History of Indian Boxing federation has its roots in the Indian city of Mumbai situated in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city is the home for Indian Amateur Boxing and it, through the formation of Bombay Presidency Amateur Boxing Federation in 1925, was the first in India to host boxing in an organized form. And it was also with the help of this association that Indian Amateur Boxing Federation came into existence in 1949.
The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation came into existence mainly due to the efforts of the then President of Bombay Presidency Amateur Boxing, Mr. H.V. Pointon, from the period of 1944 and 1948. But Mr. Pointon left India on 25th February after the federation was finally founded. Then came Major F.G. Baker and filled the role of Convenor Secretary at the Inaugural Meeting of Federation held at the Governor Pavilion of Cricket Club of India. Mr Oscar H.Brown, C.I.E., O.B.E,Bar-at-Law, who was the Chairman of this meeting and who was also the President of the Bombay Presidency Amateur Boxing federation was duly elected as the first President of the Indian Amateur Boxing federation. Major Baker was elected as the Secretary of the IABF at this meeting.
To start with the office of IABF was set up at 62, Majestic Hotel in Mumbai. The first National Championship was held in Mumbai at Brabourne Stadium in 1950. The Bengal Amateur Boxing Federation played an important role in the initial years of IABF and some of the skilled and talented boxers came from this part of India. But Bengal Amateur Boxing Federation, due to lack of communication, did not take part in the inaugural meeting of Indian Amateur Boxing Federation. This led to lot of resentment among the officials in West Bengal.
In the initial years, especially in the first two years, the IABF had only eight states as registered members. These were Bombay (Mumbai), Madras (Chennai), C.P and Berar, Gujarat, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh, Railways and Airways.
The participant boxers have brought a lot of appreciation and laurels for the federation. In the last 48 years several senior national championships took place, 35 of Junior and 15 of Sub-Juniors participation in meets led the players to win many International laurels including Asia`s Best Boxer award; Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Awards and two Padmashri Awards.
