Boxing chronology

At the request of a couple of users, here's an at-a-glance guide to some key moments in boxing history. This was published in 1999 by Harry Mullan, but I will add any other reasonable suggestions from posters for events that happened after that year, as well as ones they think should be included from before then.

1681 (January) First known newspaper report of a prize fight appears in the 'Protestant Mercury.'

1743 Jack Broughton introduces the first set of formal rules to govern prize fights.

1810 (December 18) Tom Cribb beats Tom Molineaux, a former slave, in the first major international match.

1838 London Prize Ring Rules are established.

1860 (April 17) Tom Sayers fights a 42-round draw with John Carmel Heenan of America in the last great prize fight to be staged in England.

1867 The Queensberry Rules are published by John Graham Chambers.

1882 (February 7) John L. Sullivan beats Paddy Ryan in nine rounds to become the last bare-knuckle Heavyweight champion.

1889 (July 8) Sullivan stops Jake Kilrain in 75 rounds in the last bare-knuckle title fight.

1891 The National Sporting Club is formed in London: it will administer the sport in Britain until 1929.

1892 (September 7) James J. Corbett knocks out Sullivan in 21 rounds in the first gloved Heavyweight title fight.

1897 (March 17) Bob Fitzsimmons becomes the only English-born world Heavyweight champion by knocking out Corbett in the 14th round. The fight also marks the birth of the movie age, as it is the first to be filmed.

1907 (December 2) The world Heavyweight title is contested outside America for the first time as Tommy Burns beats Gunner Moir in London.

1908 (December 26) Jack Johnson, the first black Heavyweight champion, takes the title from Tommy Burns in Sydney. Race riots ensure across America, and the hunt begins for a 'Great White Hope' to beat him.

1909 (April 17) Sam McVey and Joe Jeannette set a record of 46 knockdowns in their 49 round fight, which Jeannette won via stoppage when McVey collapsed from exhaustion. McVey visited the canvas 28 times, Jeannette 18.
(September) 'Boxing', a weekly paper, makes its first appearance. It survives today as 'Boxing News', the oldest publication in the world devoted exclusively to the sport.

1910 (July 4) Jack Johnson stops James J. Jeffries in a much-publicized 'black versus white' battle.
(December 26) Jimmy Wilde, the first great Flyweight champion, makes his pro debut.

1911 The Frawley Law legalizes boxing in New York. The International Boxing Union (IBU) is formed.

1913 (October 6) Ted 'Kid' Lewis wins the first of his many titles, beating Alec Lambert for the British Featherweight championship.

1920 The New York State Athletic Commission takes over the running of boxing in the state, and will become the most influential governing body in the world. The National Boxing Association (NBA) is formed at a meeting in New York.

1921 (July 2) Jack Dempsey knocks out Georges Carpentier in the first fight to draw a million dollars.

1923 (March 17) Mike McTigue outpoints Battling Siki over 20 rounds to win the world Light-Heavyweight title in the last world title bout to go more than 15 rounds.
(May 6) Sam Langford and Andres Balsa contest the last recorded 'fight to the finish.' Langford wins via a knockout in 3 rounds.

1926 (October 22) Harry Greb, former Middleweight champion and veteran of 299 fights, dies following an eye operation.

1927 (September 22) Jack Dempsey fails to regain the Heavyweight title from Gene Tunney in the famous 'Battle of the Long Count.'

1929 The British Boxing Board of Control is formed.

1931 (April 24) Tony Canzoneri wins his third world title by knocking out Light-Welterweight champion Jack 'Kid' Berg. Jack Solomons, the most flamboyant and successful British promoter, stages his first show. He loses £275.

1933 (June 23) Barney Ross wins the first of three world titles (Lightweight, Light-Welterweight and Welterweight).
(June 29) The Mob's proudest achievement: Primo Carnera takes the Heavyweight title from Jack Sharkey.

1935 (June 13) James J. Braddock wins the Heavyweight title in a huge upset, outpointing Max Baer.

1937 (August 30) Tommy Farr of Wales, whom the Americans considered a no-hoper, defies Joe Louis for the full 15 rounds in Louis' first defence of the Heavyweight title.

1938 (April 4) Television comes to boxing as the Len Harvey versus Jock McAvoy fight becomes the first to be shown on TV.
(August 17) Henry Armstrong beats Lou Ambers to become the only man in history to hold three titles simultaneously: Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight.

1939 (September 30) The last scheduled 20-rounds world title fight takes place: Joe Louis knocks out Bob Pastor in the 11th round.

1941 (June 18) Joe Louis scores his finest victory when, trailing on points, he knocks out Billy Conn in the 13th round to retain the Heavyweight title.

1948 (July 26) Freddie Mills ends Gus Lesnevich's long spell as Light-Heavyweight champion in London.
(October 29) Willie Pep's fabulous reign as Featherweight champion is ended by Sandy Saddler.
The European Boxing Union (EBU) is formed.

1949 (October 27) Marcel Cerdan, the best and most popular European fighter since Georges Carpentier, dies in a plane crash on his way to America for a Middleweight title rematch with Jake La Motta.

1951 (February 14) Ray Robinson wins the first of his five Middleweight titles, stopping Jake La Motta in 13 rounds.
(July 10) Randolph Turpin scores a famous victory by dethroning Robinson in London. His reign is short lived, lasting only 64 days, losing the title back to Robinson in September.

1952 (September 23) Rocky Marciano wins the Heavyweight title from Jersey Joe Walcott.
(November 15) Australia's first undisputed world champion, Jimmy Carruthers, knocks out Vic Toweel in the first round to win the Bantamweight title.

1956 (April 27) Rocky Marciano retires as Heavyweight champion, the only one to remain undefeated throughout his entire career.

1959 (June 26) Ingemar Johansson brings the Heavyweight title back to Europe by stopping Floyd Patterson in New York.

1960 (March 16) Gabriel 'Flash' Elorde wins the recently revived 130 lb title. He will retain it 10 times, and earn the division general acceptance.
(April 16) Thailand's first champion, Pone Kingpetch, takes the Flyweight title from long-reigning Pascual Perez.
(June 20) Floyd Patterson becomes the first to regain the Heavyweight title, knocking out Ingemar Johansson in five rounds.

1961 (October 28) Joe Brown sets a Lightweight record by retaining the title for the 11th and final time, beating Bert Somodio on points.

1962 (April 2) Benny Paret dies after being stopped in a Welterweight title defence by Emile Griffith.
(August) The National Boxing Association changes its name to the World Boxing Association (WBA): the Alphabet Boys are born.

1963 (February 14) The World Boxing Council (WBC) is formed in Mexico City.
(July 22) Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson become the first to earn over $1million when they each get $1,434,000 for their Heavyweight title rematch. This is also the first Heavyweight title fight to be staged in Las Vegas.

1964 (February 25) Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) shocks the world by beating Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight title.

1971 (March 8) Muhammad Ali loses for the first time as Joe Frazier retains the Heavyweight title in New York.
(March 16) Henry Cooper, Britain's longest-serving Heavyweight champion and the only boxer to win three Lonsdale belts outright, retires after a controversial loss to Joe Bugner.

1972 (June 26) Roberto Duran wins his first world title, beating Lightweight champion Ken Buchanan in 13 rounds in New York.

1974 (October 30) Muhammad Ali once again stuns the boxing world, knocking out the supposedly invincible George Foreman in 8 rounds in Zaire to regain the Heavyweight title.

1976 (March 6) Wilfred Benitez of Puerto Rico becomes the youngest world champion in history when, aged 17 years and 6 months, he takes the WBA Light-Welterweight title from Antonio Cervantes.

1977 (August 29) Carlos Monzon, the most successful Middleweight champion in history with 14 defences, retires as undefeated champion.

1978 (June 9) Larry Holmes launches one of the great championship reigns by beating Ken Norton for the WBC Heavyweight title.

1981 (June 20) Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello wins his third world title, outpointing Scotland's Jim Watt for the WBC Lightweight title.

1982 (August 12) Featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez, a brilliant Mexican, dies in a car crash just weeks after retaining his WBC title against future champion Azumah Nelson.

1983 The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is formed by a breakaway group from the WBA.
(April) Wilfredo Gomez relinquishes the WBC Super-Bantamweight title after a record 17 defences.

1985 (June 8) Ireland's most successful fighter, Barry McGuigan, wins the WBA Featherweight title from Eusebio Pedroza, making his 20th defence.

1986 (November 22) Mike Tyson becomes the youngest Heavyweight champion by taking the WBC title from Trevor Berbick at the age of 20 years and 5 months.

1987 (April 6) Ray Leonard ends Marvin Hagler's reign as Middleweight champion after 12 successful defences.

1988 (April 9) Evander Holyfield unifies the Cruiserweight titles for the only time in the division's history.
(November 4) Thomas Hearns becomes the first to win titles in five divisions, beating his arch-rival Ray Leonard to the record by three days.

1990 (February 11) Buster Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson in the biggest shock in boxing history.
(July 28) Dennis Andries makes British boxing history by winning the WBC Light-Heavyweight title for the third time, knocking out Jeff Harding in seven rounds.

1992 (October 15) Duke McKenzie takes the WBO Super-Bantamweight title from Jesse Benavides to become the first British boxer to claim world titles in three divisions.

1993 (November 6) Evander Holyfield regains the Heavyweight title from Riddick Bowe, in an epic fight interrupted by the arrival in the ring of a para-glider.

1994 (January 29) Julio Cesar Chavez loses the WBC Light-Welterweight title to Frankie Randall. It is his first defeat in 91 fights.
(November 5) George Foreman becomes the oldest-ever Heavyweight champion when, aged 45 years and 10 months, he takes the title from Michael Moorer.

1995 (March 18) Steve Collins wins the WBO title, and ends Chris Eubank's 43-fight unbeaten record, to become Super-Middleweight champion.
(September 2) Frank Bruno wins a Heavyweight title at the fourth attempt, outpointing Oliver McCall to become WBC champion.

1996 (March 16) Mike Tyson regains the WBC title by stopping Frank Bruno.

1997 (April 12) Oscar De la Hoya wins his 4th world title, still only 24 years old.

1999 (March 13) Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield draw their unification Heavyweight title fight.

2003 (March 1) Roy Jones Jr outpoints John Ruiz for the WBA Heavyweight title, becoming the first former Middleweight champion to hold a Heavyweight title since Bob Fitzsimmons 106 years earlier.

2007 (May 5) Floyd Mayweather Jr beats Oscar De la Hoya on points for the WBC Light-Middleweight title in a fight which set records for live gate ($19million) and revenue ($165million).

2011 (May 21) Bernard Hopkins becomes the oldest man to ever win a world title, outscoring Jean Pascal for the WBC Light-Heavyweight belt.

Excellent stuff Chris the only one I think worthy of inclusion would be the last fight to the finish, although the date escapes me. Think it may have involved Langford but may be way off on that one. All told not much help that was it!

01 March 2003: The GOAT Roy Jones Jr. becomes the first man since Bob Fitzsimmons to capture titles at Middleweight and Heavyweight.

05 May 2007: Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather break live gate ($19m) and revenue ($165m) records in their superfight.

I think the last scheduled fight to the finish ended in the third. Langford-Balsa 6th May 1923.

More help than you think Jeff, we need those kind of suggestions. Will let it run for a few days while people come up with some others, and if the general feeling is that they should be added I'll stick them on.

Truth be told, I think Mullan (R.I.P) is a wee bit biased towards certain British events here, though I suppose that's understandable.

Cheers Scott, was relatively certain it was Langford so sounds about right, two excellent suggestions BTW.

For a slightly more obscure one Liston Patterson II was the first heavyweight title in Vegas, given how prevalent they are now may be worth inclusion. Also one that may be worth considering is the Jack Johnson Jim Johnson heavyweight fight, first contested between two black fighters.

Liston-Patterson II is mentioned as it goes, Rowley, but for the fact that it was the first fight in which both men secured a purse of over $1million. Still, could certainly add your Vegas tilt to that one.

Collins jr and Resto may deserve a mention as well

13th November 2010. Manny Pacquiao became 2.66 times as good as Henry Armstrong.

Scottrf wrote:13th November 2010. Manny Pacquiao became 2.66 times as good as Henry Armstrong.

Good point, Scott. Will add that one later on, but will round it down to a flat 2.5 times as good because of the catchweight. Think it's only fair.

1917 September 6, Charley Burley born.

88Chris05 wrote:

Scottrf wrote:13th November 2010. Manny Pacquiao became 2.66 times as good as Henry Armstrong.

Good point, Scott. Will add that one later on, but will round it down to a flat 2.5 times as good because of the catchweight. Think it's only fair.

1978 December 17th Greatest fighter in the history of the universe, Emmanuel Pacquiao is born.

1977 February 24th Greatest ducker in the history of the universe, Floyd Mayweather Jr is born.

It wouldn't be right without these 2 dates.

I'll get my coat

Nice work Chris.

Now, while I realise you have taken it from something written over a decade ago, should the following sentence be changed?

1988 (April 9) Evander Holyfield unifies the Cruiserweight titles for the only time in the division's history.

I had thought that David Haye has also achieved this feat, but when I looked (on wiki, not the best...) he wasn't there. I was just left confused. Did he or didn't he?

Anyway, Haye or no Haye, there was another bloke called O'Neil Bell who did it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neil_Bell

Please don't take this as criticism mate, I just thought the sentence might be in need of amending (to first time maybe) but I might be completely wrong. Cheers.

Well depends on your definition of unifying as Bell wasn't in possession of the WBO much like Haye didn't hold the IBF belt when he unified the division.

Technically you only need two belts to be 'unified' champion.

will tyson fury get a place if he beats rogan and holds the british, commonwealth, irish and celtic titles all at once?

Great timeline, loved reading through it.

Wasn't there a bout between Jeanette and Mcvey that lasted about 40 rounds and they had 20 something knockdowns each? Is that worthy of mention?

1974 October 30 possibly most famous fight ever, Rumble in the Jungle Ali became Heavyweight World CHamp again

Maybe have Ali v Spinks two too as he became the first ever triple champ

Hopkins vs Pascal 2, oldest man to win a lineal world title

Il Gialloblu wrote:Nice work Chris.

Now, while I realise you have taken it from something written over a decade ago, should the following sentence be changed?

1988 (April 9) Evander Holyfield unifies the Cruiserweight titles for the only time in the division's history.

I had thought that David Haye has also achieved this feat, but when I looked (on wiki, not the best...) he wasn't there. I was just left confused. Did he or didn't he?

Anyway, Haye or no Haye, there was another bloke called O'Neil Bell who did it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neil_Bell

Please don't take this as criticism mate, I just thought the sentence might be in need of amending (to first time maybe) but I might be completely wrong. Cheers.

This was created in 1999 before David Haye unified.

I would say personally that Holyfield is the only man to have unified the division having held all the belts available something no one else has done.

Imperial Ghosty wrote:I would say personally that Holyfield is the only man to have unified the division having held all the belts available something no one else has done.

That's undisputed. Unified is 2 or more.

It's unifying belts not unifying the division.

Thanks to everyone who's contributed with suggestions. I'm happy to keep Holyfield as the sole example of the only man to unify the Cruiserweight division, as he owned every single belt of consequence, which nobody else has done. I accept it's a bit of a sticky subject and open to interpretation, but I see no reason to change it.

Scott, I'll add the first three you suggested; I reckon they meet the criteria of being significant in their own way, and we definiely need some post-1999 events. I'll also add Rowley's take to the already-mentioned Liston-Patterson II fight.

JBW, you're mention of Jeanette and McVea is an excellent one, and I'll add it to the timeline. Ghosty, I like your Hopkins-Pascal II suggestion as well, definitely worth including. AlexHuckerby, on reflection I'd say that Ali-Foreman would be a good addition, too. Thanks everyone, will edit now.

No place on the list for Burley's birth? rubbish timeline

rowley wrote:No place on the list for Burley's birth? rubbish timeline

Well any serious boxing fan would know that off the top of their head without having to check, Jeff. So I don't think it needs including.