WBA
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 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), which had been established the year before. Both organizations crowned different boxing world champions in the same division, sparking debate over who was the true world champion.
Current WBA World Champions
WBC
On February 14, 1963, at a meeting of representatives of 11 countries: the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, and Venezuela, in Mexico City, the first real international boxing organization, World Boxing Council (WBC), was established. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), a rival of the WBA in world boxing, supported the new organization and was adopted into the WBC in 1970.
Current WBC World Champions
IBF
In April 1983, the members of the United States Boxing Association (USBA) decided that the organization's regional status extended to the international level. A new boxing organization, the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I), , was founded. 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.
Current IBF World Champions
WBO
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.
