British world boxing champions

Fitzimmons WKO1 Maher

Feb 21, 1896

Bob Fitzsimmons wins the World Heavyweight title in a fight in Langtry, Texas, against the Irish native fighter Peter Maher.

British World Boxing Champions

Period: Feb 21, 1896 to Aug 15, 2010

British Fighters who have won a version of the world boxing championship and their winning fights,

Wells W20 McCormick

Mar 21, 1914

Matt Wells defeats Tom McCormick over 20 rounds to win the World Welterweight Title at the Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Berg WTKO10 Callahan

Feb 18, 1930

Jack 'Kid' Berg beats Mushy Callahan to win the Bational Boxing Association World light welterweight title.

Brown WTKO13 Perez

Oct 31, 1932

Jackie Brown meets Victor 'Young' Perez, of Tunisia for the World flyweight champion, beating him in thirteen rounds when Perez’ corner throw in the towel. Brown is recognized as world flyweight champion by the National Boxing Association of America.

Lynch W15 Montana

Jan 19, 1937

Benny Lynch settles a dispute about who is the best flyweight in the world when he out-points Filipino Small Montana in London in 1936 to claim the undisputed World Flyweight Boxing champion.

Kane W15 Jurich

Sep 21, 1938

Jackie Jurich is floored five times in the fight as Peter Kane wins the World Flyweight title.

Paterson WKO1 Kane

Jun 19, 1943

Jackie Peterson meets Peter Kane, from Golborne in Lancashire for the world fkyweight title. The title fight, held at Hampden Park in Glasgow, lasts only a minute, as Paterson catches Kane early in the first round putting him down twice, before he is counted out the second time. Paterson is the first southpaw to be world flyweight champion.

Monaghan W15 Marino

Jul 16, 1947

John Joseph "Rinty" Monaghan wins the National Boxing Association world crown after outpointing American, Dado Marino at Harringay Stadium for the vacant title.

Mills W15 Lesnevich

Jul 26, 1948

Mills is matched against Gus Lesnevich for his second attempt at the world light-heavyweight title. Mills is in much better shape for this fight, held at the White City Stadium, London. The fight lasts fifteen rounds and Mills boxes well, putting Lesnevich down twice, securing a points decision and the world title.

Turpin W15 Robinson

Jul 10, 1951

World Middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson travels to London and on 10 July 1951 risked his title against Turpin, who won the world title by beating Robinson on a 15-round decision.

Downes WTKO10 Pender

Jul 11, 1961

Terry Downes is rematched against champion Paul Pender in London, and defeats the American convincingly in front of a raucous Wembley crowd to win the World Middleweight title.

Caldwell W15 Halimi

Oct 31, 1961

Belfast-born Johnny Caldwell outpoints Alphonse Halimi to win the World Bantamweight title.

McGowan W15 Burruni

Jun 14, 1966

Walter McGowan meets Salvatore Burruni for the WBC world flyweight championship at the Empire Pool, Wembley, and wins a fifteen-round points decision, despite sustaining a badly gashed eye in the seventh round.

Winstone WTKO9 Seki

Jan 23, 1968

Welshman Howard Winstone wins a share of the vacant featherweight title by stopping Mitsunori Seki of Japan in the 9th round. Referee Roland Dakin, the only ring official under British rules, stops the contest because of a bad cut over Seki's right eye.

Buchanan W15 Laguna

Sep 26, 1970

Scotland's Ken Buchanan comes on strong in the final rounds to wrest the world lightweight title from Panama's Ismael Laguna on a split decision in a spirited 15 round bout. It is close all the way.

Conteh W15 Ahumada

Oct 1, 1974

John Conteh pounds Jorge Ahumada's left eye shut and outpointa the Argentine over 15 rounds to win the WBC's light heavyweight championship. The British crowd goes wild in the closing rounds of the fight, marked by two-fisted exchanges, as Conteh finishes strong. It is a savage battle from the opening bell, with Conteh and Ahumada pounding each other with a variety of blows.

Stracey WTKO6 Napoles

Dec 6, 1975

Stracey gets off the floor in the 1st and proceeds to close and cut Napoles so severely that the bout is stopped, securing him the WBC welterweight title.

Hope WTKO9 Mattioli

Mar 4, 1979

Maurice Hope faces the WBC light middleweight champion Rocky Mattioli in Sanremo, Italy and becomes a world champion by knocking his oopponent out in the ninth round.

Watt TKO12 Pitalua

Apr 17, 1979

Jim Watt wins the vacant WBC lightweight title with a 12th round stoppage over Alfredo Pitalua at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.

Minter W15 Antuofermo

Jun 28, 1980

The fight is a contrast in styles, with Minter, a classic standup boxer, using right jabs to keep Antuofermo at bay. The two fighters, both known as heavy bleeders, suffer cuts over their eyes but the bout is remarkably free of blood. The points decision is at odds with the scoring of many ringsiders. Minter puts these questions to rest with an 8th round TKO of Antuofermo three months later in his first defence.

Magri WTKO7 Mercedes

Mar 15, 1983

Tunisian-born and London-raised Charlie Magri captures the World Boxing Council Flyweight title after the bout is stopped due to a cut sustained by champion Eleoncio Mercedes.

Sutherland W15 Singletary

Mar 28, 1984

Murray Sutherland captures the Vacant IBF Super Middleweight Title with a decision win over Ernie Singletary.

McGuigan W15 Pedroza

Jun 8, 1985

WBA world featherweight champion, Eusebio Pedroza of Panama, comes to London to put his title on the line at Loftus Road football stadium. McGuigan becomes the champion by dropping Pedroza in round seven and winning a unanimous fifteen-round decision in a fight refereed by Stanley Christodoulou. McGuigan and his wife are feted in a public reception through the streets of Belfast that attracts several hundred thousand spectators.

Andries W12 Williamson

Apr 30, 1986

The Hackney Rock wins the WBC Light Heavyweight Title with a split 12 round decision over American JB Williamson.

Honeyghan WRTD6 Curry

Sep 27, 1986

Underdog Lloyd Honeyghan defeats Don "The Cobra" Curry to capture the undisputed world welterweight championship. Curry, with a split lip and a bad cut near his left eye, quits in his corner following the 6th round. Honeyghan vacates the WBA belt in protest against apartheid, as his WBA mandated defense was to be against South African Harold Volbrecht.

Marsh WTKO10 Manley

Mar 4, 1987

Terry Marsh meets the American, Joe Manley for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Light-Welterweight title. The fight is at his home town of Basildon, and Marsh wins on a technical knockout in the tenth round.

McKenzie WTKO11 Bohol

Oct 5, 1988

Duke McKenzie wins the IBF World Flyweight Title on 5 October 1988 with an 11th round knockout over Filipino Rolando Bohol.

McCrory W12 Lumumba

Jun 3, 1989

Glenn McCrory challenges Patrick Lumumba for the vacant IBF World cruiserweight title, winning the belt via a unanimous points decision.

McAuley

Jun 7, 1989

Northern Ireland's Dave McAuley defeats Duke McKenzie to win the IBF flyweight title.

Benn WTKO8 DeWitt

Aug 29, 1990

Benn travels to Atlantic City to take the WBO MIddleweight title from Doug DeWitt. Benn is knocked down in the 2nd and returns the favour by florring DeWitt once in the 3rd and three times in the 8th round.

Eubank WTKO10 Benn

Nov 18, 1990

Eubank's constant pressure and surprisingly hard punching, combined with his unusual style, slowly but surely wears Benn down, as Michael Watson had done 18 months earlier. The fight ends by TKO at 2:56 in round 9 of 12.

Eubank WTKO12 Watson

Sep 21, 1991

Behind on all scorecards, Eubank mouns a comeback in Round 10 to protect his unbeaten record. Watson, after soaking up a desperate attack, has Eubank on the canvas with a short right near the end of round 11. Eubank responds with a brutal uppercut which knocks Watson down. Watson fails to recover before the 12th and is stopped by a barrage of punches. Sadly, Watson is badly injured and has to undergoe brain surgery. In the years since he has made a remarkable and inspiring recovery.

Hodkinson WTKO3 Villasana

Nov 13, 1991

Paul Hodkinson comprehensively beats Marcps Villasana in a re-match for the WBC featherweight title. Hoko had lost a bid for the vacant title against Villasana the previous year.

Clinton WSD12 Perez

Mar 18, 1992

Patrick ("Pat") Clinton defeats Isidro Perez at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow to win the WBO flyweight title.

McMillan W12 Stecca

May 16, 1992

At the Alexandra Pavilion, Colin McMillan (125lbs) beats Maurizio Stecca (125½lbs) by unanimous decision over 12 rounds to capture the WBO Featherweight title.

Robinson W12 Davison

Apr 17, 1993

Robinson, considered just a journeyman, accepts the fight at 48 hours' notice after champion Ruben Dario Palacios, due to defend against Davison, fails an AIDS test. Robinson wins by scores of 115-114, 115-114 and 116-114.

Lewis W12 Tucker

May 8, 1993

After being awarded the WBC belt after Riddick Bowe unceremoniously dumps it into the bin, Lewis outpoints former IBF champion Tony Tucker in his first defence, knocking him down in the 3rd and 9th round.

Weir WTKO7 Martinez

May 15, 1993

Paul Weir defeats Fernando Martinez in seven rounds at the Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow to win the WBO Minimumweight title.

Pyatt W12 Kalambay

May 19, 1993

Chris Pyatt wins the WBO Middlewight title in the last fight of Sumbu Kalambay's illustrious career in front of a home crowd at Granby Halls, Leicester.

Loughran W12 Smith

Oct 16, 1993

Eamonn Loughran beats Lorenzo Smith by UD unanimous decision at the Kings Hall, Belfast to win the Vacant WBO Welterweight title.

Hide WKO7 Bentt

Mar 19, 1994

In the first defence of his WBO Heavyweight title, which he won by way of shock KO over Tommy Morrison, Michael Bentt is defeated by Herbie Hide and floored in rounds 3 and 7. Following this fight Bentt is in a coma for 4 days before making a full recovery, but never boxing again.

Benn WKO10 McLellan

Feb 25, 1995

Nigel Benn 168lbs beat Gerald McClellan 165lbs by KO in round 10 of 12. In an extremely exciting fight, McClellan dropped Benn, who went out of the ring, in round one. They continued battling, but the fight had a devastating ending. McClellan, after dropping Benn again in round eight, took a knee in round ten even though he was not being hit with any punches. He was counted out, arose, then collapsed in his corner. McClellan had emergency surgery to remove a bloodclot from his brain. Boxrec

McCullough WSD12 Yakushiji

Jul 30, 1995

Belfast's Wayne McCullough beats Yasuei Yakushiji by split decision to win the World Boxing Council Bantamweight title at the Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Bruno W12 McCall

Sep 2, 1995

Bruno finally becames world champion by outpointing Oliver McCall over twelve rounds. Completely spent by the last quarter of the fight, Bruno hangs on to earn a unanimous points decision.

Hamed WTKO8 Robinson

Sep 30, 1995

Hamed outspeeds and overpowers Welshman Robinson to sieze the WBO Featherweight crown and start his glittering championship reign. Brave Robinson is down in the 5th and 8th.

Jones WMD12 Phillips

Nov 22, 1995

Paul Silky Jones is knocked down once in the 1st and penalized one point in the 9th for a headbutt but manages to eke out a majority decision over Verno Phillips.

Regan W12 Jimenez

Apr 26, 1996

Robbie Regan outpoints Daniel Jimenez at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff to win the WBO bantamweight title. Sadly this was to be his last fight.

Akinwande WKO3 Williams

Jun 29, 1996

Jeremy Williams comes in as a late replacement for Alexander Zolkin and is levelled by Akinwande, who wins the WBO Heavyweight title.

Reid WTKO7 Nardiello

Oct 12, 1996

Reid travels into hostile territory in Italy to take the World Boxing Council Super Middleweight Title from Vincenzo Nardiello.

Thompson WSD12 Rocchigiani

Oct 4, 1997

Carl Thompson's power proves the difference as he beats Ralph Rocchigiani who is making the 7th defence of his WBO Cruiserweight championship.

Calzaghe W12 Eubank

Oct 11, 1997

Joe Calzaghe defeats Chris Eubank to win the vacant World Boxing Organization Super Middleweight Title over 12 rounds. Eubank is floored in rounds 1 and 10.

Jones W12 Palacio

Dec 19, 1997

At the New London Arena, Millwall, Barry Jones wins the vacant World Boxing Organization Junior Lightweight Title with a victory over Wilson Palacio.

Woodhall W12 Malinga

Mar 27, 1998

Woodhall moves up in weight and captures the WBC super middleweight title with a decision win over South African Thulani Malinga.

Nelson WTKO5 Thompson

Mar 27, 1999

Carl Thompson loses his World Boxing Organization Junior Heavyweight Title in his 3rd defence against Sheffield's Johnny Nelson.

Ingle W12 Medina

Nov 13, 1999

Paul "The Yorkshire Hunter Ingle meets IBF Featherweight Title holder Manuel Medina. Ingle knocks Medina down twice in the second and once in the 10th. He seems to be in control but in round 12 Medina takes over and knocks Ingle down. Ingle is close to being stopped but manages to survive and get the win, as well the IBF featherweight belt.

Catley WTKO12 Beyer

May 6, 2000

Glenn Catley beats Markus Beyer by TKO at 0:53 in round 12 of 12.

Harrison W12 Chacon

Oct 19, 2002

At the Braehead Arena, Glasgow, local boy Scott Harrison widely outpints Julio Pablo Chacon to win the World Boxing Organization Featherweight Title. It is Chacon's third defence.

Woods WTKO5 Hoye

Mar 4, 2005

Ricardo Hoye never goes down during the fight and is stopped on his feet as Richie Woodhall siezes the vacant IBF Light Heavyweight Title.

Hatton WRDT11 Tszyu

Jun 4, 2005

Hatton defeats Kostya Tszyu, widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world by a technical knockout after the Australian fails to answer the bell for the 12th round. Hatton was a heavy underdog for this fight.

Maccarinelli WTKO9 Dominguez

Jul 8, 2006

Welshman Enzo "Big Mac" Maccarinelli wins the interim WBO cruiserweight title with a victory over Argentinian Marcelo Fabian Dominguez.

Witter W12 Corley

Sep 15, 2006

Junior Witter claim the vacant WBC light welterweight title when he outpoints American Demarcus Corley at the Alexandra Palace in Wood Green. The reigning champ, Floyd Mayweather Jr., had relinquished the belt in order to move up to welterweight.

Rees W12 M'baye

Jul 21, 2007

Gavin Rees outpoints Souleymane M'baye to win the WBA World light welterweight title.

Haye WTKO7 Mormeck

Nov 10, 2007

David Haye travels to his opponent's backyard to win the WBC, WBA & Ring Cruiserweight titles from Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck .

Arthur promoted from interim champion

May 14, 2008

Alex Arthur is announced as the WBO Junior lightweight champion after being promoted from interim status following his win over Koba Gogoladzer. The decision is taken by the governing body after Joan Guzmán vacates

Cook W12 Arthur

Sep 9, 2008

On the preliminary bout to the Khan-Prescott main event in a fight card held at MEN arena in Manchester, England, Nicky Cook of Essex, England, wins the WBO Super Featherweight Championship in a minor upset over defending champion Alex Arthur of Scotland over twelve hard fought rounds.

Froch W12 Pascal

Dec 6, 2008

Froch fights Canadian Jean Pascal for the vacant WBC super middleweight title and wins after a hard-fought 12-round brawl.
Froch wins a unanimous decision before 7,000 fans in his home city. The judges score it 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 for the British fighter.

Khan W12 Kotelnik

Jul 18, 2009

Khan moves up to the light welterweight to fight Andreas Kotelnik at the MEN Arena in Manchester for the WBA World light welterweight title. Khan wins by unanimous decision, 120–108, 118–111, 118–111, and becomes the third-youngest Briton to win a world title, at the age of 22.

Haye W12 Valuev

Nov 7, 2009

In a true David vs Goliath battle, the smaller David Haye outsmarts and outspeeds the lumbering Nikolai Valuev to win a wide decision, even wobbling his Russian opponent in the final round.

Burns W12 Martinez

Sep 4, 2010

Scot Ricky Burns climbs off the canvas to shock Roman Martinez and win the WBO super-featherweight title in Glasgow.