WBA

World Boxing Association

The first of four major professional boxing organizations - the World Boxing Association (WBA) was born in Rhode Island in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), and the first boxing title fight recognized by the new Association was the Heavyweight bout between Jack DEMPSEY and Georges CARPENTIER on July 2, 1921.

Jack Dempsey, the first WBA Heavyweight champion

Jack Dempsey beat his rival by knockout in the 4th round and became the first WBA boxing champion. The NBA was founded to counter the influence of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), established one year early. Both organizations crowned different boxing world champions in the same division, leading to a discussion about who was the true world champion.

Dr. Gilberto Mendoza, WBA President
In 1962 organization, with the growth of boxing's popularity worldwide, changed its name to the World Boxing Association. Dr. Gilberto Mendoza from Venezuela has been the President of the WBA since 1982. Now WBA Central office is in Panama.

Current WBA World Champions

Heavyweight
Bulgaria
Cruiserweight
Light heavyweight
USA
regular
Gemany
interim
Super middleweight
Mexico
regular
USA
interim
Middleweight
USA
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Super welterweight
USA
regular
Cuba
interim
Welterweight
Super lightweight
USA
regular
Venezuela
interim
Lightweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Super featherweight
USA
regular
Russia
interim
Featherweight
United Kingdom
Super bantamweight
Japan
regular
Uzbekistan
interim
Bantamweight
Japan
regular
USA
interim
Super flyweight
Argentina
regular
Costa-Rica
interim
Flyweight
Japan
Light flyweight
Dominican Republic
regular
Cuba
interim
Minimumweight

WBC

World Boxing Council

On February 14, 1963, at a meeting of representatives of 11 countries: USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Philippines, and Venezuela in Mexico City was created the first real international boxing organization - World Boxing Council (WBC). New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), a rival of the WBA in world boxing, supported the new organization and was adopted into WBC in 1970.

Sonny Liston, the first WBC Heavyweight champion
On July 1963, in Chicago, Sonny LISTON beat Floyd PATTERSON by knockout in the 1st round. It was the first sanctioned Heavyweight title fight for the new boxing organization. In 1983, for boxers' safety, WBC decided to reduce the distance of world championship fights from 15 rounds to 12, and other boxing organizations soon followed. Among the changes proposed by WBC also are the official weigh-in 24 hours before each bout and the introduction of new intermediate weight divisions.

Mauricio Sulaiman, WBC President
In 1975 Jose Sulaiman, a Mexican boxing official of Lebanese descent was elected President of the WBC. In 2014, after the death of Jose Sulaiman, his son Mauricio Sulaiman was elected President of the WBC.

Current WBC World Champions

Heavyweight
Ukraine
regular
Germany
interim
Cruiserweight
Sweden
Light heavyweight
Russia
regular
USA
interim
Super middleweight
Mexico
regular
USA
interim
Middleweight
USA
regular
Dominican Republic
interim
Super welterweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Welterweight
Super lightweight
Dominican Republic
Lightweight
USA
regular
Mexico
interim
Super featherweight
Featherweight
Super bantamweight
Japan
regular
Japan
interim
Bantamweight
Super flyweight
USA
regular
Mexico
interim
Flyweight
Japan
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Light flyweight
Thailand
Strawweight
Philippines

IBF

International Boxing Federation

In April 1983, the members of the United States Boxing Association (USBA) decided the regional status of the organization extended to international. A new boxing organization got the name United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I), and Robert W. Lee, Sr., president of the USBA, who lost in his bid to become WBA president against Gilberto Mendoza in 1982, led the USBA-I.

Larry Holmes, the first IBF Heavyweight champion
In 1984 USBA-I changed its name to the name it operates under, the International Boxing Federation (IBF). The first sanctioned title fight for the new IBF was a Cruiserweight bout between Marvin CAMEL and Roddy MACDONALD in December 1983, and Marvin Camel became the first IBF World Champion. In the same year, the IBF recognized heavyweight boxer Larry HOLMES as champion after he relinquished the WBC title.

Marian Muhammad, IBF President
From 2001 to 2010, the President of the IBF was American Marian Muhammad. She was voted out of office in May 2010 and was succeeded by Daryl Peoples. IBF's main offices are in New Jersey.

Current IBF World Champions

Heavyweight
United Kingdom
Cruiserweight
Australia
Light heavyweight
Russia
Super middleweight
Mexico
Middleweight
Junior middleweight
Welterweight
Junior welterweight
Lightweight
Ukraine
regular
USA
interim
Junior lightweight
Ireland
Featherweight
Junior featherweight
Japan
regular
Japan
interim
Bantamweight
Junior bantamweight
vacant
Flyweight
Junior flyweight
Mini flyweight
Philippines

WBO

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is the last of four major professional boxing organizations that currently recognize professional boxing world champions. It was formed in 1988 after the scandal at the WBA annual meeting in Isla Margarita, Venezuela, when a group of Puerto Rican and Dominican businessmen complained about the existing WBA's questionable rules and ratings systems.

Francesco Damiani, the first WBO Heavyweight champion
The first championship bout was for the vacant super middleweight title between Thomas HEARNS and James KINCHEN. Hearns won and became the first WBO world champion. The first holder of the WBO heavyweight title became Francesco DAMIANI, although WBA, WBC, and IBF recognized Mike TYSON as the heavyweight champion at the time.

Francisco Valcarcel, WBO President
In 1996 the new WBO President became Puerto Rican lawyer Francisco Valcarcel that soon signed deals with the WBA and IBF to hold unification fights between WBO and other boxing organizations. Due to a long personal feud between Francisco Valcarcel and WBC President Jose Sulaiman, the WBC was the last organization that wrote the unification bouts convention. The Central office of the WBO is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Current WBO World Champions

Heavyweight
Ukraine
regular
New Zealand
interim
Cruiserweight
Light heavyweight
Russia
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Super middleweight
Mexico
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Middleweight
Junior middleweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Welterweight
Junior welterweight
Lightweight
Junior lightweight
Featherweight
Mexico
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Junior featherweight
Japan
Bantamweight
Junior bantamweight
South Africa
Flyweight
Junior flyweight
Puerto Rico
Mini flyweight

LATEST TITLE FIGHTS

2025-05-11 Fernando Martínez vs. Kazuto Ioka

Fernando Martinez survived a knockdown to retain his WBA super flyweight title against a devastated Kazuto Ioka in their rematch in Tokyo, Japan.

2025-05-10 Raymond Murtalla vs. Zaur Abdullaev

Raymond Murtalla beats Zaur Abdullaev by unanimous decision to win the IBF interim lightweight title in San Diego, USA.

2025-05-10 Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suarez

Emanuel Navarrete retained his WBO junior lightweight title with a technical decision win over Charly Suarez, with the fight officially being stopped in Round 8 when the fight was stopped due to a severe cut over Navarrete’s eye, with the referee ruling that a clash of heads caused the gash.

2025-05-04 Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas

Naoya Inoue stopped Ramon Cardenas inside eight rounds to defend the undisputed super bantamweight world championship at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA.

2025-05-04 Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez

Rafael Espinoza stops Edward Vazquez in round seven to retain his WBO featherweight world title in Las Vegas, USA.

2025-05-03 Badou Jack vs. Norair Mikaelian

Badou Jack again won the WBC cruiserweight title in a controversial decision win over Norair Mikaelian in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

2025-05-03 Saul Alvarez vs. William Scull

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is once again the undisputed super middleweight world champion. WBA, WBC and WBO champion Alvarez took a unanimous decision over IBF titlist William Scull at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, successfully setting the stage for a September showdown against fellow pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford.

2025-05-02 Rolando Romero vs. Ryan Garcia

Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero scored the biggest win of his career to take the vacant WBA welterweight title, upsetting Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision in the main event of a surreal outdoor boxing card staged in the heart of Times Square in New York, USA.

2025-05-02 Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza

The two-division world champion Teofimo Lopez's brilliance materialized in the ring against previously unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr. Lopez cruised to a unanimous decision to retain his WBO junior welterweight championship in the unique setting of Times Square in New York, USA.

BOXING HEADLINES

World Boxing's membership list grows past 100, 2025 May 22
World Boxing now counts over 100 national federations as members after its executive board approved 17 more applications Thursday to increase its list to 106.
Boxing schedule, 2025 May 22
Want to know what fights are on the horizon? Check out the boxing schedule for 2025.
Taylor-Serrano 3 all-women fight card finalized, 2025 May 22
Most Valuable Promotions has finalized the all-women boxing card on July 11, headlined by the trilogy fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden.
Pacquiao's boxing success relies on the things he has probably lost, 2025 May 21
Manny Pacquiao has won titles in eight divisions, but even for him, Father Time could be a tough opponent to beat.
Josh Taylor has questions he must answer in bid to become a two-weight world champion, 2025 May 21
As Josh Taylor prepares to make his welterweight debut, what chance is the 34-year-old of becoming a two weight world champion?
Pacquiao confirms return, aims to 'make history', 2025 May 21
Boxing star Manny Pacquiao, 46, confirmed Wednesday he is coming out of retirement after nearly four years away from the ring to face Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title on July 19 in Las Vegas.
Navarrete earns technical decision to retain title, 2025 May 21
Emanuel Navarrete defeated Charly Suarez by technical decision to retain his WBO junior lightweight title.
Women's boxing divisional rankings: Mizuki Hiruta retains top spot at junior bantamweight, 2025 May 20
Another fight, another unanimous decision victory for Mizuki Hiruta. Here are the latest ESPN divisional rankings.
Benvenuti, Olympic and pro boxing champ, dies, 2025 May 20
Italian boxer Giovanni 'Nino' Benvenuti, an Olympic gold medalist in 1960 and a two-division world champion as a professional, died Tuesday at the age of 87, the Italian Olympic Committee announced in a statement.