Martin Rogan to lead British and Irish Boxing Authority Irish wing

Former heavyweight standout Martin Rogan has been appointed All Ireland Chairman of The British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA).

‘Big Rogie’ has also secured a place on the board of what a press released called a ‘burgeoning organisation’.

The BIBA is an offshoot of Gianluca Di Caro’s Malta Boxing Commission and has proven to be a controversial topic for some in recent years, with plenty choosing to ignore it or class it as ‘less’ than the EBU-affiliated BBBoC and BUI sanctioning bodies

However, BIBA fights go on a fighter’s official record, although not on popular website BoxRec.com.

Previously, the MBC ran three shows in Ulster in 2015.

Former Commonwealth champion and Prizefighter winner, Rogan, who last fought in 2014, was to top BIBA’s first Irish show back in 2017.

The Titanic Centre was booked and the heavyweight, along with Stevie Quinn, was to trade leather on an BIBA-sanctioned card.

The fight night never went ahead, like Rogan’s 2011 WBU title fight with Francesco Pineda. In the years that followed, Di Caro would set up the European wing of the WBU.

It appears now, once a semblance of normality has returned, that BIBA have Irish plans – and the Irish element will be fronted by the charismatic Belfast big man.

“It’s a true honour to have been appointed Chairman of All Ireland for the British and Irish Boxing Authority,” Rogan said.

“My role is multi-faceted and covers everything from rules and regulations, health and safety, licensing etc but personally I am really looking forward to actively working with BIBA’s fighters as well as encouraging more to join us.

“As such I look forward to positively representing both the fighters and BIBA as we drive forward doing greater and better things for boxing and giving fighters from all over Ireland a platform to shine on.”

Fighters who fight for the BIBA are not recognised by the BUI or BBBofC and thus can not fight for those governing bodies titles.