World Boxing Council

: WBC redirects here. For other meanings, see WBC (disambiguation).

Championships

The WBC's classic, intense-green championship belt portrays the flags of all of the countries it represents; the flags of the original 12 member-nations are displayed on the belt?s ovular, gold center-plate (surrounding a boxer raising his arm in victory). 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. A WBC Title belt is a highly sought-after collector's item.

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The WBC's relationship with other sanctioning bodies improved over time, with unification bouts being staged in various divisions. The exception to this was Puerto Rico?s WBO (World Boxing Organization), a group that splintered off from the WBA in 1988. When a WBO-recognized champion wished to fight for a WBC championship, he had to abandon his WBO title first, without any special considerations.

Related Topics:
World Boxing Organization - 1988

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In 1983, 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).

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Among those to have been recognized by the WBC as world champions were Wilfredo Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Muhammad Ali, ?Sugar? Ray Leonard, Salvador Sanchez, Hector ?Macho? Camacho, Sr., Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon, Roberto ?The Hands of Stone? Duran, Juan Laporte, Félix ?Tito? Trinidad, Edwin Rosario, ?Iron? Mike Tyson, Alexis Arguello, Nigel Benn and Lennox Lewis. The first ever fight held between two WBC world champions took place on February 25 1995 when WBC world Super-Middleweight champion Nigel Benn defeated WBC world Middleweight champion Gerald McClellan on a tragic night in London. The federation bolstered the legitimacy of women?s boxing by recognizing fighters such as Christy ?The Coalminer?s Daughter? 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 super-bantamweight (limit of 122 lbs. / 55.338 kg.) Mexican, Jackie Nava. With her former-champion father at ringside, Laila Ali won the super-middleweight (limit of 168 lbs. / 76.204 kg.) title on June 11 2005.

Related Topics:
Wilfredo Benitez - Wilfredo Gomez - Julio Cesar Chavez - Muhammad Ali - ?Sugar? Ray Leonard - Salvador Sanchez - Hector ?Macho? Camacho, Sr. - Marvelous Marvin Hagler - Carlos Monzon - Roberto ?The Hands of Stone? Duran - Juan Laporte - Félix ?Tito? Trinidad - Edwin Rosario - ?Iron? Mike Tyson - Alexis Arguello - Nigel Benn - Lennox Lewis - February 25 - 1995 - Super-Middleweight - Middleweight - London - Christy ?The Coalminer?s Daughter? Martin - Lucia Rijker - May 30 - 2005 - Laila Ali - June 11

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Former WBC presidents include Mexicans Luis Spota and Ramon G. Velazquez, Briton Onslow Fane and Philippine Justiniano Montano. The organization's ?final? -- and long-running current -- president is Jose Sulaiman.

Related Topics:
Luis Spota - Ramon G. Velazquez - Onslow Fane - Justiniano Montano - Jose Sulaiman

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