International Boxing Organization
 | |
| Abbreviation | IBO |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1988 |
| Type | Private |
| Purpose | Boxing sanctioning organization |
| Headquarters | Coral Gables, Florida, U.S. |
Region served | Worldwide |
President | Ed Levine |
Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Website | iboboxing |
The International Boxing Organization (IBO) is a US based corporation that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and regional championships.[1]
It is an independent and well-known organization not recognized by the "big four" governing bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO), who only recognize each other in their rankings and title unification rules. Despite this, as of 2023, the IBO title is unified with three of the four, including the WBA, IBF, and WBO, in several weight divisions.
It is recognized as a legitimate world championship by the British Boxing Board of Control, the European Boxing Union,[2] BoxRec,[3] and BoxingScene but is unrecognized as such by The Ring magazine.[4]
History[edit]
The IBO was founded in 1988 and incorporated in Illinois in 1992 by John W. Daddono. The organization was later moved to Florida in 1997 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 at that time.
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 employs Boxrec, the independent boxing records keeper and computerized rankings website to produce IBO's rankings.[5] Many marquee champions have held and continue to hold the International Boxing Organization World title.[6]
The IBO permits only one world champion per weight division.[7] "We have never had more than one champion per weight division nor will we", according to its president Ed Levine.[8]
In addition to world champions, IBO recognizes regional champions, including the Inter-Continental champion.[7] 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 IBO champions[edit]
- Thomas Hearns, Cruiserweight
- Lennox Lewis, Heavyweight
- James Toney, Cruiserweight
- Wladimir Klitschko, Heavyweight
- Roy Jones Jr., Light Heavyweight
- Marco Antonio Barrera, Featherweight
- Naseem Hamed, Featherweight
- Floyd Mayweather Jr., Welterweight
- Ricky Hatton, Light Welterweight
- Manny Pacquiao, Light Welterweight
- Bernard Hopkins, Light Heavyweight
- Nonito Donaire, Flyweight
- Sergio Martínez, Super Welterweight
- Andy Ruiz Jr., Heavyweight
- Tyson Fury, Heavyweight
- Anthony Joshua, Heavyweight
Current IBO world title holders[edit]
As of March 16, 2024
Male[edit]
| Weight class: | Champion: | Reign began: | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimumweight | vacant | ||
| Light flyweight | vacant | ||
| Flyweight | Jackson Chauke | January 27, 2024 | 80 |
| Super flyweight | vacant | ||
| Bantamweight | Prince Patel | December 19, 2023 | 118 |
| Super bantamweight | Liam Davies | March 16, 2024 | 30 |
| Featherweight | Hector Andres Sosa | July 22, 2023 | 268 |
| Super featherweight | Anthony Cacace | September 24, 2022 | 569 |
| Lightweight | George Kambosos Jr. | July 22, 2023 | 268 |
| Super lightweight | Zhankosh Turarov | March 21, 2023 | 391 |
| Welterweight | vacant | ||
| Super welterweight | JJ Metcalf | May 20, 2023 | 331 |
| Middleweight | Etinosa Oliha | July 01, 2023 | 289 |
| Super middleweight | Osleys Iglesias | December 09, 2022 | 493 |
| Light heavyweight | Dmitry Bivol | December 23, 2023 | 114 |
| Cruiserweight | Yves Ngabu | September 09, 2023 | 219 |
| Heavyweight | Oleksandr Usyk | September 25, 2021 | 933 |
Female[edit]
| Weight class: | Champion: | Reign began: | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimumweight | Sarah Bormann | May 21, 2022 | 695 |
| Light flyweight | vacant | ||
| Flyweight | vacant | ||
| Super flyweight | Daniela Asenjo | June 7, 2022 | 678 |
| Bantamweight | Melissa Oddessa Parker | June 19, 2021 | 1031 |
| Super bantamweight | Mea Motu | April 27, 2023 | 354 |
| Featherweight | Amanda Serrano | March 25, 2021 | 1117 |
| Super featherweight | Alycia Baumgardner | November 13, 2021 | 884 |
| Lightweight | Estelle Mossely | June 14, 2019 | 1767 |
| Super lightweight | Chantelle Cameron | November 05, 2022 | 969 |
| Welterweight | Jessica McCaskill | August 15, 2020 | 1339 |
| Super welterweight | Hannah Rankin | November 5, 2021 | 892 |
| Middleweight | vacant | ||
| Super middleweight | vacant | ||
| Light heavyweight | vacant | ||
| Cruiserweight | vacant | ||
| Heavyweight | vacant |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Official website - International Boxing Organization". iboboxing.com. Archived from the original on 2006-11-03. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
- ^ "EBU Ratings". boxebu.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- ^ "Boxrec Champions". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- ^ "The Ring Ratings". ringtv.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- ^ "IBO Top 100 - Computerized Rankings - International Boxing Organization". Saddoboxing. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
- ^ "International Boxing Organization - Boxrec". Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
- ^ a b "Ibo Rules & Regulations". Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ "Ed Levine Interview 16 August 2016". OnTheRopesBoxing.com. August 16, 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Ed Levine Interview 15 May 2014". OnTheRopesBoxing.com. May 15, 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.