The International Boxing Organization (IBO) is a non-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and regional championships.[1]
It is often considered a "minor" world championship as it is not recognized as a major world title by any of the "big four" governing bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO), who all recognize each other in their rankings and title unification rules.
It is recognized as a legitimate world championship by the European Boxing Union[2] and Boxrec[3] but is unrecognized as such by The Ring magazine.[4]
History
The IBO was founded in 1988 and incorporated in Illinois in 1992 by John W. Daddono. The organization was later moved to Florida in 1996 and incorporated in Florida at that time. Ed Levine, who continues to serve as the organization's President became a partner and President of the IBO in 1999.
The organization received acclaim by implementing a computerized system 'The Independent World Boxing Rankings' in the late 1990s that removed subjective elements from the ratings in an effort to bring more credibility to the sport. From 2014 the organization now uses Boxrec, the independent boxing records keeping and computerized rankings website for IBO's rankings.[5] Many marquee champions have held and continue to hold the International Boxing Organization World title.[6]
If a fighter tests positive for banned substances after a bout, he is barred from a rematch.[7]
The IBO permits only one champion per weight division. "We have never had more than one champion per weight division nor will we", according to its president Ed Levine.[8]
If an IBO Inter-Continental champion successfully defends his title three times, he may receive a mandatory opportunity for the world title.[9]
Notable past and current IBO champions
- Vinny Pazienza, former Super Middleweight champion
- Tomasz Adamek, former Cruiserweight champion
- Danny Green, former Cruiserweight champion
- Thomas Hearns, former Cruiserweight champion
- Lennox Lewis, former Heavyweight champion
- Brian Nielsen, former Heavyweight champion
- James Toney, former Cruiserweight champion
- Wladimir Klitschko, former Heavyweight champion
- Roy Jones, Jr., former Light Heavyweight champion
- Paulie Ayala, former Super Bantamweight champion
- Marco Antonio Barrera, former Featherweight champion
- Naseem Hamed, former Featherweight champion
- Jeff Lacy, former Super Middleweight champion
- Floyd Mayweather, Jr., former Welterweight champion
- Ricky Hatton, former Light Welterweight champion
- Robin Reid, former Super Middleweight champion
- Carl Thompson, former Cruiserweight champion
- Brian Magee, former Super Middleweight champion
- Chad Dawson, former Light Heavyweight champion
- Anthony Joshua, former Heavyweight champion
- Manny Pacquiao, former Light Welterweight champion
- Antonio Tarver, former Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion
- Pinklon Thomas, former Heavyweight champion
- Jean Pascal, former Light Heavyweight champion
- Bernard Hopkins, former Light Heavyweight champion
- Vic Darchinyan, former Flyweight, Super Flyweight and Bantamweight champion
- Ezra Sellers, former Cruiserweight champion
- Nonito Donaire, former Flyweight champion
- Sergio Gabriel MartÃnez, former Super Welterweight champion
- Gennady Golovkin, former Middleweight champion
- Eduard Troyanovsky, former Light Welterweight champion
- Michael Ayers, former lightweight champion
- Jawaid Khaliq, former welterweight champion
- Jarrett Hurd, former Light Middleweight champion
Current IBO world title holders
As of September 28, 2019.
See also