The APB is looking to roll back decades of tradition by offering contracts that allow fighters to box professionally in the tournament but also retain their Olympic eligibility.

Alongside AIBA's World Series of Boxing (WSB), it will be the only competition in the world that allows boxers to fight professionally and compete at the Olympic Games.

APB will begin with exhibition bouts from next month before the official launch next January, with flyweight Selby set to be one the main stars in the event.

But despite the APB contract allowing Selby to compete at all major AIBA tournaments, including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, there is no provision for his release for the Commonwealth Games.

The news will be a major blow for Commonwealth Games Wales given that Selby was set to be one of their biggest gold medal hopes at Glasgow 2014.

The 24-year-old from Barry is ranked world number one in the AIBA rankings after earlier this month making history by become the first British boxer to defend a title at the European Boxing Championships in Minsk, Belarus.

It marks a hugely impressive year for Selby as he also won all six of WSB this season competing for UK-based franchise the British Lionhearts following a disappointing London 2012 Olympics where he narrowly missed out on a medal after losing his quarter-final bout 16-11 to Cuban star Robeisy Ramirez Carranza, who went on to win the gold medal.

But despite the likelihood of missing Glasgow 2014, Selby has made clear his desire to compete in the APB.

"My goal is to become APB world champion," said Selby.

"APB gives me the chance to box professionally, whilst remaining on Team GB and hopefully representing Britain in the next Olympic Games."


AIBA President and APB chairman C K Wu has also made clear the importance of the competition for his organisation's future strategy.

"We are convinced that it is the right time to provide something different for our top boxers," said AIBA President and APB chairman C K Wu.

"With APB, we will revolutionise 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."

Selby competed at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010 but missed out on a medal after he was beaten in the quarter-final by Pakistan's Haroon Khan, brother of former two-time world champion and Athens 2004 Olympic silver medallist Amir Kahn.

But Selby has dramatically improved since then and will be one of the favourites for gold at the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships in October when they take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

He will then begin competing in the APB in 2014, but it is currently unclear as to whether any other British fighters will compete alongside him in the tournament. 

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