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In a world with many sanctioning bodies, championship belts, and title bouts of all kinds, it is often surprising when a new boxing organization ‘pops up’ out of the blue and sanctions bouts.
Different organizations have different motivations and reasons for coming into existence and putting together title fights at the junior, local, regional, national, and world title levels. Two of the newer organizations, which are based in the United States, are the Universal Boxing Organization, (founded in 2004), and the international Boxing Syndicate (founded in 2010).
The Independent Boxing Syndicate? No, it is not a squad of boxers owned by organized crime, protected by a godfather and his goons…although the title might provoke such a thought. This is exactly the point of creating a new boxing organization with such a cool unique name, because it creates attention.
The ‘usual’ names with council, association, organization, international and all of the stereotypical names of the boxing organizations sound all too similar. David Gardner is the founder and first president of the IBS. He is a staff sergeant and instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia.
SaddoBoxing: Why did you found the Independent Boxing Syndicate?
David Gardner: “You’ve seen everything out there with the craziness of the super titles and silver titles. I think it’s more about the money than anything else. You have Sergio Gabriel Martinez as world champion. They (the WBC) stripped him to give the title to another fighter, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who they think will make more money.
“Then they make Martinez a Diamond champion. If we know the business of boxing, and we cannot understand it, how much do you think the average boxing fan understands?
SB: What are the immediate goals of your new boxing organization?
DG: “We want unbiased rankings. It seems that ‘the big four’ (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) do not have the boxer’s interests at heart, just the promoters and collecting the sanctioning fees. Why should a fighter who’s already paid with their blood, sweat and tears have to pay three percent for a trinket?
SB: How did it occur that heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon fought for an IBS belt in Atlantic City against David Saulsberry, a boxer who weighed 295 pounds?
DG: “The original opponent, Evans Quinn, backed out. He (Saulsberry) was a last minute opponent. We of course said go ahead, it was a last minute thing.”
SB: Where is the IBS located, and who are its other important officials?
DG: “We are located in Columbus, Georgia. Our vice-president is David Harris. My wife handles finances. We came into existence October 2010.”
SB: Since the IBS was founded, who has been calling you?
DG: “Mostly boxers trying to get fights for titles. We try not to charge the fighters anything. If we think a fighter deserves it (a belt sanction) we collect nothing. We got nothing for recent title bouts with Travis Walker and Roy Jones Jr. (both men won in outstanding performances). Mostly the fees come from promoters, because they’re the ones using our logos and are identifying us for their fights.”
SB: What are the future plans of the IBS?
DG: “We have a few undefeated fighters we’re looking at in March (for title bouts on boxing cards coming up). On the IBS website at www.IBSboxing.com
you will find our upcoming bouts posted. The titles offered are junior, national, continental, and world.
“At the Grand Ballroom in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 17, 2012, Michael Seals will be fighting Robbie Tovar for the IBS United States Junior National Cruiserweight Championship. Brian Howard will be fighting Onanrewju Durodola for the IBS National United States Cruiserweight Championship. The K.O. Kings Norcross Atlanta boxing card will feature both boxing and MMA.”
For further event details, fight fans can go to http://www.kokings.net/eventdetails.html
SB: How do interested parties find out more about IBS title availability?
DG: ” All are welcome to our website at www.IBSboxing.com. Contact me, David Gardner, at davidgardner@hotmail.com, or one of our other officials.”
SB: Thank you for your time, David. Best of success for the IBS in the future.
