Philippines, 30 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


World Boxing officially accepts the Philippines as a member; Vargas cites World Boxing hallmarks


PhilBoxing.com




ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas said yesterday the Philippines’ formal affiliation with the newly-formed World Boxing, which is seeking IOC recognition as the sport’s international federation, will usher in a new era of freedom where boxers are able to fight for their countries without fear of prejudice.

World Boxing approved ABAP’s application to join the organization during an interim Executive Board meeting last Wednesday. Karina Picson, a Filipina boxing technical delegate, attended the meeting as a member of the interim Board and advised Vargas of the approval. “World Boxing is now being represented in five continents,” said Picson who was appointed to the interim Board on a personal capacity. Picson’s late husband Ed was the former ABAP president whose dream was to rid the sport of the tentacles of the discredited International Boxing Association (IBA) which has been stripped of recognition as an international federation by IOC.

“ABAP is aligned with the IOC principles of integrity, transparency, fair play and proper governance which are also the hallmarks of World Boxing,” said Vargas. “Let’s free the boxers and boxing from influencers who dictate the outcome of the sport itself.” Vargas will attend World Boxing’s inaugural Congress at the Mainarcaden in Frankfurt on Nov. 24-25. Elections will be held to vote in a president, vice president and Executive Board members. The positions of chairs of the Sport and Competition Committee, Medical and Anti-Doping Committee and Finance and Audit Committee will also be filled. World Boxing is currently managed by interim president Boris van der Vorst of the Netherlands and interim secretary-general Simon Toulson of England.

IOC suspended IBA of recognition in 2019 after investigative findings of unfair play, lack of financial transparency and irregular governance practices and took over the management of boxing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. IOC eventually removed IBA from its rolls and will once more supervise boxing at the Paris Olympics. World Boxing has applied for IOC recognition which is pending a widespread representation of the fledgling federation launched last April. So far, World Boxing has brought in 27 members, including the Philippines and Mongolia from Asia.

Last week, the Asian Boxing Confederation held an extraordinary Congress to discuss World Boxing and several countries chose to defer affiliation until IOC recognizes a new international federation. Once World Boxing is recognized by IOC, it will roll out competitions at the global and regional levels with qualifying routes to the Olympics. World Boxing is expected to be inclusive and will open its doors to boxers who’ve previously fought in IBA-sanctioned events.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gensan Outdoor, Gensan Educator support MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit in Mt. Apo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Vitor vs Subkhankulov, Tapales vs Kalsynov in Double IBF Asia Title Fights in Moscow on Feb. 13
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • “It’s about owning my own journey” Jeanine Brown retuns for Title Clash March 13 – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Long Boxing Journey settles in New Bedford, MA for Junior Featherweight prospect Joshua Alvarado
    , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Steph Curry is 19th leading scorer of the NBA
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026
  • Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.