Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Boxing History

How Did the Four Organizations Get Started & What Have They Accomplished?

By: Ken Hissner

The WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO have taken 8 divisions to 17 and a top 10 contenders list to 15 but has it been good for boxing? Let’s see and find out what they have done.

The oldest is the World Boxing Association which in 1921 was founded as the National Boxing Association. In 1962 it became the WBA. It has bounced back and forth from 1975 in Panama to Venezuela in the 1990’s and early 2,000’s and back to Panama in 2007.

Gilberto Mendoza of Venezuela was President from 1982 until his death in 2016. His son Gilberto Jr. took over at that time. It’s been said they are the worst for honoring champions.

The World Boxing Council came about in February of 1963 when Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos called a meeting and under 11 countries including the US, PR, ARG, UK, FR, MEX, PH, PAN, Chile, Peru, VZ & BRZ. Presidents included Luis Spota, Ramon G. Velazqez both of Mexico. Then Justinano V. Montano, Jr. of the Philippines with Jose Sulaiman of Mexico becoming President from 1975 until his death in 2014. Then his son Mauricio took over.

The started drug testing first. They have increased the champions from 8 to 43. They have Silver, Green, interim and many off shoot belt holders.

The International Boxing Federation (then USBA) was formed in the US with a strong contingence from South Korea. In December of 1983 Heavyweight champion Larry “The Easton Assassin” was complaining (what’s new with him?) about fighting these “young lions” so Bob Lee who had failed in an attempt to become the WBA President in 1982 formed the IBF. Holmes then could defend against such boxers as Scott Frank and Marvis Frazier whose father “Smokin” Joe Frazier put him in with Holmes though his son only had 10 fights. Holmes was 44-0 at the time with 17 defenses. Needless to say Marvis only lasted 2:57. After the mismatch Holmes declared “that’s for all the whippings your daddy gave me in the gym!” Lee already headed the United States Boxing Association out of New Jersey so making boxers like Holmes champion automatically would bring in financial gains for Lee.

The two paragraphs prior to this were from this writer. The following is right from the IBF in part which I am thankful for their contribution.

The idea to form the United States Boxing Association (USBA) materialized in September of 1976 when the organizers decided it was time to form a new organization based in the US and comprised of legitimate boxing commissioners from the United States and its territories. Twenty-four US Commissions came together in April of 1977 to consider the structure or the organization. The association’s first convention was held in December 1977 at which the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the USBA was well on its way to play a major role in US boxing.

In its early years the USBA served as a springboard for it boxers to the rankings of the World Boxing Association (WBA), one of the two international sanctioning bodies at the time. In April of 1983 the members of the USBA voted to expand the organization and create an international division during the annual convention in Atlantic City, NJ.

The move to branch out was led by Robert W. Lee, Sr., who subsequently was voted the entity’s founding president. He was working as deputy commissioner for the NJ State Athletic Control board. He had reached the position of second vice-president of the WBA and had run for the presidency in 1980 and lost. It was then that he began seeking support to expand the USBA internationally.

In 1984, a vote was passed to change the name of the organization to the name it currently operates under, the International Boxing Federation. The IBF began rating female boxers in June of 2010, and crowned its first female champion Daniella Smith, in November of the same year.

As the organization continued to grow and prosper on a global scale, its leaders convened once again to address the organization’s name. In January 2018, the sanctioning body announced it would conduct business as the IBF. The USBA title would still exist as a regional title under the umbrella of the IBF.

The last to join the organizations and is still sometimes left out is the World Boxing Organization (WBO) founded in 1988 in Puerto Rico as a non-profit after attending the WBA convention. Its first president was Ramon Pina Acevedo of the Dominican Republic. He would be followed by former world champion Jose Torres of PR. In 1996 he retired being replaced by the current President Francisco Varcacel a PR lawyer.

In 2004 the WBC started putting the WBO champions in their ratings while the IBF didn’t until 2007. One of their most recognized champions would be Joe Calzaghe from Wales who made 21 defenses in the Super Middleweight division retiring with a 46-0 record. He didn’t come to the US until his last 2 bouts defeating Bernard “the Executioner” Hopkins and Roy Jones, Jr.

The WBO’s first heavyweight champion to oppose the other organizations Mike Tyson was Italy’s Olympian Francisco Damiani. “Merciless” Ray Mercer took care of Damiani with one uppercut to the nose in 1991. In Mercer’s next fight after blasting out Tommy “The Duke” Morrison he vacated the title. Then got out boxed by a much older Holmes. In 1992 he tried to re-gain the title which was held by Wladimir Klitschko of the UKR getting stopped in 6 rounds.

The WBO was mainly recognizing European and Asian with the UK boxers to follow in the beginning before coming to the US with success. The WBO has now some 16 world champions.

54 Comments

54 Comments

  1. KraigMus

    05/10/2024 at 11:09 am

    Полностью свежие новости мира fashion.
    Все события всемирных подуимов.
    Модные дома, торговые марки, гедонизм.
    Интересное место для модных людей.
    https://metamoda.ru/
    [url=https://metamoda.ru/]https://metamoda.ru/[/url]

  2. LarryFex

    06/25/2024 at 5:09 am

    pin up casino: pin-up 141 – pin up 306

  3. Richardled

    06/26/2024 at 11:00 am

    purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican pharmacy online[/url] п»їbest mexican online pharmacies

  4. Richardled

    06/26/2024 at 6:20 pm

    mexico pharmacies prescription drugs [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]buying prescription drugs in mexico[/url] reputable mexican pharmacies online

  5. Williamfrumn

    06/26/2024 at 8:25 pm

    mexican pharmaceuticals online: mexican pharmacy – buying prescription drugs in mexico

  6. Williamfrumn

    06/26/2024 at 10:20 pm

    mexican pharmaceuticals online: Mexico pharmacy that ship to usa – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa

  7. Richardled

    06/27/2024 at 1:38 am

    reputable mexican pharmacies online [url=http://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican northern doctors[/url] buying prescription drugs in mexico

  8. Richardled

    06/27/2024 at 10:57 am

    purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=http://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican northern doctors[/url] mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa

  9. JeffreyMok

    06/27/2024 at 7:10 pm

    http://northern-doctors.org/# mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa

  10. Richardled

    06/27/2024 at 7:56 pm

    mexican rx online [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican pharmacy northern doctors[/url] mexico drug stores pharmacies

  11. JeffreyMok

    06/27/2024 at 9:44 pm

    https://northern-doctors.org/# reputable mexican pharmacies online

  12. Williamfrumn

    06/27/2024 at 11:32 pm

    mexican drugstore online: mexican pharmacy online – mexican mail order pharmacies

  13. JeffreyMok

    06/28/2024 at 12:27 am

    https://northern-doctors.org/# pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa

  14. Richardled

    06/28/2024 at 4:59 am

    reputable mexican pharmacies online [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]Mexico pharmacy that ship to usa[/url] best online pharmacies in mexico

  15. Williamfrumn

    06/28/2024 at 7:31 am

    mexican drugstore online: mexico pharmacy – mexican pharmacy

  16. JeffreyMok

    06/28/2024 at 8:17 am

    https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs

  17. Williamfrumn

    06/28/2024 at 10:51 am

    mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican northern doctors – buying prescription drugs in mexico online

  18. JeffreyMok

    06/28/2024 at 4:24 pm

    https://northern-doctors.org/# purple pharmacy mexico price list

  19. Williamfrumn

    06/28/2024 at 7:16 pm

    mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexican pharmacy online – reputable mexican pharmacies online

  20. Richardled

    06/28/2024 at 11:02 pm

    medicine in mexico pharmacies [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican pharmacy northern doctors[/url] mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa

  21. Stephenrhype

    06/29/2024 at 6:54 am

    mexican rx online: cmq pharma – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa

  22. Davidtoows

    07/20/2024 at 1:29 am

    canadian world pharmacy: canadapharmacyonline – canadian pharmacy review

  23. EdwardLoobe

    07/20/2024 at 2:14 am

    https://indiapharmast.com/# top 10 pharmacies in india

  24. Davidtoows

    07/20/2024 at 6:28 am

    Online medicine order: Online medicine order – reputable indian online pharmacy

  25. Davidtoows

    07/20/2024 at 11:29 am

    canadian online drugs: northwest canadian pharmacy – canadian pharmacy online

  26. EdwardLoobe

    07/20/2024 at 3:21 pm

    http://foruspharma.com/# medication from mexico pharmacy

  27. Davidtoows

    07/20/2024 at 5:16 pm

    best online pharmacies in mexico: buying from online mexican pharmacy – mexican pharmacy

  28. Davidtoows

    07/20/2024 at 10:16 pm

    buying from online mexican pharmacy: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexico drug stores pharmacies

  29. EdwardLoobe

    07/21/2024 at 2:47 am

    https://indiapharmast.com/# buy medicines online in india

  30. Davidtoows

    07/21/2024 at 3:29 am

    reliable canadian online pharmacy: ordering drugs from canada – canadian pharmacies comparison

  31. Davidtoows

    07/21/2024 at 8:18 am

    india pharmacy mail order: reputable indian pharmacies – buy medicines online in india

  32. Thomaskef

    07/21/2024 at 5:11 pm

    https://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid cost without insurance

  33. Jamesjam

    07/21/2024 at 5:39 pm

    can i purchase generic clomid tablets: cost clomid no prescription – cost of generic clomid

  34. Myronnepay

    07/21/2024 at 6:20 pm

    https://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin order online
    paxlovid price [url=http://paxloviddelivery.pro/#]paxlovid covid[/url] paxlovid buy

  35. Thomaskef

    07/22/2024 at 1:18 am

    http://clomiddelivery.pro/# cost of clomid prices

  36. Myronnepay

    07/22/2024 at 3:31 am

    http://clomiddelivery.pro/# buying generic clomid without prescription
    paxlovid buy [url=https://paxloviddelivery.pro/#]paxlovid cost without insurance[/url] Paxlovid over the counter

  37. Jamesjam

    07/22/2024 at 6:19 am

    buying generic clomid without prescription: order generic clomid without insurance – where can i get generic clomid without prescription

  38. Thomaskef

    07/22/2024 at 9:09 am

    https://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid pharmacy

  39. Myronnepay

    07/22/2024 at 12:59 pm

    http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# doxycycline capsule price
    can i get generic clomid without prescription [url=https://clomiddelivery.pro/#]clomid rx[/url] can you buy generic clomid

  40. Thomaskef

    07/22/2024 at 5:08 pm

    http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where to buy generic clomid now

  41. Jamesjam

    07/22/2024 at 6:51 pm

    can you buy cheap clomid without prescription: where can i buy generic clomid pills – can i order generic clomid pill

  42. Myronnepay

    07/22/2024 at 10:27 pm

    https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# doxycycline sale uk
    amoxicillin generic [url=http://amoxildelivery.pro/#]amoxicillin without rx[/url] where can i get amoxicillin

  43. Thomaskef

    07/23/2024 at 1:03 am

    http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid for sale

  44. Jamesjam

    07/23/2024 at 7:38 am

    generic clomid: can i order cheap clomid pill – where can i buy generic clomid without prescription

  45. Myronnepay

    07/23/2024 at 7:43 am

    https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# azithromycin doxycycline
    п»їcipro generic [url=http://ciprodelivery.pro/#]buy ciprofloxacin over the counter[/url] antibiotics cipro

  46. Thomaskef

    07/23/2024 at 8:24 am

    http://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin cephalexin

  47. Thomaskef

    07/23/2024 at 3:28 pm

  48. Myronnepay

    07/23/2024 at 5:12 pm

    http://clomiddelivery.pro/# order generic clomid for sale
    how to get doxycycline without prescription [url=https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline 100mg online pharmacy[/url] doxycycline 100mg canada

  49. Jamesjam

    07/23/2024 at 8:12 pm

    doxycycline for dogs: doxycycline cap 50mg – vibramycin 100 mg

  50. Thomaskef

    07/23/2024 at 11:55 pm

    https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# generic doxycycline 200 mg

  51. Myronnepay

    07/24/2024 at 2:54 am

    http://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin over counter
    order doxycycline canada [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline 75 mg tab[/url] doxycycline antimalarial

  52. Thomaskef

    07/24/2024 at 8:07 am

    http://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxil pharmacy

  53. Jamesjam

    07/24/2024 at 9:04 am

    buy clomid without prescription: can i buy generic clomid now – get cheap clomid no prescription

  54. Jamesjam

    07/24/2024 at 9:39 pm

    where buy cheap clomid without rx: cost clomid – can i get generic clomid pills

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Featured 2

By: Sean Crose Atlantic City is a long way away from Saudi Arabia, and that’s no doubt a good thing for Otto Wallin –...

Featured 2

By: Sean Crose A lot of fighters come from boxing families. Not everyone who enters the professional ranks, however, can claim to be the...

Featured 2

ATLANTIC CITY (July 24, 2024)–Weights for Friday night’s Boxing Insider Promotions card that will take place at Tropicana Atlantic City and streamed Live on...

Featured 2

By: Sean Crose Ali-Frazier. Zale-Graziano. Fury-Wilder. These are considered some of the greatest trilogies in boxing history – and rightfully so. Yet the three...