Gibbons questions BoxRec’s credibility over alleged omission of sanctioned fights

Prominent boxing promoters have questioned the credibility of BoxRec, the widely used professional boxing records database, over allegations that more than 100 sanctioned bouts have been omitted from its listings, including recent victories by former unified world champion Marlon Tapales and rising prospect Criz Laurente in Thailand.

The controversy has drawn criticism from promoters, managers, and boxing stakeholders across Asia, the Middle East, and other regions, who have called for greater transparency and consistency in the recording of professional fights.

Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, questioned BoxRec’s decision not to include the September bouts in Thailand, where Tapales scored a technical knockout victory over Nirun Baonok to win the WBF International Featherweight title.

On the same card, Laurente knocked out Benchalong Tanbu in the third round to capture the WBF Intercontinental Lightweight title. According to the promoters, neither result was properly reflected in BoxRec’s database.

Gibbons expressed disappointment over what he described as a departure from BoxRec’s traditional role as a boxing records platform.

“BoxRec is no longer the same record boxing keeping body that we knew before, they are depriving the public of the full knowledge, results, and true record of a pro boxer because they are commercializing their site. They just list what they only wanted,” Gibbons said.

“That is not BoxRec, that is absolute shame. This is not pro boxing, and not a pro fighter thing. We are surprised that it did not just happen in Asia but also in America. They are not counting fights in Thailand and other countries that are legitimate fights promoted properly,” he added.

Gibbons alleged that hundreds of bouts sanctioned by various commissions in Thailand, India, Dubai, Mexico, China, and other countries had been left out of the database in recent years.

He called on BoxRec to consistently document legitimate professional bouts rather than make decisions that promoters believe unfairly affect fighters’ official records.

“BoxRec must know their role as the world’s digital boxing record keeping body, and not as a jury or judge that decides which fight should be recorded or not. All legitimate sanctioned fights must be recorded unconditionally by BoxRec, and that is their job,” Gibbons said.

JC Mananquil, head of Sanman Promotions, also criticized the alleged omission of Tapales’ recent victory and Laurente’s title-winning performance.

“For 26 years, BoxRec serves as a digital boxing record keeping body. But we are surprised that they did not count Marlon’s latest fights and Laurente’s bout as well. There were many fans that watched those bouts. So, they expected the results to come out as well in BoxRec,” Mananquil said.

Meanwhile, boxing managers and promoters from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and China have voiced similar concerns over what they described as inconsistent and unfair treatment of their promotions and fighters.

Jordanian boxing manager Mohammad Nabil Mohammad Alawneh said some fight results were initially added to BoxRec before being removed a day later. He also alleged that older bouts, including those held four or five months earlier, had disappeared from the database.

“Please remember these are real athletes with real dreams and futures. We are not asking for favors. We are asking for fairness, transparency, and the opportunity to develop professional boxing in Jordan,” Alawneh said.

Jose Mohan, founder of Middle East Professional Boxing (MEPB), likewise expressed concern over the alleged removal of four MEPB-sanctioned bouts without explanation. He criticized what he perceived as BoxRec taking on a regulatory role rather than focusing on maintaining boxing records.

“Every fighter deserves an accurate record, regardless of who promotes them,” Mohan said.

Thai promoter Eaung Laosuwanwat, owner of Galaxy Promotions, also called on BoxRec to address what he described as incomplete and misleading records involving his fighters.

“I find the inclusion of incomplete records for my boxers on your platform to be professionally damaging, as it misleads the public,” he said.

“If you are unable to rectify these records at once, formally request the removal of my boxers’ entire 40-year fight history from your website,” he added.

Chinese boxing promoter Liu Gang, who has been involved in hosting events associated with the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), and International Boxing Federation (IBF) in China, also criticized BoxRec over the alleged replacement of his name as a promoter for events held from 2016 to 2023.

Liu further alleged that certain parties had issued directives threatening to blacklist boxing gyms, clubs, and fighters in China if they refused to comply with BoxRec’s new policy.

“Parties involved have allegedly issued directives to boxing gyms, clubs, and fighters across China, threatening to blacklist them and jeopardize their boxing careers if they do not comply with BoxRec’s new policy. Such threats are unreasonable and unacceptable,” Liu said.

The allegations have intensified calls from boxing stakeholders for clearer standards, consistent recordkeeping, and explanations whenever fight results or promoter information are changed or removed.

As questions continue to surround the handling of professional boxing records, FightFax is another platform associated with boxing recordkeeping. The concerns raised by the promoters, however, underscore the importance of accurate and transparent records in protecting fighters’ professional histories and informing the public.

The allegations against BoxRec have not been independently verified for this report, and no response from the organization was provided in the material supplied.