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
Uzbekistan
regular
France
interim
Welterweight
Lithuania
regular
Venezuela
interim
Super lightweight
USA
regular
Venezuela
interim
Lightweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Super featherweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Featherweight
Super bantamweight
USA
regular
USA
interim
Bantamweight
Japan
Super flyweight
Japan
Flyweight
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
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
Mexico
regular
Mexico
interim
Flyweight
Mexico
regular
Puerto Rico
interim
Light flyweight
Japan
Strawweight

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
Japan
regular
Japan
interim
Bantamweight
Junior bantamweight
Argentina
Flyweight
Junior flyweight
South Africa
Mini flyweight

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

LATEST TITLE FIGHTS

2024-03-08 Israil Madrimov vs. Magomed Kurbanov

Israil Madrimov defeats Magomed Kurbanov by 5th round TKO to win the vacant WBA world super welterweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after Erislandy Lara kept his middleweight world title and relinquished the super welterweight title.

2024-03-08 Rey Vargas vs. Nick Ball

WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas defended his crown by fighting to a rough draw with Nick Ball of England at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

2024-03-08 Joseph Parker vs. Zhilei Zhang

Joseph Parker survived two knockdowns to earn a majority decision win over Zhilei Zhang and become the new WBO interim champion of the world in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

2024-03-02 Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Reiya Abe

Luis Alberto Lopez successfully defended his IBF featherweight crown with an eighth-round TKO win over Japanese contender Reiya Abe.

2024-03-02 Raymond Ford vs. Otabek Kholmatov

Raymond Ford captured the vacant WBA featherweight world title with a dramatic, come-from-behind 12th-round TKO win against Otabek Kholmatov in Verona, USA.

2024-03-02 Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Rene Santiago

WBO featherweight world champion Jonathan Gonzalez successfully retained his title against Rene Santiago in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

BOXING HEADLINES

Cruz will defend title against Romero May 11, 2024 March 27
Erika Cruz will defend her WBA junior featherweight title against Nazarena Romero on Saturday, May 11.
Boxing schedule, 2024 March 27
Want to know what fights are on the horizon? Check out the boxing schedule for 2024.
Women's boxing divisional rankings: Ryan puts welterweights on notice, 2024 March 27
Sandy Ryan moved up after a TKO win over Terri Harper. Here are the latest ESPN's divisional rankings.
Dalton Smith eyes big names after Zepeda win, 2024 March 27
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith has said a clash between the UK's Dalton Smith and American Regis Prograis is one of several "amazing fights" they're looking to make after the Sheffield boxer's win over Jose Zepeda on Saturday.
Sources: Ramirez to face Barthelemy on April 27, 2024 March 26
Jose Ramirez will fight Rances Barthelemy on April 27 in Fresno, California, and Vergil Ortiz Jr. will meet Thomas Dulorme in the DAZN co-feature.
Divisional rankings: Zepeda solidifies spot at lightweight, calls out Shakur, Gervonta, 2024 March 26
William Zepeda displayed his power in a TKO victory on Saturday and said he wants to face Shakur Stevenson or Gervonta Davis to become a champion. Here are the latest divisional rankings.
Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Inoue, Bivol and 'Bam' pick up votes, 2024 March 26
A battle for No. 1, a new No. 4, and a young champion knocking on the top-10 door. Here's the latest men's pound-for-pound rankings.
Women's pound-for-pound rankings: Jonas takes Mayer's place after win, 2024 March 26
It was a double win for Natasha Jonas, who outpointed Mikaela Mayer and also took Mayer's spot in the latest women's pound-for-pound rankings.
Valdez's quest to be a three-division champion -- and become a Mexican great, 2024 March 26
The former champion is confident he can achieve his goals, but all that could be gone if he doesn't get a win against Liam Wilson on Friday.
Eyeing European title, Smith KO's Zepeda in 5th, 2024 March 24
Dalton Smith took a step toward more prominent junior welterweight fights, stopping Jose Zepeda in Round 5 Saturday in Sheffield, England, telling reporters after that "a lot of people thought this fight was too soon for me, that made me train harder."