Boxers protest over IBA suspension from Olympics

Abu Dhabi could become the new capital of world boxing. Eminent athletes are now coming to the Emirates to prove that politics has no place in sports. Correspondent Oleg Baryshev will talk about those who fight not only for the championship belt, but also for the right to compete at the Olympics.

An evening of champion fights. The best of the best in the ring of the International Boxing Association IBA test each other for strength.

Boxing of the highest standard. The organizers came up with a unique format: world champions fight against the winner of the Olympics in the ring. The outcome of each duel can become a sensation.

The IBA World Championships have become a brand and an important step on the way to the top of world boxing. Talents from all over the world went through a tough competition filter. Then, under the auspices of the association, the elite competed at the Olympics, but IOC officials hit below the belt. The IBA was suspended from the next Olympics, and in the future they plan to completely deprive the boxers of the great tournament.

“Boxing is not included in the program of Olympic sports at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. And if we were to make a decision now, the executive board would not be able to recommend to the IOC session to include boxing under the leadership of the IBA in the program,” – said Keith McConnell, sporting director of the IOC.

Legendary boxer Roy Jones competed at the Olympics, and now, along with other protesters, he performs outside the walls of the headquarters of the Olympic Committee.

Even at the beginning of his career, Roy Jones was robbed of gold in the final of the Olympics. The referee’s decision went down in history as one of the most unfair. Then it was a tragedy for him, the decision of the IOC now could be a tragedy for the whole of boxing.

The main problem now is that due to political reasons the IOC and IBA are facing each other instead of coming together. And as a result, boxing is not part of the Olympics. It’s not so much hurting the IOC and IBA as it’s hurting the kids, the dreams of the young kids and their coaches.

Boxers know how to take a punch, but the fight sometimes goes against the rules. The strongest boxers of different eras and generations have come together to fight again, perhaps one of the most important in their lives. The fate of their beloved boxing is at stake.

The confrontation between the IOC and the IBA has been going on for several years. The Olympic Committee accused the association of all the sins of sport: corruption, doping, bad refereeing. Curiously, during this period, the boxing association was headed by Chin Kuo Wu, who simultaneously worked in the IOC and even claimed the post of president of the Olympic Committee. But then the association made a rebranding, closed the debts, debugged the mechanism of work. And this year, the Russian Umar Kremlev became president, and it seems that now this is the main problem for the IOC.

“Unofficially, maybe because I’m Russian, but I’m proud to be Russian. Let them take an example of how to invest in sports and work wholeheartedly for the good of sports”Kremlev said.

Umar Kremlev’s fears are not groundless. Russian Olympians and Paralympic athletes cannot show themselves because of the overtly political decisions of the IOC. Almost all prestigious boxing organizations have joined the fashion for Russophobia.

“If we don’t do something now, then boxing may die altogether. Since boxing is probably one of the richest sports in terms of monetization, popularity, entertainment. First of all, this is also education, the right upbringing”, – Kostya Tszyu said.

But there are countries in the world where international competitions are not a lever of political pressure, but still a way to find out who is faster, higher, stronger.

Abu Dhabi is a place where fair rules are more important than politics. It is thanks to this that the emirate becomes the new sports capital of the world. Legendary athletes came to the IBA forum in the United Arab Emirates from the other side of the world. Evander Holyfield is a member of the international boxing hall of fame, but the path of a great athlete began in childhood, when Evander first saw a boxing match at the Olympics.

“It started in 1976, when the Spinks brothers played for the USA, they are both from a poor family, it resonated with me. And they won gold medals. And then, in 1976, I had a goal – to get into the Olympic team, to win gold” , Evander Holyfield said.

The tournament in Abu Dhabi is a rare opportunity to see a fighter from Russia who comes out under the flag and anthem of his country. And all this thanks to people who are truly dedicated to boxing, who know how to fight and will do everything so that politicians do not knock out this sport.