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
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

2023-09-23 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

Divisional rankings: Zhang shakes up heavyweight; Benn returns to rankings at 147, 2023 September 26
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 pound-for-pound rankings: Did Gervonta Davis make the top 10?, 2023 September 26
Who's in the top 10 this month? Here's the latest ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings.
Women's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Which fighter made the biggest move? Marshall? Mayer?, 2023 September 26
Lots of fights, lots of movement and new faces in the top 10. Here's the latest women's pound-for-pound rankings.
Women's boxing divisional rankings: New No. 1 at welterweight after a controversial result, 2023 September 26
Jessica McCaskill's controversial split draw against Sandy Ryan wasn't enough to keep her atop the welterweight division. Here's the full ESPN women's divisional rankings.
Sources: Green, Crews-Dezurn title bout ordered, 2023 September 25
The WBC has ordered a super middleweight title fight between mandatory challenger Shadasia Green and former champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, multiple sources told ESPN on Monday.
Ryan-McCaskill title fight results in split draw, 2023 September 24
The Sandy Ryan-Jessica McCaskill unified welterweight title fight ended in a split draw that left both boxers baffled.
Ryan didn't win, but didn't lose either. What now for the champ?, 2023 September 24
Her fight ended in a controversial split draw, but Sandy Ryan showed she's one of the best fighters in the welterweight division.
Zhang pummels Joyce again to close on title shot, 2023 September 24
Zhilei Zhang took another step toward a world heavyweight title shot with a convincing third-round knockout of Joe Joyce in Saturday's rematch.
Green cleared to fight next for vacant WBC title, 2023 September 22
Shadasia Green's next fight will be for the WBC super middleweight title after undisputed champion Savannah Marshall, who is injured, was declared champion-in-recess on Thursday.
Bold predictions: A KO in Canelo-Charlo? End of Haney's run?, 2023 September 21
From surprising outcomes to predicting what could be next for some champions, our boxing panel share their thoughts on some of the biggest title fights in the boxing schedule.