boxing rankings proffesional boxing

The idea to form the United States Boxing Association (USBA) materialized in September 1976 when the organizers decided it was time to form a new organization based in the United States and comprised of legitimate boxing commissioners from the United States and its territories. Twenty-four United States Commissions came together in April of 1977 to consider the structure of the organization. The association's first convention was held in December 1977 at which the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the USBA was well on its way to play a major role in United States boxing.

In its early years the USBA served as a springboard for its boxers to the rankings of the World Boxing Association (WBA), one of the two international sanctioning bodies at the time. In April of 1983, the members of the USBA voted to expand the organization and create an international division during the annual convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While the organization had grown considerably up until that time and had crowned several national champions, the opportunity for worldwide expansion was at hand. The aforementioned vote resulted in the formation of the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I).

The move to branch out was lead by Robert W. Lee, Sr., who subsequently was voted the entity's founding president. Lee became involved in the sport of boxing in 1976, working as deputy commissioner for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. At that time he also became involved with the USBA. Lee had reached the position of second vice-president of the WBA and had run for the presidency in 1980 and lost. It was then that he began seeking support to expand the USBA internationally.

The founding convention for the USBA-I was held in Newark, New Jersey in November 1983. During this convention three boxing events were scheduled in Asia to take place in the following months and several other possible events were discussed. The goals and the policies of the organization were reaffirmed but what was most prevalent was the fact that the USBA-I was created to offer advancement possibilities to those who sought them. Now there would be more opportunities for young fighters entering the professional boxing arena to showcase their talents and reach their goals of becoming world champions. This would also be the case for new promoters looking to expand into world championship boxing.

Initially the USBA-I recognized as world champions boxers who had already distinguished themselves as champions and could possibly desire to fight under the organization's banner. The first USBA-I ratings listed Marvin Hagler as its middleweight champion; he also held this title with the WBC and WBA at that time. Hagler was training to defend his unified title in a bout against Wilford Scypion when a dispute arose as to whether the bout should be scheduled for twelve or fifteen rounds. The WBA and the WBC decided the bout would be scheduled for twelve rounds, but Hagler was not in agreement and both organizations withdrew their sanction. The USBA-I was then asked to sanction this bout and did so. The fight took place on May 27, 1983 and Marvelous Marvin Hagler retained the title of world middleweight champion.

In December of 1983, the highly regarded world heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, decided he also wanted to fight for the USBA-I title and the organization recognized him as the champion in that division. Larry Holmes fought James "Bonecrusher" Smith to defend his USBA-I Heavyweight title on November 11, 1984. This opportunity brought with it a higher measure of credibility and recognition in the worldwide boxing arena for the USBA-I. In 1984, a vote was passed to change the name of the organization to the name it currently operates under, the International Boxing Federation (IBF). Since then several boxers with illustrious careers and worldwide recognition have been ranked and have fought for the organization's title including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman, Felix Trinidad, Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar de la Hoya.

In November 1999, Robert W. Lee, the President of the IBF/USBA at the time, was indicted on federal charges of racketeering, money laundering and tax fraud. The United States filed a civil RICO complaint in late November 1999, which tracked the allegations filed earlier in the month in a criminal complaint. The initial relief sought by the court was to prohibit Lee from having any involvement with the IBF and for the immediate appointment of a monitor to make all decisions for the IBF. The court agreed to permit the existing management of the IBF to remain in place and by Order entered on January 12, 2000 a monitor was appointed with various powers such as to examine the organization's corporate books, records and correspondence, review financial and banking records and tax returns. The court's approval was required to retain legal, investigative, accounting and other support personnel and required any officer, member, employee, agent, representative or attorney to meet to discuss the affairs of the IBF at the monitor's request. The federal monitor was in attendance at Executive Committee meetings and other committee meetings. The monitorship was terminated in September 2004.

Following Lee's indictment in November 1999, Hiawatha Knight, IBF/USBA 4th Vice President, moved from Detroit, MI to East Orange, New Jersey to oversee the daily activities of the IBF. Knight remained in the position until October 2001 when sitting President Marian Muhammad was appointed by the newly formed 11 member Board of Directors of the IBF/USBA.

The IBF/USBA focuses on different aspects of boxing with the intentions of working towards the betterment of the sport. Consistency in the officiating of bouts has been and remains a major concern for the organization. Each year during the organization's convention, a full day is dedicated to professional seminars, including a Judges seminar and a Referees seminar. The main goal at these seminars is to achieve uniformity in judging and refereeing of professional boxing matches. All convention attendees are welcome to attend these seminars, but particularly those who officiate are strongly encouraged to attend for the opportunity to work together and perfect their craft. The IBF/USBA annual conventions have been attended by some of the most notable judges and referees in the sport of boxing. Aside from officiating, the IBF/USBA also puts the utmost precedence on the health of boxers. Accordingly, a medical seminar is also held during the annual convention with the purpose of enlightening those individuals who are closest to the boxer before, during and after a fight on the signs of possible serious injury and how to potentially avoid such a situation.

In 1986, out of concern for the financial well-being of retired fighters, the organization created the Special Assistance to Retired Boxers Fund (SARB) to aide former fighters in need during difficult financial times. Donations from the SARB fund have also been provided for medical assistance to boxers injured in the ring who will never box again and to the families of boxers who have been permanently injured, or killed as a result of a boxing event. In 1995 the fund was expanded to include scholarships and became the SARB/Educational Fund. The SARB/Educational fund provides scholarships to the children and grandchildren of IBF members. The IBF/USBA has awarded $81,000 in educational scholarships to date. The organization prides itself on being an integral part of the education, growth and development of society's future - the young people. Scholarships and donations are awarded in accordance with how much money is in the account, how many requests are received and the nature of the request. Scholarship awards have been granted in amounts no less than $2,500 per student.

SARB/Educational fund money is also used for donations to community organizations including gyms, AAU's (Amateur Athletic Union) regionally and to the National AAU, churches, youth programs, homes for temporarily displaced children, and anti drug programs throughout the world. Annual donations are also made from this fund to hospitals during the Christmas season to provide toys for children who are sick and for children waiting to be adopted.

The monies derived from the interest earned on the various IBF/USBA bank accounts and T-bills mainly support the SARB/Educational fund. Some of the officials that judge, referee and supervise IBF/USBA fights donate a portion of their fees to the fund and the organization also raises cash for this charity by selling its logo merchandise at the yearly conventions and raffling various prizes.

The IBF/USBA is a voluntary membership non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey by interested persons for the purpose of obtaining greater efficiency and uniformity in the supervision of professional boxing and to encourage and assist professional boxing. The organization promulgates rules, suggests standards for boxing guidance, establishes champions and prepares monthly ratings of the outstanding contenders in 17 weight classes. This information is shared with the press, the public and all associate members and is posted on the website at WWW.IBF-USBA-BOXING.COM.

Over the years the IBF/USBA has created different regional titles throughout the United States and around the world with the intentions of giving small promoters and young fighters an opportunity to participate. This has enabled regional and cross-regional competitions and has given professional boxers the opportunity to work their way up through the organization and reach the coveted world championship title.

The principal goal of the IBF/USBA has always been to give every talented and aspiring professional boxer in the United States and throughout the world the chance of making a name for himself by publicly recognizing his talents. The organization's unbiased ratings system has contributed to the growth, longevity and continued success of professional boxing worldwide.

Daryl J. Peoples, President

Lindsey E. Tucker,
Championship Chairman

William James,
Ratings Chairman

516 Main Street
2nd Floor
East Orange, NJ 07018 (973) 414-0300
(973) 414-0307 fax