IBF

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is a professional boxing sanctioning body that licenses boxers and sanctions world championship bouts. It awards the IBF world title in multiple weight divisions and maintains ranking lists used to determine challengers for title fights. Along with the WBA, WBC, and WBO, the IBF is widely considered one of the major sanctioning organizations in professional boxing.

The IBF was established in the 1980s by a group of promoters and boxing officials seeking an alternative to the existing sanctioning bodies. It operates through a governance structure that includes a president, an executive committee, and various commissions that oversee rules, rankings, and title bouts. The organization administers title fights by appointing challengers based on its rankings and by enforcing mandatory defenses by champions.

Boxing matches sanctioned by the IBF are recognized worldwide and the IBF belt is regarded as one of the sport’s principal championship prizes. Fighters who hold an IBF title are typically afforded opportunities to negotiate with promoters for unification bouts against other sanctioning bodies.

Critics have at times questioned IBF rankings and the speed and manner of mandatory defenses, prompting reform efforts and continued discussion about transparency in the sport’s governance. Despite such debates, the IBF remains a central feature of professional boxing’s global championship system.