The International Boxing Association (IBA), already under the cosh from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over long-standing governance issues, now faces an existential threat after a group of boxing organisations, led by the US and UK, Wednesday launched a breakaway body – World Boxing.
Other than the US and UK, the eight-nation Common Cause Alliance that have joined WB represent France, The Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Ireland and The Philippines.
Additionally, as per UK’s Sky Sports, boxing organisations representing Germany, New Zealand and Sweden are also part of the fledgling WB.
A sum total of 11 countries (going by the reports circulating) certainly do not qualify for “world” status in any shape or form but the grouping is banking on recognition from the IOC to ultimately wean away other national federations from the IBA umbrella and “preserve boxing as an Olympic sport”.
It goes without saying that without IOC recognition, WB will be dead in the water because the IBA currently includes 203 national boxing federations from five continental confederations — AFBC, AMBC, ASBC, EUBC and OCBC.
In any case, IOC recognition is some way “down the road” even by the most optimistic estimates. Before that, there are expected to be legal challenges from the IBA, which is already involved in legal action against IOC.
Be that as it may, WB on Wednesday issued the following statement: “World Boxing has been established in response to the persistent issues surrounding Olympic-style boxing’s existing international governing body, whose failure to address the IOC’s longstanding concerns over sporting integrity, governance, transparency and financial management has placed boxing’s future as an Olympic sport in doubt.
“World Boxing will seek recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and plans to work constructively and collaboratively to develop a pathway that will preserve boxing’s ongoing place on the Olympic competition programme.”
The IBA, meanwhile, has lambasted the WB’s attack on its autonomy terming it a “rogue organization”.
Speaking on the matter, IBA secretary general and CEO, George Yerolimpos, stated: “Ultimately, rogue world governing bodies and orchestrated coups are nothing new to sport, and like any well governed organization, there are mechanisms put in place to protect the organization, its members, and in the end, the athletes. However, it is unacceptable that the countless governance reforms conducted by the IBA, go unrecognized, and the pathway to our Olympic recognition was nothing but a predetermined dead-end. For those involved in the creation of the rogue international boxing organization and the nations who claim to be members of it, there is no doubt that the IBA will reserve its rights to claim damages from any person who is harming the IBA’s activities and reputation, and/or trying to achieve exclusion of the IBA from the Olympic family.”
The IBA further stated: “As there is no other reason of establishing a rogue organization, other than to attempt to destroy the integrity of the International Boxing Association. The IBA strongly condemns the efforts of individuals to damage the significant strides taken by the IBA over last years to secure boxers’ the best future possible. Ambitions of individuals will never serve as a solid foundation for a successful organisation nor the destructive motives that have led to the creation of this rogue organization.”
