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Boxing guide: The difference between organizations WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO
The difference between boxing organizations. Photo via Instagram
Are you confused by all the different belts in pro boxing? You’re not alone!
In boxing there is no single governing body that oversees the sport like in most other global sports (like FIFA in football for example). Instead, there are four major governing bodies – WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO – and they all have their own belts and champions.
So in all 17 boxing weight divisions, there can theoretically be four different world champions at the same time.
To become an undisputed world champion you will therefore need to hold all the four organization’s belts simultaneously, which is easier said than done, especially with all the politics going on in international pro boxing.
Still confused? Let’s take a closer look at the four major boxing organizations!
The World Boxing Association (WBA)
Photo via Instagram (@wbaboxingofficial)
Now based in Panama, WBA is the oldest of the four organizations and can be traced back to the original National Boxing Association which was organized in the US back in the 1920’s.
The WBA used to recognize up to four world champions in any of their own weight divisions, which needless to say led to a lot of confusion, but in 2021 they started to eliminate interim titles as a way to return to one single champion per weight class.
Like all the big boxing sanctioning organizations, the WBA has been plagued with controversies like charges of corruption, bribes and unfair ranking system.
The World Boxing Council (WBC)
Difference between boxing organizations. Photo via Instagram (@wbcboxing)
Formed by 11 countries back in 1963, WBC is the organization with perhaps the most prestigious world title of the four major governing bodies. Boxing stars like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard have all been WBC champions during the years.
The organization’s relationship with other rival sanctioning bodies has become better over the years, but back in the days, WBC prevented its champions from holding the WBO belt.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF)
Photo via Instagram (@ibfboxing)
IBF was founded in 1983 after Bob Lee failed to become the WBA president, and decided to organize a third world-level organization, next to WBA and WBC. The organization was preceded by the United States Boxing Association (USBA).
In 1984, the IBF decided to recognize already established champions from other organizations – like Larry Holmes, Marvin Hagler and Donald Curry – as IBF world champions in a way to legitimize their governing body.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Photo via (@worldboxingorg)
WBO is the youngest of the four and based in Puerto Rico. Founded in 1988, its first title bout stood between Tommy ”Motor City Cobra” Hearns and James Kinchen for the vacant WBO super middleweight title.
The organization initially struggled to gain credibility and recognition as a major sanctioning body.
In 2000, 12 years after its foundation, the WBA finally gave the same recognition to WBO champions as it did to champs from WBC and IBF.
By 2004 the WBC began naming WBO champions on its ranking listings, but IBF did not recognize the organization until 2007, almost 20 years after WBO was founded.
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