Is this a true and fair reflection of the World Heavyweight Champions from 1990 to end of 1999.

We have a habit nowadays of declaring every alphabet champ or as I like to call them Larry, Curly and Moe titles (Some decisions they make would make the Three Stooges proud) as World Champions, we should be more cuttroat. Even the WBO heavyweight champions of the early years are counted now, who were considered at the time very minor, and it’s on the way that the record books will also count the IBO title, the murmurs have already started. History has a habit of re-writting itself, boxing historians really want to fit all the champions into a neat and tidy lineal line, if that means excluding former champions who were seen in the eyes of so many people, then so be it. Although that is until we reach the recent decades when every Tom, Dick and Harry get their names etched as former World Champions whether or not they were considered at the time.



I’m going to post every decade if there is any interest but starting with the 90’s which started off neat and nice, then got thrown into the washing machine (thanks to Bowe and Foreman) and came out spik and span on the other side. Hopefully it kicks off some discussions or disagreements or corrections.



The champion I consider the Undisputed or the Universally recognised generally passed on the lineal line. Minor world champions are vastly recognised but don’t stand outright as they really only have a portion of the world title. Paperweights are the pretenders although in fairness many of them especially in the 90’s didn’t claim to be real world champions. Still a great achievement but hardly a world champion. A lot of boxing fans follow the lineal champion only, but when the so called lineal champion doesn’t fight the next best boxer, we as fans at the time are left in a dilemma. Yesteryear you could claim a world title if the champion refused to fight you (reason 1800’s is so hard to follow, along with missing records) and you had a merited challenge, not a boxer ranked number 40 claiming to be world champion.



The Champion: In the dawn of 1990 “Iron” Mike Tyson was the Undisputed Champion of the World no questions asked.

Minor/Portion World Champion: None

Paperweight Title: Francesco Damiani held the next most important belt in the WBO, but not considered a real World Champion.



The Champion: 11th Feb, 1990, James “Buster” Douglas wins the Undisputed World Championship against Mike Tyson in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Two of the three major belts considered stripping Douglas and awarding the belts to the winner of Holyfield/Tyson to follow the script they had written like it was straight out of the WWF, or WWE to our youngfellas. Luckily they didn’t and kept some respect in the Heavyweight division, mainly due to people power as there was an outcry.

Minor/Portion World Champion: None

Paperweight Title: Francesco Damiani with WBO.



The Champion: 25th Oct, 1990, “Real Deal” Evander Holyfield after stepping up from Cruiserweight wins the Undisputed World Championship from a lacklustre James Douglas, who was tied up in legal proceedings firstly over being recognised undisputed world champion, then refusing to bow down to Don King and fighting Tyson in a re-match and the obvious of partying to much.

Minor/Portion World Champion: None

Paperweight Title: Francesco Damiani with WBO.



The Champion: 13th Nov, 1992, “Big Daddy” Riddick Bowe wins the Undisputed World Championship after one of the greatest heavyweight fights against Evander Holyfield.

Minor/Portion World Champion: None

Paperweight Title: Francesco Damiani had lost his WBO championship in a powerful performance by Ray Mercer on 11th Jan, 1991. Ray Mercer was stripped on 24th Dec, 1991 for not fighting WBO mandatory Michael Moorer. Mercer would go on to lose to Larry Holmes who in turn lost to Evander Holyfield. 15th May, 1992, Michael Moorer won the WBO championship by beating Bert Cooper.



The Champion: 14th Dec, 1992, Riddick Bowe stripped of WBC for not fighting Lennox Lewis who had won an elimination tournament to declare mandatory challenger for winner of Bowe/Holyfield. Riddick Bowe reduced to Universally Recognised and Lineal World Champion. Minor/Portion World Champion: Lennox Lewis Minor World Champion as recognised by the WBC without even winning the belt in the ring, he shouldn’t have recognition until 8th May, 1993 when he beat Tony Tucker, thus winning the belt.

Paperweight Title: Michael Moorer with WBO. 14th Nov 1992, Pinklon Thomas beat Craig Payne for the IBO championship. As small as the WBO was considered at this time in the heavy division, the IBO wasn’t even on the radar.



The Champion: Riddick Bowe still Universally Recognised and Lineal World Champion.

Minor/Portion World Champion: 8th May, 1993 Lennox Lewis beats Tony Tucker for the WBC belt to cement his claim as a World Champion.

Paperweight title: 2nd Feb, 1993, Michael Moorer stripped of the WBO championship, he doesn’t lose until he claims the World Championship. 29th Jan 1993, Pinklon Thomas stripped of the IBO championship, Pinklon Thomas would lose to Lawrence Carter who would in turn lose to Phil Jackson who would in turn lose to Lennox Lewis. 23rd Feb, 1993, Lionel Butler wins the IBO championship against Tony Willis. Lionel Butler then stripped for a banned substance.



The Champion: 6th Nov, 1993, Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield wins the Universally Recognised and Lineal World Championship against Riddick Bowe in another war that has gone down as one of the greatest Heavyweight title fights of all time, making Holyfield a 2 time World Champion. The fight is also famous for the man gliding into the ring and disrupting the bout for an hour.

Minor/Portion World Champion: Lennox Lewis with WBC.

Paperweight title: 7th Jun, 1993, Tommy Morrison beat George Foreman for the WBO championship. Tommy Morrison would drop the WBO championship to Michael Bentt on 29th Oct, 1993.



The Champion: 22nd Apr, 1994, Michael Moorer beat Evander Holyfield for the Universally Recognised and Lineal World Championship. Moorer becoming the first ever heavyweight southpaw world champion.

Minor/Portion World Champion: Lennox Lewis with WBC.

Paperweight title: 19th Mar, 1994 Herbie Hide beat Michael Bentt for the WBO championship. IBO vacant.



The Champion: Michael Moorer is still the Universally Recognised and Lineal World Champion.

Minor/Portion World Champion: 24th Sep, 1994, Oliver McCall wins the Minor World Championship recognised by the WBC after beating Lennox Lewis with a sudden KO early on.

Paperweight title: Herbie Hide with WBO. 4th Aug, 1994, Danell Nicholson won the vacant IBO championship against John Ruiz.



The Champion: 5th Nov, 1994, George Foreman won the Universally Recognised and Lineal World Championship against Michael Moorer in a dramatic late knock-out when he was behind on the score cards and becoming the oldest ever heavyweight World Champion.

Minor/Portion World Champion: Oliver McCall with WBC.

Paperweight title: Herbie Hide with WBO. Danell Nicholson stripped of IBO championship, he next loses to Andrew Golota. 29th Oct, 1994, Jimmy Thunder won the IBO championship versus Richard Mason.



Under George Foreman’s reign the World Championship becomes scrambled.



The Champion: 28th Jun, 1995, George Foreman is stripped of the IBF title, because he refuses to re-match Axel Sculz after a highly controversial decision, which was a controversial defence in the first place. George Foreman is not Universally Recognised anymore with his reign becoming more of a shambles, now downgraded to being a Minor World Champion and still the Lineal World Champion as the fans don’t know who is the real champion.

Minor/Portion World Champion: Oliver McCall with WBC.

Paperweight title: 5th Mar, 1995, George Foreman was stripped of the WBA championship for not defending it against Tony Tucker, but this was not taken seriously because Tony Tucker was a fringe fighter. 8th Apr, 1995, Bruce Seldon beat Tony Tucker for the WBA championship. 11th Mar, 1995, Riddick Bowe beat Herbie Hide for the WBO championship. Jimmy Thunder with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Championship: 2nd Sep, 1995, Frank Bruno wins the WBC World Championship beating Oliver McCall. George Foreman with Lineal.

Paperweight title: Bruce Seldon with WBA. June 1995 Riddick Bowe vacates the WBO championship. Jimmy Thunder still IBO champion even though losing a bout to Franco Wanyama.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 9th Dec, 1995, Frans Botha wins the Minor World Championship recognised by the IBF against Axel Schulz in another controversial bout. Frans Botha is later stripped of the belt for a banned substance. George Foreman with Lineal. Frank Bruno with WBC.

Paperweight title: Bruce Seldon with WBA. WBO vacant. Oct 1995, Jimmy Thunder stripped of IBO championship.

 

The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 16th Mar, 1996, Mike Tyson wins the World Championship WBC belt beating Frank Bruno, Mike Tyson becomes a 2 time world champion. George Foreman with Lineal. Frans Botha still World Champion with the IBF (Not stripped yet).

Paperweight title: Bruce Seldon with WBA. 12th Jan, 1996 Brian Nielsen won vacant IBO title versus Tony LaRosa, Nielsen is the first to make some noise with the IBO as a real world title, the boxing world doesn’t agree.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 27th Mar Frans Botha stripped of the IBF title, Michael Moorer to face Axel Schulz for the vacant championship. Mike Tyson with WBC. George Foreman with Lineal.

Paperweight Title: Bruce Seldon with WBA. WBO vacant and Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None.

Minor/Portion World Champion: 22nd Jun, 1996 Michael Moorer beats Axel Schulz for vacant IBF title. Mike Tyson with WBC. George Foreman with Lineal.

Claimant: Frans Botha of IBF.

Paperweight Title: Bruce Seldon with WBA. WBO vacant and Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 7th Sep Mike Tyson beats Bruce Seldon for WBC title, unifying the WBC and WBA. George Foreman with Lineal. Michael Moorer with IBF.

Claimant: Frans Botha of IBF.

Paperweight Title: 29th Jun, 1996 Henry Akinwande beat Jeremy Williams for the vacant WBO title. Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 24th sep, 1996 Mike Tyson stripped of the WBC, to fight Holyfield over Lewis, the public see it as Don King shenanigans. Michael Moorer with IBF and George Foreman with Lineal.

Claimant: Frans Botha of IBF.

Paperweight Title: Henry Akinwande with WBO. Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 9h Nov, 1996 what was considered by most to declare the real World Champion and the most anticipated match of the decade Evander Holyfield beats Mike Tyson for the WBA world title and becomes a 3 time World Champion. Still too much chaos in the division to properly elect Holyfield as the Ultimate Champion. Same night Michael Moorer beats Frans Botha to retain and put in stone the IBF title and end Botha’s claim. George Foreman with Lineal.

Paperweight Title: Henry Akinwande with WBO. Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 8th Nov, 1997 Evnader Holyfield gets revenge on Michael Moorer and unifies the WBA and IBF titles in doing so. George Foreman with Lineal.

Paperweight Title: 7th Feb, 1997 for WBC title, Lennox Lewis got revenge on Oliver McCall in a bizarre match which brought to the fore McCall’s inner demons, the boxing world didn’t really see this as a world title bout and even Lewis fans where hard pushed to claim it as such. 29th Jan 1997 Henry Akinwande vacated WBO belt to get a shot at the WBC belt. 28th Jun, 1997 Herbie Hide beat Tony Tucker for the vacant WBO title. Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion Wolrd Champion: 22nd Nov, 1997 although nearly a farce at this stage but still with credentials the Lineal Championship switches hands as Shannon Briggs beats George Foreman in a highly controversial decision. Evander Holyfield with WBA and IBF.

Paperweight Title: Lennox Lewis with WBC. Herbie Hide with WBO. Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: None

Minor/Portion World Champion: 28th Mar, 98 Lennox Lewis in a dominating display becomes a 2 time world champion when he beats Shannon Briggs for the Lineal Championship. Evander Holyfield with WBA and IBF.

Paperweight Title: Herbie Hide with WBO. Brian Nielsen with IBO.



The Champion: 13th Nov, 1999 Lennox Lewis becomes the Undisputed World Champion when he beats Evander Holyfield after a controversial draw.

Minor/Portion World Champion: None

Paperweight Title: 26th Jun, 1999 Vitali Klitschko beat Herbie Hide for the WBO title. 18th Jun, 1999 Brian Nielsen stripped of IBO, awarded to the winner of Holyfield/Lewis.

 

If at the time it's stripped from a champion for no rhyme or reason except money then it's winner becomes a paper champion.
Example if tomorrow the WBC give Tyson Fury a million to strip him and offer the title up between the winner of Deontay Wilder vs Dillian Whyte cause they feel it's more lucrative, would you still class the holder of the WBC a champion?