Russia Becoming Global Boxing Hub -- On the Scene

(ATR) The International Boxing Association is turning to Russia to host a series of pivotal meetings and events over the next two years in order to get the federation back on the path to success.

Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev signed the host city contracts for the 2018 AIBA Congress, Sochi 2019 AIBA Boxing World Championships and the inaugural Global Boxing Forum this February during the AIBA Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting in Rome.

The contracts were also signed by interim AIBA President Franco Falcinelli who is overseeing this period of transition for the federation since former president CK Wu’s resignation in November 2017. Falcinelli tells Around the Rings that Russia will be a good partner for AIBA in the years ahead.

"Russia is a great location," Falcinelli told ATR after the signing ceremony. "It has a lot of boxing history and will help us move towards the future."

To highlight this history, the Russian Boxing Federation showed a short video that detailed the history of boxing in Russia and provided more information about the Global Boxing Forum next month.

In order for AIBA to move forward, the federation must first resolve the outstanding issues that led to Wu’s resignation, namely bad financial deals including a $10 million loan from Benkons that the federation defaulted on with Wu at the helm.

AIBA’s most senior appointed vice president, Gofur Rakhimov, is currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates seeking to resolve the Benkons case as well as establish government support and sponsors for AIBA’s upcoming Extraordinary Congress to be held in Dubai on Jan. 27.

The election to replace Wu and relieve Falcinelli of his interim role will not be held at this congress. The presidential election will be held during the AIBA Congress in Moscow that will take place from Nov. 2-3. Falcinelli tells ATR he has no intention to retain his role as president.

"No, no," he says when asked if he’d like to run for the presidency. "At 72, I am too old. It’s time to give the federation to the younger generation."

The two-day Executive Committee meeting currently underway in Rome is one of the first steps in AIBA’s efforts to right the ship after months of infighting. The meeting is laying the groundwork for the next two congresses as AIBA seeks to reform its governance structure and statutes.

"We are taking many important steps, financially and with the organization because this is needed right now," Falcinelli tells ATR.

Along with the establishment of Russia as a hub for boxing events over the next two years, AIBA welcomed three new members to the Executive Committee.

Brig. Gen. Dr. Joseph Oladunmoye Ayeni of Nigeria will now serve as AIBA vice president of Africa after former vice president Mohamed Moustahsane of Morocco was named interim president of the African Boxing Confederation in November. Moustahsane is stepping in to lead the AFBC after former president Kelani Bayor was suspended in September 2017.

Dr. Mike Loosemore of England was appointed to the EC as the new chairman of the AIBA Medical Commission, while Emilia Grueva of Bulgaria was also appointed to the EC as chair of the Women’s Boxing Commission.

The Executive Committee meeting concludes Jan. 16 with AIBA officials expecting it to end around midday rather than in the evening as originally scheduled.

Around the Rings is on the scene in Rome providing exclusive coverage of the EC meeting.

Reported and written by Kevin Nutley in Rome.

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