WBA

World Boxing Association

The first of four major professional boxing organizations - 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 being 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 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), that was established one year early. Both organizations crowned different boxing world champions in the same division, leading to discussion about who was the true world champion.

Dr. Gilberto Mendoza, WBA President
In 1962 organization, with the growth of boxing's popularity world-wide, 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
Dominican Republic
Lightweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Super featherweight
Dominican Republic
regular
USA
interim
Featherweight
Mexico
Super bantamweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Bantamweight
Super flyweight
Flyweight
Ukraine
Light flyweight
Mexico
regular
Cuba
interim
Minimumweight
Philippines
regular
Dominican Republic
interim

WBC

World Boxing Council

On February 14, 1963 at the 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 really international boxing organization - World Boxing Council (WBC). New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), rival of the WBA in world boxing, supported 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 changes proposed by WBC also are the official weigh-in 24 hours prior to each bout and intoduction 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
Super lightweight
Lightweight
Super featherweight
Featherweight
Mexico
regular
USA
interim
Super bantamweight
USA
regular
Japan
interim
Bantamweight
Japan
Super flyweight
Flyweight
Mexico
regular
Puerto Rico
interim
Light flyweight
Japan
Strawweight
Thailand

IBF

International Boxing Federation

In April, 1983, the members of the United States Boxing Association (USBA) decided regional status of the organization extended to international. New boxing organization got 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 currently operates under, the International Boxing Federation (IBF). The first sanctioned title fight for the new IBF was Cruiserweight bout between Marvin CAMEL and Roddy MACDONALD on December, 1983 and Marvin Camel became the first IBF World Champion. Marian Muhammad, IBF President In same year the IBF recognized heavyweight boxer Larry HOLMES as champion after he relinquished the WBC title.

Marian Muhammad, IBF President
Now President of the IBF is American Marian Muhammad, who was elected in 2001. IBF main offices are in New Jersey.

Current IBF World Champions

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

WBO

World Boxing Organization

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

Francesco Damiani, the first WBO Heavyweight champion
The first championship bout was for vacant super middleweight title between Thomas HEARNS and James KINCHEN. Hearns won and became the first WBO world champion. The first holder of 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 sign deals with the WBA and IBF to hold unification fights between WBO and other boxing organizations. Due a long personal feud between Francisco Valcarcel and WBC President Jose Sulaiman, the WBC was the last organization, which wrote unification bouts convention. The Central office of the WBO is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Current WBO World Champions

Heavyweight
Ukraine
regular
United Kingdom
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
United Kingdom
Lightweight
Junior lightweight
Featherweight
Mexico
regular
United Kingdom
interim
Junior featherweight
Bantamweight
Japan
Junior bantamweight
Japan
Flyweight
Junior flyweight
Puerto Rico
Mini flyweight
Philippines

LATEST TITLE FIGHTS

2023-03-25 David Benavidez vs. Caleb Plant

David Benavidez beat Caleb Plant by unanimous decision in Las Vegas, USA to claim interim WBC super middleweight title and become Canelo Alvarez’s mandatory challenger for the super middleweight championship.

2023-03-25 Lawrence Okolie vs. David Light

Lawrence Okolie successfully retained his WBO world cruiserweight title with a straightforward but disjointed points victory over David Light in Manchester, United Kingdom.

2023-03-12 Tim Tszyu vs. Tony Harrison

Tim Tszyu, the unbeaten Australian star, stopped former world champion Tony Harrison for the vacant Interim WBO super selterweight title atop a Premier Boxing Champions event on SHOWTIME in Sydney, Australia.

2023-03-04 Brandon Figueroa vs. Mark Magsayo

In a thrilling contest between two former world champions desperate to return to world title glory, Brandon Figueroa improved round-by-round to win a unanimous decision over Mark Magsayo, capturing the vacant Interim WBC featherweight title live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA, USA.

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