Some fighters in boxing history have built their legacy over a longer lifespan than a short bout. When measured by successful world championship defenses, a few stand out from the rest.
In the heavyweight division, Joe Louis remains the champion. The Detroit native has defended the world championship 25 times, a record that has never been threatened in the division. Close behind is Wladimir Klitschko, who has 23 defenses during his reign, followed by Larry Holmes with 20 and Muhammad Ali with 19.
In all areas, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. He sits near the top with 29 successful defenses, spread across multiple weight classes. Argentina’s Omar Narvaez followed suit with 27 defenses in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions.
Mexican Ricardo Lopez compiled 24 defenses during his reign as lightweight and lightweight champion. A group of fighters who achieved 23 defenses, including Dariusz Michalczewski, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Gennadiy Golovkin.
Many champions have finished below that mark. Virgil Hill recorded 22 saves, while Sven Ottke, Joe Calzaghe, Bernard Hopkins, and Pongsaklek Wonjongkam finished with 21.
Among the female fighters, the record is held by Regina Halmich, who has amassed a unique record of 44 championship defenses in multiple divisions. Former welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus also had an impressive run, finishing with 25 defenses.
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Last updated on 01/16/2026