Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has denied claims that it has joined World Boxing, committing its ‘firm loyalty’ to the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The West African nation was announced as the first member of World Boxing from the continent on Saturday along with Finland, Iceland, Jamaica, Norway, and the Czech Republic.
However, NBF Vice-President, Azania Omo-Agege, in a statement circulated to African Boxing Confederation (AFBC) members seen by insidethegames, has denied the development.
“We reaffirm our firm loyalty to IBA, the sole IOC recognised international body, and we stand in solidarity with IBA family,” Omo- Agege, who is also Acting President of AFBC, said.
Omo-Agege said the news of Nigeria joining World Boxing was circulated to “tarnish the image of AFBC and IBA” and “will be dealt with internally.”
“I wish to make it unequivocally clear that the NBF dissociates itself from World Boxing,” he continued.
“A significant decision of this magnitude can only be made by the Board and the Congress neither of which was convened.
The IBA, expelled by the International Olympic Committee, recently had a spat with AFBC, after the continental body’s Congress to elect a new President this month in Durban was postponed due to a row over the list of candidates.
The list included Cameroon’s Bertrand Mendouga, who was forced out in August as AFBC President, after accusations of embezzlement.
AFBC announced later that they will conduct the elections on November 18 in Africa.
However, IBA wants it to be held in Dubai and has said that they will not cover the costs of the Congress if it is held in Africa.
African members have constantly supported Russian IBA President, Umar Kremlev, during his regime.
The Asian Boxing Confederation also recently pledged their loyalty to Kremlev.
With IOC President, Thomas Bach, warning that World Boxing “don’t have sufficient global representation” to replace IBA, every member could be vital for the new body as the sport fights for its spot at Los Angeles 2028.
These are crunch times for IBA as well with an appeal against its expulsion set to be heard in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on November 16.
—Insidethegames.biz
