Boxing · All-time honour roll

World Heavyweight Championship (WBA)

22 champions

22 with a known date

Murat Gassiev

2026

Metro

—

Date

2026-07-01

David Haye

2009

Metro

—

Date

2009-11-07

Nikolai Valuev (Second reign)

2008

Nikolai Valuev

Metro

—

Date

2008-08-30

Ruslan Chagaev

2007

Metro

—

Date

2007-04-14

Nikolai Valuev

2005

Metro

—

Date

2005-12-17

John Ruiz (Second reign)

2004

John Ruiz

Metro

—

Date

2004-02-20

Roy Jones Jr.

2003

Metro

—

Date

2003-03-01

John Ruiz

2001

Metro

—

Date

2001-03-03

Evander Holyfield (Fourth reign)

2000

Evander Holyfield

Metro

—

Date

2000-08-12

Evander Holyfield (Third reign)

1996

Evander Holyfield

Metro

—

Date

1996-11-09

Bruce Seldon

1995

Metro

—

Date

1995-04-08

James "Bonecrusher" Smith

1986

Metro

—

Date

1986-12-12

Show all 22 rows

Tim Witherspoon (Second reign)

1986

Tim Witherspoon

Metro

—

Date

1986-01-17

Tony Tubbs

1985

Metro

—

Date

1985-04-29

Greg Page

1984

Metro

—

Date

1984-12-01

Gerrie Coetzee

1983

Metro

—

Date

1983-09-23

Michael Dokes

1982

Metro

—

Date

1982-12-10

Mike Weaver

1980

Metro

—

Date

1980-03-31

John Tate

1979

Metro

—

Date

1979-10-20

Muhammad Ali (Third reign)

1978

Muhammad Ali

Metro

—

Date

1978-09-15

Jimmy Ellis

1968

Metro

—

Date

1968-04-27

Ernie Terrell

1965

Metro

—

Date

1965-03-05

Season	Champion	Metro	Date
2026	Murat Gassiev	—	2026-07-01
2009	David Haye	—	2009-11-07
2008	Nikolai Valuev (Second reign) · Nikolai Valuev	—	2008-08-30
2007	Ruslan Chagaev	—	2007-04-14
2005	Nikolai Valuev	—	2005-12-17
2004	John Ruiz (Second reign) · John Ruiz	—	2004-02-20
2003	Roy Jones Jr.	—	2003-03-01
2001	John Ruiz	—	2001-03-03
2000	Evander Holyfield (Fourth reign) · Evander Holyfield	—	2000-08-12
1996	Evander Holyfield (Third reign) · Evander Holyfield	—	1996-11-09
1995	Bruce Seldon	—	1995-04-08
1986	James "Bonecrusher" Smith	—	1986-12-12
1986	Tim Witherspoon (Second reign) · Tim Witherspoon	—	1986-01-17
1985	Tony Tubbs	—	1985-04-29
1984	Greg Page	—	1984-12-01
1983	Gerrie Coetzee	—	1983-09-23
1982	Michael Dokes	—	1982-12-10
1980	Mike Weaver	—	1980-03-31
1979	John Tate	—	1979-10-20
1978	Muhammad Ali (Third reign) · Muhammad Ali	—	1978-09-15
1968	Jimmy Ellis	—	1968-04-27
1965	Ernie Terrell	—	1965-03-05

Champion shows the team's name at the time of victory; where it differs, the current canonical name follows. Metro reflects the era-correct home city. Dates are filled progressively.