Seven longest reigning boxing world champions including Wilder and 3 fighters you’ve probably never heard of
VASILIY LOMACHENKO is the longest reigning world champion - having won a belt in just his third fight.
The Ukrainian wizard is already a three-division champion winning honours at featherweight, super-feather and lightweight.
He has spent five years and four months as world champion, after claiming the 126lbs WBO title against Gary Russell Jr in June 2014.
Loma then went on to retain the strap three times before winning the organisation’s super-featherweight title, while still reigning as the featherweight holder.
To further enhance his legacy, the southpaw moved up to lightweight winning the WBA belt against Jorge Linares, managing to keep hold of his 130lbs WBO title.
Wanheng Menayothin 54-0
A year after Mayweather set a new winning record at 50-0 after beating UFC star Conor McGregor, WBC mini-flyweight champion Menayothin turned history-maker.
The 5ft 2in Thai defeated Pedro Taduran in Nakhon Sawan to go 51-0.
Menayothin has reigned at the 105lbs division since November 2014, for four years and 11 months.
The WBC champion has since moved to 54-0 after outpointing Simphiwe Khonco on October 25 this year.
Despite his record-breaking career, the lack of competition and recognisable opponents has seen his skills go unnoticed by many.
Deontay Wilder 41–0–1
Heavy-hitting Wilder became the first American heavyweight champion in eight years after dethroning Candadian Bermane Stiverne in January 2015.
The Bronze Bomber has since made nine successful defences, with the only blemish on his record a draw last year against Tyson Fury, that saw the Alabamian retain his belt.
Wilder has held the WBC strap for four years and nine months, but still has some way to go if he is to beat Wladimir Klitschko’s reign of 12-years, which was halted by Fury in 2015.
Coincidentally, America’s longest serving heavyweight champion Joe Louis is also from Alabama.
Louis’ ringname the ‘Brown Bomber’ inspired Wilder to go by the name ‘Bronze Bomber’ after winning Bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games, the same year he turned pro.
Gary Russell Jr 30–1
Russell is renowned for his famous hand speed and infamous ring inactivity.
The American won his WBC featherweight title in March 2015 overwhelming Mexican Jhonny Gonzalez.
But he has since made only four defences in the four years and seven months as world champion.
Russell has called out the divisions elite for a unification showdown, but was slammed online for confronting the sick father of WBA champion Leo Santa Cruz.
The American combination puncher has muted talks of clashing with Britain’s IBF champion Josh Warrington, though.
Knockout Freshmart 20–0
Former Muay Thai fighter Thammanoon Niyomtrong, known as Knockout Freshmart, became WBA minimumweight champion in June 2016 with a points win over Byron Rojas.
He has since reigned for three years and four months making seven defences of his belt.
Like 54-0 Menayothin, Knockout has seen his unbeaten 20-0 record go unnoticed fighting only in Southeast Asia and China.
Jerwin Ancajas 31–1–2
Filipino Ancajas became IBF super-flyweight world champion in September 2016 beating McJoe Arroyo in the Philippines.
But the ex-amateur standout made his name in the UK one year later stopping Irishman Jamie Conlan in Belfast to retain his title.
Since that win in Ireland, Ancajas has fought only in the US making a Stateside splash after signing a deal with promotional giants Top Rank.
He has made four defences of his IBF strap, reigning for three years and one month.
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Kal Yafai 26–0
After Anthony Joshua was stunned on his US debut in June losing to 25-1 underdog Andy Ruiz Jr, the heavyweight’s reign as world champion was cut after three years, one month and 23 days.
The loss meant his former Team GB colleague Kal Yafai became as the nation’s longest serving title holder.
He won the WBA super-flyweight title in December 2016 against Luis Concepcion in Manchester, the night AJ made the second defence of his IBF belt, stopping Eric Molina.
Yafai has made five defences of his belt, reigning for two years and 10 months.
