WBC TO CONTINUE AGAINST AIBA’S INCORRECT PRACTICES

THE World Boxing Council (WBC) will continue to fight against the present incorrect practices by the International Amateur Boxing – AIBA – by creating a special amateur super committee with representatives from each of its federations.

In a press statement, WBC said the special amateur super committee will “foster amateur boxing and to save it from the smothering octopus tentacled clutches of AIBA.”

“AIBA has incredibly pitted pros against amateurs in the Olympics and removed head guards from amateur boxers, where fledgling young fighters have a batch of contests, and battery inevitably caused welters of cuts.”

During the recently held WBC 54^th Annual Convention at the Diplomat & Spa Hotel in Hollywood, Miami, USA, the WBC’s Board of Governors has voted to continue to fight against such practices.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman exclaimed: “Having professional fighters against a kid who has a dream of becoming an Olympic Champion is not only improper, it’s very dangerous!

“We are going to create a new amateur committee with one member from each Federation. We need to find opportunities for kids and boxing around the world. The Pope has given us the duty and the work to do BoxVal under the Scholas Program, and this will be part of the amateur program.”

Boxing promoter Sampson Lewkowicz gave a report of an amateur boxing tournament he organized in Uruguay, at the request of the WBC. The winners have the opportunity of coming to Mexico, to be coached, and taken to the training location choice of champions- The High altitude Otomi Ceremonial Center.

“One parent confided the contest had saved her son from jail…or worse!” said Sampson.

Six Illinois tournament winners from the Two Nations One Dream, boxing without borders tournament were also presented during the convention. The tournament was organized by the WBC and Mexico’s Foreign Ministry with the active, energetic and dedicated support of Mexico’s Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu.

WBC featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr, presented the youngsters with WBC green and gold amateur mini belts and their eyes shone, as they had their photos taken with him.

WBC Cares Chair Jill Diamond succinctly summed up a collective outrage at the current AIBA situation, especially concerning the fallout amateur expulsions, by declaring:

“It’s one of the most horrendous situations I’ve heard of.  Young people being denied the chance they’ve worked so hard for!”

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