Irish Boxing has voted at an EGM over the weekend to allow constitutional reform and international federation dual membership.

It means that an application can now be lodged to join World Boxing, which has been chosen by the IOC to organise boxing at the Los Angeles Games.

116 out of 117 clubs today voted in favour of the removal of reference to IBA/AIBA from the Irish Athletic Boxing Association’s constitution, which then enabled a vote on dual membership with IBA and World Boxing. This second vote passed by the same margin – 116 in favour, one against.

“Irish Boxing has spoken today and has chosen to be able to plot its own course,” said IABA Chair Niall O’Driscoll.

“The removal of reference to IBA/AIBA in our constitution isn’t about any one international federation; it’s about clubs giving themselves the ability to choose.”

“They’ve exercised that right for the first time today, voting to also affiliate with World Boxing. When clubs last voted on this in August 2023, there was concern about the international competition opportunities for underage boxers – that’s since been firmly addressed, with a full World Boxing calendar at confederation and global levels, across all age groups.”

It is not yet known whether World Boxing or the IBA will allow for dual membership but with progress being made on the latter’s structures, and with the prize of Olympic participation, it is likely that should only one be allowed, it would be that of World Boxing.

“The Olympics is the dream of every kid who walks in to any boxing club – but getting there needs high level international competition,” added O’Driscoll.

“For the last few years, our clubs have been constrained in the federations that they can work with at a grassroots level on a club-to-club basis. Many of those federations were long-standing partners. Those constraints have now been lifted, and our clubs, as well as our national teams, can travel to any federation in the world to train and compete. It’s a huge day for clubs, and for our federation.”

Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, having won 19 of Team Ireland’s 42 medals, including Kellie Harrington’s unprecedented defence of her Tokyo 2020 gold at Paris 2024.

 

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

IRISH BOXING’S OLYMPIC CHOICE BECOMING URGENT

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Boxing in Ireland without an Olympic programme would be hard to imagine, but the vote at the weekend reduces that possibility which had been very real.  

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