IBF Announcemnt published July 27th 2025 SEO Update December 2025
The International Boxing Federation has announced two significant leadership appointments, naming Ben Keilty as Chairman of the Ratings Committee and George Martinez as Championships Chairman.
The changes reflect an internal restructuring aimed at continuity, experience, and operational stability within one of boxing’s major sanctioning bodies.
Ben Keilty appointed Chairman of the Ratings Committee
Ben Keilty steps into the role with a long standing background in boxing administration, officiating, and ratings oversight.
Keilty joined the IBF Ratings Committee in 2021 as Vice Chairman with responsibility for female ratings and has been an active contributor to the committee’s work since that time. His involvement in the sport dates back to 2007 through BoxRec, followed by a judging career that saw him officiate 265 bouts between 2008 and 2015.
In 2010, Keilty became an IBF member and was later appointed as a Supervisor for the IBF Pan Pacific Region in 2015, overseeing multiple championship contests. He was elected to the IBF Board of Directors in 2018 at the organization’s convention in Saint Vincent, Italy.
His appointment places an experienced internal figure at the head of the ratings process, an area that remains under close scrutiny across the sport.
George Martinez named Championships Chairman
George Martinez assumes the Championships Chairman position with decades of experience across sanctioning body leadership roles.
Martinez began his administrative career with the World Boxing Association in 2000, serving as President of the North American Boxing Association. Over a 20 year tenure with the WBA, he held a number of senior positions including Directorate Member, Ranking Committee Member, and Chair of the Female Championships Committee.
He was appointed WBA Championships Chairman in 2016 and later served as Ranking Chairman from 2018 until his resignation in October 2020.
Martinez joined the IBF in September 2021 as Ratings Chairman and now transitions into the Championships role, bringing familiarity with both rankings and title administration.
Continuity within the Championships Committee
The IBF confirmed that Carlos Ortiz Jr will continue in his position as Vice Chairman of the Championships Committee, working alongside Martinez as part of the federation’s leadership structure.
Why this matters
Ratings and championship governance remain central to credibility within professional boxing. The appointment of long serving officials with deep institutional knowledge suggests the IBF is prioritising continuity and internal experience as it navigates ongoing scrutiny of rankings, mandatory obligations, and title enforcement.
These changes come at a time when sanctioning bodies face increasing pressure from fighters, promoters, and broadcasters to maintain transparency and consistency across divisions.
