The World Amateur Boxing Championships, which officially began in Qatar yesterday, should be free from any refereeing controversy, the head of the tournament’s governing body told reporters.
International Boxing Association (AIBA) president Wu Ching-kuo, speaking in Doha on the eve of the 10-day competition, said it was now “impossible” for the results of bouts to be manipulated by unscrupulous officials.
Boxing has long been dogged by questionable refereeing decisions at major tournaments, but the Taiwanese said those days have gone, at least for the world championships.
“I can tell you it’s impossible for anybody to manipulate the competition now,” the reform-minded official said. “I ask people, how can you manipulate? You tell me.”
Wu added that a number of safeguards have been introduced to protect the sport’s integrity.
These include AIBA selecting, paying and grading the best referees, rather than officials being selected by national boxing federations, he said.
Wu added that referees are also not allowed to bring smartphones into the boxing arena, so they can have no outside contact.
“What happened in the past is that all the referees came with the national team. All the problems happened because of the system,” Wu said.
“If referees don’t perform well, they are demeaning the sport,” Wu said while speaking at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena, the 7,700-seat Doha venue being used for the 18th edition of the championships.
In total, 258 boxers from 74 countries are to fight across 10 weight classes in Qatar.
It is the first time all those competing have had to qualify for the world championships.
At stake is not only the chance to win a world title, but also qualification for the Rio Olympics next year.
About 23 qualifying spots for the Olympics are to be on offer in Doha.
Fighters from five continents are scheduled to take part, with Europe supplying the largest number, 94.
Hosts Qatar are to field a five-man team for the first boxing world championships to be held in the Middle East.
“They bring a lot of sporting events into the region, but never boxing, so it’s time for Qatar,” Wu told reporters.
The major draws are expected to come from the powerhouse boxing nations, including Cuba, who are sending a 10-man squad that includes former champion Lazaro Alvarez competing at 60kg.
Russia are sending seven fighters, and former Soviet republic Kazakhstan is to provide 2013 champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly at 75kg.
A former boxer of the year, Azerbaijan’s Mahammadrasul Majidov is to fight in the super heavyweight division (91kg).
Ireland’s team captain, Michael Conlan, will be looking to go better than his bronze at the London Olympics three years ago.
Wu said that more than 500 million people are expected to watch the event on TV or on social media such as YouTube, the highest audience ever for the event.
He added that the standard of the fighting is to be as high as ever before at the championships.
“The fitness of the boxers is surprising. They are very, very strong. They are very, very fit. This is real boxing, we are confident the event will attract many people,” Wu said.
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