Perched in his wheelchair at the head of a Caribbean hotel table, Anwar Chowdhry had no doubt his 20-year reign as amateur boxing's top official would continue past the weekend.
The 84-year-old president of the International Boxing Association is facing what could be the toughest, and possibly last, election of his career.
Taiwanese challenger Wu Ching-kuo said he has locked up essential support from delegates angry over allegations of corruption and worried about the sport's future.
PHOTO: AP
But Chowdhry said he would be re-elected yesterday because Wu was unqualified for the job.
"I have to do it because there is no choice," Chowdhry said. "(Wu) doesn't know anything about boxing."
The sport's long-time Pakistani leader entered this week's quadrennial Congress dogged by allegations that he hid personal expenses and stalled reforms demanded by the International Olympic Committee. The IOC froze more than US$9 million set aside for the organization last year to force changes in judge selection.
Wu and others say they're concerned the sport could be kicked out of the Olympics, concerns that Chowdhry called "stupid."
The 60-year-old Wu was equally confident of a victory yesterday, saying he had won the support of delegations including the US and China, which despite its rivalry with Wu's native Taiwan has worked with him on plans for the 2008 Olympic Games.
An architect and former basketball player in Taiwan, Wu is an IOC member who previously served as an committee chairman. He has proposed reforms such as increased marketing, new television contracts and the installation of scoreboards to allow fans to see how judges score fights in real time.
Wu said the changes, especially the television contracts and scoreboards, are necessary to preserve the sport. And to get those in place, he said, Chowdhry must be defeated.
"Currently it's a one-man decision," Wu told AP. "If we can make these changes, I can guarantee boxing will be safe."
Boxing has been one of the main sports of the modern Olympics, which began in 1896, but the officiating has caused an uproar several times. A glaring example came at the 1988 Seoul Games when Roy Jones was denied the gold medal despite dominating Park Si-hun of South Korea in the final.
Delegates were also scheduled to consider the IOC's rule changes for judge selection.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early on Tuesday struck out 11 in five shutout innings to match a franchise record during his MLB debut against the Oakland Athletics. “Pretty sick performance,” teammate Romy Gonzalez said. “It was fun to watch.” The only other Red Sox starter to rack up 11 strikeouts in his first career game was Don Aase versus the Milwaukee Brewers on July 26, 1977. “It was amazing, just to go out there and have that first opportunity,” Early said after getting the win in a 6-0 victory. “A long day of travel yesterday and just getting to the field, seeing
Mikel Merino on Sunday scored a hat-trick as a majestic Spain thumped Turkey 6-0 away in World Cup qualifying, while a brilliant Florian Wirtz free-kick helped Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 to get their bid up and running. European champions Spain were in unstoppable form in the central Turkish city of Konya, claiming their second biggest-ever away win in World Cup qualifying as Arsenal midfielder Merino scored his first professional hat-trick. Barcelona playmaker Pedri Gonzalez opened the scoring inside six minutes and later completed the scoring, with Ferran Torres netting the visitors’ other goal. The quality of Merino’s strikes was remarkable, with his
ELEVEN STRIKEOUTS: Blake Snell allowed two singles and two walks against the Rockies as he ended a personal three-game skid with his first win since Aug. 16 Blake Snell on Wednesday struck out a season-high 11 in six innings, while Mookie Betts hit a grand slam in the eighth as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-0 for their fourth straight win. Helped by their third series sweep of the Rockies this MLB season, the Dodgers increased their National League West lead to three games over the San Diego Padres, who lost 2-1 at home to the Cincinnati Reds. Betts went four for five with five RBIs, capped by his seventh career slam on a 3-0 pitch from reliever Anthony Molina to make it 8-0. Andy Pages and
SWEDEN BEATEN: Goals in the first half by Elvis Rexhbecaj and Vedat Muriqi were enough to give Kosovo their second-ever win in World Cup qualifying Sandro Tonali’s last-gasp winner on Monday edged Italy to a 5-4 victory over Israel in FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying, while Kosovo beat Sweden despite Alexander Isak making his first appearance of the season. After collapsing from leading 4-2 in the final two minutes to drawing 4-4, Tonali’s 91st-minute strike in the Hungarian city of Debrecen sent Italy above Israel and into the playoff spot in Group I. New coach Gennaro Gattuso’s side trail leaders Norway by three points and still have a chance of taking first place and the group’s sole direct qualifying spot as they seek to avoid missing out
RSS