Open Boxing

IBF middleweight world title

Covers world title bouts since 1983. Current champion: Aaron McKenna, since 8th Aug 2026.

World title bouts
86
Champions
20
Longest reign (Bernard Hopkins, 1995–2005)
10 years, 2 months
Most successful defences in one reign (Bernard Hopkins, 1995–2005)
19

Current champion

Aaron McKennaSince 8th Aug 2026 · 3 months · 0 successful defences

Reigns and world title bouts

Jan 2022 – Jan 2027

IBF
Gennadiy GolovkinZhanibek AlimkhanulyMcKenna
AprJulOct2023AprJulOct2024AprJulOct2025AprJulOct2026AprJulOct2027
1990200020102020

World title bout

Reigns by length

  1. 1Bernard HopkinsIBF1995–200510 years, 2 months · 19 successful defences
  2. 2Marvin HaglerIBF1983–19873 years, 10 months · 5 successful defences
  3. 3Arthur AbrahamIBF2005–20093 years, 7 months · 10 successful defences
  4. 4Gennadiy GolovkinIBF2019–20233 years, 4 months · 2 successful defences
  5. 5Michael NunnIBF1988–19912 years, 9 months · 5 successful defences
  6. 6Gennadiy GolovkinIBF2015–20182 years, 7 months · 3 successful defences
  7. 7Zhanibek AlimkhanulyIBF2023–20262 years, 4 months · 2 successful defences
  8. 8Daniel GealeIBF2011–20132 years, 3 months · 4 successful defences
  9. 9James ToneyIBF1991–19931 year, 9 months · 5 successful defences
  10. 10Sebastian SylvesterIBF2009–20111 year, 7 months · 2 successful defences
  11. 11Roy Jones JrIBF1993–19941 year, 5 months · 1 successful defence
  12. 12Frank TateIBF1987–19889 months · 1 successful defence
  13. 13Daniel JacobsIBF2018–20196 months · 0 successful defences
  14. 14Felix SturmIBF2013–20145 months · 0 successful defences
  15. 15Sam SolimanIBF2014–20144 months · 0 successful defences
  16. 16Jermain TaylorIBF2014–20153 months · 0 successful defences
  17. 17David LemieuxIBF2015–20153 months · 0 successful defences
  18. 18Darren BarkerIBF2013–20133 months · 0 successful defences
  19. 19Vincenzo GualtieriIBF2023–20233 months · 0 successful defences
  20. 20Aaron McKennaIBF2026–present3 months · 0 successful defences
  21. 21Canelo AlvarezIBF2019–20192 months · 0 successful defences
  22. 22Jermain TaylorIBF2005–20052 months · 0 successful defences

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1983

  2. Marvin Hagler beats Wilford Scypion via knockout 4/15

    Middleweight · IBF and The RingNew IBF champion

  3. Marvin Hagler beats Roberto Duran via unanimous decision 15/15

    Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  4. 1984

  5. Marvin Hagler beats Juan Domingo Roldan via technical knockout 10/15

    Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  6. Marvin Hagler beats Mustafa Hamsho via knockout 3/15

    Middleweight · WBA, IBF and The Ring

  7. 1985

  8. Marvin Hagler beats Thomas Hearns via knockout 3/12

    Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  9. 1986

  10. Marvin Hagler beats John Mugabi via knockout 11/12

    Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  11. 1987

  12. Marvin Hagler’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  13. Frank Tate beats Michael Olajide via unanimous decision 15/15

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  14. 1988

  15. Frank Tate beats Tony Sibson via knockout 10/15

    Middleweight · IBF

  16. Michael Nunn beats Frank Tate via knockout 9/15

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  17. Michael Nunn beats Juan Domingo Roldan via knockout 8/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  18. 1989

  19. Michael Nunn beats Sumbu Kalambay via knockout 1/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  20. Michael Nunn beats Iran Barkley via majority decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  1. 1990

  2. Michael Nunn beats Marlon Starling via majority decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  3. Michael Nunn beats Donald Curry via knockout 10/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  4. 1991

  5. James Toney beats Michael Nunn via knockout 11/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  6. James Toney beats Reggie Johnson via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  7. James Toney beats Francesco Dell'Aquila via knockout 4/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  8. Mike McCallum and James Toney draw via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  9. 1992

  10. James Toney beats Dave Tiberi via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  11. James Toney beats Glenn Wolfe via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  12. James Toney beats Mike McCallum via majority decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  13. 1993

  14. James Toney’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  15. Roy Jones Jr beats Bernard Hopkins via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  16. 1994

  17. Roy Jones Jr beats Thomas Tate via knockout 2/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  18. Roy Jones Jr’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  19. Bernard Hopkins and Segundo Mercado draw via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  20. 1995

  21. Bernard Hopkins beats Segundo Mercado via knockout 7/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  22. 1996

  23. Bernard Hopkins beats Steve Frank via knockout 1/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  24. Bernard Hopkins beats Joe Lipsey via knockout 4/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  25. Bernard Hopkins beats William Bo James via knockout 11/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  26. 1997

  27. Bernard Hopkins beats John David Jackson via knockout 7/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  28. Bernard Hopkins beats Glen Johnson via knockout 11/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  29. Bernard Hopkins beats Andrew Council via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  30. 1998

  31. Bernard Hopkins beats Simon Brown via knockout 6/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  32. Bernard Hopkins v Robert Allen ends in a no contest

    Middleweight · IBF

  33. 1999

  34. Bernard Hopkins beats Robert Allen via knockout 7/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  35. Bernard Hopkins beats Antwun Echols via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  1. 2000

  2. Bernard Hopkins beats Syd Vanderpool via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  3. Bernard Hopkins beats Antwun Echols via knockout 10/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  4. 2001

  5. Bernard Hopkins beats Keith Holmes via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBC and IBF

  6. Bernard Hopkins beats Felix Trinidad via knockout 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  7. 2002

  8. Bernard Hopkins beats Carl Daniels via corner retirement 10/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  9. 2003

  10. Bernard Hopkins beats Morrade Hakkar via corner retirement 8/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  11. Bernard Hopkins beats William Joppy via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  12. 2004

  13. Bernard Hopkins beats Robert Allen via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  14. Bernard Hopkins beats Oscar De La Hoya via knockout 9/12

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

  15. 2005

  16. Bernard Hopkins beats Howard Eastman via unanimous decision 12/12

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

  17. Jermain Taylor beats Bernard Hopkins via split decision 12/12

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

  18. Jermain Taylor’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  19. Arthur Abraham beats Kingsley Ikeke via knockout 5/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  20. 2006

  21. Arthur Abraham beats Shannan Taylor via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  22. Arthur Abraham beats Kofi Jantuah via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  23. Arthur Abraham beats Edison Miranda via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  24. 2007

  25. Arthur Abraham beats Sebastien Demers via knockout 3/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  26. Arthur Abraham beats Khoren Gevor via knockout 11/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  27. Arthur Abraham beats Wayne Elcock via knockout 5/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  28. 2008

  29. Arthur Abraham beats Elvin Ayala via knockout 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  30. Arthur Abraham beats Raul Marquez via corner retirement 6/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  31. 2009

  32. Arthur Abraham beats Lajuan Simon via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  33. Arthur Abraham beats Mahir Oral via knockout 10/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  34. Arthur Abraham’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  35. Sebastian Sylvester beats Giovanni Lorenzo via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  1. 2010

  2. Sebastian Sylvester beats Billy Lyell via knockout 10/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  3. Sebastian Sylvester and Roman Karmazin draw via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  4. Sebastian Sylvester beats Mahir Oral via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  5. 2011

  6. Daniel Geale beats Sebastian Sylvester via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  7. Daniel Geale beats Eromosele Albert via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  8. 2012

  9. Daniel Geale beats Adama Osumanu via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  10. Daniel Geale beats Felix Sturm via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super and IBF

  11. 2013

  12. Daniel Geale beats Anthony Mundine via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  13. Darren Barker beats Daniel Geale via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  14. Felix Sturm beats Darren Barker via knockout 2/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  15. 2014

  16. Sam Soliman beats Felix Sturm via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  17. Jermain Taylor beats Sam Soliman via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  18. 2015

  19. Jermain Taylor’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  20. David Lemieux beats Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  21. Gennadiy Golovkin beats David Lemieux via knockout 8/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super and IBFNew IBF champion

  22. 2016

  23. Gennadiy Golovkin beats Dominic Wade via knockout 2/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super and IBF

  24. Gennadiy Golovkin beats Kell Brook via knockout 5/12

    Middleweight · WBC and IBF

  25. 2017

  26. Gennadiy Golovkin beats Daniel Jacobs via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC and IBF

  27. Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez draw via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring

  28. 2018

  29. Gennadiy Golovkin’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  30. Daniel Jacobs beats Sergiy Derevyanchenko via split decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  31. 2019

  32. Canelo Alvarez beats Daniel Jacobs via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The RingNew IBF champion

  33. Canelo Alvarez’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  34. Gennadiy Golovkin beats Sergiy Derevyanchenko via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  1. 2020

  2. Gennadiy Golovkin beats Kamil Szeremeta via corner retirement 7/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  3. 2022

  4. Gennadiy Golovkin beats Ryota Murata via technical knockout 9/12

    Middleweight · WBA Super and IBF

  5. 2023

  6. Gennadiy Golovkin’s reign as the IBF middleweight world champion ends

    Middleweight · IBF

  7. Vincenzo Gualtieri beats Esquiva Falcao via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

  8. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly beats Vincenzo Gualtieri via technical knockout 6/12

    Middleweight · IBF and WBONew IBF champion

  9. 2024

  10. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly beats Andrei Mikhailovich via technical knockout 9/12

    Middleweight · IBF

  11. 2025

  12. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly beats Anauel Ngamissengue via technical knockout 5/12

    Middleweight · IBF and WBO

  13. 2026

  14. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is stripped of the IBF middleweight world title

    Middleweight · IBF

    Source: Janibek Alimkhanuly loses middleweight title over violations(opens in a new tab), ESPN, Andreas Hale,

  15. Aaron McKenna beats Etinosa Oliha via unanimous decision 12/12

    Middleweight · IBFNew champion

    Source: Aaron McKenna wins dream homecoming bout against Etinosa Oliha to become IBF middleweight world champion in Dublin(opens in a new tab), Sky Sports, John Dennen,