Sanction fees in boxing are charges imposed by sanctioning bodies (like the WBC, IBF, WBO, or smaller organizations such as the NBA and IBA) on promoters for officially recognizing a fight as a title bout, often including costs for belts, supervisors, and officials.

Fee Structures

These fees vary by organization, title level (world, regional, intercontinental), weight class, and gender, typically ranging from $600 to $5,000 USD or more, excluding travel or additional official expenses. For example, the NBA charges $2,000 for heavyweight world titles and $1,500 for others, plus a $600 belt fee. The IBA lists $3,000–$5,000 for world titles with a $1,000 belt, while regional titles start at $1,300.

Examples by Organization

• NBA : World heavyweight: $2,000 sanction + $600 belt + $750 supervisor; other divisions: $1,500 sanction.

• IBA : World: $3,000/$5,000 sanction + $1,000 belt; Intercontinental: $2,500 + $800 belt.

• UBF : World: $3,000 (includes belt); Regional: $1,500.

• WBC : Up to 3% of purse (capped at $300,000), higher than IBF/WBO's 2%.

Promoters pay these fees, which can significantly impact fighter purses after deductions for taxes, managers, and training.