World Boxing Foundation
Encyclopedia
The World Boxing Foundation was formed in 2004 to sanction championship boxing contests but has a history dating back to 1988 via its predecessor the World Boxing Federation. The WBF was originally formed by Larry Carrier (the founder of Bristol Motor Speedway
) and Ron Scalf in Bristol, Tennessee
but is now owned and operated from Melbourne
, Australia by Mick Croucher.
It is a lightly regarded boxing
sanctioning body whose "world champions" often lack widespread recognition. WBF titles are often a stepping-stone for fighters who progress to more prestigious titles.
The Light-Heavyweight title was held by two illustrious names, Roy Jones, Jr. and Antonio Tarver
.
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
) and Ron Scalf in Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
but is now owned and operated from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia by Mick Croucher.
It is a lightly regarded boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
sanctioning body whose "world champions" often lack widespread recognition. WBF titles are often a stepping-stone for fighters who progress to more prestigious titles.
The Light-Heavyweight title was held by two illustrious names, Roy Jones, Jr. and Antonio Tarver
Antonio Tarver
Antonio Deon Tarver , nicknamed the "Magic Man", is a professional boxer from Orlando, Florida and the former WBC, WBA, IBF, & The Ring light heavyweight champion....
.
Current WBF World Title Holders
| Weight class: | Champion: | Date won: |
|---|---|---|
| Strawweight (105 lbs) | vacant | |
| Junior flyweight (108 lbs) | vacant | |
| Flyweight Flyweight Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:... (112 lbs) |
vacant | |
| Super flyweight Super flyweight Super flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight... (115 lbs) |
vacant | |
| Bantamweight Bantamweight Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight... (118 lbs) |
vacant | |
| Super bantamweight Super Bantamweight Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms.... (122 lbs) |
vacant | |
| Featherweight Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:... (126 lbs) |
vacant | |
| Super featherweight Super Featherweight Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms.... (130 lbs) |
vacant | |
| Lightweight Lightweight Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing.... (135 lbs) |
 Dariusz Snarski |
19 December 2010 |
| Super lightweight (140 lbs) |  Lance Gostelow |
4 October 2009 |
| Welterweight Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system... (147 lbs) |
Chad Bennett |
20 May 2011 |
| Super welterweight (154 lbs) | Henry Coyle Henry Coyle (boxer) Henry “Western Warrior” Coyle is a professional boxer from Geesala near Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland who currently fights out of Chicago, U.S.... |
12 Aug 2011 |
| Middleweight Middleweight Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897... (160 lbs) |
Shannan Taylor |
7 October 2011 |
| Super middleweight Super middleweight Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s... (168 lbs) |
Francesco Passanante | 16 April 2011 |
| Light heavyweight Light heavyweight In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight... (175 lbs) |
 Soulan PowncebySoulan Pownceby Soulan James Pownceby is a New Zealand boxer, rated by TVNZ in 2004 as one of New Zealand's most exciting talents since David Tua... |
17 June 2010 |
| Cruiserweight (200 lbs) | Peter Brennan |
30 July 2011 |
| Heavyweight Heavyweight Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing... (200+ lbs) |
Kali Meehan Kali Meehan Kalivati Gerald Meehan is an Australian boxer, turned pro after a career in Rugby league.-Amateur career:Meehan before becoming professional, fought in amateur bouts and had a Record of 23-5.-Professional career:... |
24 June 2011 |
Other world organizations
- International Boxing Association
- International Boxing CouncilInternational Boxing CouncilThe International Boxing Council is a boxing organization. The IBC titles are often the beginning for professional boxers who progress to high prestigious titles....
- International Boxing FederationInternational Boxing FederationThe International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
- International Boxing OrganizationInternational Boxing OrganizationThe International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
- International Boxing UnionInternational Boxing UnionThe International Boxing Union was created June 1911 in Paris, France. It was an attempt to create a unified international governing body for professional boxing...
- World Boxing AssociationWorld Boxing AssociationThe World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
- World Boxing CouncilWorld Boxing CouncilThe World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
- World Boxing OrganizationWorld Boxing OrganizationThe World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
- World Professional Boxing FederationWorld Professional Boxing FederationThe World Professional Boxing Federation ' is an international sanctioning body that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championship title...
& United States Boxing CouncilUnited States Boxing CouncilThe United States Boxing Council is a governing body that sanctions regional championships bouts. It is an affiliated organization within the World Professional Boxing Federation .-Current USBC Title Holders:- Other world organizations :... - World Boxing UnionWorld Boxing UnionThe World Boxing Union is a boxing sanctioning body.Until recently it was fully recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control as a legitimate sanctioning body.WBU titles were particularly well recognised in Europe and Africa....
- European Boxing FederationEuropean Boxing FederationThe European Boxing Federation is a boxing governing body and sanctioning organisation created in 2005. Although the organisation is called European it lists its title holders as world champions....
- World Boxing FederationWorld Boxing FederationThe World Boxing Federation is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. Its offices are located in Luxembourg.-History:...