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
United Kingdom
Cruiserweight
Belgium
Light heavyweight
Canada
regular
Gemany
interim
Super middleweight
Middleweight
USA
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Super welterweight
USA
regular
France
interim
Welterweight
Lithuania
regular
Venezuela
interim
Super lightweight
Lightweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Super featherweight
Dominican Republic
regular
USA
interim
Featherweight
United Kingdom
Super bantamweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Bantamweight
Japan
Super flyweight
Japan
Flyweight
Ukraine
Light flyweight
Mexico
regular
Cuba
interim
Minimumweight
Philippines
regular
Dominican Republic
interim

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

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

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
China
interim
Cruiserweight
United Kingdom
Light heavyweight
Canada
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Super middleweight
Mexico
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Middleweight
Junior middleweight
USA
regular
Australia
interim
Welterweight
Junior welterweight
Lightweight
Junior lightweight
Featherweight
Cuba
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Junior featherweight
Japan
Bantamweight
Australia
Junior bantamweight
Flyweight
Junior flyweight
Puerto Rico
Mini flyweight

LATEST TITLE FIGHTS

2023-09-30 Jai Opetaia vs. Jordan Thompson

Jai Opetaia has successfully defended his world cruiserweight title, defeating British challenger Jordan Thompson at London’s Wembley Arena. The 2012 Olympian dominated Thompson to retain his IBF and The Ring Magazine titles, securing a fourth-round TKO victory in a clinical performance.

2023-09-30 Mario Barrios vs. Yordenis Ugas

Mario Barrios won the interim WBC welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over 37-year-old Yordenis Ugas on the undercard of the undisputed world super middleweight championship between Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo.

2023-09-30 Saul Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo

Saul "Canelo" Àlvarez scored a unanimous decision win over Jermell Charlo to successfully defend his super WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF super middleweight titles in a matchup of undisputed champions at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA.

2023-09-23 Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce

Chinese heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang proved his April stoppage of Joe Joyce was no fluke by knocking out the British standout in the third round of their rematch for the interim WBO heavyweight title at OVO Arena Wembley in London, England.

2023-09-18 Kenshiro Teraji vs. Hekkie Budler

Kenshiro Teraji stopped Hekkie Budler in the ninth round in Tokyo to retain his WBC and WBA 108 lb titles in the main event from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

2023-09-18 Junto Nakatani vs. Argi Cortes

Junto Nakatani was extended the distance for the first time in a title fight but remained unbeaten and with his crown still in tow. The unbeaten two-division titlist made the first successful defense of his WBO junior bantamweight title of Mexico City’s Argi Cortes. Nakatani scored three knockdowns at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

2023-09-15 Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Joet Gonzalez

Luis Alberto Lopez retained his IBF featherweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over Joet Gonzalez on Friday in Corpus Christi, Texas.

BOXING HEADLINES

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Ryan Garcia, coming off his first loss as a pro, will take on Oscar Duarte in a junior welterweight fight Dec. 2 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Boxing schedule, 2023 October 2
Want to know what fights are on the horizon? Check out the boxing schedule for 2023.
Jermell Charlo: Biography, record, fights and more, 2023 October 2
Jermell Charlo is the junior middleweight undisputed champion and has 35 victories and 19 KOs.
Why Julián Araujo and José Ramírez champion farmworkers, 2023 October 2
The two accomplished Mexican American athletes, both sons of Central California, shared their hopes for the region's agriculture industry for Hispanic Heritage Month.
A record 15, a dramatic 3-to-2, a historic 22: India's Day 8 at Asian Games defined by numbers, 2023 October 1
ESPN India brings you the numbers that define India's eighth day at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Canelo trounces Charlo to retain undisputed title, 2023 October 1
Canelo Alvarez cruised to a one-sided decision over Jermell Charlo to remain the undisputed super middleweight champion.
Round-by-round results of Canelo Alvarez's victory over Jermell Charlo, 2023 October 1
Canelo Alvarez defended the super middleweight undisputed title with a clear victory over Jermell Charlo.
'Nobody can beat this Canelo': Alvarez proved his point with win over Charlo, 2023 October 1
Canelo Alvarez silenced the critics with an impressive performance against Jermell Charlo. But can the super middleweight undisputed champion find the right next challenge?
Divisional rankings: Zhang shakes up heavyweight; Benn returns to rankings at 147, 2023 October 1
Zhilei Zhang demolished Joe Joyce once again and Conor Benn is back in the rankings after a victory in his return. Here are the latest ESPN's divisional rankings.
Boxing champions list, 2023 October 1
Check all the current boxing champions for all four major organizations in each weight division.