Please see the attached correspondence from the International Boxing Association (IBA), which sets out the IBA rules, regulation for competing with IBA member federations, and all federations which are not affiliated to IBA. This is set out in the IBA’s 20230608 Circular Letter. The Irish Athletic Boxing Association is bound, constitutionally, to adhere to IBA rules in all matters.

Permission is required by all clubs/teams/members prior to booking, as per the constitution and in line with last weekend’s vote

All clubs, county boards and provincial units require permission to travel, and/or permission to host.

Federations not affiliated to IBA include: England Boxing, GB Boxing, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, USA, Canada and, additionally, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and Honduras. 

 IABA has sought additional clarification on this matter, but has yet to receive a response.

 With regard to suspended federations, IBA requires that:

 “According to Article 13.4 of the IBA Constitution, the rights accorded to a National Federation by its article 10.1 shall  lapse  during  any period  in  which  the  National  Federation  stands  suspended  by a

decision. Considering  the  above, suspended  National  Federation cannot  host  the  Competitions  of International level, and therefore, National Federations, its Boxers and Officials must refrain from

participation in the Competitions organized by suspended National Federation. We  emphasise  that  National  Federations  are  responsible  to  monitor  their  affiliated  members, any member, individual, boxer, official, any other as well as to clubs belonging to or connected with the National Federation”

Additionally, IBA’s constitution (attached) requires that:

1. Any International Tournament may be organised, held, or supported  by  a confederation  or  a  National  Federation  subject  to  the  IBA prior approval.  A request for such approval  must  be  sent  in  writing  by the relevant legal representative   of   the Confederation   or   National   Federation   to   the   IBA Competition Committee trough the IBA Head Office (email: info@iba.sport) at least three (3) months in advance, whereas the IBA Competition Committee will decide on  a  form  of  such  request  and  a  list  of  necessary  documents  to  be provided by the relevant Confederation or National Federation

1. Should the IBA Competition Committee not reply within three (3) weeks of the date of filing of such  request,  the  latter  will  be  deemed  rejected.  The  decision  of  the  IBA Competition Committee is final and binding and not subject to appeal.

1. National Federation, their teams, individual Boxers or the Competition Official are forbidden to participate  in an  International Tournament which  is  not approved in advance by IBA as per

the mechanism of the previous Rule 1.6.3.

According to Article 13.4 of the IBA Constitution, the rights accorded to a National Federation by its article 10.1 shall  during  any period  in  which  the  National  Federation  stands  suspended  by a

decision.

Teams Travelling Abroad:

All permissions to travel submitted by clubs, county boards and provincial units must now be submitted to IBA. All teams intending to travel should be aware that granting of permission by IBA is not guaranteed, dependent upon that team’s destination. Teams should not make travel, competition or accommodation arrangements until they are in receipt of that permission.

IABA, on receipt of permission to travel in keeping with the timeline outlined by IBA, will seek that permission on the club, county board or provincial unit’s behalf. If no reply is received from the IBA within 3 weeks, as stated in the IBA constitution, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association has no choice but to consider that permission rejected.

Example –

IABA club, No Name Boxing Club, wants to send a team to a tournament in England. The club must request permission to travel from Central Council at least 14 weeks in advance of their travel date. No Name Boxing Club must include the name of the tournament, the tournament invitation, the federation name, and the usual information about its travelling team. Central Council must then submit the request for permission to travel to IBA, and this must be received 12 weeks before intended travel. IBA will take either grant permission to No Name Boxing Club, and this will be communicated to the club through Central Council, or it will decline permission. IBA has stated that a lack of response 3 weeks after receiving the request is a denial of permission to travel. No Name Boxing Club should not make any travel arrangements until it has received permission. IBA has stated that it will require IABA to sanction No Name Boxing Club if it travels to this tournament without permission. IABA does not want to sanction No Name Boxing Club for competing without IBA permission, but will have to do so, according to IBA rules which govern IABA’s the IABA constitution.  

Teams Travelling to Ireland:

If a club, squad or team from any other federation wishes to travel to compete in Ireland, they should not travel to that event without obtaining permission from the IBA through their home federation. It is the responsibility of event organisers to ensure that the visiting club, squad or team is in possession of IBA permission, and permission from their home federation.

Example –

No Name Boxing Club hosts an international tournament every year and, usually, teams travel from many countries to compete. Now, No Name Boxing Club will have to make sure that every team travelling from abroad to compete has permission from their home federation AND from IBA. If a team does not have IBA permission, and provide that permission in good time to No Name Boxing Club, that team must not compete in No Name Boxing Club’s tournament. If the team does compete, . IBA has stated that it will require IABA to sanction No Name Boxing Club if it allows clubs without IBA permission t compete in the tournament. IABA does not want to sanction No Name Boxing Club for allowing competition without IBA permission, but will have to do so, according to IBA rules, which govern IABA’s constitution.

Any clubs, county boards or provincial units with IABA permission in hand, but which require clarity on future travel plans and their compliance with IBA regulations should contact sport@iba.sport.

IABA is aware of the development and competition hardship adhering to these IBA rules and regulations may cause to any team considering contesting abroad, or hosting a team here. The requirement for permission at IBA level is not negotiable from an IBA standpoint and, in keeping with the IABA constitution, must be upheld.

IBA correspondence

IBA technical and competition rules

IBA constitution

IABA Constitution

Claremorris Boxing Club has become one of the first boxing clubs in Ireland to tap in to sustainable energy sources.

The club has financed the installation of solar panels on the clubhouse roof, and battery storage, following an allocation under the Sports Capital and Equipment Grant. Claremorris BC says “This will make the club financially good cutting down costs in electricity and heating and selling back any usage that’s not used to the grid.”

The club’s award under the grant has also enabled the installation of a new gym floor, 19 new bags and other equipment for it’s members.

All members of the 2023 Youth Squad and 2023 Senior Cadets Squad are advised of training arrangements for this weekend.

Senior Cadets:

Training will take place on Saturday, September 2nd, from 11am, at Drimnagh Boxing Club, Keeper Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 12 – D12 T997.

Youths

Training will take place on Saturday, September 2nd, from 12.30pm, at Drimnagh Boxing Club, Keeper Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 12 – D12 T997.

Members of both squads are advised to bring all personal equipment necessary for their training with them. Boxers who cannot attend training are asked to contact the Coaching Commission through their clubs.

The IABA’s High-Performance Unit has begun a Super Camp with Team Ukraine at Sport Institute, Ireland.

This is the first time in 7 years that the HPU has hosted a camp of this scale and scope. 39 High Performance athletes will participate, in three teams, alongside Ukraine’s national Olympic weight team. This is the largest cohort of Irish Elite athletes to attend a home High-Performance training camp on the Sport Ireland campus.

The camp is multi-faceted and will focus on boxer performance, boxer development, staff development, and logistics. All athletes will receive specialist S&C, physiology, physiotherapy, nutrition and medical support throughout the camp.

This is a key preparation event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This camp is possible through significant financial support from Sport Ireland, services support from Sport Institute Ireland, and additional supports from the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The camp runs until September 11th.

The teams are:

A majority of Irish boxing clubs attending today’s EGM voted in favour of constitutional change, which would have allowed the Irish Athletic Boxing Association to join any international federation the members voted for. The special resolution cannot, however, be enacted.

71% of delegates voted in favour, and 29% against. As the special resolution proposed change to our Constitution, it required 75% to pass. That this was not achieved today is less important that the conversations at that took place at our four EGM Info Meetings attended by 111 clubs, the questions posed by our members and shared with all clubs, here, and the almost 3 hours of exchange of views at the home of Irish boxing today.

Attendee clubs: 131

Ballots cast: 122

Spoiled ballots: 4

Total Poll: 118

Votes in favour: 84

Votes against: 34

Result: special resolution not passed

 As the special resolution did not pass, the motion, “Does your club wish IABA to remain a member of the International Boxing Association (IBA) AND affiliate to World Boxing?” did not proceed, as it couldn’t be acted upon without the constitutional amendment proposed in the special resolution.

The vote was very tight, just 4% in the difference, but the clubs have spoken. It is very important to note that the majority of clubs here today wanted to change our constitution to allow us flexibility and choice, the bar for passing this special resolution is very high – 75%. It means that IABA remains constitutionally tied to IBA. The Board of Directors respects the outcome of this vote. We understand that many clubs made difficult decisions – and every club put their boxers at the centre of their decision-making. We held meetings in every province before this EGM and what we’ve learned is that we, as a community, need to communicate better with one another. We’ll consult with members on what that looks like, and create a path forward, together, from there.”

Chair of the IABA Board of Directors, Niall O’Carroll

Notes:

Questions posed by members, together with IABA responses are available here

A full list of clubs which attended the EGM Info Meetings is available here

The text of the special resolution is here

The text of the motion is here: (PDF attachment/website link)