There are so many belts and prizes in the professional boxing world and we understand if you may be feeling confused. For this reason, we want to explain today what the different boxing titles are and why there are so many. Keep reading!
First of all, why are there so many boxing titles? The reason is that there is more than one governing body in this sport. In fact, there are four: IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC. Then, you have champions for each of the 17 divisions. So, 17 times four gives us 68 major boxing titles available.
What belts are awarded today in boxing?
Today, boxers can obtain a boxing belt from any of these organizations:
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association, WBA. This is the oldest of the four major boxing organizations that exist today and it was formed in 1962 in the United States. Today, it is based in Panama and it once was the original National Boxing Association in the US, which was founded in 1921.
However, the WBA has been associated with charges of corruption for a long time, according to MK Boxing. This has led to many fighters and supporters losing faith in the association and as a consequence new boxing organizations have emerged.
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council, WBC, was established in 1963 and it is considered to be the most prestigious world title a boxer can achieve. It was formed in Mexico and since then, some of the best fighters in the world, such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather and Joe Calzaghe have obtained a title from the WBC.
International Boxing Federation
Next, the International Boxing Federation, IBF, is another boxing organization. This one was born in 1983 and was preceded by the United States Boxing Association, USBA. In fact, it was created after Bob Lee failed to become president of the WBA. They have 17 different boxing titles that go from mini flyweight up to heavyweight.
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization, WBO, is based in Puerto Rico and was created after the WBA divided into two groups during a boxing annual convention in Isla Margarita, Venezuela over a dispute about rules in 1988.
“The four bodies rarely agree to work together because they all make money from charging sanction fees – which allow fights to take place for their titles. That makes holding more than one belt exceptionally difficult in the sport”, MK Boxing wrote.
Additionally, the titles IBO (International Boxing Organization) and WBU (World Boxing Union) are considered fringe titles and The Ring magazine gives a title to who they consider being the most prestigious boxer of the moment.
What do the different boxing titles mean?
Unified champion, linear champion, undisputed champion… what does this all mean? Isn’t a champion just a champion? Well, not in boxing, there is a little bit more to it.
A lineal champion is someone who beat the current champion, or “the man who beat the man”. According to DAZN News, this has been used since the late 1800s when the person who beat the champion became “The Man”.
A unified champion is someone that has two or more sanctioning titles. For instance, one from the IBF and another one from WBA. An undisputed champion is a boxer who holds all four major championship belts (IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO). However, according to the aforementioned website, there has not been a new undisputed heavyweight champion since 2004.
What are the main boxing divisions?
The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that divisions in boxing started with eight (in men’s boxing) and as time has passed, more have been added. Today, the governing bodies recognize 17 weight classes and the following names were established in 2015:
- minimumweight, 105 pounds (48 kg)
- light flyweight, 108 pounds (49 kg)
- flyweight, 112 pounds (51 kg)
- super flyweight, 115 pounds (52 kg)
- bantamweight, 118 pounds (53.5 kg)
- super bantamweight, 122 pounds (55 kg)
- featherweight, 126 pounds (57 kg)
- super featherweight, 130 pounds (59 kg)
- lightweight, 135 pounds (61 kg)
- super lightweight, 140 pounds (63.5 kg)
- welterweight, 147 pounds (67 kg)
- super welterweight, 154 pounds (70 kg)
- middleweight, 160 pounds (72.5 kg)
- super middleweight, 168 pounds (76 kg)
- light heavyweight, 175 pounds (79 kg)
- cruiserweight, 200 pounds (91 kg)
- heavyweight, unlimited
“In all world and national title fights, weight limits must be strictly observed, although fighters are often allowed by contract to weigh-in the day before a fight. If a boxer is over the limit, he is normally given a short time in which to make the stipulated weight. If he still fails, the bout usually proceeds, but if the overweight fighter wins the bout, the title for which he was fighting is declared vacant”, they explain.
In amateur Olympic boxing, the weight divisions are:
- light flyweight, not more than 108 pounds (49 kg)
- flyweight, 115 pounds (52 kg)
- bantamweight, 123 pounds (56 kg)
- lightweight, 132 pounds (60 kg)
- light welterweight, 141 pounds (64 kg)
- welterweight, 152 pounds (69 kg)
- middleweight, 165 pounds (75 kg)
- light heavyweight, 178 pounds (81 kg)
- heavyweight, 201 pounds (91 kg)
- super heavyweight, any weight over 201 pounds (91 kg)
As for women’s boxing, there is not a universal agreement on weight divisions. However, amateur boxing uses this classification:
- flyweight, not more than 106 pounds (48 kg)
- bantamweight, 112 pounds (51 kg)
- featherweight, 119 pounds (54 kg)
- lightweight, 126 pounds (57 kg)
- light welterweight, 132 pounds (60 kg)
- welterweight, 141 pounds (64 kg)
- middleweight, 152 pounds (69 kg)
- light heavyweight, 165 pounds (75 kg)
- heavyweight, 179 pounds (81 kg)
- super heavyweight, any weight over 179 pounds (81 kg)
As for women’s Olympic boxing, there are just three classes:
- flyweight, 106 to 112 pounds (48 to 51 kg)
- lightweight, 123 to 132 pounds (56 to 60 kg)
- middleweight, 152 to 165 pounds (69 to 75 kg)
According to your own weight, in which category would you be competing, both in professional and Olympic (amateur) boxing? Tell us in the comment section below!
