Gym owner Bruce Silverglade began organizing informal fights between the white-collar workers of his clientele in the late 1980s, which later developed into regular monthly events.
The increase of membership from this demographic has been credited with maintaining the profitability of boxing gyms in the US and UK with large shows like WCB & Ultra White Collar.
[2] Event management consultant Alan Lacey, who co-promoted the Gary Stretch vs. Chris Eubank WBO middleweight championship bout in 1991, belatedly discovered boxing training at the age of 45.
Captivated and motivated by the discipline over the following years, he started training under former European champion Jimmy McDonnell and alongside two-time Olympian and world title challenger Adrian Dodson, who having spent most of his youth at Gleason’s Gym in New York suggested Lacey fulfill his ambition to box, even at the age of 48, and arranged for him to visit Gleason's and box there.
Over 100 sold-out events have followed "Capital Punishment", including "Celebrity Boxing" on the BBC in 2003 featuring, among others, Les Dennis and Ricky Gervais, and raising more than £1.5 million for various charities.
Lacey worked closely with various clubs to promote WCB forming the first White Collar Boxing shows in the UK.
In 2001, Lacey and Bruce Silverglade co-founded the International White Collar Boxing Association (IWCBA),[3] the first and to this day main advisory and sanctioning governing body in the field, designed to regulate the bouts with a focus on safety.
The WWCBA provides a common platform in the form of rules and guidelines allowing boxers to become ranked nationally, regionally and globally and to contest for championship titles.
In April 2009 a gala at Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre staged by Vanda Promotions had more than 900 black-tie guests.
Professional boxers started out on this show and house hold names in Bromley like Sonny Dormer, Dale Gilmore and Billy The Kid first competed on BFN.
A venue verified attendance of 1398 watched ten contests at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon with the main event seeing Dave 'Bam Bam' Gregory retain his NP Heavyweight title against Rich 'The Tank' Loveday over three rounds.
This was surpassed in March 2014 when a crowd of nearly 2,000 fight fans saw 'Sugar' Shawn Grant defeat ex-pro Phill Day to gain the Vacant Cruiserweight Title.