Do you know your Heavyweight Champions? Quiz

Answer: Joe Louis

One of the all time greats! He became the second black man to win the heavyweight crown when he defeated James Braddock on June 22, 1937. He retired on March 1, 1949, but financial issues forced him to come out of retirement. Losses to Rocky Marciano and Ezzard Charles tarnished his record in the latter part of his career. He died on April 12, 1981.

Answer: George Foreman

Great fight in Zaire. Foreman eagerly wanted a rematch with Ali which he never received. He retired in 1977 only to make a comeback in 1987. He eventually won the heavyweight title against Michael Moore on November 05, 1994 in Las Vegas.

Answer: Jersey Joe Walcott

Two great fighters who met again a year later with Marciano knocking him out yet again! Rocky Marciano retired in 1956 with a perfect 49-0 record. He died on August 31, 1969 in a plane crash.

Answer: Jack Johnson

First ever African-American heavyweight champion. Although he lost to Willard, Johnson would claim he took a dive. He was known as the Galveston Giant yet stood only 6 feet 1 inch tall. On June 10, 1946 he died in a car crash.

Answer: Jack Dempsey

A very popular fighter in his day. His manager was Tex Richard. He would eventually lose the title to Gene Tunney on September 23, 1926. He was known as The Manassa Mauler and Kid Blackie.

Answer: Michael Spinks

Spinks won a decision which Holmes still disputes to this day. Holmes was once a sparring partner of Muhammad Ali. He would come out of retirement and win the heavyweight title back with a shocking upset decision over Ray Mercer on February 7, 1992 in a fight billed as the Last Stand.

His overall record was 69-6. He was only one of five men to defeat the famed Ali amd the only one who did that by knockout.

Answer: Rocky Marciano

The only heavyweight with a perfect record! Rocky Marciano would retire in 1956 with a perfect 49-0 record. He died on August 31, 1969 in a plane crash, the day before his 46th birthday.

Answer: Max Schmeling

The two men were actually friends in real life, despite their different nationalities and ethnicities. Schmeling's nickname was the Black Uhlan of the Rhine. He would live to be 99 years old dying on February 2, 2005.

Answer: Joe Frazier

A brutal sweltering fight! This was the third fight between these two great heavyweights. Frazier was born on January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina. His son Marvis Frazier would go on to have a heavyweight career of his own but never won the title. Joe Frazier died in 2011.

Answer: Larry Holmes

It appeared the prize money was too good to turn down for Holmes. This was not the end for Holmes as he would go on to defeat Ray Mercer on February 7, 1992 to win the heavyweight title himself. Holmes' nickname was the Easton Assassin.