Commonwealth Boxing Council

{{Infobox organization

|name = Commonwealth Boxing Council

|image =

|image_border =

|size =

|alt =

|caption =

|map =

|msize =

|malt =

|mcaption =

|abbreviation = CBC

|motto =

|formation = {{plainlist|

{{start date and age|df=yes|1954||}} (as The Empire and Commonwealth Championships Committee)

{{start date and age|df=yes|1997||}} (as Commonwealth Boxing Council)

}}

|extinction =

|type = Non-profit institution

|status =

|purpose = Boxing sanctioning organisation

|headquarters =

|location =

|region_served = Commonwealth

|membership =

|language =

|leader_title = President

|leader_name = Frederick Stirrup {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|JP}}

|main_organ =

|parent_organization =

|affiliations = {{plainlist|

}}

|num_staff =

|num_volunteers =

|budget =

|website = {{URL|www.commbc.com}}

|remarks =

}}

The Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) is a governing body that sanctions professional boxing bouts for territories within the Commonwealth, and is an affiliate of the WBC.{{Cite web|url=https://thenassauguardian.com/2017/10/10/commonwealth-boxing-body-wbc-now-formally-affiliated/|title=Commonwealth boxing body, WBC now formally affiliated|date=2017-10-10|website=The Nassau Guardian|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/World_Boxing_Council#Affiliated_Organizations|title=World Boxing Council - BoxRec|website=boxrec.com|access-date=2019-11-10}}

History

The Commonwealth Boxing Council first started in 1954 as the Empire and Commonwealth Championships Committee, formed by the British Boxing Board of Control,{{Cite web|url=https://sky-news.co.uk/commonwealth-boxing-appoint-first-woman-secretary-after-wbc-switch|title=Commonwealth Boxing appoint first woman secretary after WBC switch|last=Contributor|date=2019-10-28|website=Sky-News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-10}} to officially award a Commonwealth title. Before its formation, boxers from select territories within the British Empire fought for the 'Empire title',{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2016/april/from-the-archives-a-cartoon-cover-for-the-boxing-championship-of-the-british-empire-programme-1948/|title=From the Archives: the Boxing Championship of the British Empire programme, 1948 {{!}} Royal Albert Hall|website=Royal Albert Hall|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-10}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/joe-bygraves-7qm7m00900x|title=Joe Bygraves|date=2012-03-28|work=The Times|access-date=2019-11-10|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/08/05/dai-dower-champion-flyweight-boxer--obituary/amp/|title=Dai Dower, champion flyweight boxer – obituary|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-10}} the first of such titles being awarded to British featherweight champion Jim Driscoll in 1908 after defeating Australian Charlie Griffin on points.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/driscoll-jem.htm|title=Cyber Boxing Zone -- Jem Driscoll|website=www.cyberboxingzone.com|access-date=2019-11-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/title/171/Featherweight?offset=100|title=BoxRec: Title|website=boxrec.com|access-date=2019-11-08}} In 1972, the Empire and Commonwealth Championships Committee was re-organised as the 'Commonwealth Championships Committee'. In 1997 the organisation was incorporated as a separate entity from the British Boxing Board of Control and renamed the Commonwealth Boxing Council.{{Cite web|url=https://commbc.com/commonwealth-boxing-council-2/|title=CBC - A HISTORY {{!}} COMMONWEALTH BOXING COUNCIL|website=commbc.com|access-date=2019-11-08}}

In 2018, the first female version of the Commonwealth title was awarded to Anisha Basheel of Malawi on 15 June.{{Cite web|url=http://www.womenofboxing.com/cool_timeline/commonwealth-boxing-council-uk-sanctions-its-first-female-championship/|title=Commonwealth Boxing Council (UK) Sanctions {{sic|it|'s|nolink=y}} First Female Championship – Women of Boxing|date=23 August 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-08}}

On 12 June 2023, a new championship, the Commonwealth “Silver” title, was created. This title works similarly to the British Boxing Board of Control English title, with the holders of both belts being subject to consideration of becoming mandatory challenger for the British and Commonwealth titles, as well as being fought for over 10 rounds.{{Cite web |title=INTRODUCING COMMONWEALTH SILVER CHAMPIONSHIPS {{!}} COMMONWEALTH BOXING COUNCIL |url=https://commbc.com/introducing-commonwealth-silbver-championships/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=commbc.com}} Mark Jeffers became the first fighter to win a Commonwealth Silver title when he defeated English super middleweight champion Zak Chelli in July 2023, while Jack Rafferty became the first fighter to have held both Commonwealth Silver and Commonwealth titles when he won the latter at super-lightweight in December 2023