{{short description|Sanctioning organization for professional boxing bouts}} {{Infobox organization | name = World Boxing Council | image = World Boxing Council logo.png | image_border = | image_size = 2000x | image_alt = | caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | abbreviation = WBC | formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1963||}} | extinction = | type = Non-profit institution | status = | purpose = Boxing sanctioning organization | headquarters = Mexico City, Mexico | location = | region_served = Worldwide | num_members = | language = | leader_title = President | leader_name = Mauricio Sulaimán | main_organ = General Assembly | parent_organization = | affiliations = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | budget = | website = {{URL|wbcboxing.com}} | remarks = }}
The '''World Boxing Council''' ('''WBC''') is an international professional boxing organization. It is among the four major organizations which sanction professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).
Many historically high-profile bouts have been sanctioned by the organization with various notable fighters having been recognised as WBC world champions. All four organizations recognise the legitimacy of each other and each have interwoven histories dating back several decades.
==History== The WBC was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Tunisia, the Philippines, Panama, USSR, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil. Representatives met in Mexico City on 14 February 1963, upon invitation of Adolfo López Mateos, then President of Mexico, to form an international organization to unify all commissions of the world to control the expansion of boxing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Curtis |first1=Tyler |title=47 Years of Rotten Boxing Decisions and the WBC Is Still Going Strong |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/346325-47-years-of-rotten-boxing-decisions-and-the-wbc-is-still-going-strong |website=bleacherreport.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=16 February 2010}}</ref>
The groups that historically had recognized several boxers as champions included the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), the National Boxing Association (NBA) of the United States, the European Boxing Union (EBU) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC); but for the most part, these groups lacked the all-encompassing 'international' status they claimed.{{Citation needed|reason="All-encompassing 'international' status" needs to be defined clearly because it means a lot of nations from around the world, a claim that is not found in the next source.|date=April 2015}}
Today, it has 161 member countries. The current WBC President is Mauricio Sulaimán. Former Presidents include Luis Spota and Ramon G. Velázquez of Mexico, Justiniano N. Montano Jr. of the Philippines and José Sulaimán of Mexico from 1975 until his death in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rafael |first1=Dan |title=WBC taps Mauricio Sulaiman as prez |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/10441318/wbc-appoints-jose-sulaiman-son-mauricio-president |website=espn.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=12 February 2014}}</ref>
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Council blocked championship fights involving Russian and Belarusian boxers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1123034/alan-hubbard-blog | title=Alan Hubbard: How Russian champion Bivol sent shockwaves down Mexico way | date=11 May 2022 }}</ref>
===Championship=== The WBC's green championship belt portrays the flags of all of the 161 member countries of the organization. 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=David |title=WBC belt history |url=https://www.wbcme.co.uk/ringside/wbc-belt-history/ |website=wbcme.co.uk |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=13 September 2010 |archive-date=14 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241014171105/https://www.wbcme.co.uk/ringside/wbc-belt-history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The WBC has nine regional governing bodies affiliated with it, such as the North American Boxing Federation, the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation, the European Boxing Union, and the African Boxing Union.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eastham |first1=Cliff |title=Alphabet Soup: Getting Lost In The Boxing Organizations |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/365684-alphabet-soup-getting-lost-in-the-boxing-organiztions |website=bleacherreport.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=19 March 2010}}</ref>
Although rivals, the WBC's relationship with other sanctioning bodies has improved over time and there have even been talks of unification with the WBA. Unification bouts between WBC and other organizations' champions are becoming more common in recent years. Throughout its history, the WBC has allowed some of its organization's champions to fight unification fights with champions of other organizations, although there were times it stepped in to prevent such fights. For many years, it also prevented its champions from holding the WBO belt. When a WBO-recognized champion wished to fight for a WBC championship, he had to abandon his WBO title first, without any special considerations. This, however, is no longer the case.
In 1983, following the death of Kim Duk-koo from injuries sustained in a 14-round fight against Ray Mancini, 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Angus |title=WBC Limits Title Fights to 12 Rounds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1982/12/10/wbc-limits-title-fights-to-12-rounds/370e0dff-01bb-446a-a9e9-c98a1e9bcb27/ |website=washingtonpost.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=10 December 1982}}</ref>
Among those to have been recognized by the WBC as world champions are the undefeated and undisputed champions Manny Pacquiao, Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Wilfred Benítez, Wilfredo Gómez, Julio César Chávez, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Mike Tyson, Salvador Sánchez, Héctor Camacho, Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzón, Rodrigo Valdez, Roberto Durán, Juan Laporte, Félix Trinidad, Edwin Rosario, Bernard Hopkins, Alexis Argüello, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Érik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Naoya Inoue, Oleksandr Usyk, Canelo Álvarez, Tony Bellew, Mairis Briedis, and Grigory Drozd.
At its discretion, the WBC may designate and recognize, upon a two-thirds majority vote of its Board of Governors, one or more emeritus world champions in each weight class. Such a recognition is for life and is only bestowed upon present or past WBC world champions. The following boxers have earned the "Emeritus Championship" appellation throughout their careers: Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins (Honorary Champion), Mikkel Kessler, Sergio Martínez, Andre Ward,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christ |first=Scott |date=11 April 2013 |title=Andre Ward loses WBC title, but named 'champion emeritus' |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/4/11/4213998/andre-ward-loses-wbc-title-but-named-champion-emeritus |access-date=21 September 2025 |website=Bad Left Hook |language=en-US}}</ref> Floyd Mayweather Jr., Kostya Tszyu, Manny Pacquiao, Danny García, Érik Morales, Toshiaki Nishioka, Vic Darchinyan, Édgar Sosa, Tony Bellew, Jelena Mrdjenovich,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Serrano Upgraded To WBC Featherweight Titlist, Mrdjenovich Named 'Emeritus Champion' |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/amanda-serrano-upgraded-wbc-featherweight-titlist-mrdjenovich-named-emeritus-champion |access-date=21 September 2025 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}}</ref> and Katie Taylor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro Boxing News: Katie Taylor Gets Champion Emeritus Status; What's Her Next Fight? |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/wbc-designates-katie-taylor-as-emeritus-champion |access-date=18 September 2025 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}}</ref> This allows the fighters, should they return to competition, to take part in a title bout in the division they have been crowned emeritus champion. During the WBC's 51st Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was named "Supreme Champion", a designation that nobody before him has ever achieved.<ref>{{cite web |title=Floyd Mayweather Is Named "Supreme Champion" |url=https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/boxing-articles-and-news-videos-results-rankings-and-history/17555-floyd-mayweather-is-named-qsupreme-championq |website=tss.ib.tv |date=12 November 2013 |access-date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=18 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118064844/https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/boxing-articles-and-news-videos-results-rankings-and-history/17555-floyd-mayweather-is-named-qsupreme-championq |url-status=dead }}</ref> The WBC bolstered the legitimacy of women's boxing by recognizing fighters such as Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker as contenders for female world titles in 16 weight divisions. The first WBC World Female Champion (on 30 May 2005) was the super bantamweight Jackie Nava from Mexico. With her former-champion father at ringside, Laila Ali won the super middleweight title on 11 June 2005.
===Silver Championship=== In 2010, the WBC created a "Silver Championship", intended as a replacement for interim titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxingscene.com/wbc-replace-interim-titles-with-silver-titles--26323 |title=WBC May Replace Interim-Titles with 'Silver Titles' |date=25 March 2010 |publisher=boxingscene.com}}</ref> Justin Savi was the first boxer to win a Silver title after defeating Cyril Thomas on 16 April 2010. Unlike its interim predecessor, a boxer holding the Silver title cannot automatically inherit a full world title vacated by the champion. The WBC continues to recognize interim and Silver Champions, as well as interim Silver Champions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/concepcion-narvaez-will-meet-for-interim-wbc-silver-belt-in-panama-207498|title=Concepcion-Narvaez will meet for interim WBC silver belt in Panama|work=Boxing News}}</ref> A year later, the WBC introduced Silver versions to its International titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/allotey-wins-wbc-international-silver-belt-104967|title=Allotey wins WBC International Silver belt|work=Boxing News}}</ref> As of 2020, there are Silver titles of the female world title, Youth World title, USNBC title, Latino title and also FECARBOX title.
===Diamond Championship=== In September 2009, the WBC created its new "Diamond Championship" belt. This belt was created as an honorary championship exclusively to award the winner of a historic fight between two high-profile and elite boxers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/?p=22319|title=WBC Diamond Belt Presentation|publisher=Fightnews|access-date=2009-09-08}}</ref> The inaugural Diamond belt was awarded on 14 November 2009 to Manny Pacquiao, who won his 7th world title (in seven different divisions) via a 12th-round technical knockout (TKO) over Miguel Cotto at welterweight in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Other holders of this title have included Mairis Briedis (cruiserweight), Oleksandr Usyk,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Esco |first=Wil |date=6 July 2017 |title=WBC puts 'diamond' titles on the line in WBSS |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2017/7/6/15928014/wbc-puts-diamond-titles-on-the-line-in-world-boxing-super-series |access-date=21 September 2025 |website=Bad Left Hook |language=en-US}}</ref> Bernard Hopkins (light heavyweight), Callum Smith (super middleweight), Sergio Martínez and Canelo Álvarez (middleweight), Floyd Mayweather Jr. (super welterweight), Errol Spence Jr. (welterweight), Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor (super lightweight), Nonito Donaire (super bantamweight and bantamweight), Naoya Inoue (super bantamweight and bantamweight), Léo Santa Cruz (featherweight), Jean Pascal and Sergey Kovalev (light heavyweight), Mikey Garcia (welterweight and super lightweight), Jorge Linares (lightweight), Alexander Povetkin (heavyweight), and Román González (super flyweight). At the WBC convention in December 2012, Muhammad Ali was awarded an honorary WBC Diamond belt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KNews |date=2012-12-05 |title=WBC confers 'King of Boxing' honour on Muhammad Ali at 50th Convention |url=https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2012/12/05/wbc-confers-king-of-boxing-honour-on-muhammad-ali-at-50th-convention/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Kaieteur News |language=en-US}}</ref> Female Diamond champions have included Claressa Shields (middleweight), Amanda Serrano (super bantamweight), Ana María Torres (bantamweight), Raja Amasheh (super flyweight), Ava Knight and Jessica Chávez (flyweight). Although this title can be defended, it is not a mandatory requirement. The title can also be vacated in the case of a fighter's long-term absence or retirement from boxing.
===Franchise Championship=== In 2019, the WBC Franchise Championship was introduced as an honorary title awarded to dominant champions that have represented the WBC and is a special designation and status which the WBC may honor to a current WBC World Champion, who is also an elite boxer, and who remains a top performer in the sport. Boxers who has been given the honorary title, must vacate their WBC world title in that division as the honorary title is transferable.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boxingscene Staff |title=Sulaiman Stands Firm on Creating "Franchise" Title, Explains The Concept |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/sulaiman-stands-firm-on-creating-franchise-title-explains-concept--156594 |website=boxingscene.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=2 April 2021}}</ref> Boxers who have been named WBC Franchise Champion include: Canelo Alvarez (middleweight; 2019–2020),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rafael |first1=Dan |title=Canelo loses a title, now WBC 'franchise champ' |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/27068849/canelo-loses-title-now-wbc-franchise-champ |website=espn.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=27 June 2019}}</ref> Vasiliy Lomachenko (lightweight; 2019–2020),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rafael |first1=Dan |title=WBC gives plans for titlists, names Vasiliy Lomachenko 'franchise champ' |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/27914825/wbc-gives-plans-titlists-names-vasiliy-lomachenko-franchise-champ |website=espn.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=24 October 2019}}</ref> Teófimo López (lightweight; 2020–2021),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Esco |first1=Wil |title=Teofimo Lopez shows off two WBC title belts, says Devin Haney 'got played' |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2021/2/5/22268332/teofimo-lopez-shows-off-two-wbc-title-belts-says-devin-haney-got-played-boxing-news-2021 |website=badlefthook.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=5 February 2021}}</ref> Juan Francisco Estrada (super flyweight; since 2021), and George Kambosos Jr. (lightweight; 2021–2022).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Donovan |first1=Jake |title=Juan Francisco Estrada Named WBC "Franchise" Champ, Four-Man "SuperFly" Tournament Called |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/juan-francisco-estrada-named-wbc-franchise-champ-four-man-superfly-tournament-called--156431 |website=boxingscene.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=26 March 2021}}</ref>
===Eternal Championship=== The WBC Eternal Championship is an honorary title awarded to retired boxers that have never lost the WBC world title in the ring while having a solid number of successful title defenses. Jiselle Salandy was awarded the Eternal title as she defended the WBC female super welterweight title five times before her death on 4 January 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caribbean-beat.com/issue-97/jizelle-salandy-glory-ring|title=Jizelle Salandy: glory in the ring|date=May 2009 |publisher=Caribbean Beat|accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archives.newsday.co.tt/2009/02/11/salandy-gets-eternal-champion-award/|title=Salandy gets Eternal Champion Award|date=11 February 2009 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref> On 12 December 2016, Vitali Klitschko was recognized as "Eternal Champion", as he had 10 successful WBC heavyweight title defenses during his career before his retirement in 2013 and was never knocked down throughout his career either.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxingnewsonline.net/vitali-klitschko-named-eternal-world-heavyweight-champion-by-the-wbc/|title=Vitali Klitschko named 'Eternal World Heavyweight Champion' by the WBC|date=12 December 2016 |publisher=Boxing News Online |accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wbc-ukraine.com/en/news/193-vitaliy-klitschko-is-the-only-eternal-wbc-champion-in-history|title=Vitaliy Klitschko is the only "Eternal" WBC Champion in history|publisher=WBC Ukraine|accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref> Former WBC light flyweight and flyweight champion Ibeth Zamora Silva was also named Eternal Champion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2025 |title=Farewell to Ibeth "Roca" Zamora: WBC Eternal Champion - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/farewell-to-ibeth-roca-zamora-wbc-eternal-champion/ |access-date=21 September 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Championship belt design === The World Boxing Council championship belt is distinguished by its green strap and gold central medallion featuring representations of world flags.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The Evolution of Our WBC Championship Belt |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-evolution-of-our-wbc-championship-belt/ |access-date=16 May 2026 |publisher=World Boxing Council}}</ref> The design became one of the most recognizable visual symbols in professional boxing and evolved over time from a relatively simple championship insignia into a more elaborate ceremonial object incorporating gold-plated elements, engraved side plates and commemorative iconography.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Boddy |first=Kasia |title=Boxing: A Cultural History |publisher=Reaktion Books |year=2008}}</ref> The tradition of championship belts in boxing originated in the 19th century with the Lonsdale belt, when belts emerged as wearable symbols of championship status in prizefighting, replacing or complementing cups and trophies.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hudson |first=David L. |title=Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas |publisher=Potomac Books |isbn=9781612340319 |publication-date=2014}}</ref>
The modern WBC belt identity was established in 1976 through a redesign developed under WBC president José Sulaimán in collaboration with Italian designer Piero Pini. The redesign introduced the organization's characteristic green-and-gold color scheme and expanded the number of national flags represented on the belt to emphasize the WBC's international character.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Olga |date=2019-08-06 |title=The Different Boxing Title Belts Explained {{!}} MK Boxing Gym, Billerica,MA |url=https://mkboxing.com/2019/08/06/the-different-boxing-title-belts-explained/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=MK Boxing Gym |language=en-US}}</ref> Over the following decades, the WBC produced multiple variations of its championship belts, including specially commissioned designs for undisputed championships, anniversary events and high-profile title fights. The organization increasingly incorporated jeweled decorations, such as side medallions presenting portraits of historic champions including Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. Later versions introduced increasingly elaborate sculptural details, new series of portraits, and culturally specific artistic motifs into its belts, contributing to their role as both sporting trophies and symbolic commemorative objects.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Belts |first=Zees |date=2025-04-23 |title=The Evolution of Boxing Championship Belts |url=https://zeesbelts.com/blogs/zees-belts-blogs/the-evolution-of-boxing-championship-belts |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=Zees Championship Belts |language=en}}</ref> Since the 2010s, the WBC has also commissioned commemorative belts for selected major bouts, often incorporating indigenous Mexican artistic traditions and national symbolism.<ref name=":1" />
===Commemorative World Championship Belts=== The WBC also awards commemorative world championship belts to certain individuals or groups as trophies for winning historic fights or exhibition matches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-commemorative-belts/|title=The Commemorative Belts|date=20 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/round-12-the-wbc-commemorative-belts/|title=Round 12: The WBC Commemorative Belts|date=27 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-world-boxing-council-commemorative-belts-2/ | title=The World Boxing Council Commemorative Belts | date=4 May 2023 }}</ref> In 2024, the WBC commissioned a commemorative belt for the undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-16 |title=Pope Francis blesses special belt on the line in Fury vs Usyk undisputed clash |url=https://talksport.com/boxing/1830759/pope-francis-tyson-fury-oleksandr-usyk/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=talkSPORT |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-18 |title=Fury - Usyk. Une ceinture commémorative spéciale sera remise au vainqueur |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/boxe/fury-usyk-une-ceinture-commemorative-speciale-sera-remise-au-vainqueur-a7780cc2-14f2-11ef-a482-9d66515b057a |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240603221800/https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/boxe/fury-usyk-une-ceinture-commemorative-speciale-sera-remise-au-vainqueur-a7780cc2-14f2-11ef-a482-9d66515b057a |archive-date=2024-06-03 |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Ouest-France.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref> The belt incorporated the colors and symbols of the British and Ukrainian flags and was presented as a tribute to the historic significance of the bout, which determined boxing's first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. Media coverage noted the belt as part of the WBC's broader practice of creating specially designed commemorative belts for major boxing events.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-09 |title=WBC Reveals ‘King Of The Nile’ Belt For Oleksandr Usyk Vs Rico Verhoeven |url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2026/05/wbc-reveals-king-of-the-nile-belt-for-usyk-vs-rico-verhoeven/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=www.boxingnews24.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
The WBC has also produced other nationally themed commemorative belts, including the "Freedom Belt", introduced in 2021 to commemorate Juneteenth in the United States and featuring American flag imagery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-10 |title=The WBC Freedom Belt - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-wbc-freedom-belt/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> The following are the recipients of the commemorative belts: *24K Gold — Floyd Mayweather Jr. (September 14, 2013)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2013/07/mayweather-canelo-winner-will-get-wbc-24k-gold-world-championship-strap/|title=Mayweather-Canelo winner will get WBC 24K Gold World Championship strap ⋆ Boxing News 24|date=July 14, 2013|website=Boxing News 24}}</ref> *Emerald — Floyd Mayweather Jr. (May 2, 2015)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/4/21/8464359/mayweather-pacquiao-1-million-wbc-emerald-belt-photo|title=Here is the $1MM belt for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather|first=Bill|last=Hanstock|date=April 21, 2015|website=SBNation.com}}</ref> *Onyx — Joe Smith Jr. (December 17, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/12/joe-beast-smith-bernard-executioner-hopkins-make-weight-saturdays-fight/|title=Joe Smith and Bernard Hopkins both make weight ⋆ Boxing News 24|date=December 16, 2016|website=Boxing News 24|access-date=August 31, 2021|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027060950/https://www.boxingnews24.com/2016/12/joe-beast-smith-bernard-executioner-hopkins-make-weight-saturdays-fight/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Huichol I — Canelo Álvarez (May 6, 2017) *Money — Floyd Mayweather Jr. (August 26, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/8/24/16195296/wbc-president-explains-origin-of-over-the-top-priceless-money-belt-for-mayweather-vs-mcgregor|title=WBC president explains origin of over-the-top, 'priceless' Money Belt for Mayweather vs. McGregor|first=Marc|last=Raimondi|date=August 24, 2017|website=MMA Fighting}}</ref> *Huichol II — Gennady Golovkin (September 16, 2017) *Chiapaneco I — Gennady Golovkin (May 5, 2018) *Chiapaneco II — Canelo Álvarez (September 15, 2018) *Maya I — Canelo Álvarez (May 4, 2019) *Maya II — Tyson Fury (September 14, 2019) *Mazahua — Heroes of Humanity (May 5, 2020) *Otomi — Julio César Chávez and Jorge Arce (September 25, 2020) *Frontline Battle — Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. (November 28, 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dazn.com/en-GLOBAL/news/boxing/wbc-announces-new-frontline-battle-belt-for-tyson-jones-fight/iyeaqro8mmta1d6stizu8ixbl|title=WBC announces new Frontline Battle Belt for Tyson-Jones fight | DAZN News Global|website=DAZN|date=26 October 2020 }}</ref> *Health Care Hero — Errol Spence Jr. (December 5, 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/austins-health-care-hero-masterpiece-is-the-focal-point-of-spence-jr-vs-garcia-wbc-belt/|title=Austin's "Health Care Hero" masterpiece is the focal point of Spence Jr Vs Garcia WBC Belt|date=2 December 2020 }}</ref> *Mestizo — Canelo Álvarez (May 8, 2021) *Freedom 2021 — Jermall Charlo (June 19, 2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fightnews.com/wbc-unveils-freedom-belt/114725|title=Boxing News: WBC unveils Freedom belt » September 4, 2021|date=June 10, 2021 |author1=Karlfreitag }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-wbc-freedom-belt/|title = The WBC Freedom Belt| date=10 June 2021 }}</ref> *Teotihuacan — Canelo Álvarez (November 6, 2021) *Union — Tyson Fury (April 23, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-union-belt/|title = The Union Belt| date=17 February 2022 }}</ref> *Celtic-Boricua — Katie Taylor (April 30, 2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/wbc-unveil-their-celtic-boricua-belt-for-the-winner-of-katie-taylor-vs-amanda-serrano | title=WBC unveil their Celtic – Boricua Belt for the winner of Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano | date=29 April 2022 }}</ref> *Ubuntu African Spirit — Ludumo Lamati (May 22, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Herman |date=25 October 2022 |title=Classy Ludumo Lamati is ready to hit the big time by using Haidari Mchanjo as a stepping stone |url=https://thestar.co.za/sport/boxing/2022-05-20-classy-ludumo-lamati-is-ready-to-hit-the-big-time-by-using-haidari-mchanjo-as-a-stepping-stone/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2022 |title=The WBC Presents the Southern Africa "Ubuntu" Belt, a Humanitarian Trophy to recognize Lamati vs. Mchanjo - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-wbc-presents-the-southern-africa-ubuntu-belt-a-humanitarian-trophy-to-recognize-lamati-vs-mchanjo/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Guerrero Jaguar Zapoteca — Canelo Álvarez (September 17, 2022) *Elizabethan — Claressa Shields (October 15, 2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marca.com/en/boxing/2022/10/06/633e4c38ca474126078b4580.html | title=WBC will make world championship belt in honor of Queen Elizabeth II | date=6 October 2022 }}</ref> *Diriyah — Tommy Fury (February 26, 2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/1341959/jake-paul-tommy-fury-wbc-new-belt-diriyah-champion/ | title=WBC reveal special belt up for grabs to winner of Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury fight | date=26 February 2023 }}</ref> *Puebla-Jalisco — Canelo Álvarez (May 6, 2023) *Freedom 2023 — Floyd Mayweather Jr. (June 11, 2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxingscene.com/mayweather-receive-wbc-juneteenth-themed-title-gotti-fight--174621 | title=Mayweather to Receive a WBC Juneteenth-Themed Title for Gotti Fight | date=15 May 2023 }}</ref> *Puebla — Canelo Alvarez (September 30, 2023) *Riyadh Champion — Tyson Fury (October 28, 2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mmanews.com/news/wbc-belt-upcoming-tyson-fury-francis-ngannou-fight | title=Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Winner Gets This Unique WBC Championship Belt | work=MMA News | UFC News, Results & Interviews | date=7 September 2023 }}</ref> *Super Bowl LVIII — Kansas City Chiefs (February 11, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Mrinal |date=February 12, 2024 |title=Super Bowl LVIII Champions: Fans Lose It After Boxing's WBC Council Introduces Custom Belt for Chiefs: "Just Stop!" |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/boxing-nfl-news-super-bowl-lviii-champions-fans-lose-it-after-boxings-wbc-council-introduces-custom-belt-for-chiefs-just-stop/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=EssentiallySports |language=en}}</ref> *Tamaulipas I — Canelo Álvarez (May 4, 2024) *Undisputed I — Oleksandr Usyk (May 18, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fightnews.com/special-fury-usyk-wbc-belt/160734|title=Boxing News: Special Fury-Usyk WBC belt » August 16, 2024|date=April 15, 2024}}</ref> *Freedom 2024 — Gary Russell Sr. (posthumous) (June 14, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 3, 2024 |title=Great WBC activity in June 2024 - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/great-wbc-activity-in-june-2024/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Tamaulipas II — Canelo Álvarez (September 14, 2024) *Rumble in the Jungle — Oleksandr Usyk (December 21, 2024)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2024/12/17/winner-of-tyson-fury-vs-oleksandr-usyk-2-to-receive-unique-and-special-award-that-is-a-thing-a-beauty/ | title=Winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 to receive 'unique and special' award that is a thing a beauty | date=17 December 2024 }}</ref> *Guerrero Azteca I — Isaac Cruz (February 1, 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/pitbull-cruz-and-angel-tashiro-fierro-contesting-guerrero-azteca-belt/ | title="Pitbull" Cruz and Angel "Tashiro" Fierro contesting Guerrero Azteca belt - World Boxing Council | date=31 January 2025 }}</ref> *Super Bowl LIX — Philadelphia Eagles (February 9, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2025 |title=WBC and Wynn Resorts celebrate Super Bowl winner - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-and-wynn-resorts-celebrate-super-bowl-winner/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Undisputed II — Dmitry Bivol (February 22, 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/commemorative-wbc-belt-for-beterbiev-vs-bivol-ii/ | title=Commemorative WBC Belt for Beterbiev VS Bivol II - World Boxing Council | date=18 February 2025 }}</ref> *Homecoming — Tiara Brown (March 22, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=WBC Unveils Commemorative Belt for Nicholson vs. Brown |url=https://rtfight.com/news/wbc-unveils-special-belt-nicholson-brown |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=rtfight.com |language=en}}</ref> *Kun Khmer — Government of Cambodia (March 31, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chanthy |date=1 April 2025 |title=Cambodia celebrates historic recognition as WBC Kun Khmer championship belt arrives - Khmer Times |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501663607/cambodia-celebrates-historic-recognition-as-wbc-kun-khmer-championship-belt-arrives/ |access-date=6 September 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Xicotencatl — Canelo Álvarez (May 3, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=WBC Xicotencatl Belt (VIDEO) - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-xicotencatl-belt-video/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Gray in May — Naoya Inoue (May 4, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=Inoue survives knockdown to win by TKO - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/inoue-survives-knockdown-to-win-by-tko/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Brain Cancer Awareness Month - Gray in May: The WBC Presents Commemorative Belt to Honor JessZilla - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/brain-cancer-awareness-month-gray-in-may-the-wbc-presents-commemorative-belt-to-honor-jesszilla/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Freedom 2025 — Franchón Crews-Dezurn (June 6, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs. Citlali Ortiz for the Juneteenth Belt - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/franchon-crews-dezurn-vs-citlali-ortiz-for-the-juneteenth-belt/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Africa — Andrew Tabiti (June 13, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-05 |title=The Year of Africa: Tabiti vs Dickson for the WBC Africa belt - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-year-of-africa-tabiti-vs-dickson-for-the-wbc-africa-belt/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Guerrero Azteca II — Manny Pacquiao and Sebastian Fundora (July 29, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-29 |title=The Aztec Warrior WBC Belt - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-aztec-warrior-wbc-belt/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guerrero Azteca to be awarded to the greatest warrior of tonight |url=https://www.facebook.com/100065035173002/posts/cinturon-guerreroazteca-to-be-awarded-to-the-greatest-warrior-of-tonight-pacquia/1132467992264363/ |access-date=September 4, 2025 |website=Facebook}}</ref> *Nahui Huey Altepemeh — Terence Crawford (September 13, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2025 |title=WBC Presents the 'Nahui Huey Altepemeh' Belt in Honor of Tlaxcala 2025 - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-presents-the-nahui-huey-altepemeh-belt-in-honor-of-tlaxcala-2025/ |access-date=3 September 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Reynosa Tamaulipas — Miguel Berchelt (October 11, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2025 |title=Berchelt Vs Perez for The Magnificent Reynosa Belt - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/berchelt-vs-perez-for-the-magnificent-reynosa-belt/ |access-date=19 October 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Brooklyn Brawler — Danny Garcia (October 18, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mauricio Sulaiman |url=https://www.facebook.com/100065035173002/posts/the-wbc-joined-the-farewell-fight-for-our-great-and-beloved-dannyswiftgarcia-gar/1207730704738091/ |access-date=19 October 2025 |website=Facebook}}</ref> *Dia de Muertos — Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Gabriela Sánchez (November 8, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=WBC Day of the Dead Belt |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQxlfPajAWn/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2025 |title=Gabriela “Bonita” Sánchez receives Commemorative Belt and rematch officially announced - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/gabriela-bonita-sanchez-receives-commemorative-belt-and-rematch-officially-announced/ |access-date=12 November 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Super Bowl XX — Chicago Bears (November 8, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 September 2025 |title=The Chicago Bears Honored by the WBC |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-chicago-bears-honored-by-the-wbc/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |website=World Boxing Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WBC Super Bowl XX Belt |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ1wfO-DfzV/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> *Samurai — Takuma Inoue (November 24, 2025)<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/DRR_mLPDSAo/</ref> *Dėl šlovės — Egidijus Kavaliauskas (November 28, 2025)<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/DRhL6BViDan/</ref> *Mental Health — Noel Mikaelian (December 13, 2025)<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/DSH1V9qDSGm/</ref> *Tollan Tlatequi — David Benavidez (May 2, 2026)<ref>https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-unveils-tollan-tlatequi-commemorative-belt/</ref>
===Crown Series=== ====Undisputed Championship Ring==== In conjunction with Rasheen Farlow and Jason of Beverly Hills, the WBC created the first-ever WBC Crown Series Undisputed Championship ring to be awarded to the winner of the undisputed world super middleweight championship bout between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2025 |title=WBC reveals championship ring for Canelo vs. Crawford fight |url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/46215423/wbc-ring-canelo-alvarez-terence-crawford |access-date=September 13, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2025 |title=The World Boxing Council Unveils First Ever Undisputed Championship Ring - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/the-world-boxing-council-unveils-first-ever-undisputed-championship-ring/ |access-date=September 13, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Terence Crawford (September 13, 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2025 |title=WBC Unveils Canelo vs Crawford Championship Ring Worth More Than $100K |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/boxing/wbc-unveils-canelo-vs-crawford-championship-ring-worth-more-than-100k |access-date=September 13, 2025 |website=KO On SI |language=en-US}}</ref> *Naoya Inoue (May 2, 2026)<ref>https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/wbc-to-award-naoya-inoue-junto-nakatani-winner-100-000-ring-K9sdNXLTFaiYovx3OcoKw</ref>
====Main Event World Championship Chain and Pendant==== In February 2026, the WBC, in conjunction with Iced Out By K LLC, Devon Milan, and HOUSEOFARTGRFX, unveiled the Main Event World Championship Chain and Pendant to be awarded to the winner of a WBC World Championship bout serving as the headline match.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2026 |title=WBC Expands the Legacy of the “Crown Series” with World Championship Chain and Pendant - World Boxing Council |url=https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-expands-the-legacy-of-the-crown-series-with-world-championship-chain-and-pendant/ |access-date=February 18, 2026 |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Trans athletes=== In an exclusive interview with ''The Telegraph'' in 2022, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said that the WBC would ban transgender fighters from competing against cisgender fighters "so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen", and would instead introduce a separate trans category of competition wherein athletes would be divided by their gender assigned at birth. Sulaiman called for current fighters who may be trans to come forward and register accordingly.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2022/12/29/exclusive-boxing-introduce-new-transgender-category/ |title=Exclusive: Boxing to introduce new transgender category |last1=Davies |first1=Gareth|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=29 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/world-boxing-council-plans-create-090741074.html |title=The World Boxing Council plans to create transgender category |last1=Powell |first1=Jon|date=30 December 2022 }}</ref>
==Controversies== In early 1998, Roy Jones Jr. announced that he was relinquishing his WBC light heavyweight title. In response, the WBC ordered a bout between Graciano Rocchigiani from Germany and the former champion Michael Nunn to fill the vacancy, sanctioning it as a world championship match. On 21 March 1998, Rocchigiani won the fight and a WBC belt; in the subsequent WBC rankings, he was listed as "Light Heavyweight World Champion".
Jones, however, had a change of heart and asked if the WBC would reinstate him as the champion. In a move that violated nearly a dozen of its own regulations, the WBC granted the reinstatement.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=USATODAY.com - Bankruptcy could spell doom for WBC|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2004-06-13-wbc_x.htm|access-date=2021-11-23|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com}}</ref> Rocchigiani received a letter from the WBC advising that the publication of his name as champion was a typographical error and he had never been the official title holder.<ref name="auto"/>
Rocchigiani immediately filed a lawsuit against the WBC in a U.S. federal court, claiming that the organization's actions were both contrary to their own rules and injurious to his earning potential (due to diminished professional stature). On 7 May 2003, the judge ruled in Rocchigiani's favor, awarding him $31 million (U.S.) in damages and reinstating him as a former WBC champion (Rocchigiani had lost a bout since his WBC title match).<ref>{{cite news |title="Rocky" geht im letzten Kampf die Puste aus |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/niederlage-gegen-ulrich-rocky-geht-im-letzten-kampf-die-puste-aus-a-248223.html |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=11 May 2003 |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref>
The following day, the WBC sought protection by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (i.e., corporate debt restructuring) in Puerto Rico. The organization spent the next 13 months trying to negotiate a 6-figure settlement with Rocchigiani, but the fighter at first rejected the proposal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Associated Press |title=WBC avoiding $31 million owed to fighter |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=1821391 |website=espn.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=14 June 2004}}</ref>
On 11 June 2004, the WBC announced it would enter Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation (i.e., business closing and total asset sell-off) proceedings, effectively threatening its existence. This action prompted some in the boxing community to plead with Rocchigiani to settle the dispute, which he did in mid-July 2004.<ref name="auto"/>
===Don King=== Many in the boxing community have accused the WBC of bending its rules to suit the powerful boxing promoter Don King. The journalist Jack Newfield wrote, "...[WBC President José Sulaimán] became more King's junior partner than his independent regulator".<ref name=Newfield>{{cite book|last=Newfield|first=Jack|title=Only In America|publisher=William & Morrow Co.|year=1995|location=New York, New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyinamericalif00newf/page/141 141]|isbn=0-688-10123-2|url=https://archive.org/details/onlyinamericalif00newf/page/141}}</ref> Another journalist, Peter Heller, echoes that comment: "Sulaimán...became little more than an errand boy for Don King".<ref name=Heller/> Heller quotes British promoter Mickey Duff as saying, "My complaint is that José Sulaimán is not happy his friend Don King is the biggest promoter in boxing. Sulaimán will only be happy when Don King is the ''only'' promoter in boxing."<ref name=Heller>{{cite book|last=Heller|first=Peter|title=Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story|publisher=New American Library|year=1988|location=New York, New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/onlyinamericalif00newf/page/143 143]|isbn=0-688-10123-2|url=https://archive.org/details/onlyinamericalif00newf/page/143}}</ref>
Newfield and Heller take issue with the following actions of the WBC: * When Leon Spinks won the WBA and WBC Heavyweight Championships from Muhammad Ali in 1978, the WBC stripped Leon Spinks of his title. José Sulaimán said the WBC did so because Spinks was signed for a rematch with Ali instead of fighting a Don King fighter, Ken Norton. Norton defended the WBC title against another Don King fighter, Larry Holmes, who won the belt.<ref name=Newfield/> * In 1983, WBC Super Featherweight Champion Bobby Chacon was signed to fight Cornelius Boza-Edwards, the WBC's mandatory challenger for his title. But, the promoter Don King wanted his fighter, Héctor Camacho, to fight for the title. Although WBC rules said the mandatory challenger should receive a shot at the title, the WBC withdrew its sanction from the fight. It stripped Chacon of his title for refusing to fight Camacho.<ref name=Heller/> * Under WBC rules, a fighter is supposed to defend his title against a mandatory challenger at least once a year. For fighters controlled by Don King, this rule is often ignored. For instance, Alexis Argüello and Carlos Zárate were allowed to ignore their obligations as WBC champions to their mandatory contenders.<ref name=Newfield/> * When WBC Super Featherweight Champion Julio César Chávez wanted to fight top contender Roger Mayweather for a promoter other than Don King, the WBC withheld its sanction of the fight until Don King became promoter.<ref name=Newfield/> * When Mike Tyson lost to James "Buster" Douglas during an IBF, WBC and WBA Heavyweight Championship defense, King convinced the WBC (along with the WBA) to withhold recognition of Douglas as heavyweight champion. King claimed that Tyson had won the fight by knocking Douglas down, after which the referee gave Douglas a "long count".<ref name=Newfield/> The referee, Octavio Meyran, claims in an affidavit that King threatened to have the WBC withhold payment of his hotel bill if he did not support King's protest.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sugar|first=Bert|title=In This Corner|journal= Boxing Illustrated|volume=32| issue =8|page=4|date=October 1990}}</ref> Because of intense public pressure, both the WBA and WBC backed down and recognized Douglas as champion. * In 1992, the WBC threatened to strip Evander Holyfield of his title for defending it against Riddick Bowe instead of Razor Ruddock. Holyfield obtained a court order to stop the organization. In a taped deposition for the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Holyfield said that the WBC wanted him to defend his championship against Ruddock because Ruddock was managed by King.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Heaney|first=John|title=The Senate Investigation: Much Ado About Nothing|journal= Boxing Illustrated|volume=35|issue=10|page=38|date=December 1992}}</ref> * During the 1990s, the WBC did not allow its champions to engage in unification bouts with WBO champions. However, in 1993, the super middleweight showdown between WBC champion Nigel Benn and WBO champion Chris Eubank, promoted by Don King, was recognized as a title unification fight by the WBC. The bout ended in a draw and each retained their respective titles.<ref>Nigel Benn vs. Chris Eubank</ref>{{Circular reference|date=October 2017}} * When Mike Tyson was released from prison in 1995, the WBC installed him as their #1 contender for their heavyweight championship. Tyson had not fought in four years, but was promoted by Don King.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.secondsout.com/uk-boxing-news/uk-boxing-news/lewis-v-tyson-fallout-could-destroy-wbc |title=SecondsOut Boxing News - UK Boxing News - Lewis v Tyson fallout could destroy WBC |access-date=2017-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215824/http://www.secondsout.com/uk-boxing-news/uk-boxing-news/lewis-v-tyson-fallout-could-destroy-wbc |archive-date=2017-10-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * In 1993, Julio César Chávez, managed and promoted by Don King, received a majority draw against Pernell Whitaker in their WBC welterweight title fight in San Antonio, Texas. Virtually every ringside observer and boxing analyst had Whitaker winning at least 8 or 9 rounds of the 12-round fight and CompuBox statistics showed Whitaker outlanding Chávez by a wide margin. But two of the three judges had the fight scored even. The fight was promoted by King and two of the judges were not appointed by the state's boxing commission (in this case, Texas) like any other time; instead, they were appointed by the WBC. It had been reported that Don King had a hand in helping to secure the WBC judges for the fight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/09/20/beaten-to-the-draw-pernell-whitaker-outboxed-julio-cesar-chavez-but-two-judges-denied-him-the-win|title=Beaten to the Draw - Sports Illustrated Vault|work=Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com }}</ref> To this day, the resulting draw is considered one of the most controversial decisions ever. * In 2000, Chávez, still promoted by King, was made the mandatory challenger for Kostya Tszyu's WBC super lightweight title. Chávez did not appear to satisfy requirements for a mandatory challenger: he had not fought at super lightweight for two years, had recently lost to journeyman boxer Willy Wise and had not beaten a top contender since losing to Oscar De La Hoya for the first time in 1996.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} * In 2005, the WBC stripped Javier Castillejo of his super welterweight title for fighting Fernando Vargas instead of Ricardo Mayorga, a fighter promoted by Don King. The WBC qualified Mayorga for a shot at the super welterweight title although he had never fought at that weight limit and had lost two of his last three fights.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}
==Current WBC world title holders== As of {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} <!-- Vacant format:| colspan=3 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}}!--> ===Boxing=== ====Male==== {|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- !Weight class !Champion !Reign began !Days |- | data-sort-value=1|Strawweight (''105 lbs'') |align=left|Melvin Jerusalem | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|3|31}} | 31 March 2024 |{{age in days|2024|3|31}} |- | data-sort-value=2|Light flyweight (''108 lbs'') |align=left|Shokichi Iwata | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2026|3|15}} | 15 March 2026 |{{age in days|2026|3|15}} |- | rowspan=2 data-sort-value=3 |Flyweight (''112 lbs'') | align=left|Ricardo Sandoval | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|07|30}} | 30 July 2025 |{{age in days|2025|07|30}} |- | align=left|Galal Yafai (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|11|30}} | 30 November 2024 |{{age in days|2024|11|30}} |- | data-sort-value=4|Super flyweight (''115 lbs'') |align=left|Jesse Rodríguez | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|6|29}} | 29 June 2024 |{{age in days|2024|6|29}} |- | data-sort-value=5|Bantamweight (''118 lbs'') | align=left|Takuma Inoue | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|11|24}} | 24 November 2025 |{{age in days|2025|11|24}} |- | data-sort-value=6|Super bantamweight (''122 lbs'') | align=left|Naoya Inoue | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2023|07|25}} | 25 July 2023 |{{age in days|2023|07|25}} |- | data-sort-value=7|Featherweight (''126 lbs'') | align=left|Bruce Carrington (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2026|01|31}} | 31 January 2026 |{{age in days|2026|01|31}} |- | data-sort-value=8|Super featherweight (''130 lbs'') | align=left|O'Shaquie Foster | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|11|2}} | 2 November 2024 |{{age in days|2024|11|2}} |- | rowspan=2 data-sort-value=9 |Lightweight (''135 lbs'') | colspan=3 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}} |- | align=left|Jadier Herrera (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2026|1|10}} | 10 January 2026 |{{age in days|2026|1|10}} |- |data-sort-value"10 rowspan=2|Super lightweight (''140 lbs'') | align="left" |Dalton Smith | data-sort-value="{{age in days|2026|1|10}}"| 10 January 2026 |{{age in days|2026|1|10}} |- | align=left|Isaac Cruz (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|7|19}} | 19 July 2025 |{{age in days|2025|7|19}} |- | data-sort-value="11" |Welterweight (''147 lbs'') | align=left|Ryan Garcia | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2026|2|21}} | 21 February 2026 |{{age in days|2026|2|21}} |- | rowspan=2 data-sort-value=12|Super welterweight (''154 lbs'') | align=left|Sebastian Fundora | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|3|30}} | 30 March 2024 |{{age in days|2024|3|30}} |- | align=left|Vergil Ortiz Jr. (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|8|10}} | 10 August 2024 |{{age in days|2024|8|10}} |- | data-sort-value=13|Middleweight (''160 lbs'') | align=left|Carlos Adames | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|05|7}} | 7 May 2024 |{{age in days|2024|5|7}} |- | data-sort-value=15 rowspan="2"|Super-middleweight (''168 lbs'') | align=left|Christian M'billi | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|01|27}} | 27 January 2026 |{{age in days|2026|01|27}} |- | align=left|Lester Martinez (Interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2026|3|21}} | 21 March 2026 |{{age in days|2026|3|21}} |- | data-sort-value="15" |Light heavyweight (''175 lbs'') | align=left|David Benavidez | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|04|07}} | 7 April 2025 |{{age in days|2025|04|07}} |- | rowspan=2 data-sort-value=16|Cruiserweight (''190 lbs'') |align=left|Noel Mikaelian | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|12|13}} | 13 December 2025 |{{age in days|2025|12|13}} |- | align=left|Michał Cieślak (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|6|28}} | 28 June 2025 |{{age in days|2025|6|28}} |- | rowspan=2 data-sort-value=17|Bridgerweight (''224 lbs'') | align=left|Ryad Merhy | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2026|05|30}} | 30 May 2026 |{{age in days|2026|05|30}} |- | align=left|Krzysztof Włodarczyk (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|5|25}} | 25 May 2025 |{{age in days|2025|5|25}} |- | rowspan=2 data-sort-value=18|Heavyweight (''225+ lbs'') | align=left|Oleksandr Usyk | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2024|5|18}} | 18 May 2024 |{{age in days|2024|5|18}} |- | align=left|Agit Kabayel (interim) | data-sort-value= {{age in days|2025|2|22}} | 22 February 2025 |{{age in days|2025|2|22}} |}
====Female==== {|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- !Weight class !Champion !Reign began !Days |- ||Atomweight (''102 lbs'') |align=left|Camila Zamorano |15 October 2025 |{{age in days|2025|10|15}} |- |rowspan="2"|Strawweight (''105 lbs'') |align=left|Yokasta Valle |1 November 2024 |{{age in days|2024|11|1}} |- |align=left|Umi Ishikawa (interim) |3 May 2024 |{{age in days|2024|5|3}} |- |Light flyweight (''108 lbs'') |align=left|Lourdes Juárez |29 November 2024 |{{age in days|2024|11|29}} |- |Flyweight (''112 lbs'') |align=left|Gabriela Fundora |2 November 2024 |{{age in days|2024|11|02}} |- |rowspan="2"|Super flyweight (''115 lbs'') | align=left|Asley González |1 October 2022 |{{age in days|2022|10|01}} |- |align=left|Ginny Fuchs (interim) |31 August 2024 |{{age in days|2024|08|31}} |- |Bantamweight (''118 lbs'') |align=left|Cherneka Johnson |11 July 2025 |{{age in days|2025|7|11}} |- |rowspan="2"|Super bantamweight (''122 lbs'') |colspan=3 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}} |- |align=left|Skye Nicolson (interim) |14 December 2025 |{{age in days|2025|12|14}} |- |Featherweight (''126 lbs'') | align=left|Tiara Brown |22 March 2025 |{{age in days|2025|3|22}} |- |Super featherweight (''130 lbs'') | align=left|Caroline Veyre |10 February 2026 |{{age in days|2026|2|10}} |- ||Lightweight (''135 lbs'') | align=left|Caroline Dubois |11 December 2024 |{{age in days|2024|12|11}} |- |Super lightweight (''140 lbs'') |colspan=3 data-sort-value=-1 align=center|{{font color|gray|Vacant}} |- |Welterweight (''147 lbs'') | align=left|Natasha Jonas |14 December 2024 |{{age in days|2024|12|14}} |- |Super welterweight (''154 lbs'') |align=left|Mikaela Mayer |30 October 2025 |{{age in days|2025|10|30}} |- |Middleweight (''160 lbs'') | align=left|Kaye Scott |20 December 2025 |{{age in days|2025|12|20}} |- |Super middleweight (''168 lbs'') | align=left|Franchón Crews-Dezurn |15 December 2023 |{{age in days|2023|12|15}} |- |Heavyweight (''168+ lbs'') |align=left|Claressa Shields |27 July 2024 |{{age in days|2024|07|27}} |}
===Muay Thai=== {{Main|List of WBC Muaythai world champions}}
==Affiliated organizations== * Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) * North American Boxing Federation (NABF) * European Boxing Union (EBU) * Asian Boxing Council (ABCO) * African Boxing Union (ABU) * WBC Middle East Boxing Council (WBC MEBC) * United States National Boxing Council (USNBC) * Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) * Central American Boxing Federation (FECARBOX) * CIS and Slovenian Boxing Bureau (CISBB) * South American Continental Boxing Federation (FECONSUR) * Hispanic World Boxing Association (ABMH) * World Boxing Council Muaythai (WBC Muaythai) * World Boxing Council Ukraine (WBC Ukraine) * World Boxing Council Baltic (WBC Baltic)
==See also== * List of major boxing sanctioning bodies * List of WBC world champions * List of WBC female world champions * List of current world boxing champions * List of WBC international champions * List of WBC youth champions * WBC Legends of Boxing Museum * Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Official website|http://www.wbcboxing.com/}} *{{Instagram|wbcboxing}} *{{Facebook|WBCBOXING}} *{{Telegram|wbcboxing_official}}
{{World boxing champions}} {{Authority control}}
Category:World Boxing Council Category:Professional boxing governing bodies Category:Sports organizations established in 1963 Category:1963 establishments in Mexico Category:International sports organizations