An interesting analogy depicting the names of the boxing champion with the longest reign has surfaced. Many have said before. It’s easy to become a champion. However, it’s way too challenging to remain one. In the pantheon of boxing, several boxers have earned their place in its hall of fame. Some, like ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, reached unassailable places. Then many achieved boxing greatness through outstanding fights—sometimes losing, sometimes winning. But still leaving their indelible print in history.

There is another category. These are a select few who refused to accept any defeat. They kept on winning. In doing so, their sway over the division in particular and boxing, in general, continued, year upon year. This is a study that reveals some of the modern-day champions who retained their crowns over an extended period. Facing a line-up of challengers and champions—former and current—they fought and persevered.

A list that merits a conversation

The tweet from Michael Benson lists five names. Artur Beterbiev occupies the first place. Next, Terence Crawford’s name follows. The third, fourth, and fifth positions were occupied by Canelo Alvarez, Emanuel Navarrete, and Oleksandr Usyk, respectively.

This may sound a bit confusing. Barring Beterbiev, the others have been multi-division title holders. So what were the criteria for evaluating the time span? Did it start with the earliest championship win in the first weight class? It doesn’t seem so. The review appears to focus on the current and prominent championship – without considering any breaks. For the WBA title, the ‘regular’ championship has been counted, as appears to be the case with Canelo Alvarez.

For instance, it was on November 11, 2017, that Artur Beterbiev became a world title holder for the first time—the IBF light heavyweight. Thereafter, he kept on adding belts to his collection. With a win over Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed title last month, he finally reached the pinnacle of success in boxing.

Terence Crawford, the first two-division undisputed champion among men, is a four-division title holder. In his case, it’s the welterweight that has been taken into consideration. Crawford became a WBO champion on June 9, 2018, when he knocked out Jeff Horn. Thereafter, six title defenses followed. Finally, on July 29 last year, he faced Errol Spence Jr. for the epic clash that sealed his name in boxing glory. However, in 2024, chasing greatness and perhaps Canelo Alvarez, he moved up a division and became a light middleweight champion.

So the total duration of ‘Bud’ Crawford’s championship is six years and two months. Likewise, for Canelo Alvarez, it’s the super middleweight division. The Mexican superstar started his journey as a welterweight and fought up to the light heavyweight. However, it’s the 168-pound weight class where he became the undisputed champion for the first time.

But there seems some confusion. For Alvarez, a six-year and two-month championship span has been mentioned. However, he actually became a 168-pound title holder (full) on December 19, 2020, when he defeated Callum Smith. So the fourth anniversary of his championship will be next month. Then, how come the six-year number? Canelo became a WBA (Regular) super middleweight champion in December 2018 when he knocked out Rocky Fielding in the third round. Hence, the six-year reign.

The memorable finishers

Fellow Mexican Emanuel Navarrete has been defending his title since 2020. He defeated Ruben Villa and became the WBO featherweight champion. His tenure might have shortened had he lost last year’s bout to Robson Conceicao. Thankfully, it ended in a draw.

Finally, there’s Usyk. The century’s first undisputed heavyweight champion received his first divisional belt on October 25, 2021. Like Beterbiev, Usyk also became an undisputed champion this year. It’s a different fact that a few weeks later he vacated his IBF title and continued as a unified champion.

Boxing reporter Elie Seckbach mentioned that Gervonta Davis has been a champion since 2017. However, it’s worth noting that ‘Tank’s first championship was in the super featherweight division. He now fights as a lightweight. There he became a champion on December 28, 2019. But remember, he was the WBA ‘regular’ champion. Before he moved to the light welterweight division, Devin Haney held the division’s super championship title till last year. As a result, Davis became a full champion effective December 2023. So, for now, it looks like Artur Beterbiev, remains the elitest of elites.

What do you think a long-tenured championship says about the boxer? Is he truly great, or is he playing it safe?