Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games have just been dealt another body blow by an organisation that should be backing a sporting event which actually showcases its athletes. We are of course talking about the International Boxing Association (AIBA); The word Amateur was dropped last year by the President CK Wu.
The Glasgow Games are already without Britain’s gold girls from the London Olympics Heptahlete Jessica Ennis – or Ennis-Hill as she is now – after she announced that she is pregnant. Double medal winners sprinter Usain Bolt and long distance runner Mo Farah are yet to commit.
Mr Wu has now decided that two of Britain’s outstanding amateur boxers and possible gold medal winners, Fred Evans and Andrew Selby, both from Wales cannot represent their country at the Games.
Flyweight Selby who has won World silver and bronze medals as well as double European Championships to make him Britain’s most medalled boxer and Evans the Olympic Welterweight silver medallist have both been signed for AIBA’s APB Tournament which happens to clash with the Commonwealth Games.
AIBA have stated that there is no provision in their contracts for the boxers to be released for the Games. In their view the boxers, Wales and the Games organisers will have to take it on the chin, but some believe the bell has not sounded on this one just yet.
CK Wu should let them fight. His tournament is an annual event and this comes around every four years and a Commonwealth Gold medallist should have more appeal in his tournament.
Boxing need to stay amateur.