International Boxing Organization


The International Boxing Organization is a non-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and regional championships.
It is often considered a "minor" world championship as it is not recognized as a major world title by any of the "big four" governing bodies, who all recognize each other in their rankings and title unification rules.
It is recognized as a legitimate world championship by the European Boxing Union and BoxRec but is unrecognized as such by The Ring magazine.

History

The IBO was founded in 1988 and incorporated in Illinois in 1992 by John W. Daddono. The organization was later moved to Florida in 1996 and incorporated in Florida at that time. Ed Levine, who continues to serve as the organization's President became a partner and President of the IBO in 1999.
The organization received acclaim by implementing a computerized system 'The Independent World Boxing Rankings' in the late 1990s that removed subjective elements from the ratings in an effort to bring more credibility to the sport. From 2014 the organization now uses Boxrec, the independent boxing records keeping and computerized rankings website for IBO's rankings. Many marquee champions have held and continue to hold the International Boxing Organization World title.
If a fighter tests positive for banned substances after a bout, he is barred from a rematch.
The IBO permits only one champion per weight division. "We have never had more than one champion per weight division nor will we", according to its president Ed Levine.
If an IBO Inter-Continental champion successfully defends his title three times, he may receive a mandatory opportunity for the world title.

Notable past IBO champions

As of January 31, 2020
Weight class:Champion:Reign began:Days
StrawweightDecember 16, 2019
Light flyweight
FlyweightAugust 25, 2019
Super flyweightDecember 12, 2015
BantamweightJuly 12, 2019
Super bantamweight
Featherweight
Super featherweight
Lightweight
Super lightweightSeptember 14, 2019
WelterweightJuly 6, 2019
Super welterweight
MiddleweightOctober 05, 2019
Super middleweight
Light heavyweightNovember 16, 2019
CruiserweightSeptember 9, 2017
HeavyweightDecember 07, 2019