Open Boxing

IBF heavyweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1983. Current champion: Filip Hrgovic, since 29th Aug 2026.

World title bouts
82
Champions
20
Longest reign (Wladimir Klitschko, 2006–2015)
9 years, 7 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Wladimir Klitschko, 2006–2015)
18

Current champion

Filip HrgovicSince 29th Aug 2026 · 2 months · 0 successful defences

Reigns and world title bouts

Jan 2022 – Jan 2027

IBF
Oleksandr UsykDaniel DuboisOleksandr Usyk
AprJulOct2023AprJulOct2024AprJulOct2025AprJulOct2026AprJulOct2027
1990200020102020

World title bout

Reigns by length

  1. 1Wladimir KlitschkoIBF2006–20159 years, 7 months · 18 successful defences
  2. 2Chris ByrdIBF2002–20063 years, 4 months · 3 successful defences
  3. 3Anthony JoshuaIBF2016–20193 years, 1 month · 6 successful defences
  4. 4Oleksandr UsykIBF2021–20242 years, 9 months · 3 successful defences
  5. 5Mike TysonIBF1987–19902 years, 6 months · 6 successful defences
  6. 6Evander HolyfieldIBF1990–19922 years · 3 successful defences
  7. 7Evander HolyfieldIBF1997–19992 years · 1 successful defence
  8. 8Anthony JoshuaIBF2019–20211 year, 9 months · 1 successful defence
  9. 9Larry HolmesIBF1983–19851 year, 9 months · 3 successful defences
  10. 10Lennox LewisIBF1999–20011 year, 5 months · 3 successful defences
  11. 11Michael SpinksIBF1985–19871 year, 5 months · 2 successful defences
  12. 12Michael MoorerIBF1996–19971 year, 4 months · 2 successful defences
  13. 13Daniel DuboisIBF2024–20251 year · 1 successful defence
  14. 14Riddick BoweIBF1992–199311 months · 1 successful defence
  15. 15Oleksandr UsykIBF2025–202611 months · 0 successful defences
  16. 16Lennox LewisIBF2001–20029 months · 1 successful defence
  17. 17Buster DouglasIBF1990–19908 months · 0 successful defences
  18. 18George ForemanIBF1994–19957 months · 1 successful defence
  19. 19Hasim RahmanIBF2001–20016 months · 0 successful defences
  20. 20Michael MoorerIBF1994–19946 months · 0 successful defences
  21. 21Andy Ruiz JrIBF2019–20196 months · 0 successful defences
  22. 22Evander HolyfieldIBF1993–19945 months · 0 successful defences
  23. 23Charles MartinIBF2016–20162 months · 0 successful defences
  24. 24Filip HrgovicIBF2026–present2 months · 0 successful defences
  25. 25Tony TuckerIBF1987–19872 months · 0 successful defences
  26. 26Tyson FuryIBF2015–201510 days · 0 successful defences

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1983

  2. Larry Holmes becomes the IBF heavyweight world champion

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  3. 1984

  4. Larry Holmes beats James Smith via knockout 12/15

    Heavyweight · IBF and The Ring

  5. 1985

  6. Larry Holmes beats David Bey via knockout 10/15

    Heavyweight · IBF and The Ring

  7. Larry Holmes beats Carl Williams via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · IBF and The Ring

  8. Michael Spinks beats Larry Holmes via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · IBF and The RingNew IBF champion

  9. 1986

  10. Michael Spinks beats Larry Holmes via split decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · IBF and The Ring

  11. Michael Spinks beats Steffen Tangstad via knockout 4/15

    Heavyweight · IBF and The Ring

  12. 1987

  13. Michael Spinks’s reign as the IBF heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBF

  14. Tony Tucker beats Buster Douglas via knockout 10/15

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  15. Mike Tyson beats Tony Tucker via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  16. Mike Tyson beats Tyrell Biggs via knockout 7/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  17. 1988

  18. Mike Tyson beats Larry Holmes via knockout 4/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  19. Mike Tyson beats Tony Tubbs via knockout 2/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  20. Mike Tyson beats Michael Spinks via knockout 1/15

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  21. 1989

  22. Mike Tyson beats Frank Bruno via knockout 5/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  23. Mike Tyson beats Carl Williams via knockout 1/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  1. 1990

  2. Buster Douglas beats Mike Tyson via knockout 10/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  3. Evander Holyfield beats Buster Douglas via knockout 3/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  4. 1991

  5. Evander Holyfield beats George Foreman via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  6. Evander Holyfield beats Bert Cooper via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBF

  7. 1992

  8. Evander Holyfield beats Larry Holmes via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  9. Riddick Bowe beats Evander Holyfield via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  10. 1993

  11. Riddick Bowe beats Michael Dokes via knockout 1/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBF

  12. Evander Holyfield beats Riddick Bowe via majority decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBFNew IBF champion

  13. 1994

  14. Michael Moorer beats Evander Holyfield via majority decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBFNew IBF champion

  15. George Foreman beats Michael Moorer via knockout 10/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBFNew IBF champion

  16. 1995

  17. George Foreman beats Axel Schulz via majority decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  18. George Foreman’s reign as the IBF heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBF

  19. Axel Schulz v Frans Botha ends in a no contest

    Heavyweight · IBF

  20. 1996

  21. Michael Moorer beats Axel Schulz via split decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  22. Michael Moorer beats Frans Botha via knockout 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  23. 1997

  24. Michael Moorer beats Vaughn Bean via majority decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  25. Evander Holyfield beats Michael Moorer via corner retirement 8/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBFNew IBF champion

  26. 1998

  27. Evander Holyfield beats Vaughn Bean via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA and IBF

  28. 1999

  29. Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield draw via split decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBF

  30. Lennox Lewis beats Evander Holyfield via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA, WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  1. 2000

  2. Lennox Lewis beats Michael Grant via knockout 2/12

    Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  3. Lennox Lewis beats Frans Botha via knockout 2/12

    Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  4. Lennox Lewis beats David Tua via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBC and IBF

  5. 2001

  6. Hasim Rahman beats Lennox Lewis via knockout 5/12

    Heavyweight · WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  7. Lennox Lewis beats Hasim Rahman via knockout 4/12

    Heavyweight · WBC and IBFNew IBF champion

  8. 2002

  9. Lennox Lewis beats Mike Tyson via knockout 8/12

    Heavyweight · WBC, IBF and The Ring

  10. Lennox Lewis’s reign as the IBF heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBF

  11. Chris Byrd beats Evander Holyfield via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  12. 2003

  13. Chris Byrd beats Fres Oquendo via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  14. 2004

  15. Chris Byrd and Andrew Golota draw via split decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  16. Chris Byrd beats Jameel McCline via split decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  17. 2005

  18. Chris Byrd beats DaVarryl Williamson via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  19. 2006

  20. Wladimir Klitschko beats Chris Byrd via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  21. Wladimir Klitschko beats Calvin Brock via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  22. 2007

  23. Wladimir Klitschko beats Ray Austin via knockout 2/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  24. Wladimir Klitschko beats Lamon Brewster via corner retirement 6/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  25. 2008

  26. Wladimir Klitschko beats Sultan Ibragimov via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF and WBO

  27. Wladimir Klitschko beats Tony Thompson via knockout 11/12

    Heavyweight · IBF and WBO

  28. Wladimir Klitschko beats Hasim Rahman via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · IBF and WBO

  29. 2009

  30. Wladimir Klitschko beats Ruslan Chagaev via corner retirement 9/12

    Heavyweight · IBF, WBO and The Ring

  1. 2010

  2. Wladimir Klitschko beats Eddie Chambers via knockout 12/12

    Heavyweight · IBF, WBO and The Ring

  3. Wladimir Klitschko beats Samuel Peter via knockout 10/12

    Heavyweight · IBF, WBO and The Ring

  4. 2011

  5. Wladimir Klitschko beats David Haye via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  6. 2012

  7. Wladimir Klitschko beats Jean Marc Mormeck via knockout 4/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  8. Wladimir Klitschko beats Tony Thompson via knockout 6/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  9. Wladimir Klitschko beats Mariusz Wach via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  10. 2013

  11. Wladimir Klitschko beats Francesco Pianeta via knockout 6/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  12. Wladimir Klitschko beats Alexander Povetkin via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  13. 2014

  14. Wladimir Klitschko beats Alex Leapai via knockout 5/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  15. Wladimir Klitschko beats Kubrat Pulev via knockout 5/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  16. 2015

  17. Wladimir Klitschko beats Bryant Jennings via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  18. Tyson Fury beats Wladimir Klitschko via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The RingNew IBF champion

    Source: Tyson Fury beats Wladimir Klitschko to become world champion(opens in a new tab), BBC Sport, Ben Dirs,

    1 more reference

  19. Tyson Fury is stripped of the IBF heavyweight world title

    Heavyweight · IBF

    Source: Tyson Fury: World heavyweight champion stripped of IBF title(opens in a new tab), BBC Sport,

    1 more reference

  20. 2016

  21. Charles Martin beats Vyacheslav Glazkov via knockout 3/12

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  22. Anthony Joshua beats Charles Martin via knockout 2/12

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  23. Anthony Joshua beats Dominic Breazeale via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  24. Anthony Joshua beats Eric Molina via knockout 3/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  25. 2017

  26. Anthony Joshua beats Wladimir Klitschko via knockout 11/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super and IBF

  27. Anthony Joshua beats Carlos Takam via knockout 10/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super and IBF

  28. 2018

  29. Anthony Joshua beats Joseph Parker via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  30. Anthony Joshua beats Alexander Povetkin via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  31. 2019

  32. Andy Ruiz Jr beats Anthony Joshua via knockout 7/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  33. Anthony Joshua beats Andy Ruiz Jr via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  1. 2020

  2. Anthony Joshua beats Kubrat Pulev via knockout 9/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBO

  3. 2021

  4. Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua via unanimous decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  5. 2022

  6. Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua via split decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  7. 2023

  8. Oleksandr Usyk beats Daniel Dubois via knockout 9/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  9. 2024

  10. Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury via split decision 12/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring

  11. Oleksandr Usyk’s reign as the IBF heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBF

  12. Daniel Dubois becomes the IBF heavyweight world champion

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

  13. Daniel Dubois beats Anthony Joshua via knockout 5/12

    Heavyweight · IBF

  14. 2025

  15. Oleksandr Usyk beats Daniel Dubois via knockout 5/12

    Heavyweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The RingNew IBF champion

    Source: Usyk knocks out Dubois to become undisputed heavyweight champion(opens in a new tab), ESPN, Nick Parkinson,

  16. 2026

  17. Oleksandr Usyk vacates the IBF heavyweight world title

    Heavyweight · IBF

    Source: Heavyweight champion Usyk says vacating heavyweight world title belts(opens in a new tab), Al Jazeera, AFP,

  18. Filip Hrgovic beats Moses Itauma via technical knockout 9/12

    Heavyweight · IBFNew champion

    Source: Filip Hrgovic stuns Britain’s Moses Itauma to claim IBF world heavyweight title(opens in a new tab), The Guardian, Donald McRae,