National boxing fraternity has been plunged into a state of confusion following the decision by International Amateur Boxing Association (Aiba) to allow pro boxers to compete at the Rio Games in August.
After months of speculation when the world amateur boxing body first hinted the move, a special congress in Lausanne, Switzerland attended by all Aiba affiliated federations voted unanimously in favour of including professional boxers among the athletes competing at the Olympics.
The move is currently drawing criticism from almost all professional boxing entities, including established promoters and boxers.
The decision, however, is in contrast to the declaration of Aiba president Ching-Kuo Wu at the association’s congress in Jeju Island, Korea in 2014 where he assured that only boxers with a certain number of fights at the professional ranks would be allowed to compete at the Games.
The congress, attended by SA National Amateur Boxing Organi-sation (Sanabo) president Andile Mofu and this scribe, dispelled allegations Aiba seeks to assume control of boxing in both spheres.
But at the special congress in Switzerland 84 of the 88 voting members voted in favour of having professional boxers competing against amateurs.
This after the repealing of Article 13 (J) of Aiba Statute which reads: “to prohibit any person who has competed in any non-Aiba professional boxing match to register as a boxer with the national federation”.
The ruling has rendered confusion in the boxing world especially as the Games are only two months away.
Mofu, who was a voting member, said a President’s Council would be called urgently to discuss the implication of the ruling.
But by July the decision on selection of professional boxers to form part of the SA Team would have been taken.
“We will need to meet with the government, Sascoc and Boxing SA also,” said Mofu.
Anticipating resistance from the pro ranks, where boxers belong to trainers, managers and promoters, Mofu appealed to everybody to put the country first.
“I think this is where patriotism has to come to play. I know money counts at the professional ranks but this is time to put the interests of the country first.”
BSA chairwoman Ntambi Ravele confirmed that she had no idea how the process would unfold. “There are a number of grey areas here and I cannot comment until I have seen the specifications of this ruling,’’ she said.
She admitted having a discussion with Mofu on the issue before the Switzerland ruling, but added “we did not go into details about what it will mean to SA boxing”.
Indeed there are two spheres of governance for professional and amateur boxing in the country, with the former adhering to the Act of parliament while the unpaid ranks account to Aiba.
The world amateur body, which has since shed the term “amateur”, demands its affiliated federations be answerable to its statutes only.
However, as the Olympic committee, Sascoc is also heavily involved in the dilemma, especially as it has its own set criteria for Olympic participation.
Top professional boxers such as Zolani Tete are already eyed to form Team SA to the Olympics.
The country is yet to secure an Olympic qualification in the boxing category after the Cameroon debacle, where Sascoc downgraded the qualification of two Eastern Cape boxers, Sikho Nqothole and Sibusiso Bandla, on the basis that continental qualification was no longer applicable for selection.
Sanabo will now bid to secure an Olympic berth at Baku in Azerbaijan from June 14 to 26.
RIO PRO DECISION BAFFLES FIGHTERS
After months of speculation when the world amateur boxing body first hinted the move, a special congress in Lausanne, Switzerland attended by all Aiba affiliated federations voted unanimously in favour of including professional boxers among the athletes competing at the Olympics.
The move is currently drawing criticism from almost all professional boxing entities, including established promoters and boxers.
The decision, however, is in contrast to the declaration of Aiba president Ching-Kuo Wu at the association’s congress in Jeju Island, Korea in 2014 where he assured that only boxers with a certain number of fights at the professional ranks would be allowed to compete at the Games.
The congress, attended by SA National Amateur Boxing Organi-sation (Sanabo) president Andile Mofu and this scribe, dispelled allegations Aiba seeks to assume control of boxing in both spheres.
But at the special congress in Switzerland 84 of the 88 voting members voted in favour of having professional boxers competing against amateurs.
This after the repealing of Article 13 (J) of Aiba Statute which reads: “to prohibit any person who has competed in any non-Aiba professional boxing match to register as a boxer with the national federation”.
The ruling has rendered confusion in the boxing world especially as the Games are only two months away.
Mofu, who was a voting member, said a President’s Council would be called urgently to discuss the implication of the ruling.
But by July the decision on selection of professional boxers to form part of the SA Team would have been taken.
“We will need to meet with the government, Sascoc and Boxing SA also,” said Mofu.
Anticipating resistance from the pro ranks, where boxers belong to trainers, managers and promoters, Mofu appealed to everybody to put the country first.
“I think this is where patriotism has to come to play. I know money counts at the professional ranks but this is time to put the interests of the country first.”
BSA chairwoman Ntambi Ravele confirmed that she had no idea how the process would unfold. “There are a number of grey areas here and I cannot comment until I have seen the specifications of this ruling,’’ she said.
She admitted having a discussion with Mofu on the issue before the Switzerland ruling, but added “we did not go into details about what it will mean to SA boxing”.
Indeed there are two spheres of governance for professional and amateur boxing in the country, with the former adhering to the Act of parliament while the unpaid ranks account to Aiba.
The world amateur body, which has since shed the term “amateur”, demands its affiliated federations be answerable to its statutes only.
However, as the Olympic committee, Sascoc is also heavily involved in the dilemma, especially as it has its own set criteria for Olympic participation.
Top professional boxers such as Zolani Tete are already eyed to form Team SA to the Olympics.
The country is yet to secure an Olympic qualification in the boxing category after the Cameroon debacle, where Sascoc downgraded the qualification of two Eastern Cape boxers, Sikho Nqothole and Sibusiso Bandla, on the basis that continental qualification was no longer applicable for selection.
Sanabo will now bid to secure an Olympic berth at Baku in Azerbaijan from June 14 to 26.
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