Philippines, 02 Jul 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:

  • A Filipino Champion’s Last Fourth of July: A Visit to Oaks Ball Park
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC 2026 Festival Consolidates Its Global Success in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle unveils star-studded fight card ahead of its first event in the USA
    , Thu, 02 Jul 2026
  • Eman-Perez trilogy being set up in August
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Macababayao to face again Latonio after 4 years in Slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Legendary Olympic Trainer Victor Pascual to be inducted into the Republica Dominicana Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • HISTORIC NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR IRISH SPORT AWAITS AS UNDERCARD FOR KATIE TAYLOR VS PILI AT CROKE PARK iS CONFIRMED
    , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • Paradero to fight Cuarto for PBF Silver title on July 25
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • World Boxing Council Joins the Humanitarian Aid Relief for Earthquake Victims in Venezuela
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • LESTER MARTINEZ VS. LUKA PLANTIC ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • KORONADAL SLUGFEST: I’m always ready – Roherstrey Jhon Yor
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 JUNE 2026: Paro UD Crocker for IBF Welter Title; Ennis Stops Zayas in 7 for WBA, WBO Welter Titles; Wins by Whittaker, Vargas and Tucker; Valenzuela KO2 De Los Santos
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • Rising Featherweight Star Jaycob "The Raging Bull" Ramos Signs Exclusive Management Agreement with Boxing VIP
    , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • Clarion to leave on July 2 for WBC Youth title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • Gustavo Trujillo Stays Undefeated with Devastating Seventh-Round Knockout at Fist of Fury 11
    , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • World Boxing Council Unveils Special July 4th Commemorative Belt Honoring USA 250th Anniversary
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • 12-Year-Old Filipina Memory Prodigy Georgina Santos to Represent the Philippines in Two World Memory Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • World championship mega-fight between Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez postponed to October
    , Mon, 29 Jun 2026
  • Filipino Jonas Magpantay wins Indonesia; pockets $15,000, gains steam heading to Vietnam
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026
  • Ex-kickboxer to debut in MMA Slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026
  • Deaño settles to a draw
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • Abdyrakhmanov defeats Kadiev, Kudryashov knocks out Yousefi at IBA Bare Knuckle 5 in Moscow
    , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • WBC declares German Agit Kabayel new WBC heavyweight champion after Usyk relinquishes his title
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • 4th Gov. RST MMA Slugfest on July 3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 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.