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
USA
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
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
Middleweight
Junior middleweight
Welterweight
Junior welterweight
Lightweight
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
USA
regular
USA
interim
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

2025-04-12 Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis

American welterweight Jaron Ennis unified the IBF and WBA world titles with a sixth-round technical knockout of Lithuania's Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City, USA.

2025-04-05 Zhanibek Alimkhanuly vs. Anauel Ngamissengue

Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly keeps smashing the second-rate opposition that he's served. The Ring's No. 1 rated 160-pound fighter in the world comfortably defended his WBO and IBF titles against Anauel Ngamissengue with a devastating fifth-round stoppage win in a homecoming fight in front of over 10,000 fans at the Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.

2025-03-30 Melvin Jerusalem vs. Yudai Shigeoka

Melvin Jerusalem raised his arms as soon as the final bell rang, signaling the end of his rematch with home bet Yudai Shigeoka. This time, Jerusalem didn’t leave anything to doubt, delivering a clinical performance to retain the WBC minimumweight world title.

BOXING HEADLINES

Eubank Jr. should focus on Canelo, rather than Benn rematch, 2025 April 27
Forget a rematch with Conor Benn, the focus for Chris Eubank Jr should now fully be on Canelo Alvarez
Sources: Eubank Jr. misses weight, fined £375K, 2025 April 27
Chris Eubank Jr. missed the 160 pound weight limit and was fined £375,000 ($500,000) on Friday ahead of his fight against Conor Benn, sources have told ESPN.
Shalom: Benn beating Eubank would be 'disaster', 2025 April 27
Chris Eubank Jr's promoter Ben Shalom has said it would be a "disaster" for British boxing if Conor Benn wins their highly anticipated clash in London on Saturday evening.
Benn respects Eubank Jr. but 'ain't my cup of tea', 2025 April 27
Conor Benn said he has respect for Chris Eubank Jr. following their brutal 12 round battle on Saturday, but that his rival "still ain't my cup of tea."
Round-by-round: Eubank defeats Benn by unanimous decision, 2025 April 27
Chris Eubank Jr. outpointed Conor Benn in a great fight in London on Saturday.
Eubank Jr. outpoints Benn in thrilling grudge bout, 2025 April 27
Three years after their fight was cancelled at short notice and 32 years since their fathers' rematch, Chris Eubank Jr. won by unanimous decision over Conor Benn in a nontitle middleweight bout Saturday.
Benn emotional after loss: 'I need to do better', 2025 April 27
An emotional Conor Benn made a brutal self-assessment of his defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. on Saturday, saying his performance just wasn't good enough and he needs to do better.
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Want to know what fights are on the horizon? Check out the boxing schedule for 2024.
Eubank Jr., Benn make 170-pound weight limit, 2025 April 26
Chris Eubank Jr. weighed in within the 10 pound rehydration limit at 169.4 pounds on Saturday morning ahead of his fight against Conor Benn in London.
Hearn: Character 'assassinated' for backing Benn, 2025 April 25
Promoter Eddie Hearn has said his character was "assassinated" following his decision to stand by Conor Benn after he failed two drugs tests in 2022.