The International Boxing Association (IBA) responds to the official statement issued by the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) calling for an Extraordinary Congress at the end of August and warns that World Boxing has not been officially recognised by the IOC or any other organisation.
The ASBC eased the pressure before the Olympic Games by deciding to convene an extraordinary congress on 31 August in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This decision postponed the matter until after Paris 2024, allowing a more relaxed pre-Olympic month and the thirty-third modern Olympic Games, giving time to decide on its inclusion in world boxing.
In this context, the IBA quickly warns that World Boxing has not been officially recognised by the IOC or any other organisation, reassuring its members so that they can debate freely during this period and, logically, at the Congress at the end of August.
The IBA reiterated its firm stance and position on the Asian announcement and clarified that this is due to considerable confusion, particularly because of the IOC’s stance on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, due to inconsistencies in their narrative.
The IBA clarified that it does not oppose the upcoming Extraordinary Congress, as the call is within the continent’s jurisdiction. In fact, it welcomes it, as it will strengthen support for the IBA, as it is clear that the vast majority of members wish to remain in the organisation led by Umar Kremlev.
The decision to remain a member of the IBA or not lies solely with the General Assembly of the respective national federations, each of which must debate and agree on what is best for the sport they represent.
The IBA also criticised the IOC’s actions and the confusion created by the world’s leading Olympic body. “The Olympic story is current and the construction around this situation has created confusion among our members and to be honest, it is completely irresponsible,” the statement said.
The statement added: “The IBA would like to reiterate to its members, not only in Asia, but also in the other four continents, that we will never be pushed into anything that is not in line with our current sporting work ethic”.
Under the current leadership of the IBA, President Umar Kremlev has provided tremendous support to various National Federations and their athletes. The statement highlights that nearly $20 million has been distributed in financial support to medallists and that “an improved calendar has made it highly attractive and competitive”.
Through the press release, the IBA took the opportunity to highlight that this leadership has allowed its National Federations and respective boxers to plan their independent paths to glory. It went on to say that without these events and support, “it would simply not be possible for our athletes to achieve the success they have in the run-up to Paris 2024”.
