Fighters who weigh-in at 200 pounds or more are considered to belong to the division of Heavyweights. This division has been recognised by the major weight divisions such as the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO).
Since this weight class does not have a limit it was vaguely defined early. During the 19th Century, many heavyweight champions had actually been weighed in less than the 200 pound mark.
John L. Sullivan was the first champion in the division after the Marquess of Queensberry Rules came into being as he defeated Jim Corbett on 7th September 1892 in a fight that lasted for 21 rounds.
The year of 1920 saw the minimum weight for a heavyweight set at 175 pounds. This is now considered to be the maximum limit in the light heavyweight division of boxing. Since 1980, the limit was raised and 200 pounds was seen as the minimum limit for a fighter in the Cruiserweight division and the one for heavyweights was set above the aforementioned mark.
Boxing legend Joe Louis currently holds the record for the most consecutive title defences in the history of the heavyweight division. He has defended the title 25 times, which is also the record for any weight division in the history of boxing.
Here's a look at the Heavyweight rankings as per 3rd march 2018:
| WBC | WBA | IBF | WBO |
| Deontay Wilder | Anthony JoshuaManuel Charr | Anthony Joshua | Joseph Parker |
| 1. Dillian Whyte | 1. Alexander Povetkin | 1. NOT RATED | 1. Alexander Povetkin |
| 2. Dominic Breazeale | 2. Fres Oquendo | 2. Kubrat Pulev | 2. Dominic Breazeale |
| 3. Luis Ortiz | 3. Jarrell Miller | 3. Jarrell Miller | 3. Jarrell Miller |
| 4. Alexander Povetkin | 4. Kubrat Pulev | 4. Dillian Whyte | 4. Dillian Whyte |
| 5. Kubrat Pulev | 5. Trevor Bryan | 5. Alexander Povetkin | 5. Kyotaro Fujimoto |
| 6. Tony Bellew | 6. BJ Flores | 6. Dominic Breazeale | 6. Tom Schwarz |
| 7. Johann Duhaupas | 7. Johann Duhaupas | 7. Carlos Takam | 7. Zhilei Zhang |
| 8. Charles Martin | 8. Christian Hammer | 8. Alexander Dimitrenko | 8. Bryant Jennings |
| 9. Adam Kownacki | 9. Dillian Whyte | 9. Charles Martin | 9. Agit Kabayel |
| 10. Agit Jabayel | 10. Alexander Ustinov | 10. Agit Kabayel | 10. Christian Hammer |
| 11. Oscar Rivas | 11. Guillermo Jones | 11. Christian Hammer | 11. Jean Augustin |
| 12. Carlos Takam | 12. Otto Wallin | 12. Otto Wallin | 12. Hughie Fury |
| 13. Lucas Browne | 13. Bryan Jennings | 13. Johan Duhaupas | 13. Amir Mansour |
| 14. Dereck Chisora | 14. Lucas Browne | 14. Tom Schwarz | 14. LaRon Mitchell |
| 15. Bermane Stiverne | 15. Kyotaro Fujimoto | 15. Adam Kownacki | 15. Ebenezer Tetteh |
