The WBA Removed From BoxRec Amid Attempt to Replace It

Boxing’s oldest recognized sanctioning body, the World Boxing Association (WBA), has lost its recognition from one of the sport’s most essential entities. BoxRec, which has served as the official record keeper for the sport since 2016, has removed its recognition of the WBA from its website. This unprecedented move is a response to a controversial decision by the WBA, which has reportedly scraped fight data, layout, and fighter photos from BoxRec’s site to establish a new relationship with another entity.

The WBA’s sudden switch comes amid their decision to bring back Fight Fax, a lesser-known competitor to BoxRec. The announcement was made during the WBA Asia Convention in Vietnam, marking a significant shift that had been in the works for months. Fight Fax, a name largely dormant in the boxing community since 2011, had quietly relaunched its social media accounts in January of this year, hinting at its return to relevance. The relaunch of their website on April 24 further fueled speculation about a potential landscape change in the sport of boxing.

Coincidentally—or perhaps not—on the same day Fight Fax announced its website relaunch, the WBA also announced a partnership with Turki Alalshikh, an influential Saudi sports promoter and advisor to the Saudi Royal Court. This partnership, which seems to have broader implications for the sport, may have set the stage for the WBA’s attempt to redefine the landscape of boxing record-keeping.

However, the Fight Fax website’s striking resemblance to BoxRec has not gone unnoticed. Critics have pointed out that the site appears to be an almost exact replica, down to the photos of lesser-known fighters. This has led to accusations of theft and concerns about the integrity of the data being presented. The controversy only deepened when it was revealed that Fight Fax might have scraped data from BoxRec, raising questions about intellectual property and the legitimacy of the WBA’s actions.

In June, Brunch Boxing reported that the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) was exploring a potential buyout of BoxRec as part of a broader effort to reorganize the sport. However, with the recent developments, it now appears that Turki Alalshikh, through the WBA, may be attempting to replace BoxRec entirely. This move has sparked confusion and concern within the boxing community, as the rationale behind a single sanctioning body trying to control boxing history remains unclear.

Since its establishment as the sport’s official record keeper, BoxRec has operated independently of any of the four major sanctioning bodies. In addition, BoxRec maintains a partnership with the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), the governing body of boxing in the United States, further solidifying its position as an unbiased and reliable source for boxing records.

Despite the magnitude of the situation, neither the WBA nor BoxRec has released public statements addressing the controversy.