– There is full-on war in the international boxing world, says boxing expert and journalist at news, Anders Werner Øfsti. The list of IBA’s challenges is long. When a new international federation also takes up the fight against them, the organization itself faces a potential knockout. New challenger In April, it was known that a new international boxing federation, named World Boxing (WB), had entered the field, hoping to secure the future of boxing in the Olympics (the Olympic Games). Boxing has been left out of the 2028 Summer Games due to a conflict between the IBA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Most recently, the IBA suspended due to a lack of confidence in the leadership and allegations of corruption in 2019. The nations of the USA, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines and Sweden have come together to form the new federation (WB) with one goal in mind: To secure the future of boxing in the Olympic programme. – That the USA, as the winningest nation in Olympic boxing, is opting out is sensational. I think it will hit IBA hard. It is as if Norway were to withdraw from the International Ski Federation, says Øfsti, who himself is a former Nordic champion in boxing. EXPERT: news’s Anders Werner Øfsti. The USA will not send any athletes to compete at the World Championships organized by the IBA in March. One of the main reasons for this must be that Russia and Belarus are allowed to compete under their own flags, in addition to a number of other controversies. – At IBA, there is one vote per member nation. This means that the USA has as much influence as, for example, Iceland. It can be perceived as strange that nations with almost no boxers have the same weight and influence as the biggest boxing nations, says Øfsti. Øfsti also says that Sweden had participants during the WC, even though they had boycotted the event. The IBA itself selected two Swedes who “represented” the country. – It is disturbing. It is moving towards similar conditions as in professional boxing, where they have several different federations and participants. All associations with their own “world champions”. We should let that go, he says. UROVEKJANDE: Øfsti fears various world champions in several confederations. Indian Lovlina Borgohain (th) became world champion during the IBA world championships in March. Photo: AP Grave your own grave The president of the Swedish Boxing Association, Per-Axel Sjöholm, is one of the driving forces behind WB. He explains that the association was formed with a specific goal of keeping boxing as an Olympic sport. – We are excluded from 2028, and in the last Olympics the IOC held the qualifications themselves. For England and the USA, Olympic participation is essential, as they receive their government contributions from their national Olympic committee, Sjöholm told news. He says that the association works with approval from the IOC, and emphasizes the value of good dialogue with the committee. Nevertheless, Sjöholm does not believe that the IOC and IBA will come to the Olympic heat and become involved there. – They want to become like FIFA (The International Football Association) and hold their own major championships. They have dug their own grave, says Sjöholm. RE-DISCUSSED PRESIDENT: IBA president Umar Kremlev is not interested in impressing the IOC. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP Sjöholm refers to the IBA’s recent annual meeting, where it was clearly stated that the association has no desire to find the tone with the IOC. The Russian president of the association, Umar Kremlev, claimed, among other things, that their mission is not to attract the IOC. In addition, the president was very critical of their new counter-candidate WB: – There is always a problem child in our family. There are always people who go their own way. Some tried to register an international association from their garage, why should we consider them at all?, said Kremlev at a press conference on Monday. FRIENDS: Russian President Vladimir Putin together with Umar Kremlev. The two Russians have a good friendship. Photo: GAVRIIL GRIGOROV / AFP Norway takes a stand Odd Haktor Slåke is the day-to-day leader of NBF – Norwegian Boxing Association. The Norwegian federation strongly distances itself from the IBA, largely because of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. – It is an absolutely terrible war and then we cannot tolerate Russian participation. The war is the main reason why no democracy should live with Russia and Belarus. I think a boycott is necessary, because there is no reason for us to be more lenient now. TEK DISTANCE: President of the Norwegian Boxing Association, Odd Haktor Slåke. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB Like the USA, Norway does not send any athletes to the boxing World Cup as a result of the boycott against the IBA. Although Norway has taken a clear position from the controversial association, they have not yet signed up to the WB. Nevertheless, Slåke believes that the new association can be the start of a lasting change for the boxing world. – There are very talented people behind WB. I have faith that it can be cleaned up, and get a new international boxing federation that is recognized by the IOC. Hopefully they have the muscle and knowledge of how to pull this off, says Slåke. – Is the IBA facing decline? – I can’t say that for sure, but I hope so, says Slåke. Anders Øfsti, for his part, is convinced that the IBA will not last long if several nations withdraw from the IBA. – It is quite obvious that they (IBA) will lose the biggest player when the USA withdraws. When more and more nations withdraw, there will only be one way for IBA, says Øftsti. news has been trying to get in touch with IBA for several days, but has received no response.
ttn-69
– They have dug their own grave – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
