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The success of boxing in New York influenced men in other states to advocate its legalization, and the law makers quickly responded. Within a few years, the various state boxing commissions joined together under the standard of the National Boxing Association. But New York and a few other states remained aloof.

Boxing is conducted in all states according to the specific rules in those states, but members of the N.B.A. have acted in concert, as regards suspensions, recognition of champions, etc.-with New York continuing to go on its own. As a consequence there often have been two champions in the same division: the champion acclaimed by the N.B.A. and the other by New York. In most cases, the rival champions have met to determine the actual titleholder. In 1952, however, New York entered into an "elastic" agreement with the N.B.A.
The advent of television has become a great factor in the purse of a fighter. Championship fights frequently are televised on closed (theatre) or home circuits. In either case the TV fees are considerable. For non-title bouts the advertising sponsor pays a stated sum for the telecasting of a boxing program and the boxers on it receive stipulated shares.

Presently there are three organizations that recognize world champions, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council and Ring Magazine. Since they seldom agree, it is quite common to have multiple champions at any given time.
In recent years, junior classes have been created that are about five pounds lighter than the original ones, with world champs recognized by the three groups in each class.