AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Background

The International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) ground-breaking new competition – AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) – will start on October 24 2014.

APB is an unprecedented, top-class Pro Boxing competition based on individual rankings and introduced by AIBA to showcase the best features of Pro Boxing. The pre-ranking phase, which will run through to January 31 2015, will identify authentic champions in each weight category. For the first time in history, boxing fans will witness a comprehensive, merit-based ranking system in Pro Boxing. In March 2015, the APB program will have its grand opening with the first cycle of competition between these ranked boxers.

At the same time, Rio 2016 will be the first Olympic Games allowing pro boxers to compete. The only way pro boxers can qualify for the Olympic Games in 2016 is the APB competition, which is fully supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The qualification path to the Games will be through competing in the APB program from its launch in 2014 until the APB Olympic Qualifying Events in 2015.

Based on the rankings decided by the seven members of the APB Boxers’ Selection and Ranking Committee, a shortlist of 120 boxers was whittled down to 80 boxers who will initially compete twice over six rounds of three minutes to establish world rankings in each of the ten weight categories. Then, based on these world rankings, each boxer will again fight at least three times over six rounds in the Matches for Champions, with those successful pitted against each other to challenge for the title of APB World Champion, contested over eight rounds.

SOME FACTS ABOUT APB

Explaining why the competition is unique in the boxing world:

• For the first time ever, boxers with 20 or fewer pro fights will be allowed to compete alongside top-class AOB boxers in a competition that also serves as a qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
•  APB is unique in that it allows a boxer to turn pro and remain under the patronage of their National Federation, and therefore the AIBA, throughout their career. This means that for the first time ever a boxer can turn professional and also preserve his eligibility to fulfil the honor of representing his country in future Olympic Games and Continental Championships.
• Boxers are signed to the APB competition on five year contracts with the AIBA Boxing Marketing Arm (BMA) to compete in APB. Each signed boxer will have a minimum of four guaranteed bouts at an agreed purse and will be able to maximize their training programs and fight schedule throughout the year with a regular match calendar. Additionally, National Member Federations will receive a percentage of the revenue earned by their boxers.
• The event will be showcased internationally and staged across the globe with China, Germany, Russia, Argentina, Italy, Azerbaijan, Austria, Algeria, Cuba and Kazakhstan confirmed as host nations and discussions taking place with other countries.
• The APB format will see an increase in the number of rounds, providing a chance for only the most resilient boxers to succeed and for them to adapt and adjust their skill set to comply with the demands of the competition.

RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFICATION FORMAT

There are a total of 20 quota places for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on offer to boxers who compete in the APB. The champion and challenger from each category in each of the APB World Champion Titles matches, i.e. the top two ranked boxers, will in turn achieve qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Following the enormous success of the WSB, AIBA Pro Boxing is seen as a beacon of continuity to provide a thoroughly beneficial environment for all stakeholders and participating factions.

The APB event will also provide a platform for a clear and transparent judging system to be practiced, with the employment of full-time Referees and Judges introduced to the competition.

With a clear competition structure based only on a boxer’s performance, a secure development path and with protection and financial stability guaranteed, APB clearly represents the most appealing proposal for boxers worldwide.

Q&A

Q: What is AIBA Pro Boxing?

A: AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) is a top-class individual pro-style boxing competition program, which offers boxers an innovative opportunity to turn pro. Instead of jumping into the unknown while embracing a pro career outside their National Federation and therefore losing support as well as Olympic eligibility, boxers will get the unprecedented opportunity to compete in a pro-style individual competition and will remain within AIBA National Member Federations.

Q: What are the advantages of AIBA Pro Boxing?

A: APB provides a merit based and comprehensive ranking system, with transparent and fair judging to identify the real champions in 10 weight categories.

APB boxers are protected and know from the very beginning what is going to happen to them and what is going to be their long-term career. They have a transparent development path, protection and financial stability as each boxer gets a guaranteed number of bouts at an agreed purse, equal career chances and a fair remuneration package

Boxers do not have to risk jumping into the unknown while embracing a pro career outside of the National Federation. Whilst competing at pro level and retaining their Olympic eligibility, boxers keep the insurance and pension support from their National Federations. APB competition, which is fully supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is aligned with the principles of Olympic movement and therefore cannot be compared to any current pro boxing program.

Q: Will is AIBA Pro Boxing needed. Don’t we have enough boxing competitions?

A: The sport of boxing is fragmented and its professional side is run with the sole purpose of providing advantages and wealth to selected few participants, for whom integrity is not a priority.

If the sport of boxing remains in its current situation, its decline in numerous markets, and as a mainstream media and entertainment product, will continue. AIBA will change the objectives and goals of the sport of boxing as a whole, and establish a new point of reference for the sport through APB.

AIBA will become the unifying force and take the leading position in many areas: amateur and professional boxing, world combat and fighting sports, the global sports marketing industry, and international sports community and the Olympic Movement.

Q: Will Boxers from AOB or WSB compete in APB?

A: APB is considered to be one step further World Series of Boxing (WSB) and even further away from the AIBA Open Boxing (AOB) competition format. There is no obligation for AOB or WSB boxers to join, but it offers a new pathway to those boxers who are thinking about a pro boxing career (as well as a selection of current pro boxers with limited conditions).

Q: What sporting benefit will boxers taking part in APB gain?

A: APB offers boxers a variety of choices and clear career path. They can join Olympic Boxing events, and also plan for the longer career in professional boxing under one boxing umbrella, AIBA.

Boxers will have a guaranteed number of bouts and can maximise their fight schedule from more than 4,000 bouts in national, continental and world level bouts through the year depending on personal levels.

Q: What financial benefits will boxers taking part in APB gain?

A: APB boxers will have a professional contract with a confirmed number of bouts.

AIBA’s Boxing Marketing Arm, BMA, will support boxers’ promotion and sponsor to broaden their fan base.

Boxers also can rely on their National Federations and BMA for delicate contract issues.

There are welfare benefits too such as keeping their insurance, pension support from the National Federations to be able to truly practice their chosen sport.

Q: What are the benefits of APB for National Federations?

A: National Federations will earn revenue from the participation of their boxers at Continental and World Ranking divisions.

AIBA will be investing directly into development programs, including the Academies, which will be invaluable tools for national federations in their work to promote the sport of boxing at grassroots level, through gym outreach, certification, fitness boxing, membership and the social media network.

Q: What are the benefits of APB for sports fans?

A: APB will deliver high quality and authentic boxing events. Fans will be able to enjoy regular boxing events in different countries.

Q: Will AIBA Pro Boxers still be eligible to compete in the Olympic Games?

A: APB is the first and only individual competition in the history of boxing allowing pro boxers to compete whilst retaining their Olympic eligibility. The Olympic qualification path will be through competing in the APB program from its launch in 2014 till the APB Olympic Qualifying Events in 2015.

The only possibility for pro boxers to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2016, which will be the first Olympic Games in the history allowing pro boxers to compete, is the APB competition which is fully supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and therefore cannot be compared to any current pro boxing program.

APB will bridge the gap between Open (Amateur) and Pro Boxing as it is proved to be the best way to bring the sport of boxing back to a mainstream position.

Q: When will Rio 2016 qualification begin?

A: The only possibility for pro boxers to be qualified for the Olympic Games in 2016 is the AIBA Pro Boxing competition which is fully supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and therefore cannot be compared to any current pro boxing program. The qualification path through the APB program will begin from its launch in 2014 till the APB Olympic Qualifying Events in 2015.

Q: Which are the conditions a boxer has to fulfil to take part in the Olympic Games 2016 if professionals are allowed?

A: AIBA has planned to qualify boxers for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through AIBA Open Boxing (AOB) competitions, World Series of Boxing (WSB) competitions and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) competitions.

APB allows current pro boxers to come back to the AIBA Family if they are under 40 and their record shows less than 20 pro bouts. However exceptional cases can be considered depending on the value of the boxer.

They will need to be member of an AIBA National Federation and join APB as soon as possible in order to compete in the new AIBA competition program from its beginning and therefore have a chance to participate in the APB Olympic Qualifying Events in 2015.

Q: Is it possible that a seasoned professional like Wladimir Klitschko could take part in the Olympic Games?

A: APB allows current pro boxers to come back to the AIBA Family if they are under 40 and their record shows less than 20 pro bouts. However exceptional cases can be considered depending on the value of the boxer.

As the boxer will just turn 40 a few weeks before these Games, he will still be eligible as Elite Men Boxer, based on AIBA's rules.

However, he will need to be member of an AIBA National Federation. Then he will have to join AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) as soon as possible in order to compete in the new AIBA competition program from its beginning and therefore have a chance to participate in the APB Olympic Qualifying Events in 2015.

Q: How many APB fights would Klitschko need to take part in a year?

A: Each APB boxer is guaranteed a minimum number of two bouts per cycle (one cycle = six months).

Q: Will women take part in APB?

A: For a range of technical and organisational reasons, women will not take part for the time being. Women boxers will be able to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and further Games via the relevant qualifying Competition which will be the 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Q: Regarding your plans for APB, what have the pro boxing associations such as the WBA, WBC and IBF said about it?

A: I am excited about the launch of APB. What I can say is that, under APB, for the first time boxers will be able to go professional within AIBA and still compete in the Olympic Games, which is good for boxers and good for the sport of boxing.

Q: Do you think APB can become so popular that the other world belts disappear?

A: APB will provide security and protection for boxers that they do not get currently in the professional world. I believe APB will be so successful and be a highly prestigious sports commodity around the world.

Q: Have any well-known boxers endorsed APB yet?

A: We have had a number of boxing legends contacting us to support the APB and will be making some announcements regarding this in due course.

Q: What sponsorship do you have for the APB to make it financially competitive with the more established pro boxing organisations?

A: AIBA’s marketing company BMA has now been set up to market all AIBA’s properties including AIBA Olympic Boxing, WSB and APB. BMA is in the process of negotiating with a wide range of companies and we are very pleased with their interest. APB will be launched next year with sound financial conditions.

Q: Have all AIBA member National Federations APB yet?

A: All AIBA Member National Federations have amended their statutes, articles, constitutions or bylaws and they will govern their own AOB and APB Programs in their countries.

In order to achieve this, each National Federation must rebrand itself (including changing its name and logo if necessary) and set up a new APB department within the National Federation to handle the day to day running of the APB Program at the national level.

With regard to those National Federations that already have an existing professional boxing program, they must take steps (to the satisfaction of AIBA) to ensure that such program is subject to the Rules and falls within the structure of APB and get completely transformed within the next five years to an APB Program only.