World Boxing Union
| Abbreviation | WBU |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1995 |
| Founder | Jon W. Robinson |
| Type | Non-profit institution |
| Legal status | Defunct |
| Purpose | Boxing sanctioning |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
Region served | Worldwide |
President | Tony Rodriguez Jr. |
Main organ | General Assembly |
The World Boxing Union (WBU) was a boxing sanctioning body. The original WBU was founded in January 1995 by IBF European representative, boxing journalist, actor and former holder of the title of Britain's heaviest man, Jon W. Robinson. It sanctioned boxing with various promoters worldwide. Following Robinson's death in 2004, the organization became dormant and was eventually dissolved.
In 2010, the WBU brand was revitalized in the U.S. by Don "Moose" Lewis – President of the International Boxing Union and Women's International Boxing Council. Shortly thereafter, it decided to reestablish itself totally independent of any legal reference to the original organization so as to not expose today's WBU to any remaining potential liabilities from the previous company.