The WBC presents the historic “Independence Belt” to celebrate 250 years of the United States in a grand Top Rank event
The World Boxing Council is proud to announce the creation of an unprecedented work of art in the history of the sport: the “Independence Belt.” This emblematic accolade has been designed with deep respect and admiration to commemorate the historic 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, this coming July 4th.
Through this special edition, the WBC celebrates and pays tribute to the most important nation in the history of world boxing. The United States is, undisputedly, the country that has produced the largest number of world champions, the stage for the most legendary title fights, and the cultural epicenter of global pugilism.
Since the days of the legendary pioneer John L. Sullivan, the rich historical heritage, the spirit of freedom, and the unwavering passion of this country have been forged thanks to an unparalleled lineage of titans of the ring who transformed boxing into an art and a mass phenomenon, among whom the following stand out:
Jack Johnson: The first African-American world heavyweight champion, who broke racial and social barriers with unwavering courage and technical mastery.
Sugar Ray Robinson: Widely considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time, combining perfect speed, power, and elegance in the ring.
Muhammad Ali: “The Greatest,” a global figure who transcended the sport thanks to his charisma, social activism, and unique boxing style.
Joe Louis: Called the “Detroit Bomber,” he held the heavyweight title for nearly 12 years and achieved 25 consecutive defenses of his world championship, a historical record in said category.
Christy Martin: The great pioneer of modern women’s boxing. With her courage and ferocity, she legitimized women’s pugilism before the masses and opened the doors to major pay-per-view stages worldwide.
Laila Ali: Heiress to her father’s greatness, she dominated the ring with absolute authority and retired undefeated as a world champion, exuding power, elegance, and unparalleled charisma.
Claressa Shields: Two-time Olympic gold medalist and the first female boxer in history, regardless of gender, to become an undisputed champion in two different divisions in the four-belt era.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: The master of defense and strategy. He retired with a perfect and immaculate record of 50 victories and 0 defeats, crowning himself world champion in five different divisions.
Rocky Marciano: The only heavyweight to retire as an undefeated world champion, accumulating a record of 49-0, with 43 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
Sugar Ray Leonard: One of the greatest figures of boxing’s “Golden Era” in the 1980s, standing out for his speed and brilliance in the ring to conquer titles across multiple divisions.
Henry Armstrong: A unique physical marvel, he was the first and only boxer in history to simultaneously hold three world championships in three different divisions during an era when there were fewer weight categories.
Mike Tyson: Who with his ferocity and devastating power became the youngest heavyweight world champion in history, paralyzing the entire world with each of his appearances.
The “Independence Belt” embodies in its design the glory of these and many other legends who left an indelible mark on human history.
This majestic commemorative belt could not have a better destination. It will be contested in the main event this coming Saturday, July 4th, inside the ring of the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, in a spectacular boxing gala promoted by the prestigious company Top Rank.
Undefeated American Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will arrive before his people consolidated among the elite. Carrington became the interim WBC world featherweight champion by categorically defeating Mateus Heita in July 2025, in New York. Subsequently, he conquered the absolute world title by defeating Carlos Castro with a spectacular knockout on January 31st of this year. With an unblemished record of 17 victories, 10 of them by way of knockout, “Shu Shu” will look to defend his Green and Gold belt and claim the historic patriotic trophy.
In front of him will stand the gritty Mexican fighter René Santiago Palacios. With a respectable professional record of 19 victories and 10 wins by KO, Palacios will face the most important opportunity of his career by contesting a WBC title for the first time, seeking to spoil the American celebration and take the belt back to Mexican soil.
The entire world will witness this historic evening within the framework of the July 4th celebrations. The live broadcast for all continents will be handled by the global streaming platform DAZN: dazn.com/wbc
The World Boxing Council, under the leadership of its President Mauricio Sulaimán, invites all fans to be part of this festivity that unites the history, art, and passion of boxing in a night that will be engraved with golden letters.
