Open Boxing

IBU heavyweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1913. Last held in 1937; no longer contested.

World title bouts
21
Champions
9
Longest reign (Jack Dempsey, 1919–1926)
7 years, 2 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Jack Dempsey, 1919–1926)
5

Last champion

Max Schmeling1937–1937

Reigns and world title bouts

Oct 1932 – Oct 1937

IBU
Jack SharkeyPrimo CarneraMax BaerGeorge Godfrey
1933AprJulOct1934AprJulOct1935AprJulOct1936AprJulOct1937AprJulOct
19201930

World title bout

Reigns by length

  1. 1Jack DempseyIBU1919–19267 years, 2 months · 5 successful defences
  2. 2Jess WillardIBU1915–19194 years, 2 months · 1 successful defence
  3. 3Max SchmelingIBU1930–19322 years · 1 successful defence
  4. 4Gene TunneyIBU1926–19281 year, 10 months · 2 successful defences
  5. 5Primo CarneraIBU1933–19341 year, 5 months · 2 successful defences
  6. 6Jack JohnsonIBU1913–19151 year, 4 months · 1 successful defence
  7. 7Jack SharkeyIBU1932–19331 year · 0 successful defences
  8. 8George GodfreyIBU1935–193610 months · 0 successful defences
  9. 9Max BaerIBU1934–19354 months · 0 successful defences
  10. 10Max SchmelingIBU1937–19371 month · 0 successful defences

From the archive

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1913

  2. Jack Johnson becomes the IBU heavyweight world champion

    Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  3. Jack Johnson and Battling Jim Johnson draw via points decision 10/10

    Heavyweight · IBU and NYSAC

  4. 1914

  5. Jack Johnson beats Frank Moran via points decision 20/20

    Heavyweight · IBU and NYSAC

  6. 1915

  7. Jess Willard beats Jack Johnson via knockout 26/45

    Heavyweight · IBU and NYSACNew IBU champion

  8. 1916

  9. Jess Willard beats Frank Moran via newspaper decision 10/10

    Heavyweight · IBU and NYSAC

  10. 1919

  11. Jack Dempsey beats Jess Willard via corner retirement 3/12

    Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  1. 1920

  2. Jack Dempsey beats Billy Miske via knockout 3/10

    Heavyweight · IBU and NYSAC

  3. Jack Dempsey beats Bill Brennan via knockout 12/15

    Heavyweight · IBU and NYSAC

  4. 1921

  5. Jack Dempsey beats Georges Carpentier via knockout 4/12

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and IBU

  6. 1923

  7. Jack Dempsey beats Tommy Gibbons via points decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingRead 13 articles

  8. Jack Dempsey beats Luis Angel Firpo via knockout 2/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingRead 11 articles

  9. 1926

  10. Gene Tunney beats Jack Dempsey via unanimous decision 10/10

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew IBU champion

  11. 1927

  12. Gene Tunney beats Jack Dempsey via unanimous decision 10/10

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  13. 1928

  14. Gene Tunney beats Tom Heeney via knockout 11/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  15. Gene Tunney’s reign as the IBU heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBU

  1. 1930

  2. Max Schmeling beats Jack Sharkey via disqualification 4/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew IBU champion

  3. 1931

  4. Max Schmeling beats Young Stribling via knockout 15/15

    Heavyweight · IBU, NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  5. 1932

  6. Jack Sharkey beats Max Schmeling via split decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew IBU champion

  7. 1933

  8. Primo Carnera beats Jack Sharkey via knockout 6/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew IBU champion

  9. Primo Carnera beats Paulino Uzcudun via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · IBU and The Ring

  10. 1934

  11. Primo Carnera beats Tommy Loughran via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  12. Max Baer beats Primo Carnera via knockout 11/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring

  13. Primo Carnera’s reign as the IBU heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBU

    Max Baer becomes the IBU heavyweight world champion

    Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  14. 1935

  15. Max Baer’s reign as the IBU heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBU

  16. George Godfrey beats Pierre Charles via points decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  17. 1936

  18. George Godfrey’s reign as the IBU heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBU

  19. 1937

  20. Max Schmeling becomes the IBU heavyweight world champion

    Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  21. Max Schmeling’s reign as the IBU heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · IBU