(ATR) The two candidates for the presidency of the Olympic boxing federation are lobbying hard in Moscow in a bid to secure the leadership post.
About 150 of AIBA’s 203 member federations gather for the landmark congress on Friday. The election of C.K. Wu’s successor could help determine whether boxing stays on the Olympic program.
The IOC has repeatedly warned that it has concerns about the governance of the federation.
First Contested Presidential Election SInce 2006
Gafur Rakhimov, the Uzbek-born Russian businessman, interim boxing chief since January, is on a U.S. Treasury Department list for alleged connections to Russian transnational criminal organizations. He is described as "one of the leaders of Uzbek organized crime".
Rakhimov denies the allegations which he says stem from political battles in Uzbekistan.
The IOC threatens to expel boxing from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic program if AIBA can’t resolve its leadership and poor governance issues, a pointed reference to Rakhimov securing the presidency.
In Rakhimov’s path to power is Asian Boxing Confederation chief Serik Konakbayev from Kazakhstan, cleared only three days ago by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge the interim AIBA leader.
In recent weeks, ATR has been told of a groundswell of support for Rakhimov, with key figures on AIBA’s executive committee championing his bid in order to protect their positions. He is believed to also have solid backing coming from national federations.
But the tide may be turning.
Repeated warnings from the IOC about boxing being axed from Tokyo 2020 have led some national federations to question Rakhimov’s leadership credentials. And with a new candidate emerging in AIBA vice president Konakbayev, a late shift in support could be on the cards.
Both candidates have issued manifestos promising to clean-up AIBA’s governance crisis and tackle the federation’s financial black hole caused by years of mismanagement.
The election is the first contested vote for the AIBA president since 2006. In that vote, IOC member C.K. Wu ousted entrenched incumbent Anwar Choudry, who's leadership of the federation was an IOC worry at that time. Wu served until 2017 when he resigned, the federation wracked by financial, judging and governance issues.
Konakbayev Confident
Konakbayev tells Around the Rings on Thursday he is busy meeting national federations and answering questions about his manifesto and plans to reshape AIBA’s future.
"Clearly, the fact that I have only been an official candidate for a couple of days prior to the election is a challenge but I am still very confident about winning a majority on Saturday," Konakbayev said.
Asked if a Rakhimov presidency would threaten boxing's place in the Olympics, he responded: "I think there has been so much media coverage on this issue, and statements and comments by IOC representatives, that there just cannot be any more doubts about the Olympic status of boxing.
"The risk is absolutely serious and the IOC are absolutely serious."
An Around the Rings source in Moscow, who is privy to boxing’s inner circle, says "it’s the calm before the storm" in the AIBA hotel lobbies in just hours before the Nov. 3 presidential election, on the second day of the congress.
"Delegates are walking around, chatting and relaxed," the source said. "It seems that everyone has no worries. But of course it’s not true."
Full of intrigue, the rumor mill in this presidential contest is running at quite a click.
"National federations wrote long e-mails to each other, expressing support for their candidate. And the vast majority of letters were for Rakhimov," the source said.
"The same mood is still in the air."
Rakhimov Senses Victory
ATR is told that Rakhimov appeared calm and confident at the AIBA executive committee held on Wednesday in Moscow.
Rakhimov’s message to the executive committee was key, according to the source, who said it exhibited "certainty" that big changes had already taken place in the overhaul of AIBA’s governance since he became interim boxing president in January.
"Over the last few months, together with the AIBA executive committee, we have successfully achieved some significant milestones for our beloved sport. We now have a much healthier, stable and transparent organization. If we stay the course, we can do even greater things in the coming years," Rakhimov said in a statement.
Rakhimov appears to have the upper hand at the congress, with two pitches aimed at swinging support behind his vision for AIBA – his report to congress on Friday and a short address on Saturday to delegates ahead of the presidential vote.
Underdog Konakbayev will have to counterpunch with persuasion Saturday when he speaks to the congress.
A majority of votes is needed. In addition to the presidential race, the roster of AIBA vice presidents and executive committee members will also be up for a vote.
Before any ballot fireworks, the key business on Thursday’s agenda includes presentation of AIBA’s finance report and approval of a four years audit report.
A new business plan for 2018 to 2020 will also be proposed and discussed.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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