[2] The International Boxing Research Organization describes the early NBA as follows: Originally more comparable to the present American Association of Boxing Commissions than to its offspring and successor, the NBA sanctioned title bouts, published lists of outstanding challengers, withdrew titular recognition, but did not attempt to appoint its own title bout officials or otherwise impose its will on championship fights.

The same article also discussed a variety of bribes paid to WBA officials to obtain championship bout opportunities, or higher placement within the organization's rankings.

[5] In a 1982 interview, boxing promoter Bob Arum claimed that he had to pay off WBA officials to obtain rankings for his fighters.

[citation needed] There have even been instances where different WBA World Champions have defended versions of the same title, in the same weight class, on the same date, and even within the same event.

Following the controversial decision in the Gabriel Maestre vs. Mykal Fox fight on August 7, 2021, amid immense public pressure, the WBA finally began eliminating all interim titles in the attempt to return to a single champion per weight division.

The organization has further garnered negative attention with respect to its ranking of boxers, in spite of having adopted a complex, documented rating formula in the 2000s.

[8] In August 2021, a letter sent by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) stating that the WBA having multiple titles is "misleading to the public and the boxers".

[12] it was not until 29 September 2022, until the WBA officially ordered Rosa against Super champion Knockout CP Freshmart,[13] however, after multiple failed attempts to make the fight, Rosa officially vacated his Regular title on 15 January 2024 to move up to light flyweight, leaving CP Freshmart as sole champion.

[16] Bermudez vs Cañizales did not end up happening due to the latter's short-lived decision to move up to flyweight, and thus Kyoguchi-Bermudez took place on 10 June, with Kyoguchi winning by TKO.

[23] Despite it being announced on 17 May that the fight would take place on 16 July,[24] Estrada was disowned and stripped by the Championships Committee on 11 August for pursuing a rematch with Román González,[25] leaving Franco as the sole champion of the division.

At super bantamweight, Brandon Figueroa was stripped of his Regular title on 2 December 2021, after facing Stephen Fulton in a WBC and WBO unification on November 27.

[28] This was due to restrictions imposed by the WBO who refuse to sanction fights involving the Regular title, with the WBA respecting this and announcing on 17 August (before the ABC letter) that Figueroa would be stripped.

Former Interim champion Ra’eese Aleem did not move forward any with WBA sanctioned fight and was subsequently dropped from the initial mandatory position.

[36] On 24 August, the WBA announced they had approved the previously rejected unification between Santa Cruz and Vargas, as well as a title defense for Wood against Mauricio Lara, with the winners set to fight each other.

[40] Purse bids were scheduled for 12 December, however did not take place due to Santa Cruz relinquishing his Super title and leaving Wood as the sole champion of the division.

Taylor was then ordered to face former Interim champion Alberto Puello on 9 March 2022,[53] but was stripped on 14 May for failing to sign the contract.

[56] The Interim title was contested by Ohara Davies and Ismael Barroso on 6 January 2024, following an injury sustained to champion Rolando Romero.

[63] Following this on 21 November, the WBA granted special permission for Spence Jr. to defend his titles against former unified champion Keith Thurman, while Stanionis was instead ordered to face Vergil Ortiz Jr., with the winners set to meet.

Stanionis Vs Ortiz Jr. was scheduled to take place on 8 July following a delay from 29 April, but was again called off following medical issues with Ortiz Jr. Stanionis instead faced former Interim champion Gabriel Maestre, who was not included in the WBA's initial box off despite being the final Interim champion before the ABC Letter.

[69] Former Interim champion Chris Eubank Jr. did not move forward with any WBA sanctioned fight and was thus dropped from the initial mandatory position.

Morrell defeated Kalajdzic on 3 August before vacating his super middleweight Regular title to remain at light heavyweight.

The WBA called this the Man of Triumph belt, named after the trophy awarded to the winner of the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight.

[81] Other recipients of the custom gold-plated belt are Anthony Joshua,[82] Vasyl Lomachenko,[83] Manny Pacquiao,[84] Oleksandr Usyk,[85] Canelo Álvarez[86] and Callum Smith.