World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council (WBC) is an international group that helps organize and support professional boxing matches around the world. It is one of the four biggest organizations in boxing, along with the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation, and World Boxing Organization. These groups work together to make sure boxing matches are fair and safe.

Over the years, the WBC has been part of many famous boxing matches. Many well-known boxers have become WBC world champions, earning respect and excitement from fans everywhere. All four of these boxing organizations recognize each other, and they have shared a long history that has helped shape the sport of boxing for many decades.

History

The World Boxing Council (WBC) started with 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Tunisia, the Philippines, Panama, USSR, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil. Leaders from these countries met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, to create an international group to organize boxing worldwide.

Today, the WBC has 161 member countries. Famous boxers like Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Muhammad Ali have been WBC world champions. In 2014, former president José Sulaimán passed away, and Mauricio Sulaimán took over.

Championship

The WBC’s green championship belt shows the flags of all 161 member countries. All WBC world title belts look the same, no matter the weight class. The WBC has nine regional groups, like the North American Boxing Federation and the African Boxing Union.

The WBC works with other boxing groups now, and sometimes allows its champions to fight for titles from other groups. In 1983, after a boxer sadly passed away from injuries in a fight, the WBC decided to make championship fights 12 rounds instead of 15 to keep boxers safer. Many other groups followed this rule.

Silver Championship

In 2010, the WBC made a "Silver Championship" belt. This was for boxers who nearly won a big title but didn’t quite get it. Justin Savi was the first to win a Silver title.

Diamond Championship

In 2009, the WBC made a special "Diamond Championship" belt for very important fights between top boxers. Manny Pacquiao was the first to win this belt.

Franchise Championship

In 2019, the WBC made an honorary "Franchise Championship" for the best boxers who were also WBC world champions.

Eternal Championship

The WBC gives an "Eternal Championship" to retired boxers who never lost their WBC title in a fight.

Championship belt design

The WBC championship belt has a green strap and a gold center piece with flags from around the world. The design has changed over time but always includes gold and green colors.

Commemorative World Championship Belts

The WBC sometimes makes special belts for big fights or events. For example, in 2024, they made a special belt for the fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Crown Series

Undisputed Championship Ring

The WBC made a special ring for the winner of big super middleweight fights.

Main Event World Championship Chain and Pendant

In 2026, the WBC made a special chain and pendant for winners of main event WBC fights.

Trans athletes

In 2022, the WBC said they would not allow transgender fighters to compete against cisgender fighters to keep everyone safe. They suggested a separate competition for transgender athletes.

Controversies

In 1998, boxer Roy Jones Jr. decided to give up his WBC light heavyweight title. The WBC then set up a match between Graciano Rocchigiani and Michael Nunn to decide the new champion. Rocchigiani won, but soon after, the WBC changed its mind and said Jones could be champion again, even though this went against their rules. Rocchigiani sued, and in 2003, he was awarded $31 million and recognized as a former WBC champion. The WBC later faced serious financial problems because of this.

Many people in boxing felt the WBC favored the powerful promoter Don King. There were several instances where the WBC seemed to change its rules to help King’s fighters. For example, they sometimes did not follow the usual rules about when a champion had to defend their title, or they chose fights that benefited King’s plans. These actions led to many debates and disagreements in the boxing world.

Current WBC world title holders

As of 19 May 2026

Boxing

Male

Female

Muay Thai

Main article: List of WBC Muaythai world champions

Affiliated organizations

The World Boxing Council works with many groups around the world to support boxing. Some of these groups include the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF), North American Boxing Federation (NABF), and European Boxing Union (EBU).

Other affiliated organizations are the Asian Boxing Council (ABCO), African Boxing Union (ABU), Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE), Central American Boxing Federation (FECARBOX), South American Continental Boxing Federation (FECONSUR), and many more. These groups help organize and support boxing events in their areas.