Abbreviation AIBA Type Sports federation Region served Worldwide | Formation 1946 Headquarters Lausanne, Switzerland President Dr Wu Ching-kuo | |
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The International Boxing Association, originally the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur and still referred to as the AIBA is a sport organization that sanctions amateur (Olympic-style) boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships. Recently, AIBA has been trying to build its own professional version of boxing, where boxers would retain their Olympic eligibility, through the team tournament league known as World Series of Boxing and AIBA Pro Boxing.
Contents
Competitions
Since 11 March 2013, new rules apply to AIBA governed boxing. It now lists three different competitions:
History
During the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, representatives from the national associations of England, France, Belgium, Brazil and the Netherlands met in a preliminary consortium for the foundation of an international boxing federation: The Federation Internationale de Boxe Amateur (FIBA). The official foundation has been celebrated on the 24th of August. Right after, international competitions appeared in the boxing arena, allowing amateurs to compete in well-known tournaments.
In November 1946, a consensus was met to give way for the boxing governing body to regain the loss of credibility due to the behaviour of some leading officials in World War II. The FIBA was dissolved and the English Amateur Boxing Association in partnership with the French Boxing Federation decided to create AIBA; the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur. The President of the French Boxing Federation, Emile Grémaux, was elected to the position of President. European Association is called EUBC.
Sixty years later, AIBA continued to govern boxing in the Olympic Games without using the word "amateur". Until now, amateur boxing has been present on all continents with continental championships as well as World Cups and World Championships organised by AIBA.
Since 2005 AIBA hold the Boxing World Cup.
The AIBA has since 2006 been headed by Wu Ching-kuo.
In 2010, AIBA launched semi-professional tournament called World Series of Boxing (WSB). Boxers fight for their teams and receive salaries. Matches are held in five different weight classes, boxers compete in five three-minute rounds, don't wear headgear and are bare-chested. The judging system is similar to professional boxing. However, boxers are still considered amateur, so they may compete in amateur competitions, such as Olympic Games.
In August 2011, Olympic news outlet Around the Rings reported that the AIBA unanimously approved the creation of its own professional boxing brand in addition to WSB. "With AIBA Professional Boxing, the boxer from the very beginning knows what is going to happen to them and what is going to be their long-term career," said president Wu.
AIBA professional boxing action began in late 2014.
AOB rules
AOB - AIBA Open Boxing, formerly known as amateur or Olympic boxing, remains the main competition within AIBA
Headguards
In AOB Elite Men Competitions(19-40 years old), headguards are not allowed at all National, Continental and International Levels. For all other category competitions, headguards are still mandatory. However, AIBA reserves itself the right to conduct some non-Elite Men Competitions without headguards for the preparation of the definitive removal of headguards for all categories starting from January 1, 2018.
For all boxers not wearing headguards and in order to prevent any potential cut, coaches are permitted to apply the cut prevention material Cavilon on all areas of the boxer’s face before all competitions held without headguards.