An undisputed boxing champions list is rare because holding every major world title at once is exceptionally difficult. To be undisputed, a boxer must simultaneously hold titles from all four major sanctioning bodies: the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO.
Only 24 boxers have ever achieved this status in the four-belt era since 2007. That’s less than 1% of world champions.
| Organization | Founded | Full Name | Recognition |
| WBA | 1921 | World Boxing Association | Oldest sanctioning body |
| WBC | 1963 | World Boxing Council | Emphasizes safety and reform |
| IBF | 1983 | International Boxing Federation | Known for strict rankings |
| WBO | 1988 | World Boxing Organization | Became recognized in 2007 |
Current Undisputed Boxing Champions List (2026)
The undisputed boxing champions list is constantly shifting. Here’s who holds all four belts right now:
| Fighter | Weight Class | Became Undisputed | Current Status | Notable Wins |
| Naoya Inoue | Super-Bantamweight (122 lbs) | December 2023 | Active, Defending | Kim Ye-Joon (KO), Akhmadaliev (UD) |
| Dmitry Bivol | Light Heavyweight (175 lbs) | February 2025 | Active, Defending | Artur Beterbiev (MD) |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Heavyweight | May 2024 | Unified (not undisputed) | Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois (KO5) |
Naoya Inoue – Super-Bantamweight (122 lbs)
Inoue became undisputed in December 2023 and still holds all four belts. He’s universally recognized as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet. His knockout power combined with technical precision makes him nearly unbeatable at 122 pounds.
In January 2025, he demolished Kim Ye-Joon in the first round. Just months later, he outpointed Murodjon Akhmadaliev in a technical masterpiece. His dominance in this division is unmatched.
Dmitry Bivol – Light Heavyweight (175 lbs)
Bivol became undisputed in February 2025 when he defeated Artur Beterbiev in their rematch. The first fight ended in a controversial split draw, but Bivol made the right adjustments second time around.
At 175 pounds, Bivol and Beterbiev were the consensus top two fighters in the division. When Bivol won that rematch, it cemented his claim to be the undisputed light-heavyweight champion.
Oleksandr Usyk – Heavyweight
Usyk became undisputed in May 2024 when he defeated Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. He successfully defended the title in July 2025 against Daniel Dubois with a stunning fifth-round knockout.
In November 2025, Usyk voluntarily relinquished his WBO title to avoid a mandatory challenger. He keeps his WBA Super, WBC, and IBF belts but is no longer technically undisputed.
You can track detailed championship lineage at the International Boxing Hall of Fame, which maintains comprehensive records of all championship lineages. Most boxing insiders still recognize Usyk as the de facto heavyweight champion.
Multi-Weight Undisputed Champions: The Rarest Achievement
Holding undisputed status in multiple weight classes is nearly impossible. Only five boxers have accomplished this feat in the four-belt era:
| Fighter | Weight Class 1 | Year 1 | Weight Class 2 | Year 2 | Weight Class 3 | Year 3 |
| Terence Crawford | Super-Lightweight | 2017 | Welterweight | 2018 | Super-Middleweight | 2024 |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Cruiserweight | 2018 | Heavyweight | 2024 | – | – |
| Claressa Shields | Middleweight | 2016 | Super-Middleweight | 2019 | – | – |
| Katie Taylor | Lightweight | 2019 | Super-Lightweight | 2024 | – | – |
| Junto Nakatani | Bantamweight | 2023 | – | – | – | – |
Terence Crawford
Crawford is the only male boxer to ever become undisputed in three different weight classes. He first achieved it at super-lightweight in 2017, then at welterweight in 2018, and most recently at super-middleweight in 2024.
His technical skills and adaptability have allowed him to master multiple divisions. Many consider him one of the greatest boxers of his generation based on these achievements.
Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk became undisputed at cruiserweight in 2018, then again at heavyweight in 2024. This makes him only the second male boxer to win undisputed titles in two weight classes in the four-belt era.
Moving from cruiserweight to heavyweight meant fighting men 20-30 pounds heavier. His technical brilliance allowed him to dominate at both weights.
Claressa Shields
Shields was the first boxer ever to become undisputed in multiple weight classes. She won undisputed titles at middleweight and super-middleweight with remarkable consistency.
In just 14 professional fights, she won both undisputed crowns without losing a round. Her dominance in women’s boxing is unparalleled.
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Katie Taylor
Taylor became undisputed at lightweight in 2019, then again at super-lightweight in 2024. She has also won more title defenses of the undisputed crown than any other fighter in the four-belt era.
Her ability to move up in weight while maintaining dominance shows exceptional skill and preparation. She’s transformed women’s boxing globally.
Why Is Being Undisputed So Rare?
The math explains why the undisputed boxing champions list is so short. Consider these factors:
- 17 weight classes × 4 major sanctioning bodies = 68 potential champion positions
- Only handful of boxers reach world championship level
- Even fewer unite all four titles
- Promotional issues, mandatory challengers, and financial barriers prevent most
Before 2007, undisputed was more common because only three sanctioning bodies needed to be unified. The WBA, WBC, and IBF were the only major organizations.
When the WBO became recognized in 2007, the bar got higher. Now holding all four belts simultaneously requires defeating unified champions or strategically unifying through coordinated fights. This takes years and exceptional skill.
Pre-2007 Undisputed Champions
| Era | Champion | Weight Class | Years | Notable Achievement |
| Three-Belt Era | Lennox Lewis | Heavyweight | 1999-2000 | Last before four-belt system |
| Three-Belt Era | Mike Tyson | Heavyweight | 1986-1987 | First modern undisputed |
| Multi-Era | Henry Armstrong | Multiple | 1937 | Three-division champion |
| Early 1900s | Various | Multiple | 1880-1920 | Most were undisputed by consensus |
Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champion before the four-belt era. He held all major titles in 1999 and 2000 before being stripped of the WBA belt due to contractual dispute.
Since Lewis in 2000, no heavyweight held all recognized titles until Oleksandr Usyk achieved it in May 2024. That’s a 24-year gap in boxing’s most glamorous division.
Mike Tyson was the first undisputed heavyweight in the three-belt era, emerging from the heavyweight unification series in 1986-1987. His dominance inspired the modern era of title unification.
Henry Armstrong and Terence Crawford are the only boxers to hold undisputed championships in three different weight classes across boxing history. Armstrong achieved this back in 1937, though the sanctioning system was different then.
How Fights Determine Undisputed Status
Becoming undisputed requires strategic planning. A fighter typically needs to hold titles from at least two sanctioning bodies, then pursue unification fights against champions from the remaining bodies.
Notable Undisputed Unification Fights:
- Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez (May 2020, Junior Welterweight): First four-belt unification at 140 lbs in years
- Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano (May 2022, Junior Middleweight): Castano knockout in 10th round after controversial draw
- Devin Haney vs George Kambosos Jr (June 2022, Lightweight): Haney masterclass at age 23
These undisputed championship fights are blockbuster events. For real-time tracking of who currently holds which belts across all sanctioning bodies, BoxRec’s championship database updates after every title fight.
The boxing world watches closely because the winner becomes the absolute best in their weight class.
Complete List of Four-Belt Undisputed Champions
| Fighter | Weight Class | Year Achieved | Gender | Division Highlights |
| Bernard Hopkins | Middleweight | 2004 | Male | First in four-belt era |
| Terence Crawford | Super-Lightweight | 2017 | Male | First of three divisions |
| Terence Crawford | Welterweight | 2018 | Male | Second division |
| Usyk, Oleksandr | Cruiserweight | 2018 | Male | Defeated three undefeated |
| Jermell Charlo | Junior Middleweight | 2022 | Male | KO win over Castano |
| Devin Haney | Lightweight | 2022 | Male | Won at age 23 |
| Naoya Inoue | Super-Bantamweight | 2023 | Male | Pound-for-pound elite |
| Usyk, Oleksandr | Heavyweight | 2024 | Male | Second division title |
| Dmitry Bivol | Light Heavyweight | 2025 | Male | Defeated Beterbiev |
| Claressa Shields | Middleweight | 2016 | Female | First female multi-division |
| Katie Taylor | Lightweight | 2019 | Female | Record title defenses |
Current Status: Where The Belts Live Now
As of February 2026, the undisputed boxing champions list includes three fighters holding all four belts simultaneously:
Active Undisputed Champions:
- Naoya Inoue (Super-Bantamweight)
- Dmitry Bivol (Light Heavyweight)
Unified But Not Undisputed:
- Oleksandr Usyk (Heavyweight – vacated WBO, retains WBA Super, WBC, IBF)
Other fighters are working toward undisputed status. The junior featherweight division is particularly active, with multiple champions pursuing unification fights.
The frequency of undisputed championship bouts has increased dramatically since 2020. Where undisputed fights were rare before, now they happen several times annually.
FAQs
What’s the difference between unified and undisputed?
Unified means holding two to three major titles. Undisputed requires all four sanctioning body belts simultaneously.
Can a boxer lose undisputed status without losing a fight?
Yes. A boxer loses undisputed status if stripped by any sanctioning body or if they relinquish a belt. Usyk relinquished his WBO belt in November 2025.
How long does undisputed status usually last?
Undisputed reigns are short because holding all four belts creates multiple mandatory challengers. Most fighters lose their undisputed status within 6-18 months.
Are women’s undisputed champions counted the same way?
Yes. Women’s undisputed champions must hold all four major titles just like men. Thirteen women have achieved undisputed status in the four-belt era.
What happens if an undisputed champion moves up weight?
They lose undisputed status in their previous weight class unless they’re planning to defend. They’d need to win the four belts at the new weight.
Can you become undisputed in lower weight classes more easily?
No. All 17 weight classes have the same requirements: holding titles from WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO simultaneously. The difficulty is the same regardless of weight.
How much more money does an undisputed champion make?
Undisputed championship fights generate larger purses because they carry more prestige. Fighter earnings can increase 50-200% for undisputed title shots compared to unified bouts.
What year did undisputed boxing champions start using four belts?
The four-belt era officially began in 2007 when the IBF began recognizing the WBO as a legitimate major sanctioning body alongside the WBA and WBC.
Is there a lineal champion besides the undisputed champion?
Yes. Lineal championship is a different concept based on beating the previous champion in unbroken chains. You can be lineal champion without being undisputed and vice versa.
Who was the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era?
Bernard Hopkins became the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era in September 2004 when he defeated Oscar De La Hoya at middleweight. This also established the WBO as a legitimate organization.
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