A look at the history of IBO heavyweight champions
By Jared Parry
The heavyweight division has always proven to be the biggest draw of all the weight classes. Over the years, it’s seen some brutal knockouts, shocking upsets and some of the most entertaining fights which always capture the public’s attention.
The recognition of the IBO title in the heavyweight division is a testament to the title’s prestige, as the IBO title has been present in some of the most historic moments in boxing’s glamour division for more than two decades.
The IBO title was seen in one of the biggest fights in 1999. The stakes were heightened in the rematch between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield with the presence of the IBO belt. Lewis would be the man to have his hand raised in Las Vegas and begin his reign.
Lewis defended the belt three times, stopping Michael Grant in two rounds in Madison Square Garden, blasting Frans Botha out in two rounds in London, and defeating David Tua in Las Vegas before one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history occurred.
Lewis collided with Hasim Rahman in South Africa on April 22nd, 2001, and Rahman shocked the world, stopping Lewis in the fifth round to become IBO heavyweight champion. However, Lewis took on Rahman in an immediate rematch and overturned the loss with an iconic knockout in the fourth round to become the first two-time IBO heavyweight champion.
Lewis went on to defend the IBO title in one of the highest-grossing boxing events in history when he knocked out Mike Tyson in Tennessee in 2002. Lewis became the first IBO heavyweight titleholder to retire as champion, defeating Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles in 2003 by stoppage before retiring from boxing.
The beginning of the longest reign of the IBO title began in 2006 when Wladimir Klitschko defeated Chris Byrd by seventh-round TKO to pick up the IBO title in Germany.
The IBO reign of ‘Dr Steelhammer’ spanned over nine years, and consisted of a monstrous 18 successful defences, including victories over former champion Hasim Rahman, David Haye, Alexander Povetkin, Calvin Brock, Samuel Peter, Kubrat Pulev, and Ruslan Chagaev to namea few.
Klitschko’s historic reign came to an end on November 28th, 2015, as Tyson Fury would put in a sensational performance to unseat the Ukrainian as IBO champion. Following this, Tyson Fury took a hiatus from boxing due to difficulties outside of the ring.
Klitschko had the chance to regain the IBO belt once it became vacant, as it was on the line when he faced Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium on April 29th, 2017. Klitschko came up short on this night in an epic and a memorable performance by both fighters, which saw Joshua crowned IBO champion following an 11th-round TKO.
The IBO reign of Joshua consisted of three defences, stopping Carlos Takam, outpointing Joseph Parker, and stopping Alexander Povetkin. Joshua’s reign then took a turn similar to Lewis’ reign, as he travelled to Madison Square Garden to face underdog, Andy Ruiz Jr. Ruiz Jr provided one of boxing’s biggest shocks, handing Joshua the first defeat of his career, stopping the Englishman in seven rounds, and becoming IBO world champion.
Joshua immediately activated his rematch clause and ripped back the belts from Ruiz Jr, as he put on a mature performance, which saw him cruise to a wide points decision and regain the crown. Joshua
successfully defeated Kubrat Pulev by stoppage in his first defence of his second IBO reign.
However, Joshua would lose all of his belts including the IBO title in his next bout, as he was outboxed by Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian travelled to London in 2021 and put on a masterful performance to unseat ‘AJ’ as IBO champion. The pair ran it back in Saudi Arabia in August 2022, and once again Usyk’s skills shone through, as he successfully defended all of the belts, including the IBO, with a wide points victory.
Usyk is now gearing up for his second defence of the IBO title and his unified reign, as he faces another Englishman in Daniel Dubois, as they collide on August 26th in Wroclaw, Poland.
The IBO’s prominence in the heavyweight division cannot be denied, as the IBO title has been a part of some of the most unforgettable moments in the recent history of the heavyweight division, and is highly valued, defended and respected by all the warriors who have been crowned IBO champion. The IBO will continue to support and crown champions who will proudly hold the IBO title and be a major part of huge fights in the division for many years to come.
Did you know… Michigan's Pinklon Thomas was the first boxer in history to be crowned IBO World heavyweight champion on November 14, 1992. He defeated Craig Payne by split decision in South Carolina, America.
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