World Boxing Council

World Boxing Council
Abbreviation WBC
Formation 1963
Type Non-profit Institution
Purpose Boxing sanctioning organization
Headquarters Mexico City, Mexico
Region served
Worldwide
President
Mauricio Sulaimán
Website www.wbcboxing.com

The World Boxing Council (WBC) is one of four major organizations which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the IBF, WBA and WBO. Owing to the many historically high profile bouts sanctioned by the organization and legendary fighters who have been recognised as WBC World champions, the organization still remains one of the major four sanctioning bodies. All four organizations however recognise the legitimacy of each other and each have interwoven histories dating back several decades.

History

It was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Puerto Rico, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil. Representatives met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of Adolfo López Mateos, then President of Mexico, to form an international organization to unify all commissions of the world to control the expansion of boxing.

The groups that historically had recognized several boxers as champions included the New York State Athletic Commission, the National Boxing Association of the United States, the European Boxing Union and the British Boxing Board of Control, but for the most part, these groups lacked the all-encompassing "international" status they claimed.

Today it has 161 member countries. The current WBC president is Mauricio Sulaiman. Former presidents include Luis Spota and Ramon G. Velázquez of Mexico, Justiniano N. Montano, Jr. of the Philippines and José Sulaimán of Mexico from 1975 until Sulaimán's death in 2014.

Championship

The WBC's green championship belt portrays the flags of all of the 161 member countries of the organization. All WBC world-title belts look identical regardless of weight class; however, there are minor variations on the design for secondary and regionally themed titles within the same weight class.

The WBC has nine regional governing bodies affiliated with it, such as the North American Boxing Federation (NABF), the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF), the European Boxing Union (EBU) and the African Boxing Council (ABC).

Although rivals, the WBC's relationship with other sanctioning bodies has improved over time and there have even been talks of unification with the WBA. Unification bouts between WBC and other organizations' champions are becoming more common in recent years. Throughout its history, the WBC has allowed some of its organization's champions to fight unification fights with champions of other organizations, although there were times it stepped in to prevent such fights. For many years, it also prevented its champions from holding the WBO belt. When a WBO-recognized champion wished to fight for a WBC championship, he had to abandon his WBO title first, without any special considerations. This, however, is no longer the case.

In 1983, following the death of Kim Duk-koo from injuries sustained in a 14-round fight against Ray Mancini, the WBC took the unprecedented step of reducing the distance of its world championship bouts, from 15 rounds to 12—a move other organizations soon followed (for boxers' safety).

Among those to have been recognized by the WBC as world champions were the undefeated and undisputed champion (46-0) Joe Calzaghe, Rocky Marciano (49-0), Floyd Mayweather Jr (49-0), Roy Jones, Jr., Wilfred Benítez, Wilfredo Gómez, Julio César Chávez, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Mike Tyson, Salvador Sánchez, Héctor Camacho, Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzón, Rodrigo Valdez, Roberto Durán, Juan Laporte, Félix Trinidad, Edwin Rosario, Bernard Hopkins, Alexis Argüello, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, and Canelo Alvarez.

In its discretion, the WBC may designate and recognize, upon a two-thirds majority vote of their Board of Governors, one or more emeritus world champions in each weight class. Such a recognition is for life and is only bestowed upon present or past WBC world champions. The following boxers have earned the Emeritus Championship appellation throughout their careers: Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins (Honorary Champion), Mikkel Kessler, Sergio Gabriel Martínez, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Kostya Tszyu, Manny Pacquiao, Danny García, Érik Morales, Toshiaki Nishioka, Vic Darchinyan, and Édgar Sosa. During the WBC's 51st Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, Floyd Mayweather was named "Supreme Champion", a designation that nobody before him has ever achieved.

The WBC bolstered the legitimacy of women's boxing by recognizing fighters such as Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker as contenders for World Female titles in 16 weight divisions. The first WBC World Female Champion (on May 30, 2005) was the super-bantamweight Jackie Nava from Mexico. With her former-champion father at ringside, Laila Ali won the super-middleweight title on June 11, 2005.

WBC Silver

The WBC has also created a "Silver" world title in 2010. Justin Savi was the first to win it on April 16, 2010, fighting against Cyril Thomas in France. The Silver title was created as a replacement to the interim title.[1] But unlike its predecessor, a boxer holding the Silver title cannot inherit the full title vacated by the champion. The WBC continues to recognize Interim and Silver champions, as well as Interim Silver champions.[2]

A year later, the WBC brought Silver belts to the International title ranks.[3]

Diamond Championship

In September 2009, the WBC created its new "Diamond Championship" belt. This belt was created as an honorary championship exclusively to award the winner of a historic fight between two high-profile and elite boxers.[4] The inaugural Diamond Belt was awarded on November 14, 2009 to Manny Pacquiao, who won his sixth world title (in 5 different divisions) via a 12th round technical knockout (TKO) over Miguel Ángel Cotto at welterweight in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Other holders of this title have included Bernard Hopkins (light heavyweight), Sergio Martínez and Saúl Álvarez (middleweight), Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (super welterweight), Nonito Donaire (super bantamweight), Léo Santa Cruz (featherweight), Jean Pascal and Sergey Kovalev (light heavyweight). Although this title can be defended, it is not a mandatory requirement. The title can also be vacated in the case of a fighter's long-term absence or retirement from boxing.

The WBC and Don King

Many in the boxing community have accused the WBC of bending its rules to suit the powerful boxing promoter Don King. The journalist Jack Newfield wrote, "...[WBC President Jose Sulaiman] became more King's junior partner than his independent regulator".[5] Another journalist, Peter Heller, echoes that comment: "Sulaiman...became little more than an errand boy for Don King".[6] Heller quotes British promoter Mickey Duff as saying, "My complaint is that José Sulaimán is not happy his friend Don King is the biggest promoter in boxing. Sulaiman will only be happy when Don King is the only promoter in boxing."[6]

Newfield and Heller take issue with the following actions of the WBC:

Controversies

In early 1998, Roy Jones, Jr. announced that he was relinquishing his WBC light heavyweight title. In response, the WBC ordered a bout between Graciano Rocchigiani from Germany and the former champion Michael Nunn to fill the vacancy, sanctioning it as a world championship match. On March 21, 1998, Rocchigiani won the fight and a WBC belt; in the subsequent WBC rankings, he was listed as "Light-Heavyweight World Champion".

Jones, however, had a change of heart and asked if the WBC would reinstate him as the champion. In a move that violated nearly a dozen of its own regulations, the WBC granted the reinstatement. Rocchigiani received a letter from the WBC advising that the publication of his name as champion was a typographical error, and he had never been the official titleholder.

Rocchigiani immediately filed a lawsuit against the WBC in a U.S. federal court, claiming that the organization's actions were both contrary to their own rules and injurious to his earning potential (due to diminished professional stature). On May 7, 2003, the judge ruled in Rocchigiani's favor, awarding him $30 million (U.S.) in damages and reinstating him as a former WBC champion (Rocchigiani had lost a bout since his WBC title match).

The following day, the WBC sought protection by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (i.e., corporate debt restructuring) in Puerto Rico. The organization spent the next 13 months trying to negotiate a six-figure settlement with Rocchigiani, but the fighter at first rejected the proposal.

On June 11, 2004, the WBC announced it would enter Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation (i.e., business closing and total asset sell-off) proceedings, effectively ending its existence. This action prompted some in the boxing community to plead with Rocchigiani to settle the dispute, which he did in mid-July 2004. The WBC continues.

Days before his fight with Saul Alvarez on November 21, 2015, the World Boxing Council asked their recognized world Middleweight champion, Miguel Cotto, to pay them $300,000 dollars in fees to sanction the bout. Cotto refused, and the WBC stripped him of the title, recognizing Gennady Golovkin as their interim champion instead.[10] When Alvarez won the fight with Cotto, the WBC gave Alvarez partial recognition as their world Middleweight champion.

Current WBC world title holders

As of May 7, 2016.

Male

World Champions

Weight class: Champion: Reign began: Days
Strawweight  Wanheng Menayothin (THA) November 6, 2014 548
Light flyweight  Ganigan López (MEX) March 4, 2016 64
Flyweight  Román González (NIC) September 5, 2014 610
Super flyweight  Carlos Cuadras (MEX) May 31, 2014 707
Bantamweight  Shinsuke Yamanaka (JPN) November 6, 2011 1644
Super bantamweight  Hugo Ruiz (MEX) February 27, 2016 70
Featherweight  Gary Russell, Jr. (USA) March 28, 2015 434
 Óscar Escandón (COL) (interim Champion) March 5, 2016 63
Super featherweight  Francisco Vargas (MEX) November 21, 2015 168
Lightweight  Jorge Linares (VEN)[11] December 30, 2014 494
Super lightweight  Viktor Postol (UKR) October 3, 2015 217
Welterweight  Danny García (USA) January 23, 2016 105
Super welterweight vacant
Middleweight  Saúl Álvarez (MEX) November 21, 2015 168
 Gennady Golovkin (KAZ) (interim Champion) October 18, 2014 567
Super middleweight  Badou Jack (SWE) April 24, 2015 379
Light heavyweight  Adonis Stevenson (CAN) June 8, 2013 1064
Cruiserweight vacant
Heavyweight  Deontay Wilder (USA) January 17, 2015 476

Silver Champions

Weight class: Champion: Reign began: Days
Strawweight  Janiel Rivera (PRI) August 8, 2015 273
Light flyweight  Ricardo Pérez (MEX) August 21, 2015 260
Flyweight  Omari Kimweri (AUS) April 15, 2016 22
Super flyweight  Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (THA) May 28, 2015 345
Bantamweight  Anselmo Moreno (PAN) April 30, 2016 7
Super bantamweight  Gavin McDonnell (GBR) February 27, 2016 70
Featherweight  Ronny Rios (USA) November 21, 2015 168
Super featherweight Vacant
Lightweight Vacant
Super lightweight Vacant
Welterweight  Charles Manyuchi (ZWE) May 6, 2016 1
Super welterweight  Charles Hatley (USA) November 11, 2015 178
Middleweight Vacant
Super middleweight  Callum Smith (GBR) June 26, 2015 316
Light heavyweight  Eleider Álvarez (COL) October 25, 2014 560
Cruiserweight  Olanrewaju Durodola (NGA) December 19, 2015 140
Heavyweight  Johann Duhaupas (FRA) April 2, 2016 35

Diamond belt title holders

Weight class: Champion: Reign began: Days
Strawweight Vacant
Light flyweight Vacant
Flyweight Vacant
Super flyweight Vacant
Bantamweight Vacant
Super bantamweight  Nonito Donaire (PHI) October 13, 2012 937
Featherweight  Léo Santa Cruz (MEX) August 29, 2015 252
Super featherweight Vacant
Lightweight Vacant
Super lightweight Vacant
Welterweight  Manny Pacquiao (PHI) November 14, 2009 540
Super welterweight  Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (USA) May 5, 2012 1463
Middleweight  Saúl Álvarez (MEX) November 21, 2015 168
Super middleweight Vacant
Light heavyweight  Sergey Kovalev (RUS) March 14, 2015 785
Cruiserweight Vacant
Heavyweight Vacant

Female

Weight class: Champion: Reign began: Days
Atomweight (102 lbs)  Momo Koseki (JPN) August 11, 2008 2826
Strawweight (105 lbs)  Yuko Kuroki (JPN) May 17, 2014 721
Light flyweight (108 lbs)  Ibeth Zamora Silva (MEX) March 3, 2013 1161
Flyweight (112 lbs)  Jessica Chávez (MEX) September 19, 2015 231
Super flyweight (115 lbs)  Zulina Muñoz (MEX) November 24, 2012 1260
Bantamweight (118 lbs)  Catherine Phiri (ZMB) January 30, 2016 98
 Christina McMahon (IRL) (interim Champion) May 2, 2015 371
Super bantamweight (122 lbs)  Alicia Ashley (JAM) October 29, 2015 191
Featherweight (126 lbs)  Jelena Mrdjenovich (CAN) March 11, 2016 57
Super featherweight (130 lbs)  Eva Wahlstroem (FIN) April 25, 2015 378
Lightweight (135 lbs)  Delfine Persoon (BEL) April 20, 2014 748
Super lightweight (140 lbs)  Érica Anabella Farías (ARG) October 11, 2013 939
Welterweight (147 lbs)  Cecilia Brækhus (NOR) March 14, 2009 2611
Super welterweight (154 lbs)  Mikaela Laurén (SWE) November 8, 2014 546
Middleweight (160 lbs)  Kali Reis (USA) April 16, 2016 21
Super middleweight (168 lbs)  Nikki Adler (GER) November 30, 2013 889
Heavyweight (168+ lbs)  Alejandra Jiménez (MEX) March 18, 2016 50

Affiliated organizations

Transitions of WBC titles

References and notes

  1. "WBC May Replace Interim-Titles With "Silver Titles" - Boxing News". boxingscene.com.
  2. "Concepcion-Narvaez will meet for interim WBC silver belt in Panama". Boxing News.
  3. "Allotey wins WBC International Silver belt". Boxing News.
  4. "WBC Diamond Belt Presentation". Fightnews. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Newfield, Jack (1995). Only In America. New York, New York: William & Morrow Co. p. 141. ISBN 0-688-10123-2.
  6. 1 2 3 Heller, Peter (1988). Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story. New York, New York: New American Library. p. 143. ISBN 0-688-10123-2.
  7. Sugar, Bert (October 1990). "In This Corner". Boxing Illustrated 32 (8): 4.
  8. Heaney, John (December 1992). "The Senate Investigation: Much Ado About Nothing". Boxing Illustrated 35 (10): 38.
  9. "Oscar Time : It wasn't an award-winning performance, but Oscar De La Hoya took Pernell Whitaker's welterweight title". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  10. Brandon Wise. "Miguel Cotto: Ask Oscar De La Hoya to give $1.1 million to the WBC and wait". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  11. "Zlaticanin v Marsili winner ordered to face Linares upon return". World Boxing News. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

External links

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