The independence of Asian boxing was cemented following the resignation of Pichai Chunhavajira, President of the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC), from the Executive Board of the International Boxing Association (IBA). Chunhavajira, who also serves as Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, made this decision in response to the outcomes of the ASBC General Assembly held on August 31, 2024, in the UAE.
During the assembly, nearly two-thirds of the ASBC members rejected the Executive Committee’s proposal to affiliate with the newly established World Boxing (WB) federation. Additionally, there was insufficient interest among members to continue discussions about maintaining ASBC’s membership with the IBA, as fewer than two-thirds showed any desire to explore this option.
In light of these results and the collective views expressed by the majority of ASBC members, Chunhavajira made the principled decision to step down from his role on the IBA’s Executive Board. His resignation effectively grants the ASBC the autonomy to shape its own strategic direction, allowing it to make more constructive decisions for the future of Asian boxing in alignment with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) evolving priorities.
LOOKING FOR THE IOC INTEREST
Given that WB’s organizational structures are still in their early stages and the IOC’s negotiations with this fledgling federation remain unclear, ASBC’s decision not to join WB acts as a catalyst. It underscores the growing need for a new body capable of addressing the real needs of both Asian and global boxing. At the same time, there is widespread consensus among ASBC members that the IBA is nearing its end and is unlikely to play a role in future Olympic games.
THE CURRENT STATE OF INTERNATIONAL BOXING
The sport of boxing is at a critical juncture, with its future in the Olympic Games hanging in the balance. Recognition by the International Olympic Committee is both a necessary and sufficient condition for the sport’s continuation on the Olympic stage—a recognition that has currently been lost. The IOC has expressed a desire for boxing to remain in its competition program, but it has also called for the establishment of a new governing body. Although the IOC is in discussions with World Boxing, it has not explicitly endorsed this federation; it is simply the only existing option at the moment. The IOC has set a deadline: by June 2025, a final solution must be found, or boxing will be excluded from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. To avoid this outcome, the conditions set forth by the IOC must be met.
Neither the International Boxing Association (IBA) nor WB are currently recognized by the IOC. The IBA has been excluded from the Olympic movement and is unlikely to be reinstated. Meanwhile, WB does not meet even the minimum requirements to apply for Olympic recognition at this stage. Despite the IBA’s diminishing relevance, it remains operational, possibly only because WB’s lack of a functional structure is keeping it alive.
WB faces significant structural challenges. It lacks employees, financial resources, a competition schedule, technical staff, referees, and even basic infrastructure, such as offices. Despite rumors that the IOC has set a membership threshold of 50 federations, even if WB reaches that number, it still lacks the operational capacity to function as a legitimate governing body. IOC recognition alone will not solve these structural deficiencies, and without a robust foundation, the sport risks falling into chaos. WB must first become a member of the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS) before it can even apply for IOC recognition.
Another point of concern is WB’s apparent desire to exclude regional confederations, focusing solely on national federations as members. This approach raises serious questions about who will manage the sport in the absence of a central structure. The existence of confederations is vital for the continuity of boxing, at least in the short term. If WB aims to lead the movement to save the sport, it must not only attract members but also develop a credible, functional structure to convince national federations to join.
BOXING IS DIVIDED INTO TWO FEDERATIONS
At present, the division within boxing is not merely between supporters of IBA or WB but between those who reject the leadership of both organizations. The personal conflict between the leaders of these two federations has escalated into an internal war, splitting the sport into two factions, each driven by personal ambition. This is causing tremendous harm to the sport’s reputation and future. To resolve the crisis, it is essential to address the problem at a personal level and for members to distance themselves from those perpetuating the conflict.
The sport needs a unifying figure—an impartial third party acceptable to the vast majority of national boxing federations—who can lead efforts to bring the sport back together. An International Forum to save boxing may be more urgent now than ever, as was suggested during informal discussions at the ASBC AGM. The time for decisive action is now, before the sport’s future is irreparably compromised.
