At the general assembly of the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) held this Saturday in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, where 36 national boxing federations from Asia were present, it was decided by a large majority that they should not join the World Boxing (WB) with 21 votes in favor and 14 against, so the motion to join the WB was not approved.
In addition to this vote looking at the Asian future of boxing, there was another proposal to grant full autonomy to the ASBC, which finally failed to get the 2/3 to be put on the agenda as a new item to be voted on (it got only 19 votes in favor). The message was clear that about half wanted an autonomous ASBC and not to remain as a confederation of the IBA… Given these indecisions, all options are now open even for the creation of a new format.
Two clear conclusions emerge from this weekend’s ASBC decisions:
- Refusal of the WB does not seem to be the solution for most Asian national boxing federations. This disapproval is probably also focused on the current WB leadership.
- They stay in the IBA because they have nowhere to go. Even without recognition, the IBA is still breathing because there simply isn’t something on the other side of the river.
SportsIn was present at the proceedings of the AGM and caught all the proceedings and what is being talked about in Asian boxing circles. The possible need for a new format for international boxing was also heard loudly at this general assembly because it is clear that the current situation with World Boxing does not meet the expectations of a large part of the national federations and therefore a new solution is being sought, possibly through a new format.
This is because World Boxing, as it is today, is not an attractive project for the boxing federations. Probably because there is nothing resembling an organizational structure in WB, no planning or schedules, no secure competition program and no financial autonomy to give confidence to the national federations that WB is the real alternative.
Boxing is at a dead end and needs quick and clear solutions that come from consultation and cooperation between all parties. International boxing needs something completely new in terms of structure and faces. If this is not done immediately, the sport will be left out of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
