World Boxing Union

World Boxing Union
AbbreviationWBU
Formation1995; 29 years ago (1995)
TypeNon-profit institution
Legal statusDefunct
PurposeBoxing sanctioning
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Region served
Worldwide
President
Jon Robinson
Main organ
General Assembly


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, Jon W. Robinson.[1] It sanctioned boxing with various promoters worldwide. Following Robinson's death in 2004, the organization became dormant and was eventually dissolved.

List of WBU heavyweight champions

Name Duration of reign Defenses Notes
 George Foreman (USA)[2] March 29, 1995 – 1997 2 Foreman was recognized as champion after he was stripped of the IBF title
 Corrie Sanders (RSA)[3] November 15, 1997 – May 20, 2000 3 Defeated Ross Purity
 Hasim Rahman (USA)[4] May 20, 2000 – April 21, 2001 0 Relinquished the title in order to fight Lennox Lewis for the IBF, IBO and WBC titles
 Johnny Nelson (GBR)[5] November 24, 2001 – December 4, 2001 0 Defeated Alexander Vasiliev. Relinquished the title in order to concentrate on defending his WBO Cruiserweight title
 Georgi Kandelaki (GEO)[6] December 21, 2002 – January 2004 0 Defeated Alexander Vasiliev. Kandelaki either relinquished or was stripped of the title
 Matt Skelton (GBR)[7] February 25, 2005 – January 26, 2009 0 Skelton relinquished the title

Other WBU champions (selected)

World Boxing Union featherweight belt won by Derry Mathews

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,Don Dieg Poeder, 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, Agostino Cardamone and Micky Ward.

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

References

  1. ^ "The talk in boxing". April 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  3. ^ "BoxRec - Corrie Sanders". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Hasim Rahman vs. Corrie Sanders". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "BoxRec - Johnny Nelson". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "BoxRec - George Kandelaki". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "BoxRec - Matt Skelton". boxrec.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.