The World Boxing Federation uses independantly calculated rankings, upon which the World Boxing Federation have no input into the position of the boxers. All active boxers (defined as having fought within the last 12 months) are ranked based purely upon results and activity. The Top 10 are published monthly on this website while all rankings below the Top 10 can be requested from the World Boxing Federation.

To challenge for a World Boxing Federation World Championship boxers must have a positive record of no less than ten bouts and be ranked within the top-100 of the rankings. The World Boxing Federation Championship Committee reserves the right to approve boxers ranked outside the top-100 if their recent results and/or records justify this.

To box for a World Boxing Federation Intercontinental title boxers must have a positive record and be ranked within the top-250 of the rankings. The Championship Committee reserves the right to approve boxers ranked outside the top-250 if their recent results and/or records justify this.

To box for a World Boxing Federation International or a regional title boxers must have a positive record, or have won their last fight, and be ranked within the top-400 of the rankings. The Championship Committee reserves the right to approve boxers ranked outside the top-400 if their recent results and/or records justify this.

As missing results can affect a ranking, and granting the fact that the World Boxing Federation doesn’t receive all results from certain countries, the Championship Committee may approve or reject a boxer based on his documented and confirmed record provided by his licensing boxing federation. The Championship Committee may, at its discretion, approve a boxer who has been inactive for over 12 months if the boxer’s record justifies approval.

The World Boxing Federation Championship Committee consists of six persons appointed by the President, with a majority vote being required for any decisions. The President, in case of draw votes, casts the deciding vote.

Mandatory Contests For World Champions:

1.) An Intercontinental Champion who has made one successful title defense obtains the right to be appointed mandatory challenger for the world champion, providing he is rated within the Top 100 by boxrec.com.

2.) An International Champion who has made two successful title defenses obtains the right to be appointed mandatory challenger for the world champion, providing he is rated within the Top 100 by boxrec.com.

3.) A regional Champion who has made three successful title defenses obtains the right to be appointed mandatory challenger for the world champion, providing he is rated within the Top 100 by boxrec.com.

4.) Should an Intercontinental, International or regional Champion have obtained the right to be appointed mandatory challenger for the world champion, but the world title is vacant, he receives six (6) weeks time from the date of having obtained said right to submit a Sanctioning Application for the vacant world title. Subsequently, the vacant world title fight has to take place within six (6) months of the boxer having obtained the right to be appointed mandatory challenger for the world title. The Sanctioning Application must be accompanied by a deposit of 50% (fifty per cent) of the corresponding Sanction Fee, which is non-refundable in the event that the world title bout does not take place within the above stipulated period of time, in which case the boxer also loses his position as mandatory challenger for the world title. However, that position can be retained with a further defense of his current title.

5.) A reigning world champion cannot be forced to make two mandatory defenses in a row. He has the right to an optional defence both after winning the title and after each mandatory defense. The only exception in which a reigning world champion may be ordered to conduct two mandatory defenses in a row is in case he is over the regular defense deadline.

6.) Notwithstanding the above paragraphs, the §§ 1.3. to 1.5. of the WBF Rules & Regulations remain intact. In exceptional circumstances the WBF Championship Committee may in its own discretion order mandatory defenses to any Intercontinental, International, regional or local champion.

7.) Any exceptions in above procedures must be approved by a majority vote of the WBF Board members.

(Mandatory rule valid from 01.02.16).