(SEPT 7) We have a very
important issue that not only affects the sport of women’s
boxing at this time, but it directly affects the elite amateur
female boxers. WBAN believes that the issue is
crucial in the development of the sport.
In the boxing segment at the Olympics they currently have 286
boxing slots of which there were only 36 female boxers at London 2012 in
three weight divisions whereas there were 250 male boxers
in ten weight classes. Is that
Equality?
On July 25, 2013, we were notified that a decision had been made
by the International Olympic Committee [I.O.C], that in the next
Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro there will STILL be only
three weight classes for female boxers with 36 women.
You may ask yourself….how does the outcome of increasing
WEIGHT CLASSES in the Olympics affect me if I am a professional
boxer or may be doing other things in the sport, i.e. training,
managing, promoting, matchmaking, etc.?
You may want to consider the following:
It could mean that women’s boxing as a whole, the “big picture”
so to speak, would benefit both pro and amateurs. Amateurs would
have a better chance of competing in the Olympics (subject to
qualifying), and the Pros would benefit because inevitably once
the qualification for Olympics is over and only a few for each
weight category will be qualify ie: one per weight per country –
that in turn will means many amateurs quit the amateur sport and
take their chances in the pros thus making the pros better, with
the sport having more quality fights.
This also creates a
substantial larger pool of female boxers for being featured on
boxing cards,
trainers/managers having more female boxers to work with;
promoters and matchmakers having a larger pool of qualified
females to be featured on their cards.
Most importantly though....it means “Equality” in the sport:
Females being treated equality and without discrimination, and
in accordance with the Olympic Charter.
WBAN petitioned the I.O.C. to encourage them to reconsider their
decision in keeping the women’s division in boxing at the next
Olympics at three weight classes. We would like to ask that each
and every one of you take a few moments to support this cause
for the betterment of women’s boxing.
