The BUI was founded in 1980, and replaced the BBBofC associated "Irish Boxing Board of Control", which had overseen professional boxing in Ireland through the 1960s and 1970s.

The BUI is based at Chancery Place in Dublin and (as of 2017) the president was Brian McKeever.

[1] Amateur boxing in Ireland is run by a separate organisation, the IABA, who operate on an all island basis.

In 2001 Nelson won a sex discrimination case against the BUI due to this; she was awarded £1,500 in compensation.

The Employment Equality Authority (based in Dublin) stated that the BUI had discriminated against Nelson, violating the Employment Equality Act of 1977.