Open Boxing

IBU light heavyweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1913. Last held in 1938; no longer contested.

World title bouts
12
Champions
6
Longest reign (Sam Langford, 1913–1919)
6 years, 7 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Gustave Roth, 1936–1938)
4

Last champion

Adolf Heuser1938–1938

Reigns and world title bouts

May 1933 – Jun 1938

IBU
Gustave Roth
JulOct1934AprJulOct1935AprJulOct1936AprJulOct1937AprJulOct1938Apr
19201930

World title bout

Reigns by length

  1. 1Sam LangfordIBU1913–19196 years, 7 months · 0 successful defences
  2. 2Georges CarpentierIBU1920–19221 year, 11 months · 1 successful defence
  3. 3Gustave RothIBU1936–19381 year, 6 months · 4 successful defences
  4. 4Battling SikiIBU1922–19231 year, 1 month · 0 successful defences
  5. 5George NicholsIBU1932–19328 months · 0 successful defences
  6. 6Adolf HeuserIBU1938–19387 days · 0 successful defences

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1913

  2. Sam Langford becomes the IBU light heavyweight world champion

    Light Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  3. 1919

  4. Sam Langford’s reign as the IBU light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  1. 1920

  2. Georges Carpentier beats Battling Levinsky via knockout 4/12

    Light Heavyweight · IBU and NYSACNew IBU champion

  3. 1922

  4. Georges Carpentier beats Ted Kid Lewis via knockout 1/20

    Light Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and IBU

  5. Battling Siki beats Georges Carpentier via knockout 6/20

    Light Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and IBUNew IBU champion

  6. 1923

  7. Battling Siki’s reign as the IBU light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  1. 1932

  2. George Nichols beats Dave Maier via split decision 10/10

    Light Heavyweight · IBU and WBANew IBU champion

  3. George Nichols’s reign as the IBU light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  4. 1936

  5. Gustave Roth beats Heinz Lazek via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  6. Gustave Roth beats Adolf Witt via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  7. 1937

  8. Gustave Roth and Antonio Rodrigues draw via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  9. Gustave Roth beats Merlo Preciso via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  10. Gustave Roth beats John Andersson via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  11. Gustave Roth and Karel Sys draw via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  12. 1938

  13. Gustave Roth beats Jupp Besselmann via points decision 15/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBU

  14. Adolf Heuser beats Gustave Roth via knockout 7/15

    Light Heavyweight · IBUNew champion

  15. Adolf Heuser’s reign as the IBU light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · IBU