AIBA agreed to continue collaborative work with the WBA during the Executive Committee meeting ©AIBA

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee has given its backing to the co-operation with the World Boxing Association (WBA) amid continuing criticism over the inclusion of professional competitors at next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

WBA President Gilberto Jésus Mendoza stated during the recent Olympic qualifying tournament he would look to start working on “mutual projects” with AIBA to benefit the sport.

In Vargas, AIBA and the WBA agreed to work on developing future partnerships, which would cover all aspects of boxing from event organisation, boxer management and new championships, as well as training courses.

The AIBA Executive Committee supported the collaboration during a meeting in Tashkent, which took place on Friday (July 15) and yesterday.

It follows a historic ruling from AIBA, passed at the body’s Congress last month, which granted professionals the opportunity to participate at the Olympics for the first time.

Former International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand and Cameroon’s Hassan N’Dam were the first two professionals to clinch places at the Games, with Italy’s Carmine Tommasone then becoming the third to qualify.

A total of 79 boxers competed at the final Olympic qualifying event, with four having come from non-AIBA organisations.

The AIBA Executive Committee met in Tashkent to discuss a number of agenda items ©AIBA
The AIBA Executive Committee met in Tashkent to discuss a number of agenda items ©AIBA

The co-operation with the WBA came despite notable opposition to professionals being able to compete at the Olympics, with the World Boxing Council (WBC) warning that its fighters who are ranked in the top 15 of its standings that they face a two-year ban if they take part at Rio 2016.

“First of all, I would like to thank the Uzbekistan Boxing Federation for hosting this important gathering of the AIBA Executive Committee,” said AIBA President Ching-Kuo Wu.

“It has been a historic 12 months for our organisation, during which we have witnessed the continued growth of all AIBA boxing competitions, the wide adoption of the HeadsUp charter and the important changes to the AIBA statute that now allows every pro-boxer the opportunity to represent their country at the Olympic Games. 

“The strong support of the Executive Committee members is vital to the development of our sport and they have all agreed with the recent discussions with WBA.”

The Executive Committee decided to approve the appointment of Sherzod Tashmatov, Uzbek National Boxing Federation vice-president, as one of the Asian Confederation representatives on the ruling body.

AIBA are also expecting the Rio 2016 to be the “strongest” exhibition of their sport on the Olympic stage, with 36 women and 250 men expected to compete.