969age 261970age 271971age 281972age 291973age 301974age 311975age 321976age 331977age 341978age 351979age 361980age 371981age 38
1965197019751980

WonLostDrawn or no contest

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1980

  2. Larry Holmes beats Muhammad Ali via corner retirement 10/15

    Heavyweight · WBC and The Ring

  3. 1979

  4. Muhammad Ali’s reign as the WBA heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · WBA

  5. Muhammad Ali’s reign as The Ring heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · The Ring

  6. 1978

  7. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  8. Muhammad Ali beats Leon Spinks via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA and The Ring

  9. Leon Spinks beats Muhammad Ali via split decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  10. 1977

  11. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  12. Muhammad Ali beats Earnie Shavers via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  13. Muhammad Ali beats Alfredo Evangelista via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  14. 1976

  15. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  16. Muhammad Ali beats Ken Norton via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  17. Muhammad Ali beats Richard Dunn via knockout 5/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  18. Muhammad Ali beats Jimmy Young via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  19. Muhammad Ali beats Jean Pierre Coopman via knockout 5/15

    Heavyweight · WBA and The Ring

  20. 1975

  21. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  22. Muhammad Ali beats Joe Frazier via corner retirement 14/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  23. Muhammad Ali beats Joe Bugner via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  24. Muhammad Ali beats Ron Lyle via knockout 11/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  25. Muhammad Ali beats Chuck Wepner via knockout 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  26. 1974

  27. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  28. Muhammad Ali beats George Foreman via knockout 8/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  29. 1973

  30. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali No. 1 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  31. 1972

  32. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali No. 1 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  33. 1971

  34. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali No. 1 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  35. Joe Frazier beats Muhammad Ali via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring

  36. 1970

  37. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali No. 1 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  38. Muhammad Ali’s reign as The Ring heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · The Ring

  39. 1969

  40. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  41. Muhammad Ali’s reign as the WBC heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · WBC

  42. 1968

  43. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  44. 1967

  45. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  46. Muhammad Ali’s reign as the WBA heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · WBA

  47. Muhammad Ali’s reign as the NYSAC heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · NYSAC

  48. Muhammad Ali beats Zora Folley via knockout 7/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, NYSAC and The Ring

  49. Muhammad Ali beats Ernie Terrell via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, NYSAC and The Ring

  50. 1966

  51. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  52. Muhammad Ali beats Cleveland Williams via knockout 3/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  53. Muhammad Ali beats Karl Mildenberger via knockout 12/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  54. Muhammad Ali beats Brian London via knockout 3/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  55. Muhammad Ali beats Henry Cooper via knockout 6/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  56. Muhammad Ali beats George Chuvalo via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  57. 1965

  58. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  59. Muhammad Ali beats Floyd Patterson via knockout 12/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  60. Muhammad Ali beats Sonny Liston via knockout 1/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBC and The Ring

  61. 1964

  62. The Ring magazine rates Muhammad Ali the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  63. Muhammad Ali’s reign as the WBA heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · WBA

  64. Muhammad Ali beats Sonny Liston via corner retirement 6/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, WBC and The Ring