Philippines, 09 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:

  • Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9
    , Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation
    , Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media
    , Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • Undefeated Kansas Middleweight Prospect Marco “El Tiburon” Romero finished 2025 with 7th triumphs, all by knockout, & 11-0 record
    , Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • Kinetix Sports aims for bigger events in 2026
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • 2026 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge on January 26
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026
  • World Ranked Heavyweight Dainier Pero Headlines on Saturday, January 17th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
    , Wed, 07 Jan 2026
  • Jahyae Brown to Battle Arnold Gonzalez in Exciting Co-Feature on Thursday, January 15th at The War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey
    , Wed, 07 Jan 2026
  • Hendri Cedeno Seeks Monumental Victory Against Alfredo Santiago for NABO Title January 10 at Barclays Center
    , Tue, 06 Jan 2026
  • Kingsley Ibeh learned from his Loss 5 years ago to Jared Anderson
    , Tue, 06 Jan 2026
  • Unified World Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez returning to Corpus Christi…as a promoter!
    , Tue, 06 Jan 2026
  • Ocum to fight Ballesteros on January 26
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 05 Jan 2026
  • SEA Plus Youth Games - Tolentino
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 05 Jan 2026
  • 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival Featuring Manny Pacquiao International Open to Push Through
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 05 Jan 2026
  • Deniega to fight Oka in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 02 Jan 2026
  • Illness forces Paddy Donovan to withdraw from IBF Welterweight World Eliminator January 16 versus Liam Paro in Australia
    , Fri, 02 Jan 2026
  • Canadian World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan Rozicki returning to ring March 7th
    , Thu, 01 Jan 2026
  • Lover Boy on hot streak
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 31 Dec 2025
  • Silvano fights Gurung on January 13 in Hong Kong
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 31 Dec 2025
  • GM Laylo faces tough competition in Caloocan rapid chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 31 Dec 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY DELIVERS A LOADED UNDERCARD OF STAR PROSPECTS FOR ROCHA VS. CURIEL II
    , Wed, 31 Dec 2025
  • Arca wins silver in Eastern Asian Juniors Chess Championships 2025
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 31 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    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.