Renens
World Boxing has announced plans to establish a new Asian Confederation to promote boxing independently from the International Boxing Association (IBA). This decision follows a vote by the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) members, who recently chose to remain aligned with the IBA.
At the ASBC Congress in Bangkok, 23 of 34 delegates opposed separating from the IBA, while 10 supported independence, and one abstained. In response, Pichai Chunhavajira, who resigned as ASBC president after the vote, revealed plans to form a rival Asian boxing body under World Boxing’s umbrella. Chunhavajira, also the president of Thailand Boxing, emphasized the need for a transparent and fair system to protect athletes’ rights and advance the sport in Asia.
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst called the move a “historic moment” for Asian boxing, expressing confidence in the new confederation’s potential to elevate the sport across the region.
Launched in 2023, World Boxing has been expanding its reach, recently approving membership for boxing powerhouses Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, alongside Guatemala and Laos, bringing its total membership to 55 nations.
The IBA, suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2019 due to governance issues, lost its IOC recognition last year. With the new confederation, World Boxing aims to foster a stronger and more independent framework for boxing in Asia while distancing itself from the troubled IBA.
