Most heavyweight world title recaptures, Boxing
- Who
- Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis
- What
- 2 total number
- When
- 01 January 0001
Three boxers have regained the heavyweight championship twice: Muhammad Ali (USA), Evander Holyfield (USA) and Lennox Lewis (UK). Ali first won the title on 25 February 1964, defeating Sonny Liston (USA). He defeated George Foreman (USA) on 30 October 1974, having been stripped of the title by the world boxing authorities on 28 April 1967. He won the WBA title from Leon Spinks (USA) on 15 September 1978, having previously lost to him on 15 February 1978.
Holyfield won the title in October 1990, defeating James Douglas (USA), regained the WBA and IBF versions when he beat Riddick Bowe (USA) in November 1993 and regained the WBA version again, on 9 November 1996 when he beat Mike Tyson.
Lewis was awarded the WBC title in January 1993 after Riddick Bowe, the then-champion, refused to fight him, won the WBC title on 7 February 1995, defeating Oliver McCall (USA) and regained the WBC, IBF and IBO titles when he beat Hasim Rahman (USA) on 17 November 2001.
Holyfield won the title in October 1990, defeating James Douglas (USA), regained the WBA and IBF versions when he beat Riddick Bowe (USA) in November 1993 and regained the WBA version again, on 9 November 1996 when he beat Mike Tyson.
Lewis was awarded the WBC title in January 1993 after Riddick Bowe, the then-champion, refused to fight him, won the WBC title on 7 February 1995, defeating Oliver McCall (USA) and regained the WBC, IBF and IBO titles when he beat Hasim Rahman (USA) on 17 November 2001.