IRELAND will remain part of the International Boxing Association (IBA) after members of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) voted against a change to its constitution that would have opened up a possible move to rival governing body World Boxing.
At international level the IABA is governed by the IBA, and members were asked to vote on a change to the constitution that would grant clubs the freedom to decide whether or not to move to another organisation.
A formal decision to change the constitution, which could have paved the way for a move to World Boxing subject to a second vote at Saturday’s lively, occasionally chaotic EGM, required support from 75 per cent of delegates on Saturday – but only 71 per cent voted in favour.
The IABA confirmed during the week that 145 of its 355 clubs had registered for the EGM and 131 voting forms were issued upon arrival, with 122 submitted for counting, meaning nine opted against voting at all. A further four votes were spoiled.
Of the 122, 84 voted in favour of a change to the constitution, with 34 against, meaning four votes prevented the resolution from passing.
Concerns were aired about the requirement for names and clubs to be recorded on the voting slips.
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Saturday’s outcome doesn’t necessarily spell the end for a potential move to World Boxing, which was only formed in April, but puts any move on the long finger as Irish boxing continues to consider the pros and cons regarding its international and Olympic future.
“We all know change is coming,” said Niall O’Carroll, chairman of the IABA board of directors in his opening address, “today we have the opportunity to shape that change as a group.”
The expectation is that the matter will be revisited within the next year, depending on how the situation evolves.
However, the confusion that was evident at roadshows held in Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht last month was clear again as delegates raised concerns about what direction Ireland was headed.
During a two hour debate which often veered wildly off topic, several speakers - including 2008 Olympian John Joe Joyce - felt that members were being rushed into a decision about Ireland’s international future.
Others, including former international referee Seamus Kelly – who blew the whistle on alleged corruption within world governing body AIBA ahead of Rio 2016 - felt the IABA had no choice but to join with World Boxing if it was to ensure fair play for its boxers in the years to come.
“Do you want your boxers suffering the same mental torture that Michael Conlan suffered?”
“Have the courage to make a change, have the courage to vote for fair play.”
Discontent with the governance of the Russian-controlled IBA grew in the wake of those Rio Games and the subsequent McLaren report, which found widespread evidence of “corruption, bribery and the manipulation of sporting results”.
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.
However, fears of any impact on Ireland’s immediate Olympic future in the wake of Saturday’s vote are misplaced. The IOC will again run the boxing competition at Paris 2024, Michaela Walsh, Aoife O’Rourke, Kellie Harrington, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley have already qualified for Paris, with Ireland hoping for more.
Those places in Paris are secure, despite Ireland’s continued affiliation to IBA, though it remains to be seen if the IOC’s opinion changes heading towards the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
