ABAP applies to join World Boxing
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 26 Oct 2023
Defection from the discredited International Boxing Association (IBA), stripped of recognition by IOC, continues at a global scale and affiliation with the newly-formed, Swiss-based World Boxing is growing as the balance of power has taken a major turn, involving more and more countries that realize the only way to keep the sport in the Olympics is to establish a fresh corruption-free regime built on fair play.
ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas recently disclosed that the national association has applied to join World Boxing and is awaiting acceptance. The late ABAP president Ed Picson’s wife Karina, a highly-respected technical delegate, is in the World Boxing interim Board in a personal capacity and her participation assures the Philippines of a voice in the leadership. Picson was an outspoken critic of IBA’s system of governance and a founding father of World Boxing. It was his dream for World Boxing to replace IBA as an IOC-sanctioned federation.
Vargas said in next year’s Paris Olympics, IOC will run the boxing competition as it did in the Tokyo Games with World Boxing still unable to muster the numbers for widespread representation. In the 2028 LA Olympics, boxing is on the “hold” list and if IOC isn’t convinced of World Boxing’s viability, it may not agree to supervise the sport for a third straight Olympics. World Boxing, however, is gaining ground with the goal of securing a sizable membership to merit IOC affiliation.
Vargas said he’s attending World Boxing’s inaugural convention in Frankfurt on Nov. 24-25. ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said officers will be elected at the convention. So far, Mongolia is the only Asian country in World Boxing. Five continents are represented in the roster of 22 member nations, a positive sign for eventual IOC recognition. The members are USA, Great Britain, Australia, Netherlands, England, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Honduras, Sweden, Denmark, Panama, French Polynesia, Jamaica, Nigeria, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Czech Republic and Mongolia.
World Boxing was launched last April. “IOC is supportive of boxing as a sport and wants it to remain part of the Olympic program and the only way to do this is for National Federations to get behind a new international federation that is committed to integrity, transparency and rigorous governance standards,” said World Boxing’s English secretary-general Simon Toulson. “World Boxing is the only organization that can deliver this and the consistent growth in our membership … is a clear sign of the growing support for World Boxing and widespread desire for change that exists across the sport.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS PRESENTS “COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA” AND “THRILLA IN MANILA 50”
Fri, 17 Oct 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai Featherweight World Title Showdown Set for Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Fri, 17 Oct 2025Irish welterweight contender Paddy Donovan Positioned for another World title shot
Fri, 17 Oct 2025DAY ONE: TEAM ASIA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT WHITEWASH AS AJ ‘STARBOY’ MANAS SHINES
Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONNOR MITCHELL SIGNS FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AND DREAMS OF SURPASSING HIS LEGENDARY FATHER
Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONWAY-LIDDARD YORK HALL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Thu, 16 Oct 2025PR Run - Break Your Record on Oct. 19
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 16 Oct 2025PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Oct 2025BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
Thu, 16 Oct 2025Mendoza bags bronze
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 16 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 16 Oct 2025YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
Wed, 15 Oct 2025JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025