World Boxing Union

Last updated
World Boxing Union
AbbreviationWBU
FounderJon W. Robinson
Founded at London, UK
Purpose Boxing sanctioning organization
HeadquartersOrganization dissolved
Region
Worldwide
president
Jon Robinson

The World Boxing Union (WBU) was a boxing sanctioning body. The original WBU was founded in January 1995 by IBF European representative, boxing journalist, actor and former holder of the title of Britain's heaviest man [1] [2] Jon W. Robinson. It sanctioned boxing with various promoters worldwide. Following Robinson's death in 2004, the organization became dormant and was eventually dissolved.

Contents

An organization serving the same purpose and with the same name, but with no connections to the original, was formed in Germany in 2010 under the leadership of Torsten Knille. [3]

George Foreman beat challenger Crawford Grimsley 3-0 by decision in his first defense in Tokyo,Japan on November 3, 1996. The event was outside the jurisdiction of the Japan Boxing Commission. WBU is unfamiliar with the Japanese boxing industry, but Thai national champion Soh Ohba, a Japanese fighter, will be named 4th in the super featherweight division from August 2022.He is the son of the younger brother of Masao Ohba, a superstar and legendary hero in Japanese boxing in the 1970s, making him the nephew.He has been the Japan representative since June 2025.


List of WBU heavyweight champions

NameDuration of reignDefensesNotes
Flag of the United States.svg  George Foreman  (USA) [4] March 29, 1995 19972Foreman was recognized as champion after he was stripped of the IBF title
Flag of South Africa.svg  Corrie Sanders  (RSA) [5] November 15, 1997 May 20, 20003Defeated Ross Purity
Flag of the United States.svg  Hasim Rahman  (USA) [6] May 20, 2000 April 21, 20010Relinquished the title in order to fight Lennox Lewis for the IBF, IBO and WBC titles
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Johnny Nelson  (GBR) [7] November 24, 2001 December 4, 20010Defeated Alexander Vasiliev. Relinquished the title in order to concentrate on defending his WBO Cruiserweight title
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgi Kandelaki  (GEO) [8] December 21, 2002 January 20040Defeated Alexander Vasiliev. Kandelaki either relinquished or was stripped of the title
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Matt Skelton  (GBR) [9] February 25, 2005 January 26, 20090Skelton relinquished the title

Other WBU champions (selected)

Other past WBU champions include Sirimongkol Singwancha, Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Ricky Hatton, Eamonn Magee, Tony Oakey, Corrie Sanders, Enzo Maccarinelli, Lee McAllister, Angel Manfredy, George Scott, Hasim Rahman, Willie Limond, Craig Docherty, Michael Gomez, Kevin Lear, Anthony Farnell, Jimmy Lange, Derry Mathews, Choi Tseveenpurev, Jeremy Williams, Cristian Charquero, Wayne Elcock, Roy Jones Jr., David Burke, Vinny Pazienza, and Micky Ward.

In addition, Carlos Contreras defeated challenger Victor Rabanales by 8RTKO.

References

  1. "Jon Robinson". IMDb .
  2. "The talk in boxing". 14 April 2012.
  3. "WBU History – World Boxing Union".
  4. "George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  5. "BoxRec - Corrie Sanders". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  6. "Hasim Rahman vs. Corrie Sanders". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  7. "BoxRec - Johnny Nelson". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  8. "BoxRec - George Kandelaki". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  9. "BoxRec - Matt Skelton". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.