The Ring / lineal title
1 for Mike Tyson
3 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
The Ring heavyweight title ×1
Heavyweight · 1988
Ali
The Ring heavyweight title ×3
Heavyweight · 1964, 1974, 1978
Trophy cabinet
Tyson vs Ali
Every world heavyweight title and major award, side by side. As of October 2026.
Mike Tyson
6
world title wins + 3 amateur titles
Muhammad Ali
9
world title wins + 5 amateur titles
| Mike Tyson | Honour | Muhammad Ali |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ring / lineal title | 3 |
| 2 | WBC title | 2 |
| 2 | WBA title | 4 |
| 1 | IBF title | 0 |
| 2 | Ring Fighter of the Year | 6 |
World titles
Each world title won or regained, belt by belt. These make up the totals.
WBC
2 for Mike Tyson
2 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
WBC heavyweight title ×2
Heavyweight · 1986, 1996
Ali
WBC heavyweight title ×2
Heavyweight · 1964, 1974
WBA
2 for Mike Tyson
4 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
WBA heavyweight title ×2
Heavyweight · 1987, 1996
Ali
WBA heavyweight title ×4
Heavyweight · 1964, 1967, 1974, 1978
IBF
1 for Mike Tyson
0 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
IBF heavyweight title ×1
Heavyweight · 1987
Ali
None
Amateur titles
Listed for completeness; not counted in the totals.
3 for Mike Tyson
5 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
National Junior Olympics ×2
Heavyweight · 1981, 1982
National Golden Gloves ×1
Heavyweight · 1984
Ali
Olympic gold medal ×1
United States (light heavyweight) · 1960
AAU national championship ×2
Light heavyweight · 1959, 1960
Chicago Golden Gloves ×2
Light heavyweight · 1959, 1960
Awards and honours
Boxing’s fighter-of-the-year awards, halls of fame and wider honours.
The Ring Fighter of the Year
2 for Mike Tyson
6 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
The Ring Fighter of the Year ×2
1986, 1988
Ali
The Ring Fighter of the Year ×6
1963, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978
BWAA Fighter of the Year
Ali shared the 1975 award with Joe Frazier.
2 for Mike Tyson
3 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
BWAA Fighter of the Year ×2
1986, 1988
Ali
BWAA Fighter of the Year ×3
1965, 1974, 1975
BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
1 for Mike Tyson
3 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year ×1
1989
Ali
BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year ×3
1973, 1974, 1978
International Boxing Hall of Fame
1 for Mike Tyson
1 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
International Boxing Hall of Fame ×1
2011
Ali
International Boxing Hall of Fame ×1
1990
Other honours
0 for Mike Tyson
4 for Muhammad Ali
Tyson
None
Ali
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year ×1
1974
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century ×1
1999
BBC Sports Personality of the Century ×1
1999
Presidential Medal of Freedom ×1
2005
Records
Mike Tyson
- The youngest heavyweight champion in history, at 20 years and 4 months, in 1986.
- The first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles at the same time, from 1987.
- Undisputed heavyweight champion from 1 August 1987 to 11 February 1990.
- Nine successful WBC title defences in his first reign, from 1986 to 1990.
- Knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds in 1988 to become lineal champion.
- A professional record of 50–7 with two no contests, and 44 wins by knockout.
Muhammad Ali
- The first man to win the lineal heavyweight title three times, in 1964, 1974 and 1978.
- Six Ring Fighter of the Year awards, the most ever.
- 19 successful defences of The Ring heavyweight title: nine in his first reign and ten in his second.
- Olympic light-heavyweight gold in Rome in 1960, as Cassius Clay.
- A professional record of 56–5, with 37 wins by knockout.
- Named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated in 1999.
As of October 2026. Totals count each world heavyweight title won or regained, belt by belt, so a fight that carried several belts counts once for each; defences are not counted. Amateur titles are listed separately.