The World of Boxing Have United for Immediate Peace
The five boxing governing organisations in the world join together to express their position with regards to the tragic war, which is taking place as Russia has invaded Ukraine.
The IBF released this statement on February 28 in condemnation of Putin's attack on Ukraine: "Just as the world claims for cease of fire, our organisations have decided to not sanction any boxing championships in Russia. Just as this war has put a stop to boxing in Ukraine, our organisations will not sanction fights in Russia until further assessment of the situation. May God bless everyone and bring peace to our world."
The statement was signed by: Daryl Peoples, IBF President; Mauricio Sulaimán, WBC President; Francisco Valcarcel, WBO President; and Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, WBA President
IBO President Ed Levine added: "With the knowledge that the IBO must demonstrate our commitment to help end this horrible war, the IBO Board of Directors has decided that the IBO will not sanction any IBO fights in Russia until this conflict is acceptably and peacefully resolved."
The World Boxing Council had also released their own statement earlier in the week: "With heavy hearts, the World Boxing Council (WBC) with the world witnesses the terrible outbreak of war, with an attack by Russian forces against the country of Ukraine. We witness this death and destruction with horror.
In the interest of peace, the WBC, as a World’s governing body in our sport, has voted in accordance with our history and conscience to remove the sanction of any and all WBC boxing in Russia until and unless this conflict is resolved in an agreeable manner. The WBC has been in open discussions with other sanctioning organizations and all members of the boxing industry to work towards peace.
We condemn this war in the strongest terms, demand peace in the region, and after careful deliberation are committed to take this action to back up our words as well.
Decades ago, the WBC was the first world sport organization to withdraw recognition of sports in apartheid South Africa, and we must keep our commitment to human rights for all people and reject any act of discrimination and abuse of power.
Demonstrating that commitment to peace and human rights, the WBC Board of Governors has agreed – as we did with apartheid South Africa – that the WBC will not recognize or sanction any boxing activities within Russia until further notice, and the reestablishment of peace and the preservation of human rights in Ukraine.
We do not seek to punish the Russian people, with whom we have and will always maintain the closest of friendship and brotherhood in unity for peace. We extend our feelings to the boxing Community of Russia, boxers, trainers, promoters and ring officials, they are not political, but are the great supporters of our sport within Russia and beyond. We join in unity for our sport and for each other to establish continuous peace activations and campaigns.
We cannot stand by and see so many suffer. The WBC stands with and prays for the people of Ukraine, as well as the ordinary people of Russia, in looking forward to an immediate reconciliation, and an end to this war.
May God give us the guidance we need to return peace and unity for all people."
Update
An update from today, March 1st, from the World Boxing Council: "The WBC, WBO and IBF join the sports world in an urgent plea to cease fire and end the war in Ukraine, with the invasion from Russia.
Effective today, our organizations will not certify any championship fights involving boxers from Russia and Belarus. We will constantly monitor ongoing developments, hoping this situation is resolved soon, to reestablish normal life and activity.
The boxing world is united for peace, the sports world is united for peace and reject any form of war. Innocent lives are being lost and soldiers are dying from Ukraine and Russia."
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