Q. What are the options on the table, and how has it come to this?
A: At Saturday’s Extraordinary General Meeting in Dublin’s National Stadium, Ireland faces a choice of whether to remain part of current world governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA), or join rival outfit World Boxing.
Discontent with the governance of the Russian-controlled IBA grew in the wake of the 2016 Rio Olympics and subsequent McLaren report, which found widespread evidence of “corruption, bribery and the manipulation of sporting results”.
Among the 11 bouts under investigation was Michael Conlan’s controversial quarter-final exit to Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin.
In 2019 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew recognition for the IBA – then AIBA – with the IOC taking control of the boxing competition at the last Olympics in Tokyo.
Having repeatedly failed to address ongoing concerns regarding governance, the IOC voted to expel the IBA from the Olympic movement in June. To put the magnitude of that decision in context, this was the first time the IOC has kicked out a governing body in its 129-year history.
The IOC will again run the boxing competition at Paris 2024, having already organised the qualification system independent of the IBA, though World Boxing’s aim is to secure IOC recognition.
That has led to a dilemma at grassroots level ahead of Saturday’s vote. While concerns about remaining part of the IBA are widespread, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the long-term viability of World Boxing, particularly how it will function and cater for the rest of the boxing community outside of the Olympic movement.
USA, New Zealand, Australia, GB Boxing, England, and the Dutch Boxing Federation were announced as World Boxing founding members last month, with Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Honduras and Sweden completing the process to become members in recent days.
However, with no calendar of events in place as yet, and still with a fraction of the IBA’s membership despite those nations coming onboard, there have been calls for greater clarity regarding the new body’s future operational and funding plans.
Q. How does the vote work?
A: There are actually two votes taking place on Saturday – whether to leave the IBA and join World Boxing, and whether to amend the current Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) constitution. It is all part of the same conversation.
As it stands, at international level the IABA is governed by the IBA and must obey all the rules and regulations set down by the IBA. A change to the constitution would grant clubs the freedom to decide whether or not to move to another organisation - either now or in the future.
A formal decision to change the constitution, paving the way for a move to World Boxing, would require support from 75 per cent of delegates present at the EGM.
The IABA has confirmed that 145 of its 355 clubs had registered for the EGM. Should they all attend, 117 need to vote in favour of changing the constitution.
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Q. If they vote to remain in the IBA, is Ireland’s Olympic future under immediate threat?
A: Not straight away. Michaela Walsh, Aoife O’Rourke, Kellie Harrington, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley have already qualified for Paris, with several other spots up for grabs in the months ahead. Those places are secure, though it remains to be seen if that will change ahead of Los Angeles 2028 as the dispute between the IBA and World Boxing evolves.
Q. With World Boxing still in its infancy, what is the rush to join now?
NL: This is a crucial question as members weigh up which way to vote. Given there are no immediate implications in regard to next summer’s Olympics, and the fact Ireland can opt to make this move at any point, there is unease in some quarters about making the jump at such an early juncture, and with so little information as yet forthcoming about what the future holds for World Boxing.
On the flip side, senior figures within the IABA believe it would be beneficial for Ireland to be in the mix from the off as, with World Boxing holding its inaugural congress in November, there could be opportunities to contest positions of influence and shape the future direction of the new body.
Q. Can Ireland not be part of both?
A: Interestingly, the IABA board of directors favour retaining membership of the IBA while still applying for membership of World Boxing. Associate membership, such as that held by GB Boxing in light of the fact it is not a federation in the traditional sense, does not confer full voting rights.
World Boxing, for now, has no issue with federations holding dual membership. The IBA has threatened to suspend federations with ties to World Boxing but, thus far, has yet to suspend boxers from any of its major championships.
Q. Should Ireland opt to remain in the IBA, could that lead to funding implications down the line?
A: Olympic participation is at the centre of all funding considerations so, while the short-term situation is secure, long-term could be a different matter. Sport NI, Sport Ireland and the Olympic Federation of Ireland are all understood to be in favour of the IABA moving away from the IBA in order to secure its Olympic future.
If push comes to shove and Ireland end up outside the Olympic tent in 2028, serious repercussions could be expected. There is an element of risk no matter which way you turn.
