By Emily Goddard

José Sulaimán has launched a scathing attack on AIBA at a critical time for C K Wus IOC Presidential campaignSeptember 5 - World Boxing Council (WBC) President José Sulaimán has reiterated his threat of legal action against the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and reaffirmed his "total" opposition to the inclusion of professional athletes in the Olympics.

Claiming that the intentions of "AIBA are a danger to amateur boxers' health", this latest attack comes at a critical time for AIBA President C K Wu's International Olympic Committee (IOC) Presidential campaign, with the election due to take next Tuesday (September 10) in Buenos Aires.

And to make what could be viewed as a bad situation worse, the WBC says it has "respectfully forwarded [its stance] to all candidates for President of the International Olympic Committee".

"AIBA's intention of putting amateurs against professionals is dangerous, because in about 130 countries there is no professional boxing, or very little," Sulaimán said.

"It is also a clear and transparent act of monopoly and competition as well as restrictive practice, as AIBA limits participation in Olympic Games only to their professional fighters who has signed exclusively with them."

As well as pouring cold water on AIBA's World Series of Boxing (WSB) - claiming it "deceives" boxers participating in the fights - the Mexican claims he is offering AIBA the chance to communicate with him before launching legal proceedings.

"The World Boxing Council offers to open a positive dialogue with AIBA in amateur boxing's benefit, which at this time is threatened," said Sulaimán.

"Yet it's the very seed and the base of boxing in general.

"If AIBA accepts no dialogue the World Boxing Council will proceed with a lawsuit that will continue until the last instances, no matter what the cost.

"Because it's in our mind and heart to defend amateur boxing which is home to the source of the world boxing."

C K Wu has strongly defended plans to allow professional boxers to fight at the OlympicsC K Wu has strongly defended plans to allow professional boxers to fight at the Olympics


Earlier this year, Sulaimán complained to current IOC President Jacques Rogge that AIBA was looking to dominate all forms of boxing, but his criticism was essentially dismissed by the Olympic governing body, which responded by saying that the issues raised "should be dealt directly with AIBA and not with the IOC".

Wu went on to strongly defend his plans to allow professional boxers to compete at the Olympics, starting at Rio 2016, saying he is strongly committed to bringing the sport "to another level", while creating a "safe career plan" for athletes.

Boxing and wrestling are the only sports where professional athletes are not allowed to compete at the Olympic Games.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2013: AIBA strongly defends decision to let professional boxers compete in Olympics
June 2013: Monopolies are not good for anybody, insists pro boxing promoter Warren in AIBA dig
May 2013: Alan Hubbard - Should Wu leave the real professionals to concentrate on their business?
May 2013: WBC threatens IOC and AIBA with legal action
April 2013: Exclusive - IOC dismisses WBC complaint over AIBA