AmateurHeadline News

Kazakh legend announces AIBA presidency candidacy – bids to save boxing from Olympic expulsion


Serik Konakbayev, the current Vice-President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and President of the Asian Boxing Federation, has this week confirmed that he will run for the Presidency of AIBA.
 
A new President will be elected at an AIBA Congress in early November in Moscow. 151 of the world’s 203 National Federations, including Ireland, are eligible to vote in the Russian capital.

Kazakhstan-born Konakbayev, an Olympic and World medallist and two time European Elite champion boxing for the former USSR, said he has dedicated his entire conscious life to boxing and has asked for the support of the global boxing fraternity.

Part of Konakbayev’s mission statement says he is running “for the boxers and for the future of Olympic boxing.

The Kazakh, an Olympic finalists and World and European medallist boxing for the former USSR, has dedicated his life to amateur boxing.

Gafur Rakhimov, the current Interim President of AIBA, is expected to run for the Presidency in Moscow.

A Uzbek national, Rakhimov has been linked to organised crime, an allegation he denies.

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, clearly indicated earlier this year that if Rakhimov is elected AIBA President that boxing’s status as an Olympic sport will be under threat.

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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