[DrMo]

AIBA (boxing's amateur governing body) is starting a new organisation, APB, which will be closer to the professional game than WSB (World Series Boxing)

From their website..http://www.aiba-london2012.com/index.php/223-apb

"Central to the APB programme will be an individual ranking competition consisting of three different levels with world, continental and national Rankings. Boxers will be ranked only based on their performance and will have the opportunity to climb all the way from national level to the top of the World through a clear and transparent competition.

Further down the line, APB will launch a global event where each national federation will be able to send APB boxers to represent their countries in a worldwide competition."

They have already signed up Lomachenko & a few others from the Ukrainian team, along with many others. The 1st APB event is planned for autumn 2013.

What are everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[DrMo]

AIBA wants to stop losing fighters to the professional game every four years and hopes to do so by offering them both a living and another shot at Olympic gold. Currently professionals unaffiliated with the AIBA are forbidden from taking part in the Olympics, a rule that has provided promoters and scouts with rich pickings.

AIBA Professional Boxing (APB) is the governing body's main vehicle for stopping the exodus, a circuit where boxers are being told they can earn a steadier living with their training, coaching and insurance all taken care of. The AIBA envisages that APB will provide 56 fighters for the next Olympics, with a further 10 qualifying from its affiliate World Series of Boxing (WSB) tournament, meaning almost a quarter of Olympians boxing in Rio de Janeiro will be professional. Lightweight Valentino and heavyweight Russo join South Korean Jonghun Shin, Azerbaijani world champion Magomedrasul Medzhidov and Kazakhstan's Serik Sapiyev among the first names on the APB's books.

AIBA president Wu Ching-Kuo said "These two exciting additions add further legitimacy to our new competition. We are convinced that it is the right time to provide something different for our top boxers with APB, we will revolutionize the world of boxing and establish a blueprint for its development. Finally our athletes won't have to jump into the unknown while embracing a professional career."

 

[Chatty]

I wonder if they are going to allow current pros to sign under their banner. If so then it could be decent in the long run.

If not then it will likely just dilute the sport more with more organisations, champions, etc

 

[DrMo]

I think they're just signing up good amateurs, fuck knows how it will all work out; how many rounds? what weight divisions? what rules will they have?

It could be good for ams from smaller countries without many resources, Ive read that they will all get 3 or 4 bouts a year, minimum.

 

[JamieC]

I wonder if they are going to allow current pros to sign under their banner. If so then it could be decent in the long run.

If not then it will likely just dilute the sport more with more organisations, champions, etc

I heard they are letting pros with less than 8 bouts and who haven't fought for any type of professional title sign up

 

[Michael]

Hope it crashes and burns, hate the idea.

 

[tdw]

I heard they are letting pros with less than 8 bouts and who haven't fought for any type of professional title sign up

Buncey said 15 bouts on Monday because he was joking that George Groves would be eligible