Amateur Chief wants to run PRO boxing with the APB!

ksan13y ago

They have now fighters like Usyk, Lomachenko, Sapiyev (Val Barker winner this time), Russo, Valentino, Medzhidov, Pulev, etc. You could see the ABP as some sort of UFC, but with the chance to get to the Olympics and represent your country, and a yearly salary from the ABP and from their National Boxing Federations and some bonus instead of being paid per fight like the UFC does. http://www.ocasia.org/Images-OCA/AIBA-President-Wu-Ching-Kuo-giving-an-interview-fo_967738007583.jpg They have signed lots of fighters countries from countries like Azerbaijan, Kazaks, Italians, all of the Ukraine medallists, etc, etc. And they are trying to convince the Cuban Boxing Federation and the Goverment of Cuba, to let their fighters fight at the ABP, and till now, they haven't received a "no". Let's remember they had Chinese fighters at the World Series of Boxing. good article about that http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Sports/Olympics/2012/Jul-31/182854-amateur-chief-wants-to-run-pro-boxing.ashx#axzz23D8ZEinZ And in this article you can understand the mindset of the fighters that have now sign with the ABP. Italian superstars take APB to another level http://aiba.org/ozImgHandler.axd?img=/images/site1/news/News/Russo_Valentino_Web_AIBA.jpg&h=204&w=330&mode=kw Charismatic Lightweight (60kg) Domenico Valentino and Heavyweight (91kg) Clemente Russo have today signed five year contracts with AIBA Professional Boxing (APB), further underlining the popularity of the new programme amongst the world's top boxers. Valentino said: "I was never convinced to turn pro until I was offered this opportunity by APB. I feel safer staying under the same governance and within my National Federation. I know how many fights I will have per year and how much I will get from them. There is no uncertainty, all is guaranteed. I can't wait for APB to start." Clemente Russo- "Turning pro in boxing is never easy to decide, especially when you have had a successful Olympic boxing career", declared Russo. "I am thrilled with the career I have had so far, I know what pro-style boxing is about thanks to two seasons in World Series of Boxing, and I now feel ready and happy to join APB, knowing that I will never be left aside." http://aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/newsId/4937/news.aspx And many of the fighters that fought at World Series of Boxing, like Terrel Gausha, Nevin, Russo and many others have now Pro Records thanks to the WSB and Fightfax the "The record keeping standard for boxing" that Promotional Companies use. http://www.maxboxing.com/news/sub-lead/did-aiba-lie-to-the-world-series-of-boxing-fighters

Comments (15)

SNPER

Maybe Tyson Fury should join up since he's disillusioned with the current system.

12y ago

chav

Like I said in the lomechenko thread, blame these fighters who are scared to turn pro. If this is the route they choose to go then they simply don't think they have wat it takes to be a real pro. Exactly. If these guys arent prepared to gamble now and believe in themselves, then what more do we need and want to see.

13y ago

vacon04

Some of these guys are never going to be top pros, and will never earn huge amounts of money, so they maybe are making the right decision by taking this offer. Pro boxing has absolutely no guarantees, sometimes you just get injured and nobody is going to pay you a regular salary and you're going to have to work at something else other than boxing on the meantime. This "league" could help some guys to earn a regular salary even while injured or even if they're not the best boxers out there.

13y ago

jtcs1981

Yea but who watches minor league baseball? Not to mention look at the duration of these contracts. In minor league baseball u can take a contract with a pro team whenever u want to. Not with this AIBA league. If you aint good, you aint good. I know a brawler with no good am background will test the young prospect. Look at Beranza, he has been exposing prospects with his toughness. However, the league is assuring that these no hopers with great am background can make a living. Also, this new league can contract a lot of those tough "cab drivers" who will develop those tough skill they need. For the future stars of the sport, I dont see a problem. I see the opportunity for some guys to make a living out of the sport.

13y ago

Kagami_Taiga

Who knows in America, but at least from reading some articles they are working to get TV deals in other countries. And just imagine if Promotional Companies can come and take whatever they want, the ABP will fold, that's why those contracts, the majority of them will be for 3 years. Just imagine Lomachenko in those 3 years, he will fight the best in the amateur world in a Pro setting, instead of fighting a couple of no hopers in his first year with another Promotional company. He could try to fight in Rio, and after that leave the ABP and go straight for a Title shot. I don't think u realize how different the pros is from the ams. those no hopers hed be fighting would be getting him legit experience and they would be exposing him to what it truly means to be a pro. fighting other semi pros will not get him that experience.

13y ago

croz

Anyone else noticing the amount of different leagues popping up trying to merge amateur and pro boxing?

13y ago

ksan

Yea but who watches minor league baseball? Not to mention look at the duration of these contracts. In minor league baseball u can take a contract with a pro team whenever u want to. Not with this AIBA league. Who knows in America, but at least from reading some articles they are working to get TV deals in other countries. And just imagine if Promotional Companies can come and take whatever they want, the ABP will fold, that's why those contracts, the majority of them will be for 3 years. Just imagine Lomachenko in those 3 years, he will fight the best in the amateur world in a Pro setting, instead of fighting a couple of no hopers in his first year with another Promotional company. He could try to fight in Rio, and after that leave the ABP and go straight for a Title shot.

13y ago

Kagami_Taiga

There is nothing wrong with this. They are trying to make a career out of the sport they practice. Compare to what we have, with no guarantee in salary and benefits, it is a good move for some boxers. Eventually making big money and becoming stars around the world will lure them into signing with other promotional companies if they are successful. I see it like a farm system, similar to baseball. Not everyone make it to the major, but plenty of them make a living in triple A. Yea but who watches minor league baseball? Not to mention look at the duration of these contracts. In minor league baseball u can take a contract with a pro team whenever u want to. Not with this AIBA league.

13y ago

jtcs1981

13y ago

sicko

it Might work if Cuban fighters get involved

13y ago

PBP

13y ago

Kagami_Taiga

Like I said in the lomechenko thread, blame these fighters who are scared to turn pro. If this is the route they choose to go then they simply don't think they have wat it takes to be a real pro.

13y ago

ksan

"Our interest is to protect the interest of the boxers. We will offer them three year contracts and purse money so they can live and also the possibility of another Olympic Games. "If you look at the professional side of the sport, those that sign for professional promoters, how many of them succeed? Most of them fail then they get dropped and haven't got the option of returning to the amateur ranks so their boxing career is over. "What a waste, what a pity." Wu Ching-Kuo http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Sports/Olympics/2012/Jul-31/182854-amateur-chief-wants-to-run-pro-boxing.ashx#axzz23D8ZEinZ

13y ago

ksan

this is bad. So all these guys signed 3 to 5 year contracts? Russo signed a 5 year contract, I believe many of them will have 3 to 5 years contracts, because they will be waiting to fight at the Olympics of Rio. The good thing about this, is watching fighters from China and maybe Cuba there. And from Countries that don't have a strong culture of Pro Boxing, but have a very powerful amateur scene. And they could also market it in Japan and Korea with their respective medallists. Just imagine the crowd the Japanese Middleweight Gold Medallist could attract there. http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Y8MOvdsMe5NmyCljGtoMAg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zODc7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2012-08-10T145431Z_419677889_TB3E88A15ER39_RTRMADP_3_OLY-BOXI-BXM75K-BXM075202.JPG

13y ago

PBP

Not a good look at all

13y ago