Staying put

JAMAICA BOXING Association (JBA) president, Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones, said he does not foresee a scenario where the federation leaves the International Boxing Association (IBA) in the midst of its continued impasse with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and breakaway organization, World Boxing.

The Men’s World Boxing Championships, run by the IBA, recently concluded in Uzbekistan under the cloud of the dispute.

The United States and Britain pulled out of the tournament, which is being used as qualification for the next summer Olympics, because of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their flags in the competition. The countries went further to form World Boxing and are now seeking IOC approval to get their athletes back into Olympic contention.

Additionally, the IBA and the IOC’s relationship is under strain following the former’s suspension in 2019 on account of governance, finance, and ethical issues.

IBA president, Umar Kremlev, gave assurances at the start of the tournament that his organisation had now met the IOC’s requirements.

Jones says he does not see a scenario where Jamaica leaves the IBA, especially since World Boxing has said it will not bar associations who wish to be part of both associations.

Additionally, he is still trying to gauge how World Boxing will operate.

“We don’t stand one way or the other. We are not in a position at this moment to have to choose. We are registered by one of the federations that are governed by IBA. I don’t see us not being a part of IBA, that I can tell you. It’s not my unilateral decision directly from a board perspective. I am just speaking on my opinion,” Jones told The Sunday Gleaner.

“I don’t have a lot of information about World Boxing. I get that there are concerns in terms of the ultimate boxing stage which is the Olympics and others may have decided that they are forming (it) so that they have a direct line there. But I don’t know what a direct line would be or how that would work. As far as Jamaica is concerned, we consider us being in the same place as we have always been and we will be led accordingly.”

Kremlev had criticised the countries that formed the breakaway organisation, reiterating that IBA is the only sanctioned world body to govern the sport.

ONE ASSOCIATION

“Those who want to leave and go to another association, all I can say is: ‘We have only one association. We have the right to govern boxing, and the IBA has the right to organise tournaments’,” Kremlev said.

Although IBA are addressing the IOC concerns, the impasse has put boxing’s presence at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles in doubt. Jones hopes that for the good of the sport, both parties will find a resolution.

“For all intents and purposes, from what we have seen to this point, the IBA executive has done and continues to do what has been requested of them. And it is in their interest to do so anyway,” Jones said.

“I am hoping that it is a situation where the heads of IBA and the heads of IOC will eventually come together and see that the sport of boxing wins out in the end. But as far as we are concerned, we are on board with the IOC in terms of trying to get to the Olympics and fully a member of IBA. We are confident that the powers that be will find the path to ensure that continues.”

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com