Some Interesting Averages About Heavyweight Champions

Some Interesting Averages About Heavyweight Champions I've compiled:


John L Sullivan

Sullivan’s stats: 5’11” 196lbs 74” reach
38-1-1
84% KO ratio

Average opponent height: 6'
Tallest opponent: 6'6"
Average opponent weight: 189lbs
Heaviest opponent: 300lbs
Average opponent reach: literally not worth mentioning, only have 1 measurement
Average age of opponent: 28.1 years old
Average KO round: 2.55

Notable Achievements:

First heavyweight champion
Only heavyweight champion to have also fought in the bareknuckle era
Only heavyweight champion to go over 25 rounds


Jack Johnson

Johnson’s stats: 6’1” 200lbs 74” reach
56-11-8
63% knockout ratio

Average opponent height: 6’
Tallest opponent: 6’7”
Average weight of opponent: 196lbs
Heaviest opponent: 239lbs
Average reach: 76”
Average age of opponent: 24 years old
Average knockout round: 5.54

Notable Achievements:

First black heavyweight champion


Jack Dempsey

Dempsey's stats: 6'1" 188lbs 77" reach
54-6-9
81% KO ratio

Average opponent height: 6'1"
Tallest opponent: 6'7"
Average opponent weight: 195lbs
Heaviest opponent: 245lbs
Average opponent reach: 77"
Average age of opponent: 28 years old
Average KO round: 3.05

Notable Achievements:

Largest height gap in lineal heavyweight championship fight where the shorter won
Largest weight gap in lineal heavyweight championship fight where the lighter won


Joe Louis

Louis's stats: 6'2" 200lbs 76" reach
66-3-0
79% KO ratio

Average opponent height: 6' 1/2"
Tallest opponent: 6'6"
Average opponent weight: 193lbs
Heaviest opponent: 261lbs
Average opponent reach: 76"
Average age of opponent: 27.5 years old
Average KO round: 4.4

Notable Achievements:

Record amount of title defenses (26)
Record time of lineal championship (12 years)


Rocky Marciano

Marciano' stats: 5'11" 185lbs 68" reach
49-0-0
88% KO ratio

Average opponent height: 6'1"
Tallest opponent: 6'5"
Average opponent weight: 193lbs
Heaviest opponent: 254lbs
Average opponent reach: 73" (not very accurate due to lack of info)
Average age of opponent: 29.8 years old
Average KO round: 4.09

Notable Achievements:

Only retired undefeated heavyweight champion
Shortest reach of any heavyweight champion (or any heavyweight I researched on this list)
Highest KO to fight% of any retired lineal heavyweight champion


Muhammad Ali

Ali's stats: 6'3" 210lbs 78" reach
56-5-0
66% knockout ratio

Average opponent height: 6'1 1/2"
Tallest opponent: 6'6"
Average weight: 203lbs
Heaviest opponent: 256lbs
Average opponent reach: 77"
Average opponent age: 29.3 years old
Average knockout round: 6.25

Notable Achievements:

Record amount regain of the lineal heavyweight championship


Mike Tyson

Tyson’s stats: 5’10” 218lbs 71” reach
50-6-0
88% knockout ratio

Average opponent height: 6’3”
Tallest opponent: 6’6”
Average weight of opponent: 215lbs
Heaviest opponent: 271lbs
Average opponent reach: 78”
Average opponent age: 29.9 years old
Average knockout round: 2.81

Notable Achievements:

Youngest heavyweight champion ever
Fastest knockout of lineal heavyweight champion
Most 1st round knockouts of any lineal heavyweight champion (23)


Largest height gap: Mike Tyson
Largest weight gap: Rocky Marciano
Largest reach gap: Mike Tyson
Lowest opponent age: Jack Johnson
Best KO round average: John L Sullivan


This took me 3 days to research and make. This is NOT a representation of how good their competition was (unless you're one of those people who think size is the end all be all). On a side note, it's interesting to see how the average heavyweight was always around 6'1" upper 190s weight, and then made a 20lbs and 2 inch jump when PEDs became popularized in boxing. Makes you think.

 

Yes but it allows lanky string beans to put on muscle they otherwise could not, which makes then perform better (barring genetic freaks like Primo Carnera).

 

Fat guys like Povetkin, Chrisora and Stiverne have all gotten caught with PEDs.

 

Its not as average as some people believe. Johnson fought a ton of giants, and alot of small people too. Johnson has a ton of 6'3"-6'4"s on his list (ex Jo Jeanette, Pat Lester, Jim McCormick, Sandy Ferguson, Jim Jeffords, plus the 6'7" Jess Willard, etc)

Jeffries fought smaller men because he barely fought at all, and he dodged black fighters (except for Johnson). Also Jeffries weight-wise was a giant (215-220lbs)

 

If you want I can send you my math with John L Sullivan's opponents.

 

Johnson was 6 1/2, which I rounded to 6'1". My bad listing Joe, I meant Tom Cowler.

Also on your height comment, I already addressed that. Tall, lanky string beans who would never be able to put on the muscle necessary are now able to.