ERA VIII. The New Century Era (2000-2022)

Professional Boxing has changed immensely over the history of the sport. Changes in rules have made it safer. Changes in safety have made it more media friendly. Changes in media have made it more visible. Changes in visibility have made it more profitable. Changes in profitability have caused more and more people and corporations to want a piece of the pie!

Early boxing had no weight classes. Today there are 17 weight classes in professional boxing! For many years, boxing only had one “World” Championship per weight class, now there are five major recognized belts for each of the divisions: The WBA (World Boxing Association), WBC (World Boxing Council), IBF (International Boxing Federation), WBO (World Boxing Organization) and The Ring.

There are four recognized major bodies in boxing, the WBA, WBC, IBF and the WBO. The Ring title is awarded by American boxing magazine, The Ring, and has been done since 1922.

The mixture of belts and champions means that there is only a rare occasion when a class can be fully unified to produce an undisputed champion, with no division currently ruled by a single fighter. 

Boxers often fight across weight classes in order to maximize their chances of success with Manny Pacquiao being currently the only fighter to have won titles in eight divisions!

In the last twenty years, there have not been many different rule changes. The game is separated into this last Era in order to allow the player to be true to playing a chronological universe.