Indian Boxing Federation

Indian Boxing Federation is actually the formal boxing organization in India that deals with all activities related to the sport in India. It is the governing body for Olympic boxing and is the India`s member organization of International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). It has its head quarters at the national capital - New Delhi.

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.

The Indian Boxing Federation incorporates around 6000 registered boxers and it also keeps tracks of records of their professional and personal details which comprises their achievements in terms of medals won and participation in a championships.

For each boxer it is almost necessary and mandatory that he possesses an identity card registered to IBF in order to participate in any championship organized by it.

The records of the Indian Boxing Federation are completely digitalized. The information and contents of the website is updated on a regular basis. There are also facilities for online display of live score for each championship that are available on the website. The data and information are availed by all the state affiliations as well. The website also provides sufficient info about all the state federation and also registered female, male boxers, official and coaches, and also the training centres.