The WBC turns 62

The World Boxing Council was born as an initiative of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo López Mateos, to create an organization that would unify all the commissions in the world and thus control the expansion of boxing;

This is how the WBC was created on February 14, 1963, initially created by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, England, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil.

Its main founders were the Mexicans Luis Spota and Professor Ramón G. Velásquez, who were presidents of the World Boxing Council, as well as Onslow Fane, from England, and the Filipino Justiniano Montaño.

Until now, there have been six who have held the position of president of the World Boxing Council; However, Mr. José Sulaimán Chagnón, who became President on December 5, 1975 in the city of Tunis and remained in office for more than 38 years, was the one who consolidated the organization as the most important at an international level.

Under his mandate, the WBC evolved, grew and transformed the way this noble sport is viewed; and for the WBC the most important thing has always been to safeguard the safety, health and respect of the boxer who gets into the ring with a thirst to win, to please his public without caring about the risk he may run.

The World Boxing Council is a non-profit organization that works for the love of boxing with committed people who seek the safety of boxers.

Made up of 170 countries with their respective confederations, its main function is to make boxing a fair and safe sport.

Today, under the leadership of Mauricio Sulaimán, the organization continues to work to enhance boxing, as well as to protect the health and well-being of all boxers, above any interest, always promoting our values: loyalty, justice, integrity and respecting the social commitment that supports our history.

Some of the WBC’s achievements:

Reduction of world championship fights from 15 to 12 rounds.

Weigh-in 24 hours before the fight.

Creation of intermediate divisions, with which the number of champions and opportunities for boxers increased, which also avoids the extreme sacrifice of fighters when making weight.

Use of instant replay, which avoids controversial decisions in fights.

Open scoring that announces the cards after four and eight rounds, giving a different meaning to a boxing fight.

WBC Cares, in which sports figures dedicate themselves to visiting children in hospitals, gyms, schools, bringing a message of love and hope.

The José Sulaimán Fund, which is for boxers and ex-boxers from around the world who are going through difficult economic times.

Creation of the Medical Committee, whose main base is at UCLA (University of California), where resources were allocated to the development of research programs for the good of boxers.

Great boost to women’s boxing.

Creation of special belts to commemorate great fights.

Seminars for judges and referees around the world.

Creation of the Clean Boxing Program, which in collaboration with VADA, has as its main objective to educate athletes about the danger and disadvantages that doping can cause.