Q. What are delegates being asked to vote on?
A. Under article 4.9 of the IABA constitution, 40 clubs can request an EGM – 44 clubs have asked for a vote on the following special resolution: ‘To remove any references to IBA (AIBA) from all relevant objects in the IABA constitution whether contained in the memorandum or the articles of association.’
Q. Why are they voting to remove references to the International Boxing Association (IBA)?
A. How long have you got? Are you ready for some serious acronym crunching?
Okay, in a nutshell, the IBA – formerly AIBA – is boxing’s world governing body. They still host international championships across the globe across a range of age groups and levels every year.
However, the IBA have been excommunicated from the Olympic movement. Discontent with the governance of the Russian-controlled organisation 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 from that particular Games was Michael Conlan’s controversial quarter-final exit to Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin.
In 2019 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew recognition for AIBA, with the IOC taking control of the boxing competition at the 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 2023.
To put the magnitude of that decision in context, this was the first time in its 130-year history that the IOC has kicked out a governing body.
And just last month the Swiss Federal Tribunal dismissed the IBA’s appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling to uphold its recognition withdrawal by the IOC.
Therefore, to remain subject solely to IBA control would leave Ireland out of the Olympic picture - should boxing be included in the programme for LA2028.
Q. Is there a genuine threat to boxing’s Olympic future? Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
A. It depends who you talk to. Olympic boxing has been at this crossroads for a long time, with some feeling that the IOC are simply making a power-play for force the IBA even further onto the fringes of amateur boxing.
Boxing, despite dwindling popularity, still retains considerable popularity in America, therefore it is hard to imagine the sport would be withdrawn for a Games in Los Angeles.
However, the IOC insists that, for governance reasons, it is not in a position to organise another Olympic boxing tournament after Tokyo and Paris. To keep boxing on the Olympic programme, it wants “a recognised and reliable international federation” as a partner.
Q. What are the alternatives?
A. Just one as it stands - World Boxing, formed in spring 2023, is actively seeking IOC recognition as Olympic boxing’s official governing body. As it stands, 48 national member federations have moved from the IBA to World Boxing, with applications from 10 more countries currently under consideration.
Q. Is it possible to be in both?
A. Interestingly, the IABA board of directors previously favoured 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. Did Irish boxing not already have a vote on this?
A. Sort of. Well, not quite. In August 2023 the IABA called an EGM with two motions on the table - a special resolution to amend the current constitution “so that we have more control over our operations without constitutional restrictions”, and a motion to decide if the IABA should affiliate with World Boxing.
The special resolution is essentially back up for decision on Saturday and, while there is no explicit mention of joining World Boxing this time around, it is anticipated that would be on the agenda further down the line - should a majority of delegates vote in favour this time around.
Once again, resolutions require 75 per cent of ballots to pass, with a quorum of 60 successfully affiliated clubs is required. Considering the finals of the Irish intermediate championships also get under way at the National Stadium on Saturday, making a quorum is not expected to be an issue.
Q. What happens if the special resolution is defeated again?
A. That’s the million dollar question.
Clubs, or the IABA board of directors, cannot simply keep bringing motions back to EGMs forever as the IOC is on a strict timeframe with a view to securing boxing’s position on the programme for Los Angeles.
Therefore, should the resolution be defeated on Saturday, it will be a major body blow to Ireland’s hopes of having an Olympic future. Coming just two months after Kellie Harrington landed a second gold on the spin, that may be hard to fathom, but it is the reality.
Sarah Keane, the president of the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI), has already raised the prospect of a new national body being set up to run boxing in if the IABA does not sever its links with the IBA. Those comments were described as “not helpful” by Niall O’Carroll, chair of the IABA board of directors, earlier this week.
Keane also said the OFI will withdraw recognition of the IABA as the national federation, at the request of the IOC, unless it links up with World Boxing. Without Sport Ireland funding, and the prospect of Olympic boxing, it is hard to imagine what the future might hold for the sport.
