Gibbons slams BoxRec over alleged shift from its boxing recordkeeping role

Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, has criticized BoxRec over its alleged failure to record several sanctioned professional boxing matches, questioning whether the platform is still fulfilling its traditional role as a boxing records database.

Gibbons expressed disappointment over the reported omission of legitimate bouts, including the recent victories of former unified world champion Marlon Tapales and rising Filipino boxer Criz Laurente in Thailand.

Tapales scored a technical knockout victory over Nirun Baonok to capture the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Featherweight title, while Laurente knocked out Benchalong Tanbu in the third round to claim the WBF Intercontinental Lightweight title.

According to Gibbons, the reported omissions raise concerns about the accuracy and completeness of the records available to boxing fans, industry stakeholders, and the public.

He argued that BoxRec should focus on maintaining accurate records of professional fights rather than appearing to determine which bouts deserve recognition.

“BoxRec must know their role as the world’s digital boxing record keeping body, and not as a jury or judge that decides which fight should be recorded or not. All legitimate sanctioned fights must be recorded unconditionally by BoxRec, and that is their job,” Gibbons said.

Gibbons also alleged that the omission of sanctioned bouts was not limited to Thailand, claiming that similar cases had occurred in other countries, including the United States, India, Dubai, Mexico, and China.

The controversy has prompted calls from boxing promoters and managers for greater transparency and consistency in the recording of professional fights.

For Gibbons, accurate boxing records are essential not only for documenting a fighter’s career but also for ensuring that athletes receive proper recognition for their achievements.

The allegations against BoxRec have not been independently verified, and the organization’s response was not included in the information provided.