The Ring middleweight world title
Covers world title bouts since 1924. Last held in 2021; no longer contested.
- World title bouts
- 134
- Champions
- 34
- Longest reign (Carlos Monzon, 1970–1977)
- 6 years, 9 months
- Most successful defences in one reign (Carlos Monzon, 1970–1977)
- 14
Last champion
World title bout
Reigns by length
- 1Carlos MonzonThe Ring 1970–19776 years, 9 months · 14 successful defences
- 2Marvin HaglerThe Ring 1980–19876 years, 6 months · 12 successful defences
- 3Tony ZaleThe Ring 1941–19475 years, 7 months · 1 successful defence
- 4Marcel ThilThe Ring 1932–19375 years, 3 months · 9 successful defences
- 5Mickey WalkerThe Ring 1926–19314 years, 6 months · 4 successful defences
- 6Sergio MartinezThe Ring 2010–20144 years, 1 month · 6 successful defences
- 7Bernard HopkinsThe Ring 2001–20053 years, 9 months · 6 successful defences
- 8Nino BenvenutiThe Ring 1968–19702 years, 8 months · 4 successful defences
- 9Kelly PavlikThe Ring 2007–20102 years, 6 months · 3 successful defences
- 10Canelo AlvarezThe Ring 2015–20182 years, 6 months · 1 successful defence
- 11Canelo AlvarezThe Ring 2018–20212 years, 3 months · 1 successful defence
- 12Jermain TaylorThe Ring 2005–20072 years, 2 months · 3 successful defences
- 13Bobo OlsonThe Ring 1953–19552 years, 1 month · 3 successful defences
- 14Harry GrebThe Ring 1924–19262 years, 1 month · 2 successful defences
- 15Joey GiardelloThe Ring 1963–19651 year, 10 months · 1 successful defence
- 16Sugar Ray RobinsonThe Ring 1958–19601 year, 9 months · 0 successful defences
- 17Sumbu KalambayThe Ring 1988–19901 year, 8 months · 1 successful defence
- 18Jake LaMottaThe Ring 1949–19511 year, 7 months · 2 successful defences
- 19Paul PenderThe Ring 1960–19611 year, 5 months · 3 successful defences
- 20Miguel CottoThe Ring 2014–20151 year, 5 months · 1 successful defence
- 21Sugar Ray RobinsonThe Ring 1951–19521 year, 3 months · 2 successful defences
- 22Hugo CorroThe Ring 1978–19791 year, 2 months · 2 successful defences
- 23Paul PenderThe Ring 1962–19631 year, 1 month · 0 successful defences
- 24Sugar Ray RobinsonThe Ring 1955–19571 year · 1 successful defence
- 25Sugar Ray LeonardThe Ring 1987–198811 months · 0 successful defences
- 26Emile GriffithThe Ring 1966–196711 months · 2 successful defences
- 27Rocky GrazianoThe Ring 1947–194810 months · 0 successful defences
- 28Tiger FlowersThe Ring 1926–19269 months · 1 successful defence
- 29Terry DownesThe Ring 1961–19628 months · 0 successful defences
- 30Marcel CerdanThe Ring 1948–19498 months · 0 successful defences
- 31Vito AntuofermoThe Ring 1979–19808 months · 0 successful defences
- 32Freddie SteeleThe Ring 1937–19388 months · 1 successful defence
- 33Dick TigerThe Ring 1963–19637 months · 1 successful defence
- 34Alan MinterThe Ring 1980–19806 months · 1 successful defence
- 35Dick TigerThe Ring 1965–19666 months · 0 successful defences
- 36Carmen BasilioThe Ring 1957–19586 months · 0 successful defences
- 37Rodrigo ValdesThe Ring 1977–19785 months · 0 successful defences
- 38Nino BenvenutiThe Ring 1967–19675 months · 0 successful defences
- 39Emile GriffithThe Ring 1967–19685 months · 0 successful defences
- 40Sugar Ray RobinsonThe Ring 1951–19514 months · 0 successful defences
- 41Sugar Ray RobinsonThe Ring 1957–19574 months · 0 successful defences
- 42Gene FullmerThe Ring 1957–19573 months · 0 successful defences
- 43Tony ZaleThe Ring 1948–19483 months · 0 successful defences
- 44Randolph TurpinThe Ring 1951–19512 months · 0 successful defences
Timeline of world title events
1924
Harry Greb beats Johnny Wilson via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion
Harry Greb beats Ted Moore via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
1925
Harry Greb beats Mickey Walker via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
1926
Tiger Flowers beats Harry Greb via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion
Tiger Flowers beats Harry Greb via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
Mickey Walker beats Tiger Flowers via points decision 10/10
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The RingNew Ring champion
1927
Mickey Walker beats Tommy Milligan via knockout 10/20
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
1928
Mickey Walker beats Jock Malone via newspaper decision 10/10
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
Mickey Walker beats Ace Hudkins via split decision 10/10
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
1929
Mickey Walker beats Ace Hudkins via points decision 10/10
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA, IBU and The Ring
1931
Mickey Walker’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
1932
Marcel Thil beats Gorilla Jones via disqualification 11/15
Middleweight · IBU, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
Marcel Thil beats Len Harvey via points decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU, WBA and The Ring
1933
Marcel Thil beats Kid Tunero via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
1934
Marcel Thil beats Ignacio Ara via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
Marcel Thil beats Gustave Roth via majority decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
Marcel Thil and Carmelo Candel draw via points decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
1935
Marcel Thil beats Vilda Jaks via knockout 14/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
Marcel Thil beats Ignacio Ara via points decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
Marcel Thil beats Carmelo Candel via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
Marcel Thil beats Kid Tunero via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
1936
Marcel Thil beats Lou Brouillard via disqualification 4/15
Middleweight · IBU and The Ring
1937
Marcel Thil’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
Freddie Steele becomes The Ring middleweight world champion
Middleweight · The RingNew champion
1938
Freddie Steele beats Carmen Barth via knockout 7/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Freddie Steele’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
1941
Tony Zale beats Georgie Abrams via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1946
Tony Zale beats Rocky Graziano via knockout 6/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
1947
Rocky Graziano beats Tony Zale via knockout 6/15
Middleweight · WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1948
Tony Zale beats Rocky Graziano via knockout 3/15
Middleweight · WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
Marcel Cerdan beats Tony Zale via corner retirement 11/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1949
Jake LaMotta beats Marcel Cerdan via corner retirement 9/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1950
Jake LaMotta beats Tiberio Mitri via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Jake LaMotta beats Laurent Dauthuille via knockout 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
1951
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Jake LaMotta via knockout 13/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
Randolph Turpin beats Sugar Ray Robinson via points decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Randolph Turpin via technical knockout 10/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1952
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Bobo Olson via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Rocky Graziano via knockout 3/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Sugar Ray Robinson’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
1953
Bobo Olson beats Randolph Turpin via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1954
Bobo Olson beats Kid Gavilan via majority decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Bobo Olson beats Rocky Castellani via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Bobo Olson beats Pierre Langlois via knockout 11/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
1955
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Bobo Olson via knockout 2/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1956
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Bobo Olson via knockout 4/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
1957
Gene Fullmer beats Sugar Ray Robinson via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Gene Fullmer via knockout 5/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
Carmen Basilio beats Sugar Ray Robinson via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The RingNew Ring champion
1958
Sugar Ray Robinson beats Carmen Basilio via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring
Sugar Ray Robinson becomes The Ring middleweight world champion
Middleweight · The RingNew champion
1960
Paul Pender beats Sugar Ray Robinson via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC and The RingNew Ring champion
Paul Pender beats Sugar Ray Robinson via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC and The Ring
1961
Paul Pender beats Terry Downes via knockout 7/15
Middleweight · NYSAC and The Ring
Paul Pender beats Carmen Basilio via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC and The Ring
Terry Downes beats Paul Pender via corner retirement 9/15
Middleweight · NYSAC and The RingNew Ring champion
1962
Paul Pender beats Terry Downes via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · NYSAC and The RingNew Ring champion
1963
Paul Pender’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
Dick Tiger becomes The Ring middleweight world champion
Middleweight · The RingNew champion
Dick Tiger beats Gene Fullmer via corner retirement 7/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Joey Giardello beats Dick Tiger via points decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1964
Joey Giardello beats Rubin Carter via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1965
Dick Tiger beats Joey Giardello via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1966
Emile Griffith beats Dick Tiger via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
Emile Griffith beats Joey Archer via majority decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1967
Emile Griffith beats Joey Archer via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Nino Benvenuti beats Emile Griffith via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
Emile Griffith beats Nino Benvenuti via majority decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1968
Nino Benvenuti beats Emile Griffith via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
Nino Benvenuti beats Don Fullmer via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1969
Nino Benvenuti beats Fraser Scott via disqualification 7/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Nino Benvenuti beats Luis Rodriguez via knockout 11/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1970
Nino Benvenuti beats Tom Bethea via knockout 8/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Nino Benvenuti via knockout 12/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1971
Carlos Monzon beats Nino Benvenuti via knockout 3/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Emile Griffith via knockout 14/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1972
Carlos Monzon beats Denny Moyer via knockout 5/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Jean Claude Bouttier via corner retirement 12/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Tom Bogs via knockout 5/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Bennie Briscoe via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1973
Carlos Monzon beats Emile Griffith via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Jean Claude Bouttier via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1974
Carlos Monzon beats Jose Napoles via corner retirement 6/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Tony Mundine via knockout 7/15
Middleweight · WBA and The Ring
1975
Carlos Monzon beats Tony Licata via knockout 10/15
Middleweight · WBA and The Ring
Carlos Monzon beats Gratien Tonna via knockout 5/15
Middleweight · WBA and The Ring
1976
Carlos Monzon beats Rodrigo Valdes via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1977
Carlos Monzon beats Rodrigo Valdes via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Carlos Monzon’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
Rodrigo Valdes beats Bennie Briscoe via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1978
Hugo Corro beats Rodrigo Valdes via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
Hugo Corro beats Ronnie Harris via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Hugo Corro beats Rodrigo Valdes via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1979
Vito Antuofermo beats Hugo Corro via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
Marvin Hagler and Vito Antuofermo draw via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1980
Alan Minter beats Vito Antuofermo via split decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
Alan Minter beats Vito Antuofermo via corner retirement 8/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Alan Minter via knockout 3/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1981
Marvin Hagler beats Fulgencio Obelmejias via knockout 8/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Vito Antuofermo via corner retirement 4/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Mustafa Hamsho via knockout 11/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1982
Marvin Hagler beats Caveman Lee via knockout 1/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Fulgencio Obelmejias via knockout 5/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
1983
Marvin Hagler beats Tony Sibson via knockout 6/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Wilford Scypion via knockout 4/15
Middleweight · IBF and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Roberto Duran via unanimous decision 15/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring
1984
Marvin Hagler beats Juan Domingo Roldan via technical knockout 10/15
Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring
Marvin Hagler beats Mustafa Hamsho via knockout 3/15
Middleweight · WBA, IBF and The Ring
1985
Marvin Hagler beats Thomas Hearns via knockout 3/12
Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring
1986
Marvin Hagler beats John Mugabi via knockout 11/12
Middleweight · WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring
1987
Sugar Ray Leonard beats Marvin Hagler via split decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
1988
Sugar Ray Leonard’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
Sumbu Kalambay beats Robbie Sims via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA and The Ring
Sumbu Kalambay becomes The Ring middleweight world champion
Middleweight · The RingNew champion
Sumbu Kalambay beats Doug DeWitt via knockout 7/12
Middleweight · WBA and The Ring
1990
Sumbu Kalambay’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
2001
Bernard Hopkins beats Felix Trinidad via knockout 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The RingNew Ring champion
2002
Bernard Hopkins beats Carl Daniels via corner retirement 10/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring
2003
Bernard Hopkins beats Morrade Hakkar via corner retirement 8/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring
Bernard Hopkins beats William Joppy via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring
2004
Bernard Hopkins beats Robert Allen via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring
Bernard Hopkins beats Oscar De La Hoya via knockout 9/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring
2005
Bernard Hopkins beats Howard Eastman via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring
Jermain Taylor beats Bernard Hopkins via split decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion
Jermain Taylor beats Bernard Hopkins via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, WBO and The Ring
2006
Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright draw via split decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The Ring
Jermain Taylor beats Kassim Ouma via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The Ring
2007
Jermain Taylor beats Cory Spinks via split decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The Ring
Kelly Pavlik beats Jermain Taylor via knockout 7/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion
2008
Kelly Pavlik beats Gary Lockett via knockout 3/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The Ring
2009
Kelly Pavlik beats Marco Antonio Rubio via corner retirement 9/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The Ring
Kelly Pavlik beats Miguel Angel Espino via knockout 5/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The Ring
2010
Sergio Martinez beats Kelly Pavlik via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC, WBO and The RingNew Ring champion
Sergio Martinez beats Paul Williams via knockout 2/12
Middleweight · WBC and The Ring
2011
Sergio Martinez beats Serhiy Dzinziruk via knockout 8/12
Middleweight · The Ring
Sergio Martinez beats Darren Barker via knockout 11/12
Middleweight · The Ring
2012
Sergio Martinez beats Matthew Macklin via corner retirement 11/12
Middleweight · The Ring
Sergio Martinez beats Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC and The Ring
2013
Sergio Martinez beats Martin Murray via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC and The Ring
2014
Miguel Cotto beats Sergio Martinez via corner retirement 10/12
Middleweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
2015
Miguel Cotto beats Daniel Geale via knockout 4/12
Middleweight · WBC and The Ring
Canelo Alvarez beats Miguel Cotto via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
2016
Canelo Alvarez beats Amir Khan via knockout 6/12
Middleweight · WBC and The Ring
2017
Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez draw via split decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring
2018
Canelo Alvarez’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring
Canelo Alvarez beats Gennadiy Golovkin via majority decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC and The RingNew Ring champion
2019
Canelo Alvarez beats Daniel Jacobs via unanimous decision 12/12
Middleweight · WBA Super, WBC, IBF and The Ring
2021
Canelo Alvarez’s reign as The Ring middleweight world champion ends
Middleweight · The Ring