International Boxing Union
Encyclopedia
The International Boxing Union (IBU) was created June 1911 in Paris, France. It was an attempt to create a unified international governing body for professional boxing. Signators of the Protocol for the IBU were: Paul Rousseau (President of Fédération Française de Boxe et de Lutte) for France; Fred Tilbury (an Englishman, Master of Boxing, and President of Fédération Belge de Boxe) for Belgium; and Victor Breyer (President of Société Française de Propagation de la Boxe Anglaise), having an official mandate by the New York State Athletic Commission
, and consequently acting on behalf of some American boxing authorities. Switzerland joined the IBU in November 1913.
The IBU suspended operations with the outbreak of World War I
, but resumed action on February 5, 1920--this time headquartered in Paris. Eventually, by the end of 1942, the IBU was in the hands of the Nazis and Fascists, who transformed it into the "Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea
" (APPE). By December 1, 1944, the IBU/APPE was dormant. In 1946, from the ashes of the APPE, the European Boxing Union
(EBU) came into being.
One notable former IBU Heavyweight Champion was Shannon Briggs, who had his title stripped in 2003 after refusing to face quality opponents.http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:614335 Briggs went on to win the WBO
title a few years later, after defeating Sergei Liakhovich
in November 2006. Another notable former IBU World Heavyweight Champion is "Fast" Eddie Chambers who captured the title in 2005.
The IBU also sports two notable former Lightweight Champions in Gary Balletto and Gregorio Vargas. Balletto was 29-1-2 before losing the IBU Lightweight title to Vargas in 2003. Balletto attempted a comeback in 2006 on ESPN's "The Contender 2|The Contender". Other notable fights of the IBU were the two IBU World Super Middleweight title fights of Scott Pemberton|Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton and Omar Sheika that became ESPN2's "Fight of the Year" in both 2003 and 2004.
New York State Athletic Commission
The New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, seconds, ring officials,...
, and consequently acting on behalf of some American boxing authorities. Switzerland joined the IBU in November 1913.
The IBU suspended operations with the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but resumed action on February 5, 1920--this time headquartered in Paris. Eventually, by the end of 1942, the IBU was in the hands of the Nazis and Fascists, who transformed it into the "Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea
Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea
The Associazione Pugilistica Professionistica Europea evolved from the former International Boxing Union. With the outbreak of World War I, the IBU had suspended operations, but resumed action on February 5, 1920—this time headquartered in Paris....
" (APPE). By December 1, 1944, the IBU/APPE was dormant. In 1946, from the ashes of the APPE, the European Boxing Union
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
(EBU) came into being.
International Boxing Union
A different organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA resumed sanctioning professional fights under the name International Boxing Union in 1996. While this IBU is indeed "international" and their "world champions" have come from countries such as Barbados, Guyana, Germany, and Hungary- though they often lack widespread recognition as the best fighters in their class. IBU titles are often a first title for fighters who progress to gain additional titles.One notable former IBU Heavyweight Champion was Shannon Briggs, who had his title stripped in 2003 after refusing to face quality opponents.http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:614335 Briggs went on to win the WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
title a few years later, after defeating Sergei Liakhovich
Sergei Liakhovich
Sergei "White Wolf" Liakhovich , is a Belarusian boxer and a former WBO heavyweight boxing champion.-Amateur career:Liakhovich, who represented Belarus at the 1996 Olympic Games, was a long-time amateur who won Bronze at the 1997 World Championships....
in November 2006. Another notable former IBU World Heavyweight Champion is "Fast" Eddie Chambers who captured the title in 2005.
The IBU also sports two notable former Lightweight Champions in Gary Balletto and Gregorio Vargas. Balletto was 29-1-2 before losing the IBU Lightweight title to Vargas in 2003. Balletto attempted a comeback in 2006 on ESPN's "The Contender 2|The Contender". Other notable fights of the IBU were the two IBU World Super Middleweight title fights of Scott Pemberton|Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton and Omar Sheika that became ESPN2's "Fight of the Year" in both 2003 and 2004.